skoda fabia 1.2 ambiente MPI or Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 Petrol Emotion Pack

I think everyone is referring to one of case of Skoda after sales service. But one has to understand that such cases can be just an exception! It is also well-known fact that Skoda spare part are costly. But other than this with longer service intervals and better reliability factor, you just can not write off Skoda. Fabia is a very good looking and a reliable car.

30 to 70 (30-80)

25 to 60

These figures are Important for City driving. Mostly I use to drive @1500 to 3000 rpm in city and 80kmph is maximum I can touch in my city that too for few seconds only.

So, I think Power too is Subjective, I am very happy with the power of only 68PS (Fiesta) because of city driving 25 to 80kmph figure. So, its better to check in Test Drive whether power is sufficient or not. Every carmaker is launching car after alot of research so every car is having some Pros & some Cons.

Service back-up of Hyundai is better than Skoda but with Support of Tata, Fiat is not behind. Build quality and Interiors, Skoda is very good but maintenance I heard is high and I am very curious to know the Service detail of Fabia.

@ Uneet: Can you post Service detail of your Fabia? I hope you have covered over 15000 kms now.

Hi Rajiv,

As we have 5 cars in our garage, I have managed only 6500 kms in my Fabia in nealry 11 months!

My car is due for its first service by end july. Estimated cost is Rs. 5000/- Will let you know the full detail once its serviced.

Not when the vehicles are of the same class - even if there is a difference in kerb weight etc the power differential will be marginal, hardly what you might call a decision-maker or breaker.

Mate,

For starters the Fabia is a fantastic car. It's engineering and finishing is absolutely top notch. Having said that, the service blows. The parts are retardedly overpiced. The car is marginally underpowered but should suit you in a city. Skoda petrols don't retain good resale value. The Fabia as a model has flopped miserably in the Indian market which is a shame 'coz it is a great car - just not worth the price (before and after-sales) and the service. Plus the Punto comes with 4 year warranty - the Skoda has a 2 year warranty. I would go for the i20 first, followed by the GP and the Fabia would be last on my hit list.

Excellent information.  I hope all data is for 1.2L engine because Fabia and Punto offer two petrol engines.  Even for 1.4 L engine Punto's 0-100 is  14+ seconds.  But some how our auto experts were successful in  implanting the idea in customers head that i20 is underpowered with 1.2L engine, though it generates power @lower rpm.  Few  years back some auto experts were given complimentary Maruti 800.  I have seen friends, who take TD of i20 and declare car is underpowered, though they are not auto enthusiast - It is more of a psychological virus.  In UK, i20 is offered with 1248 cc and 1400 cc petrol engine and experts recommend 1248 cc engine over 1.4 L.

What is ACI?

Thank you all for the inputs!

Now, as my confusion was between fabia and Punto. I took test drives of both the vehicles yesterday at the interval of one hour, so that i could compare the vehicles easily, and here what I found, this refers purely what i experienced in the vehicle. I took test drive of Grande Punto 1.4 petrol Emotion pack and Fabia 1.2 MPI ambiente-

Grande Punto Experience -

I liked the red PUNTO's eye catching looks, the exterior with alloy wheels and sharp lines is so kool, it gives you a kind of sporty car feeling from outside. When i step inside of the vehicle, It was a big disappointment for me that you have a long list of features for the vehicle, but all cheap plastic really isnt impressive at all. Engine noise was ok, and the AC was working fine. Gear shift and pickup were not exciting though. I felt the cars suspension is excelent. Music system is complete let down, having 4 speakers in the car, music quality was fairly ordinary and the voice got completely distoted on high volumes. I dont have much technical knowledge on the cars but overall, I would say if someone thinks the car has enough power and it will be rocket on the road, its wrong It wasnt exciting at all. And specially for me what matters is the feel of car and the interior, because I will be enjoying my car siting inside not by looking at it from outside. So overall experience was a let down for me.

SKODA FABIA Experience -
Exteriors are not class apart, but has a distinct looks. The build quality is excelent. The moment you open the door get inside and close the door the thud voice gives you an assurance of excelent quality and bulit. and interiors are not complicated and quite pleasant- PUNTO stands nowhere. I drove the car 15kms, and since I was driving the car just one hour after i drove PUNTO, i can tell the difference is phenomenal, FABIA's gear shift and response is nowhere  compared to PUNTO. I dont go to the technicality where PUNTO is 1.4 ltr 90 BHP and 1.2 ltr 70 BHP, but i felt i was getting better performance in FABIA. moreover interiors are nice enough to enjoy the car with the family. Music system was excelent and if you put 2 rear speakers it will be more nice.

My Decision
I have decided to wait for the FABIA delivery. I dont want to think much about spare cost and After Sales Services, because till now SKODA people have been very nice and courteous to me. I feel this is the only small car where everything is balanced. On indian roads i will never drive more than 120 - 130 anyways. and today I touched 150 easily and the vehicle was absolutely stable.   

@Amit - This information is for 1.2 Fabia and 1.4 Punto. i20 in anycase is 1.2 while swift is 1.3.

ACI - Auto Car India magzine.

@Kumar -- Nice to go through your honest opinions in both the cars. Now as i told you that I already own Fabia and despite that i will like to suggest you to go for Fabia diesel and not Petrol. My reasonings are:

1. -- Iam hearing lot many stalling issues in Fabia Petrol.

2. -- Also there are chances that Skoda may bring in the 1.2 tsi engine instead 1.2 mpv engine for Fabia Petrol. If they do so iam very sure that its gonna be a very good decision as 1.2 tsi is world class engine. In that case there will be more depriciation on this engine.

3. -- The resale is better in diesel Fabia as compared to the Petrol sibling.

IMO try to go for Diesel ambiente or classic which ever is in your budget.

Also the service costs are same in both the versions - Petrol and diesel.

Milaege - Petrol - 9 - 11, Diesel - 15 - 17

Rest the decision is yours.

Thanks Uneet! Fabia is really A class car and the only cons is maintenance. If someone's running is 15000 per year Fabia makes sense as 5k per annum is normal maintenance. I would like to know the cost of other parts (mainly accidental). If you have any info?

Hi Rajiv,

The prices for the spares including accidental was published in ACI January'09 issue. Fabia was the leader in all departments.!

Yes it really makes sense to run it for 15000 kms (which is there normal service interval) and then get it serviced for an appox average expense of Rs. 6000/-