Fabia 1.2 HTP mini review

Yesterday we bought a Seat Arosa 1.0 S Mpi. Or something. 03 plate 1.0 Arosa anyway, with alloys, a CD player and electric windows and RCL. It has a soft touch dash. It isn't that fast, in fact, it's 50bhp takes it from

0-60 in the same time the Vee can go from 0-60-0-60 :)

Full review when I collect it on 30th November.

Awesome. Since everyone these days is getting into the STD scene, I think we need to start to quantify the softness of the dash, and compile ranking tables for comparison, alongwith cup-holder count and other such car-nut essential facts.

To kick this off, the STD coefficients for the current fleet: '93 205 GRDT: not technically an STD, but the plastic is slightly flimsy and flexes under pressure, so I'm giving it a score of 1 '98 primera: Slightly squishy. Not pillow-like 'I wouldn't mind hitting this at 70mph' territory, but satisfies basic dashboard-fondling requirements, so it gets a 4 '04 golf: hard, scratchy stuff. A few squishy rubber bits, but not enough for any decent fondling - 2 is being generous. '07 fabia: slightly squishier than the primera, with lovely rubber bits on the heater vents, so it gets a 5

Pretty poor pickings, actually. I'm slightly ashamed...

OH I FORGOT THE CUP HOLDERS.

It has 2 - centre dash, that at hidden till you press the front. Oh yes, then they pop out, and are damped when you push them back in. I'm not even lying.

Ditto for the Vee, but no flex or rattles, so I'm awarding a 2.

The Arosa MUST score a 7 or even 8 here...

Since this is a mods group, surely we should be considering the availability of aftermarket STDs? For a first look you've got your basic leopardskin/pink fur/other appalling fabric coverings, all of which give a car a real 'special' feel. Surely Ripspeed have woken up to the pent-up demand for other STD supplies?

(and of course for the equivalent to eg that nova with the tins tied under the exhaust, there's always a big tube of builder's silicone...)

cheers, clive

i'm more ashamed of you writing all that and going as far as ratings too!

Had one on holiday in Ibiza, - pretty much as you say- a perversely infectuous 3cyl thrum which encourages you to thrash it, though no more speed is available. Easy to bounce off the rev limiter (most of the time) Saddled with a heavy body doesn't help, but cossetting interior. Rolley polley handling.

Quite shocked to discover that the 1.2 panda was better, faster, more refined and nicer in almost every way. (apart from illegible stereo display in sunshine)

Tim..

I had one as a courtesy car while my vRS was in for service. I thought it was OK.

The high torque power means 'compared to the original 1.2 in the Polo'. I thought considering it'a weedy 1.2 it coped OK with a relatively lardy body.

Like you say, the handling is OK but the grip is limited by the tyres. I nearly got caught out by the brakes after the vRS :-)

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

Ooh, ooh... me Sir, me Sir!

Probably from the same parts bin as the ones in the Mk4 Golf TDI estate I got last week.

The dash... it's soft to the touch as well.

The seats... no pile rupturing massage properties, but unusually for a Mk4, they're heated - something I've not really considered as a worthwhile option in the past, but strangely I've been using them this week and they're actually rather good.

Mods so far: cheapie tuning box and a set of Audi TT 17s.

Anyone want an 04 Fabia 1.4TDI??? (1)

(1) None of you have come across as smelling of stale wee consistently enough to suggest you're at that time of life, so I'll take that as a no then. ;-)

-- JackH

Hehe. Here, have a 'whoosh'.

Photo's there-of????

Sister is looking for a new run about, as long as its decent.

Tim..

Ping me with an email addy that works, and I'll sort some out on Sunday once I've washed it.

Being a 'Comfort model' it has air-con, leccy front windows and heated mirrors, fuel computer, factory CD player and remote locking... but then so it should be given it's only done 30k from new, including a

1200 mile week carting us down to and around Cornwall a couple of weeks ago, and has full service history.

-- JackH

Email is valid, remove the obvious, and it should work!

tim..

I'm confused now, your sister is a 'comfort model' and once you've given her a wash you're sending out photos?

Heh. *thinks*

Actually only the Honda and the Saab have soft touch dashboards. The Ka, Mondeo, Cinquecento didn't. The Fiestas didn't either.

Thing is, even though I'll spend at least 20 hours a week in the car and often a lot more, I've never ever felt the need to lovingly stroke the dashboard.

And mine still works... ;)

1990 Golf. Vinyl foam stuff over some sort of chipboard. You can squash it a bit, but the fascia panel is hard black plastic which invariably has screwdriver marks around the radio slot, however there are funny grooves in the speedo housing which look mildly fancy. I'd say it'd be about a 3. And there's a fake chrome strip that runs across the dash and follows round the door cards. I'm not sure if that's a positive or a negative...