Nothing yet. Even the tyres were at the correct pressure from new - and that's the first time a dealers got that one right for me!
The TDI PD engine is very refined for a diesl and extremely quiet. Unlike the 90 bhp TDI unit, which gets quieter with age, this one starts quiet.
The performance is ridiculously good for a car of this size with the possibility of still achieving 50+mpg if you are careful.
The handling is good, although the suspension is slightly too firm for my taste, but considerably more compliant than for example, a Ford Fiesta Zetec S. The Fiesta handled slightly better than the Fabia, but in every day use you probably wouldn't really care.
The wheels (16") look slightly too small for the arches, but with 17" wheels the ride comfort suffers.
The six speed box is nice, although it takes some getting used to. It isn't the slickest box I've ever used. Top gear is usable above say 40-50mph. By this I mean the car will accelerate comfortably on the flat in top. At motorway speeds top speed gives just over 2200rpm which makes for relaxed cruising too.
Some nice internal touches like Recaro style seats and vRS floor mats provided with the car.
Decent, though not earth shattering stereo with a single CD player.
I have just returned from Czech Republic after two years working on contract for Skoda. The sooner they are released from VAG ownership the better, then we can see the flamboyance the bouncing czech's have, maybe then we can see the 250bhp diesel they have developed, oh hush hush we cannot say that, or even we see what skoda were prior to communism - Lantra etc (same price as Rolls royce phantom)
What I am trying to say is the Czech's have some of the best designers in the world, but more importantly, they are a mainstay in every formula 1 team and every wrc team. Just let them go.
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