Skoda Fabia 2000 test drive - 2007 -

The main thing is packaging

As you know, good packaging is the key to the market success of the goods. At first glance, Fabia bribes a sense of solidity, high cost and reliability. In this case, a favorable psychological perception is formed precisely by packaging with design and selection of materials. How really is the Czech supermini in reality after 34 years of operation?
 

A feeling of solidity, high cost and reliability is Fabia from Volkswagen. Even the socialist favorite, which was no better than the VAZ nine, the Germans were able to turn into Felicia a budget car quite decent for their time. And Fabia has only an emblem from Skoda and some gasoline motors. In all other respects, it is a 100 % Volkswagen on the same platform and the aggregate base created Polo. Hence the strict design, and expensive finishing materials, and the right, in German stiff chairs. And Fabia is very spacious inside. In any case, for the rear passengers, it is preferable to Octavia, in which you can’t shed for a tall driver. The station wagon also has a vesting trunk.
 

Okay, the tailored body of Fabia does not deceive. Galing on both sides, it does not lose the presentation even after five years of intensive year -round operation in salted Moscow. Supporting materials of the salon are also in no hurry. The only spoon of tar here quickly wiping to the holes of the casing of the KP lever. Go to any auto -catering, order a case of genuine leather and forget about it. But in the internal equipment of the body and salon (electrician, reinforcement) there are enough cockroaches. Some characteristic malfunctions are caused by constructive shortcomings, others in the quality of the assembly. In general, in the relatively narrow circles of Skoda, it is widely known that in the quality of manufacture and reliability of Fabia is inferior to Octavia. But if there were some problems caused by the human factor in the car, they are probably already eliminated by the first owner.
    
Diseases of electrical equipment

Most of all, the rimmer of the rear window takes out a little trifle. Either the supply tube jumps, then the nozzle cap or the nozzle itself will be lost on the sink. But these are really trifles. The tube can be fixed with a clamp, and a cap with a nozzle is a penny. It may also flow the windshield of the glass is already a frontal.

Another characteristic fault of the rejection of the servo of the heater damper, after which warm air begins to spontaneously flow into the salon. The damper requires replacement. But if the air conditioner turns on for no reason, it turns out, most likely, you need to change the evaporator temperature sensor. But Freon, which is leaving after 23 years,, unlike many cars, does not at all indicate rotten tubes. Usually it is enough just to season the air conditioner.
 

After 34 years of operation in Moscow, an electrician begins to buggle from road salt and dirt. When the button of one of the electric windows is sticking, the case is done by replacing the penny button. But if the electric drives begin to spare off not only glasses, but also the mirrors (including their heating) and the internal lock of the central lock, the Comfort block was oxidized in the driver's door (it is supplied with the glass windows engine). However, do not rush to buy a windshield engine when something is clearly buzzing and moving in the door, and the glass does not fall. Most likely, from the lower edge of the glass, the bracket mechanism jumped up. We disassemble the door and put it in place.
 

If the light does not light up when opening the doors, the warning zummer does not squeak, and the alarm gives false alarm, it means that one of the electric shocks (most often, the driver's door) was out of order).
 

Electrical equipment malfunctions can also cause engine overheating. Sometimes the cooler fan fan But more often (after 34 years), the fan motor refuses the salt and dirt. When a person finds out his value ...
    
How much does a replacement cost, $

Collpat of the washer nozzle 4+3.5
Witer nozzle 5+18
Washing pump 52+21
Heater damper 115+53
Overhaul temperature sensor 35+105
Piplter button 4.5+7
Comfort block 88+21
Electro -loading door assembly 115+39
Fan inclusion sensor 29+25
Fan motor 270+18
 



The old horse does not spoil the furrow
According to German traditions, the widest gamut of engines was installed on Fabia. But if you discard exotic, which are found in the secondary market once a year, in Russia two 1.4-liter motors of one production of Skoda, the other Volkswagen are most popular.
 

The absolute leader of the market is the old Lower Czech engine leading its history since the time of socialism. Naturally, before installation under the hood of Fabia, it was thoroughly modernized, equipped with fuel injection, valve hydrothens and, depending on the modification, developed 60 or 68 power forces (now it has already been removed from production). The Czech motor is good for the city. It is quite painful, which is especially important at low speeds. But on the highway, and at full load, with a working air conditioner he already has to strain. Therefore, if you have frequent suburban trips, a 68-horsepower modification is preferable (in the city the differences between it and the 60-horsepower is practically not felt).
 

In operation, the engine is unpretentious. The owner of a used machine must be prepared for replacing the timing chain (it tends to stretch), a water pump and the ignition cassette. However, all this costs moderate money. The replacement of the injections and the engine control of the engine that has abandoned the salt and water of the computer controls is more painful. But if the nozzles after 100,000 km begin to spit for sure, then the computer rarely crashes.
 

Machines with a Volkswagen engine on sale are much less common. The German motor itself is much more progressive: 16-valve, with two upper distributions, depending on the modification, it produces 75 or 100 forces. But even in the best years, when the Skoda was sold at real prices, modifications with such motors were expensive. Stostering machines in expensive trim levels were still somehow bought. But the 75-horsepower version (at the price it was almost no different from the more powerful), only those who needed an automatic box with other engines were not combined. However, cars with automatic transmission appeared already when Skoda began to grow rapidly, so they are rare.
 

The Volkswagen motor is considered very reliable. But, obviously, there are simply few statistics on it.
 
Engines in operation

The Czech and German engines combine only the life of the spark plugs (on our gasoline there is an average of 15,000 km) and a possible leak of the radiator of the cooling system if the bumper rests at the cave -free snow. Otherwise, the engines are completely different.
 

