[netchef]

How about them apples?
Leave the indicator on and switch off the Fabia engine. Then lock the car door. Guess what happens? The set of parking lights on the side of car that was 'indicating' remain on!! Fancy that. It drove me bananas. I stepped out at a friend's house and just could not figure what was going on. I actually thought she must have blown a fuse or something equally sinister till my Oz buddy trickled out and did some sputnikking. Turned out thanks to his sharp auto-wit that it was only a truant indicator left on inadvertently.
And puzzled the daylights out of me.

The Music System
With Bangalore traffic getting more treacle-like, I tend to switch off the engine at signals to conserve fuel. When it's time to go, I often haven't the time -or presence of mind, or both- to turn off the radio/CD and switch off the A/C before cranking her up. She shuts down the ICE for that couple of seconds while the battery is fully loaded with turning over the engine, before restarting it (the ICE, that is). However, she automatically turns down the volume a couple of notches- WISE. Could blow your speakers if not simply jarring the occupant's ears if you had been listening at 'disco' levels. Good idea, if you ask me.

Take care, you guys, and drive safe.

[rakesh_raja]

Originally Posted by netchef

How about them apples?
The set of parking lights on the side of car that was 'indicating' remain on!!
The Music System
However, she automatically turns down the volume a couple of notches- WISE. Could blow your speakers if not simply jarring the occupant's ears if you had been listening at 'disco' levels. Good idea, if you ask me.

Interesting observation..that one. Will check it out today and revert if there is anything different in the way she behaves!
As for the volume reset, it is indeed a very good feature...my previous Alpine set also had this. You will be glad to know that the Fabia system goes a notch ahead and allows us to set the volume level where it should be reset...same for levels while reversing...while using handsfree etc.

One observation from my side..dunno whether its the expected beahviour. The lighter/charger is functional even when the ignition is switched off...useful, if you have to charge your mobile and you dont have to go anywhere...no point in idling. However, what happens if you plug in the charger and leave it there for a couple of days? Does it drain out ur battery?
cheers:

[netchef]

Originally Posted by rakesh_raja

Interesting observation..that one. Will check it out today and revert if there is anything different in the way she behaves!
As for the volume reset, it is indeed a very good feature...my previous Alpine set also had this. You will be glad to know that the Fabia system goes a notch ahead and allows us to set the volume level where it should be reset...same for levels while reversing...while using handsfree etc.

One observation from my side..dunno whether its the expected beahviour. The lighter/charger is functional even when the ignition is switched off...useful, if you have to charge your mobile and you dont have to go anywhere...no point in idling. However, what happens if you plug in the charger and leave it there for a couple of days? Does it drain out ur battery?
cheers:

rakesh_raja:
BUT yours is the higher variant and could possibly be blessed with fancier functionality.

Anyway, I don't think the phone charger would drain your battery as they hardly consume much power. It's a great facility, though, that the socket remains live even when the engine is shut off.

[rakesh_raja]

Originally Posted by netchef

rakesh_raja:
BUT yours is the higher variant and could possibly be blessed with fancier functionality.

RG Sir...for the second time in less than 30 days, you have under estimated your Fabia variant!!!
Since, this preset volume levelling for multiple modes is a feature of the DANCE audio set, the features would be pretty much standard across the board...no classic, ambient and elegance rating for the ICE set, as far as I know.....go, check it out now...and correct me if I am mistaken....
cheers:

[netchef]

Originally Posted by rakesh_raja

RG Sir...for the second time in less than 30 days, you have under estimated your Fabia variant!!!
Since, this preset volume levelling for multiple modes is a feature of the DANCE audio set, the features would be pretty much standard across the board...no classic, ambient and elegance rating for the ICE set, as far as I know.....go, check it out now...and correct me if I am mistaken....
cheers:

RR: kind of you, Sir, to correct me with such patience. I shall check it out immediately. To make me feel good, the Doc has ordered more pictures. From guess whom.

[netchef]

There was a movie by that name ages ago and it was filled with a medley of wild machines and racing shenanigans. Excited a gaping college student, I can vouch.

The Fabia really grows on one. You slowly get acclimatised. Learn the controls, get a feel of what she does best, get familiar with her sounds. And it's the last that brings me to the sweetest symphony ever. It's muted. It's backgrounder to background, and it's probably why it took so long to figure it out- though naturally, these 19XX kms were also spent testing out the ICE which kind of pales all else. Anyway- I got the measure of the turbo kicking in. Around 2800 or 2900 RPM, my Fabia's turbocharger starts singing in a genteel soprano that's a bit like listening to Charlotte Church or Dame Kiri Tekanawa from a great distance off: you know there's power there even if the distant sound waves only caress like a feather. It's neither loud nor imposing, but a very subtle aria she launches into and it's gorgeous. First signs were purely because I tired of the prattle on the radio and switched off the ICE.

I've yet to take the engine beyond 32XX RPM so I cannot say whether the sound gets sweeter and stronger, but it's a pleasure to behold at the levels I did.
Nakamichi makes music. Harley tried to patent their exhaust notes. The ring tone on my mobile phone is off a V-8 motorcyle made in Oz. Fabia should cut a disc.

Q: could anyone tell me what a supercharger sounds like? I read that Benz muted their Kompressor to be less obtrusive. IMO that's sad. Has anyone heard a Wankel engine- the Mazda or Norton or the Van Veen?

[ajmat]

t it was only a truant indicator left on inadvertently.

I find this feature most useful when parking on busy unlit streets

[netchef]

Originally Posted by ajmat

I find this feature most useful when parking on busy unlit streets

ajmat:
Makes sense, Sir. Should not drain the battery, you think?

