THE FABIA CLUB

aayushnair · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Mumbai

Well I'm going to start by saying that it really is some experience when you finally decide to go look for a new car! So many choices, so many Test Drives and finally deciding one 1 out of them - phew!

I owned a Tata Indica V2 DLS, which I treasured. I mean no offence to anyone but I feel that it was the best looking Indica in the world, with the great alloys I fit after a year, sports low profile tyres and an ICE to dream of!
I've maintained this car to the 'T'. Complete service records and constant checks to ensure every part functions optimally. I even switched to Synthetic oil to improve my car's engine condition after 2years of ownership.
However it was growing old, I had it for 5 whole years (my first new car) and what a car, time to change is what I felt and started to look around.
Till the very end the I dont want to sell this beauty feeling kept consistently creating a feeling of doubt, but the practicality of owning a new car over the cost of maintaining a 5 year old won! I still miss my Indica, even today!!

I checked a lot of websites first, team-bhp being one of them, checked loads of reviews. I'm a total fuel burner so diesel engines interest me owing to my natural instinct to drive to wherever I want to go!!
Checked reviews of the VW Polo, Hyundai i20, Ford Figo, Ford Fiesta, Fiat Linea, Fiat Punto, VW Vento & Skoda Fabia.

Here's what I wanted in my new car -
1. No Maintainance for atleast 4 years.
2. Better Engine & Performance.
3. Didnt have to be a sedan.
4. More Spacious boot nevertheless.
5. Not a Tata Indica (after having 3 Indicas in the family)
6. Safety Features (ABS, EBD, Airbags and the sorts)
7. Definitely an oil burner.

It all started in the month of March when I spent my weekends and my Test Driving the above cars. Here's what I felt, and what made me make a choice:-

1. VW Polo 1.2 TDCR
Went to the Showroom in Santacruz, Mumbai and was welcomed by the sales executives, a very warm feeling - felt good.
The car was even better, very classy interiors and a great stance - time for a test drive!
From the instant I started the engine, it didnt even feel like a diesel, hardly any noise in the cabin. There are a lot of reviews on the Polo & I'd agree with most of them except the ones where they talk about the turbo lag being a constant irritant. It's hardly anything, and this is after driving it around in bumper to bumper traffic and on an open road thereafter.
What broke the deal on this excellent car was the amount of in-cabin space it offers, I'm 6'2 and my knee constantly hit the dash while trying to change gears and it was rather annoying 'coz it didnt just brush it actually hurt. The other was the long waiting period - 4 to 6 months - no way!!
So the polo was out.

2. Skoda Fabia 1.2 TDCR
I actually test drove the Fabia straight after the Polo. I had heard a lot about the car (the new one) being cheaper now and with the same engine as the Polo, so why not.
I went to Autobahn (Veera Desai Rd, Mumbai) and I was greeted immediately by one of their receptionists who offered my mom & me a drink and asked us to have a seat while a sales rep could assist us.
Instead we started checking out the cars they had on display - especially the Fabia.
It was fab is all I can say. From the minute you open the door you get this feeling of security, it looks amazing from inside and out - the two tone dash board with the soft touch feel, the Ivory colored seats with enormous support to the Steering wheel used right from the Superb to the Laura and now the Fabia, and the Classic looking front grille with the Chrome surround. I was falling in love!!
Finally after 10 minutes of admiring the car, the sales man asked me if it was ok if we took a test drive now!!
The car was just amazing, the same engine from her sister the Polo made the drive almost the same, similar pickup, similar acceleration - the only difference I felt was the enormous amount of room in this car.
I was so comfortable and finding the right seat position was so easy with the height adjustable seats and reek and rake adjustable steering.
The car just felt right.

3. Hyundai i20 Asta Crdi
From the luxurious feel of the Fabia still fresh in my mind, I drove to the Shreenath Hyundai Showroom in Lokhandwala, Mumbai and asked for a test drive of the i20.
While I was waiting for someone to attend to me, I was spending my time checking out the i20 on display.
Well no offence to all the i20 owners on this forum, the car is a stunner looks real cool and sporty, however the interiors felt so plasticky when compared to her German & Czech counterparts.
I just walked right out, not even waiting for a test drive.
I know many of us will think it wasn't a good decision and I should've atleast checked the way the car felt.
For me it just didnt feel right. So i20 was out.

4. Fiat Linea MJD
I went to the Tata/Fiat showroom in Malad, Mumbai and the dealership experience was good until the person who evaluated my precious Indica nudged and exclaimed how bad the car's condition was. He started off by saying OMG when he opened the engine bay and saw the extremely clean engine saying that there were oil leaks!! Confused

WHERE!! They were only in his imaginary world.
I felt this was it, i didnt even let him sit in the car after that.
I complained about his behavior and risk of insulting a customer, or his property (the same thing) and walked out without a test drive. Good for me!!