Skoda engine

If he is troit, despite the new candles, most likely, the spark plug is common to all cylinders. In addition to it, the culprits of power and uneven operation of the engine can become coaxed injection nozzles. Symptoms appear after 80,000100,000 km, however, not on all cars. Experience shows that flushing already clogged nozzles helps for a short time. They still have to be changed. The engine control computer refuses even less often (in this case, the motor does not start) when its connectors rot (shown by the arrow). This happens if in winter the car spends the night in a warm garage or the owner abuses the motor sink.
 

All of the above malfunctions are possible, but not at all required. But to replace the timing chain with sprockets (its condition must be checked after 60,000 km), a tensioning roller of a drive belt (begins to buzz after 40,00050,000 km) and a water pump (flows after 60,000 km) the owner of a used Fabia must be ready in any case. By the way, not only a pump can flow, but also a fan inclusion sensor (just put it on a sealant).
 

Volkswagen engine

Unlike Czech, the timing is given here. Together with the videos, it is ordered to change after 90,000 km.

So far, mechanics note only one characteristic age malfunction of the high -voltage wires of the ignition system, as a result of which the motor begins to touch and poorly start in raw weather. Three years later, a set of wires must be changed.
    
How much does a replacement cost, $

Candles 19 (38) +14
Radiator 166+100

Skoda engine

Ignition cassette 155+7
Injecting injection (4 pcs.) 596+35
Engine computer 492+36
Time chain with stars 54+130
Drive belt 21+11
Water pump 68+88

Volkswagen engine

Front belt with rollers 127+85
High -voltage wires 110+14




Almost certainly a mechanic
As you already understood, the used Fabia will most likely be with a manual box. What to expect from her? As usual, clutch replacements. With proper circulation, it serves up to 100,000 km. However, the clutch pedal in Fabia is soft and, like all Volkswagen, long -term. It is necessary to adopt to her. Those who do not really succeed burn the clutch for 10,00020,000 km. In the cold, clutch cylinders flow both the main and the worker. The pedal in both cases fails. In addition, over time, the transmission selection drive is spanned especially the first. Adjusting usually helps. But the oil in the box does not need to be changed. It is flooded for the entire service life, so during this, you only need to control its level.
 

In the machine, oil change is also not provided, although after 45 years it is still better to update. No characteristic sores for automatic transmission have yet been observed. There is no statistics on resource either.
    
How much does a replacement cost, $

The main clutch cylinder 70+32
Clutch working cylinder 77+25
Clutch set 188+105




Where densely and where is it empty
The vitality of the Fabia chassis cannot be evaluated in any way. There are details in it are very durable, but there are frankly weak ones. Among the latter, the anterior reptile stabilizer and the bearings of the front hubs can be noted. An early sample stabilizer was made as a whole with plastic bushings. When they got out of rubber pillows and began to knock, the stabilizer had to be changed entirely. Then a new -sample stabilizer appeared, interchangeable with the old one, and the problem left. Therefore, in the table, we brought the cost of replacing the stabilizer for that rare case if you get a 45-year-old car with low mileage. The bearings of the front hubs go only 30,00045,000 km. Their design was also changed, but it helped a little.

It presents surprises and steering with an electric power. If the force on the steering wheel changes sharply and arbitrarily, and on the dashboard, the signal lamps of the engine and electrical power failure light up, the steering sensor probably failed. The electric pump of the amplifier refuses. The steering wheel is heavier once and for all, without bursts of amplifier activity. Well, if the steering rack flowed (this can happen after 60,000 km), it must be changed.
 

In addition, rear pads and working brake cylinders quickly wear out on machines with drum rear brakes. They usually do not live to the second replacement of the pads.
 

Other details of the chassis of complaints do not cause. Brake calipers, provided that it is cleaned and lubricated for each change of pads. And such positions as steering rods, ball supports and silent blocks of levers have been serving for a long time. Especially tenacious shock absorbers of an enhanced suspension with increased road clearance (Fabia was supplied to Russia only on such). With a 100,000-year run, they are usually still operational.




Buy?
As you can see, from the point of view of the reliability of Fabia is not perfect. For the same technically complex passat, such a number of characteristic sores would be the norm. But for a simple baby, this is a bit too much. But, firstly, not all statistical malfunctions will affect your car. And secondly, depending on what to compare Fabia. By charisma next to it, you can put only one popular super-Majo-206 we have. But I would not say that 35-year-olds are much more reliable. And by the ability to look solid and expensive to look competitors at the time at one time at all. Unless Volkswagen-Polo. But it was sold in scanty quantities. Therefore, if you are originally configured for a used compact car, and in Fabia you are attracted to a feeling of solidity and high cost, I do not see an alternative to it.
 

The only problem is that sellers of used cars speculate on the ability of a little Skoda dearly to serve themselves and push off from the current, clearly high price of the new Fabia. As a result, $ 900010,000 is asked for 3-year-old cars with a Skodovsky engine, and for rare specimens with a German engine and even $ 10,50011,500. When the chapter is new, with a guarantee, for the same money there are a single-graders, this is not right.
 

   
Fabia-universal in the secondary market is sometimes found. But the sedan is rare




New, with a guarantee, for the same money

Apart from the obsolete Nexia and the completely Spartan Pointer, instead of 3-year-old Fabia, you can buy four quite decent traffic vehicles, emphasis, Rio and symbol. True, at a price they compete only with 16-valve fabia and only in the basic equipment. And in a decent configuration, about $ 1000 is more expensive. But what is a thousand (and even two, if you repel from the 8-valve version), when it comes to direct classmates of new and far from the latter in the tables of ranks.
 
Alexander Konov, photo of Alexander Sadovnikov
 
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [18/2004]