2004 Skoda Fabia VRS 1.9 130bhp Diesel vs 2016 Ford Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost 123bhp petrol

[simon12]

I wouldn't bother posting this except @Chippy_Tea indicated he was making a similar switch in the electric car thread I thought I would give my summary of the difference. I have had the skoda since 2008 and the fiesta for a day. So 1st the paper difference is:
BHP 0-60 MPG combined Tax £
Skoda 130 9.5 52.3 150
Fiesta 123 9.4 65.7 0
So in performance theres nothing between them but the fiesta is more economical to drive & tax, but to drive they are so different in the skoda you are always driving in the power band and it will pull in much lower gears ie at 40mph I would always be in 4th in the skoda (and even in 5th it would still go) and if I touch the throttle it would accelerate, while the fiesta will not accelerate in 4th @ 40 at all and 3rd seems to the the gear for the speed and even then it feels slower. Pulling out onto a fast moving road the skoda always seemed to have a lag going from 0-something in comparison, and you can stay in 1st and 2nd much longer in the fiesta but it feels you have to really give it sum, so I think the fiesta is better pulling onto as roundabouts about in a small gap but getting quickly up to 40-50+ its about even. I have not tried the fiesta on a motorway yet but thats where the skoda was best it had the same 50-70 as a 911 and had a 6th gear. The fiesta has buttons and dials everywhere that I have no idea what they do but will work out with time and the things you need are all in the same place as the skoda which is nice. Over all I much prefer driving the skoda but am happy enough with the fiesta. I would much rather someone hadn't driven into the skoda and I could drive it until it was dead but stuff happens and its not the worst thing going on now.

 

[VW911]

My son's not long owned an '04 Fabia VRS - not been driving two years yet, and only 19 years old.
He absolutely loves it.
(I don't think I'd be willing to pay what he does for insurance for any car!!!)

 

[simon12]

My son's not long owned an '04 Fabia VRS - not been driving two years yet, and only 19 years old.
He absolutely loves it.
(I don't think I'd be willing to pay what he does for insurance for any car!!!)

My insurance went under £200 on it for the 1st time

 

[VW911]

He pays more a month than I pay for a year on my Daytona 675!!!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have been put off some makes by the fact (a little known fact) modern cars are now running belt in oil (BIO) one of the timing belts (yes there are two) is now inside the engine now call me an old cynic but at belt changing time are you going to believe they have changed it as its going to be right pain in the arse to do and as the guy in the video says there are two belts the normal one that any mechanic would know to change and this BIO one they didn't even know existed and they work on them all the time, call me old fashioned (a dinosaur) but i like timing chains they make a noise if they are wearing a belt just shreds its teeth and your engine is fecked, my next car will have a chain.

Watch the video below its a bit of an eye opener.

 

[chrisb8]

I have recently gone from a DS3 1.6 diesel 120bhp to a kia rio 1.0 petrol 120bhp. The rio only has 3 cylinders but is turbocharged. Both the same bhp but significantly different to drive because of the diesel/petrol difference. As you describe in the OP the diesel always has power no matter what the revs but with the petrol you have to get used to continuing to rev that bit higher to get the engine in the sweet spot - once there though it continues to pull much longer than the diesel in my opinion.

The DS3 was a good car to drive but unfortunately lived up to the French car stereotype - only 4 years old but had the problems of a 10 year old plus car. When the most recent trip to the dealer I was quoted over £1000 for repairs I said enough was enough. On the other hand the 3 year old kia still has 4 years of warranty so that was a big selling point.

 

[mickthetrick]

i recently purchesed myself an upgrade. 18 month old vitara. its has a 1.0l, 3 cylinder turbo engine. great on fuel and knocks spots of my former car which was an 11 plate focus 1.6 petrol.
like chalk and cheese. i only do 3 to 4 thousand mile p.y. so should get a good few years out of it.... hopefully!

 

[Leon103]

i recently purchesed myself an upgrade. 18 month old vitara. its has a 1.0l, 3 cylinder turbo engine. great on fuel and knocks spots of my former car which was an 11 plate focus 1.6 petrol.
like chalk and cheese. i only do 3 to 4 thousand mile p.y. so should get a good few years out of it.... hopefully!

My wife as the same engine in hers. Great engine, she usually gets a new one every 6 months but with covid she as kept hold of this for now. She had the 1.6 version previous and the 1.0 knocks spots off off it.

We actually use it now to tow the caravan. My volvo xc90 is good for towing heavier things but the lightweight caravan just bounces too much so we use the vitara and it's cheaper

 

[Chippy_Tea]

i recently purchesed myself an upgrade. 18 month old vitara. its has a 1.0l, 3 cylinder turbo engine. great on fuel and knocks spots of my former car which was an 11 plate focus 1.6 petrol.
like chalk and cheese. i only do 3 to 4 thousand mile p.y. so should get a good few years out of it.... hopefully!

