THE FABIA CLUB

admin · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: Long term review

I have finally convinced my self to pen this long term review. Fabia has been relaunched with various upgrades and downgrades .

On 31st Oct ’10 my car, Fabia 1.2 Ambiente will be exactly 27 months old. Roughly 30500 kms on the odometer.

Why I purchased Fabia. I will keep this short. I needed a high quality car with good safety features and all bells and whistles. Believe me Fabia is still one of the best when it comes to pampering. Performance –It is good to have plenty of BHP under the hood, but 1.2 HTP is just fine for me (as of now). if you me give a RS, my driving style will shame it. None the less, I long for a sensible TSI. Imagine a 1.2 TSI in Fabia. Best of both worlds ain’t it. Ok there is a third world also and Skoda India knows how to make a mess of it.

I had a budget wherein I could purchase an entry level sedan. None had the basic ABS and Airbags available back then. Moreover it is a pain driving in city. Cabin space wise it is better then many other options available.

I’ll start with the thing which bothers me the most. Sound …eh .. rattles.

When I bought my darling (hope my wife is not reading this) my expectation was very simple. No rattles in the first year. What did I get? Read on.

I will classify the sound/rattles in two broad categories
1. One that can be heard even with the windows rolled down. I haven’t been in too many cars but I remember my friends badly maintained M800. It could hear the rattles from everywhere. My mother recently sold her 21 years M800 and it wasn’t that bad, although it had other problems.
2. One that you hear only when the windows are all rolled up. Most rattles fall in this category.

There is another kind too. One that only I can hear. Third category.

I have had a fair share of sound. The most famous was the AC blower rattle, more of a flapping noise. Category 2. Many Fabias had this problem. It originated only months after purchase. The most irritating bit was the dealers attitude. I am not sure what it was incapability or unwillingness. I must have paid atleast 4-5 visits just for this. The most weird excuse was ‘A techincian from Aurangabad will see the car first but he is not in town today ’. WTF, is this a 747? Eventually I learn to live with it.

After first service in March ’09 I had another piece. There was some noise from the tie-rod or something. It happened when the steering wheel was turned with car stationary. Took the car to the dealer next week. Something was changed and problem fixed, but only temporarily. Decided to give the dealer a break.

In May VKJ and I decided to visit the other service station. VKJ for his normal first service. I for my tie-rod noise. VKJ introduced me to the service manager there. The tie-rod noise was only a dry grease problem. Took the whole day for them but it never occurred again. Same day the manager (Mr M)drove my car and found the AC blower rattle to be on the extreme side. Asked me to drop the car next week and leave it for a day. Did exactly the same and voila. Rattle ? What rattle? Apparently the blower was replaced. It was the turning point of my Fabia experience. The value of Y shot from –ve to +ve.

Since then I have stuck to the new service station. Mr M has always been helpful. Don’t believe? Ask K_ajay.

Recently the rubber lining on the door have have started playing. It falls in the 3rd category. The rubber has started losing some of its characters. It makes noise when the door slides over it on bad roads. Door alignment is a temp. solution. I guess a good rubber treatment should do, but I don’t know of any. Frankly, it is hardly a concern. When the time comes I’ll get them replaced.

There have been other minor ones which I have taken care of myself, mostly tapework. So except for the rubbery sound from the door, the car feels like a Skoda should after 30000 kms. How does it compare with others? I drive my Father in law’s Dzire whenever I am in Vapi. It is roughly the same age. I first drove it at 2000kms and it rattled. At 7000kms it rattled more. Now it does not matter. I have driven a friend’s brand new Swift from the showroom. It did make some noise. I guess the tyre pressure was above recommended level but still… I once sat in my manager’s 4 year old Getz. I must tell you Hyuandis are way ahead of Marutis in this respect.

Hole in the Pocket:
First service – 5100/- @ 9000 kms
Second service - 6200/- @ 18000kms
Partial service at 25000kms – 6000/- (brake pads, coolant, filters and misc. Had it done because of a road trip plan).
Front Wiper blades 1400/- . Cost has come down to 550/- now. There has been a cost cut more most parts.

Fuel Efficiency:-
Strictly average.
City – 10-11.5 kmpl.
Highway – 15-18 kmpl.
Overall so far – 13.46 kmpl
On my recent trip from Bangalore – Pune I managed 17+. With four adults, full luggage and speed mostly between 90-100 kmph.
All calculation based on the tank full to tank full method.

Some cool features:-
I’ll try to point out the features that are rarely discussed (and hardly matter). Most of us are already aware of this, but still...

Music system has a timer and a security code. I haven’t figured what to do with the security code but timer can be helpful. Music system can be used even without the key. The timer switches it off after an hour (to save battery ).

Most of the lights in the cabin and boot have timers too. 30 mins. I am not sure if the glove box light has a timer or not.

Heated OVRMs have timer too.

MSR (motor speed regulator).

Both driver and front passenger seats have hieght adjustment. My wife loves it.

Rear AC vents to cool off angry feets.

All the window switches are auto up/down with the anti-pinch thingy.

Rear wiper will start automatically if the front wiper is on and reverse gear is engaged.

Lane changing signal. A tab on the stalk makes the indicator blink for 3-4 times. Very useful.

You can set the volume of the music system to increase with increase in the speed of the car. It starts from 50kmph.

Provision of keeping only one side of the parking lights on.

Remote boot opening.

Windows can be closed/opened from outside using the key. You need to insert the key in the door’d key hole and turn.

Glove box is cooled. Most cars even had damped glove lid – like in Jetta. My car didn’t have it.

