Still on the search for the wifes next motor and last week when the Superb was being serviced we got a Fabia 1.0 tsI 95 PS hatch for the day. I had asked if they could if possibly make it the version we were considering i.e. an estate 110 PS with 15" wheels (not the 16" 45 profile ones) but 2 days later I suspected it would go all wrong when I got a call asking when I wanted the Karoq test drive I had requested. When I picked up the Fabia as expected the chap I spoke to had not told anyone what I had said and the car provided matched none of my requests i.e 95 PS not 110 PS, hatch not estate and it had Carlos Fandango tyres.

Went out onto the peak driving on dual carraigeways, A roads and hilly B roads and it was magic. Plenty of grunt from the engine even in 95 PS form (the 110 PS has 15 more PS but 30 more torques as well) and even on the 45 profile tyres the ride was excellent, better than the Note on 65 profile tyres, quite a shocker that one. We wanted the estate to try the MIL's wheel chair for size but it fitted with no issues in the hatch which has a very good square boot. Rear seat space is a bit less than the Note but better than some cars in the size class above and is ample for us. Having looked at some old brochures I found when moving house last year the Fabia Hatch is actually a tad bigger than a Mk2 Golf and just a tad smaller than a Mk3 Golf and we managed with those from 1986 to 2002.

Managed to get a drive in a 110 PS hatch on Friday and it was difficult to tell if it was any better since Friday PM in the city with speed cameras is not the best environment for a test drive. One thing that was definitely better was the 6 speed box in the 110 version. Filled the gaps better than the 5 speed which was not entirely happy at 30 mph in 4th, the 6 speed was. For the record the Wednesday car had 4500 miles on the clock and was nicely bedded in, the Friday car had 15 miles on the clock thus was probably a bit tight.

So we are pretty much decided its a 110 PS SE-L hatch with a few options. Still have to decide on the colour. Main problem is delivery, dealer quoting 12 to 16 weeks which is fine for us but with a revised model due later in the summer (only minor changes and a PPF) I do wonder if production will stop early like it did in 2016 with the Octavia.

As usual Carfile.net is offering great prices.