The 1.0l, 3 cylinder turbo engine model is top of my list, one of the best car reviews-

The 1.0 and 1.4 engines are both cam chain.

 

[mickthetrick]

The 1.0l, 3 cylinder turbo engine model is top of my list, one of the best car reviews-

The 1.0 and 1.4 engines are both cam chain.

Chippy-Tea if you can go for one do it.. they really are a nice motor. very good on juice. im getting around 48 mpg around the doors and ive had it up to 57 mpg on a long run. for a motor its size its very impresive. no slouch too when you want it to go.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Chippy-Tea if you can go for one do it.. they really are a nice motor. very good on juice. im getting around 48 mpg around the doors and ive had it up to 57 mpg on a long run. for a motor its size its very impresive. no slouch too when you want it to go.

I know i said the 1.0 is top of my list but the 1.4 turbo petrol also ticks all the boxes, fuel economy isn't much lower and at my age the extra insurance cost wouldn't put me off, how do you find it at motorway speed i have read the 3 cylinder can be a bit noisy/rough at 70 - 80 mph.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I had read the 1.0 boosterjet engine can feel a bit slow with a 11.5 sec to 62mph but as you say "no slouch too when you want it to go"

One review -
I have the SZ-T 2 wheel drive 1.0 boosterjet and I am totally taken aback by this engine. Its certainly feels much quicker than the 11.5 sec to 62mph as given to us by Suzuki.

 

[Leon103]

When I drive the wife's car I think it's very responsive. No issues on the motorway, engine and car is very quite. Towing it will do 30mph on the motorway, a little less on other roads. You can see why I prefer towing with it. My wife has had several since the new shape was released (2015), and never had any issues, although the longest we have kept one is 12 months.

 

[mickthetrick]

I know i said the 1.0 is top of my list but the 1.4 turbo petrol also ticks all the boxes, fuel economy isn't much lower and at my age the extra insurance cost wouldn't put me off, how do you find it at motorway speed i have read the 3 cylinder can be a bit noisy/rough at 70 - 80 mph.

goes very well at 70 / 80 and gets there no problem. ive never noticed it being noisy tbf. set the cruse control and its great.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

My wife has had several since the new shape was released (2015), and never had any issues, although the longest we have kept one is 12 months.

Suzuki came 5th in the 2019 JD Power survey, i have read elsewhere they have a good reputation for reliability and fair servicing prices.

 

[Duxuk]

I'd imagine the OPs observations about the difference in performance and not being able to pull the higher gears is due to the difference in torque. Power output is a different beast. It's the turning force you need to get it moving, That's why electric cars are so impressive off the mark. You get maximum torque from zero rpm.
My own car is 16 years old, gives me a healthy 207 bhp and visiting my son I covered 268 miles at 47.3 mpg. Can you guess what it is? Yer can keep yer 1 litre 3 cylinder turbos!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

My own car is 16 years old, gives me a healthy 207 bhp and visiting my son I covered 268 miles at 47.3 mpg. Can you guess what it is? Yer can keep yer 1 litre 3 cylinder turbos!

I will trump you with 12 year old 55 mpg (on decent journey) 1.3 diesel which is getting to the age where things have started to wear and fail the MOT, EGR valve recently replaces, front shocks, some suspension parts and a bit of welding, i can remember when i bought the car petrol was 5 pence a gallon dearer than diesel and now look at it i am looking forward to the change and will not be buying a diesel again in fact if i could afford a new EV i would buy one but that's one for another huge thread - Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 2030 under PM's green plan

 

[VW911]

43 years old and 210 bhp. I won't quote the mpg though!!!

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

call me old fashioned but my next car will have a chain.

I fully understand that a fully electric car is not a possibility for many people, as on-street charging is difficult and the purchase costs are still rather high (but coming down). That said, and having had some VERY entertaining petrol cars in my time, I now find it quite reassuring to have no timing chain, no gears, no diff and no exhaust pipe...

 

[simon12]

Small update, the fiesta is alright its slightly smoother on both good and bad roads, I get less of a feel on how much grip I have but since I don't drive like a nutter thats unimportant. I tried to use the radio and failed so will have to try when not driving. The clutch is heavier than the skoda while the other pedals are about the same it feels like the brakes are as good but not had to do an emergency stop yet and it doesn't have discs all-round like the skoda. I don't like the tinted rear windows as its harder to see out when its dark and rear visibility is worse. Next thing it to work out how to turn on main beam. I still prefer the skoda, in addition to the above because I don't have to care about dents & scratches in an old car and the interior was destroyed long ago so didn't have to worry about loading up with dirty stuff to take to the skip.