Skoda Fabia - Why Would you?

[dArK5HaD0w]

I think VW cost more as you pay the premium for leading design/technology and (typically) Skoda get the previous generation running platforms and engines. The upshot is VAG can increase the product development lifecycle ROI / position themselves in more buyer segments and we get a broader range of VAG family cars to choose from.

skoda cars have the exact same technology used in vw cars.
all the premium stuff go through VAGs premium child, audi, first.
the new upcoming a3 in 2012 is an example - it will b the first to use the global VAG platform. vw & skoda, including seat will follow soon after.

[sVWatt]

skoda cars have the exact same technology used in vw cars.
all the premium stuff go through VAGs premium child, audi, first.
the new upcoming a3 in 2012 is an example - it will b the first to use the global VAG platform. vw & skoda, including seat will follow soon after.

Looks like your right. Previous models did use past run out platforms, but this report says they are all on current platforms;
AUSmotive.com » Geneva 2011:

Nice looker too

[kaanage]

no, I didn't see a bunch of Polos and Swifts, what were they doing here?

Can you "please explain" your comments about the diesel setup in the 6R Polo? I expect the Fabia will be the same, they use the 66TDI engine.

It is my biggest concern about the Polo and Fabia - I test drove a Polo diesel and though generally I liked the car, I was disappointed about its lack of the expected diesel "grunt." I currently drive a Peugeot 307 1.6 HDi wagon and it has the same size engine but gets 80 killer wasps from it, VW's diesel of the same size is only 66 kW. I noticed in one spot when doing 80km/h in fifth on a flat country road, as I passed the 100km/h sign I planted the right foot and absolutely nothing happened, it just slowly oozed up to 100km/h. In the (much heavier) Pug it would have picked up its skirts and run. So where is the famous diesel torque???

From reading here and elsewhere, it appears VW's implementation of a diesel particle filter is not as sophisticated as the Peugeot system - Pug was the first to use them in a passenger car, maybe they have more experience with them? The Peugeot FAP (DPF) has a small tank of a catalyst fluid under the floor, near the fuel tank. The liquid is called "Eolys", I think it is like the Adblue used by some others. Its purpose is to lower the temperature at which the DPF regenerates, so it is sensors tell the computer that the DPF needs a regeneration and isn't up to temperature from normal driving, it adds a splash of eolys to the incoming diesel fuel, which does two things - it increases the exhaust temperature, and lowers the temperature at which a "burn off" occurs inside the DPF. I have been a member of the Aussiefrogs forum (the French car equivalent to this forum) since about 2006 and I have never heard any mention of the problems that these VWs are said to have, with not regenerating with short trips and inner city driving.
We have been looking out for a new car for my partner for over a year, we didn't get a previous model Polo precisely because it doesn't have a DPF - we are pretty "green" and want to have a low emissions car. It pretty much ticked all the other boxes. Now the new model has doubts about its get-up-and-go, and we can't get fog lights without the sports pack - and on our crappy roads I don't want lowered suspension and boy racer 17 inch alloys/low profile tyres.

Hopefully the Skoda will fill the bill, otherwise a runout model Focus diesel, though bigger than we really wanted, is looking good. It uses a Peugeot diesel engine, don't know yet about their DPF though.

In case anyone wonders, though we love my Peugeot, the Partner hates the 207.

The Polos/Swifts and MX-5 were having a play run down the GOR to the 12 Apostles. I used to dirt bike a fair bit around Lavers Hill so your sig leapt out at me.

Totally agree about the Sensible Susan approach to wheels and body work - even in the city it makes more sense. But fashion and sense rarely concur, especially in the cities. I passed on the nice sports seats and fog lights for our Golf because of the 17" wheels, lowered suspension and body kit that had to come with the useful stuff.

I know some people with a recent larger Peugeot diesel and it doesn't have DPF regen issues either (I didn't realise it used an additive assisted DPF) so I think that you are right about the VW DPF implementation in the 6R Polo diesel being 2nd rate. I believe VW have detuned the bottom end to prevent driving in the low rev area (where the diesel is famous for its torque delivery) in order to keep combustion temps high and soot levels low and thus protect the DPF. I don't hold high hopes for the initial release version of the diesel Fabia.

I would buy the previous 9N3 non-DPF Polo any day over the 6R version - there is soot from the engine but only with full accelerator and the big engine means that is rarely required. Plus there are many 4WD and truck diesels that are far worse. See if you can find a low mileage dealer driven one (I think Sth Yarra VW still list a couple on carsales). They're no fashion item but that's no bad thing in my book - see the 480+ posts for fitting hideously expensive LED tail lights that provide absolutely no extra functionality to MkVI Golfs as an example of fashion extremes.

I quite like the Focus diesel - we nearly bought one in preference to our Golf but it just wasn't as well made.

[Buller_Scott]

see the 480+ posts for fitting hideously expensive LED tail lights that provide absolutely no extra functionality to MkVI Golfs as an example of fashion extremes.

just on that note, what do you guys think?

what color should i get? should i get the silver or the black wheels? who else got a sunroof - is it worth it? i MUCH prefer driving manual, but i heard the DSG makes the car quicker - what do you guys reckon i should order?

hahaha