BTW could you please change the title of this thread to 'Skoda Fabia (pics on pg 6, 21, 29)'? Reason being it can hardly be considered exclusively my Fabia story anymore- it has many owners writing in with their experiences and pictures, hence the need to drop 'Diesel'. Much obliged.

[nipunkul]

Hi all, I have had the fabia for 3 weeks now and have been driving within Bangalore as well as Mysore road, outer ring road etc. Here is what my impression is until now:

- The transmission and steering are extremely precise. Cant say the same for the torque
- Low beam is too dim in some situations, but adequate in most. Turning the beam adjust dial downwards with high beam gives far reaching illumination
- The gadgetry is brilliant, everyplace has a button; esp liked the right hand lever multi display button
- The mats and flaps I got from the dealer are very good quality and easy to clean
- The ORVMs are big and clear and tho I nicked the left one in low speed in busy/jammed colony lanes against one thing or the other, they havent picked up any scratches/scuffs.
- The overall mileage I am seeing is over 11. But it seems the highway potential is way more than city (around 13-14), all with AC on all the time.
- I have not figured out the clock setting, tho i tried shifting the reset lever right/left as in the manual... any gyan is invited
- The manual says the boot release should be on the door below the door/window buttons, it isnt there... have not been able to find. The door unlock on the drivers door and the central unlock on central console do not seem to open boot. So it becomes necessary to remove key and use key remote... any options?
- Overall the car is very good for city driving as well as highway cruising, but it is no drag racer by any means.

Would be happy to answer any questions (given I know, still a newbie)

[netchef]

Originally Posted by nipunkul

Hi all, I have had the fabia for 3 weeks now and have been driving within Bangalore as well as Mysore road, outer ring road etc. Here is what my impression is until now:

- The transmission and steering are extremely precise. Cant say the same for the torque
- Low beam is too dim in some situations, but adequate in most. Turning the beam adjust dial downwards with high beam gives far reaching illumination
- The gadgetry is brilliant, everyplace has a button; esp liked the right hand lever multi display button
- The mats and flaps I got from the dealer are very good quality and easy to clean
- The ORVMs are big and clear and tho I nicked the left one in low speed in busy/jammed colony lanes against one thing or the other, they havent picked up any scratches/scuffs.
- The overall mileage I am seeing is over 11. But it seems the highway potential is way more than city (around 13-14), all with AC on all the time.
- I have not figured out the clock setting, tho i tried shifting the reset lever right/left as in the manual... any gyan is invited
- The manual says the boot release should be on the door below the door/window buttons, it isnt there... have not been able to find. The door unlock on the drivers door and the central unlock on central console do not seem to open boot. So it becomes necessary to remove key and use key remote... any options?
- Overall the car is very good for city driving as well as highway cruising, but it is no drag racer by any means.

Would be happy to answer any questions (given I know, still a newbie)

nipunkul:

Lovely report, Sir. Keep them coming.
'Newbie' has nothing to do with the ability to sense and the urge to convey an opinion.

What I'd love to see is a pic of your engine bay. Drive safe.

ps. a motorcyclist bumped ino me this a.m. on the Wind Tunnel Road, obviously because he wasn't maintaining safe distance behind me, and didn't have the courtesy to apologize- he simply rode off. Oh for a small Beretta to ventilate such specimens. Thankfully he left just a tyre burn on the bumper that should wash off or evaporate with some aggressive rubbing.

[MadRash]

Found these pics in a European Skoda forum. I have no information about the crashes. But just want to show how intact the cabin is.

Mods: I just want to show the capability of a specific car. Hence I'm not posting these pics in Accidents thread.

Regards
Mahesh

[netchef]

Originally Posted by MadRash

Found these pics in a European Skoda forum. I have no information about the crashes. But just want to show how intact the cabin is.

Mods: I just want to show the capability of a specific car. Hence I'm not posting these pics in Accidents thread.

Regards
Mahesh

MadRash:
Sir, those are some prangs. The red Fabia and the Zakaz car are in a shambles- chilling. Thanks for the pics. It does appear like the Fabia is sturdy. Gives us all a reality check- safe car or not, I hope it makes us all drive more carefully.

[SidMeer]

Hi everyone,

My Fabia 1.4MPI delivery has been delayed by 2 weeks. I just got off the phone with my dealer. He said Skoda is upgrading the software in the petrol cars and that's why there is a delay in 1.2 and 1.4 deliveries.

I don't mind as long as I get better software and hopefully with that a better drive. Sad part is my bank has disbursed the loan & I start paying EMI from next week. I just hope there are no unnecessary delays beyond what the dealer tells me.

Is anyone else in the same boat?

And those who just got petrol deliveries? Would you ask your dealer to get Skoda to upgrade your software as well?

[Invinsible]

I just got my car stanley seats done. It's in sand color with silver touches on the seats, side panels and on the steering. Went for classic leather with rib effects and silver strips on the side countour of the side. As well as the front and rear headrest has a silver touch where the front part of the headrest is in silver and rear part is sand color. Got the steering done too in black and silver finish. Overall adding silver really breaks the effect of having a monotone effect. Looks really neat and different.

[naikpranav]

I had another outing 4 days back, this time to Malshej Ghat.

We had some work to be done at Panvel, and after finishing it at about 2, we decided to go to Lonavla, but I was wiser, and said "Malshej" so we had to drive another 110 km to get there, the car feels even more like a dream with a heavyweight at the back, it was planted and superbly composed all the way on the twisties, which i would throw it into between 90 and 120, and the straight stretches taken at 140. the journey down the ghat was done at a humble 40, cuz we just couldn't leave that place like that, with the girls standing on the seats right out the sunroof, one heck of an impromptu journey !

Im loving this car even more each day i drive it !