5. Ford Fiesta 1.6
The Ford dealership was just around the corner from the Tata showroom and was my next pit stop.
With the experience in Tata still fresh in my head, I decided to just test drive the cars (Fiesta & Figo).
The dealership experience however was real good. I almost booked the Fiesta petrol.
The car is great and was within budget. It had acceptable interiors and lots of space, only downside was that it's age was kind of noticeable in it's design, and how can i forget - IT WAS A PETROL!! I'm such a frequent traveller it just wouldnt suit me.
So I test drove the Fiesta Diesel and felt the need of a much better engine in there. Other than that the same car.
Fiesta was out.

6. Ford Figo Tdci
After the Fiesta, I test drove the younger sibling; the newly launched Figo.
With the same diesel engine in a lighter car the performance seemed better. The engine was rather refined and didnt feel like a diesel. It was well within my budget, had all the features i was looking for but with my Fabia experience it was no where close to that car. The interiors felt, just not right to my tastes. No offence to any Figo Owner.
Figo was out too!!

[b]7. Skoda Fabia TdiCR once again!! [b]
The next day after all my experiences still fresh in my head, my mother and I went back to Autobahn and wanted to take another drive. The sales rep was very enthusiastic about this and at no time was i given the unwelcome, you're wasting our time feeling.
I had loads of questions from servicing to complains of owning a Skoda and all of them were answered well. He even went on to say that Skoda was aware of the negative feedback and was trying it's best to improve it's customers experience. I felt this reply was honest.
I sat in the car on display once again and started to check all it;s features and seating positions and the sorts all over again 'coz i think i had made up my mind about this.

Spoke with my mother and she too was convinced with it and gave the heads up to go on and book the car.

First things first, which edition was the question. Wanted to go with the Elegance in black, but it had a waiting period of 12weeks. Didnt bother checking with another dealer (JMD) and booked the Ambiente instead. Still feel maybe i shoudl've waited, but hey I love my car!!

I booked the Ambiente Tdi for Rs. 10000/- and the wait time for that was only 1Week.

Time to get started on the loan process, for which I approached SBI and the loan was sanctioned in 4days straight. With the loan details ready and the payment processed the car took another 4 days for delivery. I did the PDI before the actual alottment and found everything to be ok.

Finally the next day after all the efforts and checks and drives, my Czech Beauty was delivered.

Here's a list of things that met my initial look out -
1. Better performance - hell yeah!! This car pulls, I mean it really pulls. All those talks of turbo lag can put to rest, yes i'm not denying that it aint there, but it doesnt stick out and car gets out of those rev bands real quick.
2. 4 Year warranty (2+2 extended) included in the cost of the car.
3. 315 ltr boot
4. All the above safety features (except ABS & EBD) + EBC, fuel cut off on crash.
5. Excellent Interiors and loads of space all around. I could sit behind me comfortably.

All in all an excellent car, and the begining of a new adventure!!
God Bless!!

PS - will post pictures soon.

Cheers,
Aayush.
_________________
When Cars are in your DNA you get This!!

puchoo · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:12 pm Post subject: Congrats!

Congrats on the new fab , i am sure you will have a lot of fun with here just as i am , have heard good things about the TDIs - never drove one as a diesel was not on the list but i own the 1.6 petrol. look forward to the pictures.
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Cheers!

aayushnair · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Mumbai

Hi All,

As promised here are a few shots of my Fab Drive taken just after delivery -

First Pics, during the PDI

Just Before Delivery

My Mom Doing the Pooja

Front Back, Sides & Rear Angles

The New Headlamps, look real neat with the petal design. The throw is also decent, but a bulb change is recommended for highway driving.

Skoda Emblems, Love them. Planning to add a VRS badge!

Interiors -
Dashboard (the soft touch dash feels real premium, a wood finished trim would look real elegant)

Steering Wheel (feels good to hold and provides a lot of customization in rake & reach)

A/C Controls (miss the auto a/c)

Gear lever & Handbrake (The gear lever is short and makes switching real slick)

The Headlamp Switch (typical european)

More storage options (more on the door)

Sorely missing the Rear Roof handles (the passengers that is)

Cabin Light Switch

The Speedometer & Dials (light upto a soft green tone and look very classy at night)

The Foot Well (well spaced for me, with a size 13 shoe!!)

The front door with hand rest, and look at the Pads behind the door lever

The rear Door with hand rest

Rear Space, Minimum and My seat position (i can fit behind me)

A few Accessories Wink

The rear boot space (used to the optimum with my JBL Bass tubewhich can be removed to store a big suitcase along wih other small handbags)

The Thing that makes it Work - the Engine Bay (well layed out, typical european)

Phew!! Those were a lot of pics to start with, comin up next is my experience with my car over the last year!!

Cheers,
Aayush.
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When Cars are in your DNA you get This!!

aayushnair · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Mumbai

admin · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:59 pm Post subject:

Wow!

Nice review and thanks for sharing the lovely pics.
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Robin

aayushnair · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Mumbai

swastikpanigrahi · Been Around Fabiosi Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 58

Nice Aayush.

One thing I like most is the Bass Tube..

aayushnair · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Mumbai

Rudy · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:10 pm Post subject:

aayushnair,

I see you have changed the default head unit, I came to know that we need to buy adapter to fit the new head unit ( for both single and double din)?

some thing like this
http://www.ebay.in/itm/260422265177#ht_2274wt_1139

aayushnair · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Mumbai