Wheels have a lug-key.

Others please add to the list Smile

.
_________________
Robin

admin · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:26 pm Post subject:

Other problems:
Last August I noticed a metal cling sound when the steering was fully turned to left. Took the car to the service station. Brakes were cleaned and there was no noise for a week (I was charged 300/- for it). The noise resurfaced. This time I decided to do my homework before going to the service station. The noise was coming from the left front wheel. Removed the wheel to have a peek inside. Inside of the brake-rotor-blade there is a tin-like plate. It is meant to protect the rotor from stones. Hitting the plate with the key produced a similar sound. I was now convinced that this plate was somehow hitting something else when turning the steering to full left. Took the car to the service station and explained my findings to the SA. I was right. Plate was replaced. Cost 450/- + 150/- labour.

Notice the deformity on left side.

Recently the front left power window is acting crazy. I had noticed this earlier also, but went away on its own (or when a VAS scan was done at the service station). It seems there is some error in the s/w code. I guess the VAS scan should be able to detect it.
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Robin

admin · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject:

The car is Karnataka registered but it has already tasted roads in 7 states and 2 UTs. TN, AP, Kerala, Gujrat, Maharastra, Goa, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Not to mentions places in Karnataka itself – Chikmaglur, Coorg etc.

Memories…

Taj Fort Aguad, Goa. Nov ‘08.
I din't know car wash service was free Smile

. 1600kms. First time I gave my car for valet parking, reluctantly of-course.

Deer Park. Silvassa, Jan ’09. 2200kms

Approaching Kodaikanal (TN). April ’09. 1200kms

Munnar (Kerala). April ’09.

Somewhere near Mysuru (Mysore). May ’09. 600kms
Even cows love it.

[/img]

View point in Bhadra wildlife sanctuary. Oct ’09. 500kms

Pune. Jan ’10. 2800kms

Latest. Konkan trip, Aug ’10. 3200kms

http://fabiaownersclub.s2.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=168&start=0
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Robin

uneet · Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:10 pm Post subject:

Hey Robin,

That is a very nice detailed review. I must admit that you seem to be a travel freak.

Also to add to the list of features (hidden), the auto lock feature needs to be activated which will lock all the doors when the car reaches the speed of 20. Also if you will unplug the key, the car will be unlocked.
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Currently driving - XUV 5OO, Honda Civic, Skoda Fabia, New Swift, Hyundai Santro.
Earlier - Toyota Innova, Suzuki Baleno, Honda City OHC, Toyota Qualis, Maruti Zen, Omni etc

admin · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:50 am Post subject:

uneet · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:16 am Post subject:

akutty · Newbie Joined: 22 Feb 2010 Posts: 18

admin · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:22 am Post subject:

akutty · Newbie Joined: 22 Feb 2010 Posts: 18

admin · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:28 am Post subject:

admin · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:46 am Post subject:

Is anybody aware how well the Fabia's underbody covered? There is a skid plate under engine. I think there is a cover on the left and right side too (below the seats). Making it a three part shield (I think I read in ACI).

The fuel tank is not protected. The exhaust and other things underneath is nicely in level with the rest. Nothing hanging out.

All in all I guess the underbelly is decently protected.

I ll try to have a peek next time my car goes on the lift.

Any comments on this. Did anyone get a chance to explore this?
_________________
Robin

orionph05 · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:49 am Post subject:

The silencer is also having a shield.
Many times when I was learning how to drive Fabia , it sused to scrape speedbreakers.
The service engineer told be small dents exists on the casing near silencer. Laughing

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Rgds
Pravin
Bangalore

admin · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:14 pm Post subject:

This is an image of Yeti's underbody (from briskoda.net).
The red part is the 3-part protection. Fabia also has it.

Notice the 2 links over the silencer (between the 2 parallel red parts).
This is what might have got bent in pravin's case.

The silencer is nicely tucked inside.

_________________
Robin

admin · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:30 am Post subject:

Few days ago I went for the third service at 31.5K kms. Detail of the invoice can be found in the service report section.

Apart from the normal oil and filter change I had to get the misbehaving power windows rectified.

Problem: The one-touch on the front windows was not functioning properly. If the window was only slightly open and I tried closing it using the one-touch, it would roll down. Something was fishy.

Below is the in-detail conversation with various people at the station:

SA and me (I know him well ..and is type, he knows me too)
me: power windows not working (giving him a demo)

SA: sir, problem with the motor. Needs replacement.

me: It can't be. I have faced the problem before also and was rectified using VAS (I am partly bluffing here). Many others also have this problem.

SA: We have replaced the motors for them under warranty (my car is not under warranty).

me: I am sure it is VAS problem. Call me when you are doing it and don't change the motor.

An hour later I meet the manager (my friend now).
I explain the problem to M
M: How is the car doing?
me: Good. Thank you. but I have this problem ......
M: I will check for errors in VAS. There could be something in the memory.
me: I also think the same.

meanwhile a technician is caught wandering aimlessly. M calls him and explains the problem.

T : sir , dust in the window channel.
me: What? this is ineteresting.
T: resistance due to dust forces the window into anti-pinch mode.
me : WOW ! (but I will hold-up anymore wows untill it is rectified).

It turns out that Mr T was right. WOW!

I tell this to SA after it is fixed, with a smile on my face.
SA: Sir, it was the dust in the switch. Returns a smile.
me: (dust in the switch or the channel) I smile back.

Whatever, I know his game.

Conversation happened in broken Hindi, broken English and broken Tamil Smile

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Robin