Fabia - 1.4 TDi (105ps) v 1.2 TSI (110ps)

rhysduck · 11 Feb 2016 at 09:18

Looking at a Fabia to replace the Mrs' Yaris soon.

Torn between the two engines above however. She does about 10000 miles ish a year but none of it (very little) long journeys.

I'm thinking the Diesel would be a bit of a waste despite the extra ~15mpgs that it could potentially give us. Giving me thoughts about the DPF too.

The 1.2TSi is still respectable on the mpg front. Going to test drive the petrol later today hopefully. The Diesel was a good little engine when I test drove it, plenty of low down punch in 2/3rd. Feels faster than what it is. Everything that I've read and experience will suggest that the TSi will be smoother. Not that bothered too much as I have my MK7 GTi to drive, but just wondering what would be best given situation.

What's the general consensus? 1.4 TDi or 1.2 TSi?

Howard · 11 Feb 2016 at 09:43

The TDI is really horrible. The TSI is a nice little engine and is fairly punchy in a car the size of a Golf never mind a Fabia. That's about all there is to it, really.

Borealis · 11 Feb 2016 at 09:45

I've got the Fabia Estate SE with the 1.2TSI 110PS and 6-speed manual box. As far as I'm concerned, it is very good. Are you looking at the hatchback or estate?

The 1.2TSI at 110PS comes with the 6-speed manual gearbox as standard or a 7-speed DSG if you're into auto-boxes. If you're just doing short journeys and 10k/year, then the 1.2TSI would be my recommendation. It has plenty of pull and happily cruises at motorway speeds in 6th gear. I went up to Yorkshire on holiday last year and it was very comfortable on the motorway, even though it was fully loaded and weighed down with 3 adults and a boot full of luggage.

paradigm · 11 Feb 2016 at 10:39

I really like the 110PS TSI in my mother's Polo. It's a peach.

Howard · 11 Feb 2016 at 10:43

Heck, I had a Golf 1.2TSI with 85bhp a while back and I was impressed.

wesley · 11 Feb 2016 at 11:09

i hired ibiza 1.2TSI for a week in spain. loved the engine.

Dogbreath · 11 Feb 2016 at 12:50

My step mother has a Fabia with the 1.2TSi and it goes surprisingly well, I was quite impressed.

Janesy B · 11 Feb 2016 at 12:55

Petrol.

swinnie · 11 Feb 2016 at 13:15

1.2 TSI all day long, particularly for that mileage.

I've got one in my rapid, which is only 86PS (~85bhp) and is a solid engine, and will be closing on 100k by the end of this year.

Sasso · 11 Feb 2016 at 13:26

Friend has the 1.2tsi is his scirocco and to be fair it has quite the little punch to it!

Colbaker · 11 Feb 2016 at 13:51

Don't go diesel.

I had the Fabia 1.6 TDI and sounds like i do the same amount of hours as your wife, The DPF light would come on monthly which also causes issue's with the oil. I thought i did enough fast long driving to warrant a diesel but i was wrong, gone petrol all the way now.

rhysduck · 11 Feb 2016 at 14:12

Thanks for all the comments, seem's like it's quite unanimous on the petrol.

It's a 15plate Fabia SE L 1.2 TS 110ps Hatchback that we're off to see.

Shall report back later this evening!

rhysduck · 12 Feb 2016 at 21:34

Deposit put down on the above car!

Dav4 · 12 Feb 2016 at 21:43

How did the power and drive compare in the TSI to the TDI?

robnut · 12 Feb 2016 at 21:45

I have the 1.2 tsi dsg in a Yeti and apart from mediocre economy on the motorway its been fab.

rhysduck · 12 Feb 2016 at 22:37

Dav4 said:
How did the power and drive compare in the TSI to the TDI?

Much much smoother, gearbox felt totally different too. Doubtful that they are different box's on the petrol / diesel (?) though. But just felt a lot smoother and refined than the diesel.

All round a cracking little car. Mrs is over the moon with it. Now to sell the Yaris

Borealis · 12 Feb 2016 at 22:54

Good to hear you liked it then! I'll be the first to admit that Skoda can be one of the more boring brands, but that little 1.2 is just brilliant for what it is.

As a hatchback, it should be a bit more sprightly than mine, although the wheelbase is the same (one of the reasons I got the Fabia estate over a Focus hatchback). It really can turn-on-a-sixpence!

It was my first experience of a 6-speed gearbox and unless you're on the motorway, you don't really need the extra gear unless you're aiming for low revs and max mpg. The 6-speed is unique to the 1.2TSI 110PS manual, none of the diesels have it.

P.S. My 15 plate had 27 miles on the clock when I bought it, 7 of which were my test drive. The other 20 miles were moving it off transporters and I guess maybe a test drive or two.

flinco · 12 Feb 2016 at 23:17

Petrol all the way.

marl · 13 Feb 2016 at 13:14

Borealis said:
I've got the Fabia Estate SE with the 1.2TSI 110PS and 6-speed manual box. As far as I'm concerned, it is very good. Are you looking at the hatchback or estate?

The 1.2TSI at 110PS comes with the 6-speed manual gearbox as standard or a 7-speed DSG if you're into auto-boxes. If you're just doing short journeys and 10k/year, then the 1.2TSI would be my recommendation. It has plenty of pull and happily cruises at motorway speeds in 6th gear. I went up to Yorkshire on holiday last year and it was very comfortable on the motorway, even though it was fully loaded and weighed down with 3 adults and a boot full of luggage.

How many mpg do you get?

Gaygle · 13 Feb 2016 at 13:39

Good choice.

These low displacement 4 cylinder diesels are often so unrefined and horrible to drive, getting 2 second lumps of power before it all tails off. Whereas the low displacement petrols with small turbochargers are normally zippy and smooth.