Very unenthusiastic Fabia Monte Carlo review

[K1W1]

Damned with faint praise I think.

The Age Drive section

[Inego]

It reflects our lack of love for mini hot hatches - there is much love for the Fabia vRS in the UK and Europe!

[Jake02]

I know I'll be many more times positive when I get mine! It appears like the reviewer really didn't put much effort into his job at all (gee what a shock). Shame really, the Fabia deserves far more.

And there is no equivalent Polo? The 77TSI goes up against the Fabia 77TSI, the 66TDI isn't a Monte Carlo rival and neither is the GTI.

[K1W1]

IMO the Fabia has a look that only really a mother could love. I agree that it will stand out in the small hatch class but I suspect that it will stand out in the wrong way and if they are going to try to market it as a chick car they have a huge uphill battle. I haven't seen a woman yet who has liked it from the pictures at least and pictures are what usually sends people into showrooms.
I know that it's an important car for Skoda Australia and I really do hope I'm wrong and that it does well for them but I'm really struggling to see it being any sort of a hit at the moment it's behind in perceived safety, it's behind in price, it's definitely not a looker, the motors are the same as others in class in performance so there is no advantage there and it's up against established players like the Mazda 2, Yaris, Swift, i30, Festiva and even the Holden Daewoos. If all it does it take sales from Polo that's a no win for VW and I doubt that that would be allowed to continue for long.

[BlackOctaviaRS]

Hard to call a Fabia Monte Carlo a hot hatch, and the pricing isn't doing any favours for it. I'd take a similar priced Mazda 3 or Focus over the Fabia Monte Carlo. Skoda are setting themselves up for another fail in Australia.

[Transporter]

Well, ...my mid 20s daughters and their bf's liked the Montecarlo looks when we went to the dealer and if it had the DSG it would be high on the shopping list and possibly bought instead of the Golf6. I personally like the looks, it looks better in real life than on the PC screen.

[woofy]

I've seen them and the RS in the flesh and they look really good inside and out. I've not seen anything else with that styling for that kind of money. Not saying it has the best performance or value for money but neither does a Mini and its that kind of car.

[Makk]

I agree, it definitely does look better in real life (externally, I haven't been in one)....more upmarket than the pictures would have you think

[K1W1]

Next time I'm near a Skoda dealer I'll make a point of going and having a look at one in the flesh then.

[Gti Dave]

I assume the Fabia I sat in at the Melbourne Motor Show was the RS version since it was LHD. I personally spent more time looking at the Superb than anything else. No point looking at the Octy since i've got one so off I went to have a looksee of the Fabia to make a comparison to the Polo and boy was i disappointed. We al know its based off the VW Polo so the boot space was about the same (very tiny), The interior plastic were a bit of a concern and looked a bit cheap but fair enough since its supposed to be a bargain entry model correct? However boot space and interior aside, the looks of it is either plain or just odd and something you wouldn't call a looker. I personally didn't mind too much since I'm able to see past all that since owning one but seriously, for someone who isn't familiar with the brand and is young and fashion conscious? Males or female, chances are, they'll make a pass on it and go straight for the VW polo or competitors. lastly, pricing doesn't do it any justice either especially if its to be pitched being a polo (gti) rival (just look at the style and interior qualilty of the polo vs the Fabia!!!).

[woofy]

I thought the lhd rs fabia they had at the show had a better steering wheel than the octys and superbs have but it might have been an optional one we don't see here. I can't remember if it was in the monte Carlo.

[Jake02]

You lot should get the November 2011 issue of Wheels magazine. They did a supermini supertest and the placing is as follows:
10 - (New) Holden Barina ($15,990)
9 - Nissan Micra Ti ($16,990)
8 - Hyundai Accent Elite ($18,490)
7 - Mazda2 Neo ($16,500)
6 - Honda Jazz VTi ($17,790)
5 - (New) Kia Rio Si ($18,990)
4 - Suzuki Swift GL ($16,690)
3 - Ford Fiesta LX ($18,990)
2 - Skoda Fabia 77TSI ($18,990)
1 - VW Polo 77TSI ($19,850)

As someone who'll be looking at this class of car in the next six months, it's no shock to see the Polo at the top. But what did surprise me is seeing the Fabia come second (and the Fiesta third), especially as it's copped so much flack on here. I'm not presenting a pro or against argument here, I'm just presenting the facts. Another interesting thing to see was that they commented on just how close it was between the Fabia and Polo and that the Fabia is much more than just a Polo in different clothing, it's its own car and actually has character - "So it's nicer steering and ride, versus sharper dynamics and a more premium interior. It's that close" is what they said.

It's also great to see that the brand new Barina comes dead last (even worse than the Micra)!

[woofy]

Interesting to see how Hyundai are slyly creeping up in price these days. We are getting reamed by them compared to other countries. I'm still thinking about getting a Santa Fe, but the cost of them here is getting to me.

[brad]

Jake
Fiesta (current & previous models) is a very good drive if you like cars/driving.

Woofy: Check out the price of the Hyundai S40 wagon. Unbelievably high. It's cheaper to buy a brand new Citroen C5 estate.

[Transporter]

I'm still thinking about getting a Santa Fe, but the cost of them here is getting to me.

Also the cost of the spare parts is high, even if compared to Euro cars. That's of course would come in play after 5 years warranty. I looked at ix35 and was put off for life after the roadtest.