THE FABIA CLUB

JS, New Delhi · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 5

Hello friends..

With the ownership of Fabia nearly a week old, and that it is driven nearly 500 kms, I have some comments to make.

Overall, I like the vehicle. It has a significant road presence and the fact that in Delhi it is rarely seen on roads makes it a little elitist. I am very happy to own one and I am glad that I didnt take the usual course buying the much-popular honda city (that is the first reaction from anyone who comes to know of my purchase and the amount spent on it) which proliferates Delhi roads.

What I like about this vehicle is its frugal design, both exterior and inerior, its sense of detailing and finishes, the music system which generates a good and clear quality of sound, its boot that is spacious enough.....

What is mysterious about this vehicle is that the way it is designed and contoured, it is difficult to adjudge it as a small or long vehicle. It, at times, appears long enough to me, and at times a bit shorter. This illusion is amazing to me though I am hell bent on solving this riddle!

What I didnt like is its slightly cramped space in front (i am 5' 10 tall and it is not smooth to enter/exit the vehicle).

I am sure most of us from Delhi would be aware of the Monday deluge on roads due to one heavy downpour. My baby, just a day old, did respond very well to that situation. I was scared that it might get stranded on road owing to its low ground clearance and that water might enter its exhaust thereby stranding the vehicle in almost knee-deep water. Whilst I found many vehicles stuck on road that day, mine just sailed through!! I was immensely delighted. This machine does have ample strength to deal with natural calamities, I thought!

However, what happened as an aftermath of this incident, which surprised me, is that one of the parking bulbs stopped working, one of the viper blades isnt working properly, the vehicle sound has deepened (or coarsened, whatever) and there is an impact on its pick-up. I wonder why! This means it has to be hauled back to the service station....something that I wasnt looking forward to within first week of its rolling out!!

I have driven this vehicle on highway and it sails majestically in higher gears. However, I find it sluggish initially which is annoying. I wonder if this is its natural attribute or is it the aftermath of the flooding that this vehicle survived! I though realise that I am not driving this vehicle ever on a racing track, hence, bhps and torques may not matter. Still it is nice to zip it around on clear roads once-in-a-while!!

That's it folks. I will write more as I drive it more. There is no doubt that the vehicle overall leave a satisfactory imprint on one's mind. It indeed is a drivers' vehicle, it is to be driven around...and I am very happy to realise there arent many [fabias] seen on the road as we see marutis or hondas or hyundais!
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JS, New Delhi

uneet · Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject:

Hi JS,

Its nice to have your initial thoughts on your car.
Do update us with the situation of your car now. Did you manage to go to the car doctor? What were their comments like.

Friends i'll be getting my car serviced next week.
Will keep you updated.

admin · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject:

JS, sorry to hear about your monsoon encounter in your new Fabia. Hope things are sorted at earliest without much fuss from the service guys.

hi!there · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 35 Location: Bangalore

Hi JS,

Is your car from the pune plant? Did you check whether the glovebox is damped and opens smoothly? When I checked at the dealer, the new elegance and ambiente didn't have that damped effect. Hope they haven't taken that feature away. A smallf feature but a nice to have one.

I have booked a petrol ambiente and waiting for delivery.

JS, New Delhi · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 5

Hi all..

It has already done 1000. My daily running is 120/130 kms; hence it has done 1000 in barely 8 days!

Thanks for the concern about the new car braving the oddities of weather last week. I did take the vehicle to Fehrenheit service station in Motinagar. They were prompt in dealing with all minor glitches.

The car has become smoother than what it was initially. The engine noise continues (being a deisel vehicle) though it is not irritatingly high and is audible only on high revs. So i have begun to avoid revving unnecessarily. The average, even though I havent yet clocked it should be around 15/16, though I will let you know the exact when i refill the tank again. This is satisfactory considering it is a new machine and is getting adjusted to my idiosyncretic driving.

Even though the sound quality of music system is great, I am considering the option of installing speakers in the rear door. I wonder if it is advisable. Any suggestions please?

More as I drive on..

Cheers
JS
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JS, New Delhi

JS, New Delhi · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 5

Dear All..

To my delight, I would like to inform the forum that I have got an average of 17.5 kmpl which is satisfactory. I am sure it is capable of improving more even though slightly. This is considering 65% driving in city and rest on highway with AC on all the time. I do not drive recklessly fast, do not unnecessarily accelerate, nor needlessly rev. I like to cruise than to rush. So overall I am pleased.

Cheers
JS
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JS, New Delhi

uneet · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Mileage

k_ajay · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject: Comments

Hi JS,

That's an excellent mileage you've experienced JS. That's one of diesel's strong points with the Fabia..

Regarding audio on rear door:
You've got to know that the audio head unit DOES NOT have pre-outs to power any speakers on the rear door. Far, the rear door speaker slots don't even have speaker cables running till the slots.

When I checked with an audio installer, he said I might have to 'bi-wire' [not sure if that's the term] or pull power by drawing speaker wires from connecting them to the ones coming to the front door slots, thereby reducing the power coming to the front speakers.

I didn't think that was ideal, and to get a good sound setup for all doors, I think more advanced install work will be required, or change the audio Head Unit, neither of which I was ready to do, fearing voiding warranty.. I might probably consider rear door speakers after warranty concludes..

Whatever you may decide to do, my advice is to pay more and get an expert audio installer to touch your Fabia.. Especially ensure cable connectors are used and not the cable cut and insulation tape job.. Cheers.

Let us know what you decide for the rear speaker slots..
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Peace precedes Prosperity..

JS, New Delhi · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 5

Dear Ajay..

It has been an excellent advice. Thanks so much. Maybe it is better not to touch rear doors for installing speakers.
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JS, New Delhi

JS, New Delhi · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 5

Dear all..

My thrill and excitement as far as the vehicle is concerned is unabated. It has recently given me an average of 19.87 (689 kms in 34.65 lts; a combination of city and highway driving in ratio 60:40). Tomorrow I am off to Pitthoragarh over this long weekend which is something I am looking forward to!!

Will give you an update, along with images as I return.

Cheers
JS
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JS, New Delhi

john.thomas · Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Kottayam

Dear Ajay,
I too check with Marikar(skoda dealer Cochin) regarding installing speakers on back door. They said it will cost me around Rs 5000. I was wondering why that much cost to fix 2 speakers. Anyway as I was busy that time did not fix it. Now I understand why that much money.
John
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John

k_ajay · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject: Hiya

JS Saab,

You make me envy your car's mileage.. Diesel rocks..

John,

Surprised Marikar only quoted Rs.5000/- for rear door speakers.. However, please be very wary since a lot of negative feedback has been posted for Marikar Engineers dealer on TBHP, especially in the last one week..

Also, from my experience that TAFE A.S.S declined installation of any after market equipment on my fabia, I would recommend you getting a letter from Marikar that they're installing the speakers and with a sales invoice/bill from them, before they install.. If needed, at a later date you can prove that it's them who performed the installation and you didn't do it elsewhere [almost all of us know Skoda dealers' blame game by now Very Happy

]

It's much better that way and you're safer, than them doing it today, the installation job leading to another problem due to their inefficiency and then Marikar asking you to pay for relating problems/damages.. Please be careful and I hope you take the right decision. Also, check with them on how they'd cable the rear speakers.. If they're drawing power from the front speakers, you'll loose the output quality from them...

Good luck mate.
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Peace precedes Prosperity..

john.thomas · Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Kottayam

Ajay,
Thanks for the advise. You are right about the poor service quality of Marikar.
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John