Skoda Fabia Combi test drive since 2008
Freedom in Cuba
Skoda-Fabii Universal Combi replaces a second-generation car. Mikhail Gzovsky visited the presentation in Croatia. Photo by the author and Skoda. Remember the Skoda-Felicia? In the mid-1990s, it became one of the first mass foreign cars in Russia, and it was the combi version that was especially popular. About ten years have passed since then. About the same passed from the moment when the troubled time ended in Croatia. The presidents of Serbia and Croatia apologized to each other for the war of 1991-1995. Now the Croats live freely and independently, which they are very proud. Even an application to the European Union was submitted
The place of the test - the resort city of the split - is chosen, not otherwise, with a hint: Croatia receives the main income from tourism, and most of all vacationers go from the Czech Republic (on the Skoda?). The engines of Fabia of combi are no less-seven: four gasoline (1.2-1.6 l; 60-105 hp) and three diesel engines (1.4-1.9 l; 70-105 hp. .) For all engines-5-speed mechanical gearboxes, and for the most powerful gasoline, you can also order a 6-speed automatic. I chose such a modification.
Several kilometers along the streets of Split is enough to look around in the cabin. The same seats, instrument panel, materials, in the already familiar Fabia and Rumster. The overall impression of the interior also did not change - in German sound, but without a spark. I hope it can carve a 1.6-liter engine?
Alas, with him Fabia-community is quite leisurely and also noisy. The motor is listening literally from the second thousand revolutions and soon forces him to abandon sharp accelerations. Automatic 6-speed gearbox with the possibility of manual switching-from Volkswagen in a Czech car for some reason suffers from excessive thoughtfulness and far from the standard. For contrast, I tried a 1.2-liter version with a capacity of 69 hp on the move. Contrary to expectations, such Fabia rides pretty good: the crankshaft is honestly spent to 5400 rpm, and the maximum moment is shifted compared to more powerful engines of 1.4 and 1.6 liters by 800 revolutions down. This saves fuel and strength on switching. Probably, a clear work of the gearbox helps a sensation of relatively easy acceleration. And this motor is much more successful in terms of acoustics. But with vibrations, things do not matter: the three -cylinder unit trembles with all the shafts and transfers tremor to the body, pedal, the gearbox lever and the steering wheel. The start is not easy: it is difficult to catch the moment of closing the discs, and it is easy to stall.
The chassis settings are good: a dense suspension shakes, but does not allow breaks; You easily rotate the steering wheel (with adjustment by departure and height), but with easy sadness from not perfect feedback. But in the bend, the car holds well, does not jump from the trajectory, even if under the wheels of irregularities. Eh, the engine of strength at 130 is asking here! But is this the advantages of the station wagon? In a picturesque bay, lined with expensive yachts, laid out a luggage compartment on the shelves. So, the distance from the edge of the trunk to the backs of the rear seats is impressive - 959 mm. For a car class of Fabia, there are many places in the trunk - 480 liters: 54 liters more than that of the predecessor, and 33 liters more than in Felicia -Combot. And if you lay out the seat, get 1460 l -this
already 235 liters more than the first -generation Fabia universal! The transformation procedure, unlike the same Rumster, is uncomplicated: pulled the pillow, knocked his back, pulled the pillow from the axis if necessary and pulled it out of the cabin. Simple and smart solutions, in accordance with the motto of Skoda - Simply Clever: the luggage compartment on top covers the curtain, one click on which is enough to boil into a roll. Very convenient when loading! The lid of the trunk opens highly - the risk of hitting your head is minimal. You can lay moisture -resistant mats on the floor, and, loading, say, a pair of bicycles, break free
By the way, about freedom: Croats can get to the ski resorts of Austria without visa formalities; Tyrolets are happy to go down from the mountains and
warm on the banks of the Adriatic. It is precisely the passion of Europeans to automobile travel, as well as frugality, and the success of the first-generation Fabia-community is explained: 640,000 cars were sold. The current Fabia is still available to Europeans (in Russia it will appear in the spring, it will cost from 369 thousand rubles), but even more practical, decorated more expensive and richer. So, he builds freedom of movement to a new degree The history of universality
For most Russian drivers, the biography of the station wagons from Skoda begins with the Felicia model - how long has it been a welcome alternative to the Zhiguli and front -wheel drive Samara? But the roots of the universality of Skoda go much deeper - in 1932, when the Skoda -Popular 1100 OHV model entered the market. Despite the three -door body, the station wagon won the reputation of a successful - reliable and unpretentious. By the way, Skoda-Popular 1100 OHV worked in the ambulance. She was replaced by an even more successful Skoda-201. In just six years, they released 70,000 in only six years - at that time there are a lot.
Source: The magazine "Driving"
