So I've been looking at replacing my daily hack, currently a Seat Toledo 1.9tdi which has been my first foray in to the VAG world (coilovers and wide wheels...) and I'm really bored of it. Fancy another little hatch for my commute and potentially the odd trackday.

I've had quite a few cars of all different types from Saxo VTS/Clio 182 to Mondeos and 3 series. Having just bought a place with my partner and having a 6 month old daughter I want to keep costs down, I've been looking at either a mk6 facelift Fiesta zetec s 1.6 TDCI or an 04ish fabia VRS with a budget of about £3k

Who's had experience of the fiesta? Would you recommend? I'm swinging towards the fiesta as they're so cheap to run and with a bit of fiddling I think I would be happy with 125 bhp. That and I have a set of Compomotives that'll fit

 

fabia with a 170bhp remap all the way for me. I have the same engine in a bora and it goes well.

 

I just feel like the Fabia's are too much money for what you get, the interiors are terrible and they aren't exactly good looking cars, the only thing I prefer over the fiesta is that they are that much quicker..

 

I reached the same conclusion and bought the bora, it was also cheaper to insure, but obviously isnt a small hatch. The golf/leon/a3 are all worth a look.

Tbh, I couldnt live with 125bhp in anything apart from a bike nowadays.

 

They're all the same as my toledo (which is 145bhp) and I'm not interested in having another, I had a 200bhp 320D and that was nice, as was all the other 'quick' cars I've had but I want something I can take on the occasional track day but is cheap to run (80 mile a day commute)

 

If I was doing 80 miles a day, I wouldn't be buying either of those, it would do my head in. I used to do a long commute in a Clio 172 and it was just awful.

I'd be looking at a Mondeo ST TDCI/BMW 320D/330D or something. Still a bit of fun but way nicer for the daily grind.

 

I only have to drive 2 or 3 days a week, I've done it in just about every type of car, 320D, 2 different mk3 Mondeos, a 1.4 fabia, a 407sw my stripped E36 with no stereo, 6 point harnesses and a welded diff. My toledo, both as a standard car and coilovers wound all the way down. If the BMW wasn't so bad on fuel I would happily commute in a car with harnesses and a bucket seat again. I can either motorway or through the new forest national park so the journey is quite pleasant in something a bit more fun

 

Oh and a 172 Cup, a couple of different Mx5's, an E30 BMW, an E320 CDI, a Discovery 1 and a few other weird things

 

Out of the 2 I'd go for the fabia. No idea why, just prefer it seen some quite nicely modified examples about.

 

In which case why are you considering the fabia which is also identical underneath?

You wouldnt catch me near a trackday in a 125bhp fiesta, which leaves the answer to your original question as 'neither'.

If you want a commuter/fun car/occasional trackday car you need to decide what your budget and minimim fuel economy is. I'd struggle to look past a full fat clio 182 to be honest if you can live with the small car motorway skittishness (you obviously can based on your car history).

 

If you only drive a few days why not get a petrol.

ST170s are a fun car. There underated imo.

 

Ibiza tdi pd130. Love mine, remapped to 165bhp and returns 50 mpg all the time.

 

No nead for a diesel if you are not doing lots of miles but if you must then look at 123d they are twin turbo 200 bhp and not bad for a 4 cylinder DERV and handle well.

I bought one a few months ago 2008 3dr 70k miles £8k -'sold it after a month as I don't like 4 cylinder diesels they sound like tractors.

A 335i twin turbo petrol was the correct answer - same price and 200% nicer car to drive.

 

I personally would look at the Fabia. There is such so much more aftermarket parts for VAG cars out there and far more specialists.

If you are set on getting a Fiesta with the DV6 engine than look at this thread first...
https://passionford.com/forum/genera...termarket.html

 

Research the cam chain issues carefully, IMHO not even in the same league of risk/running costs as any of the cars mentioned.

 

Shame the fabia looks utter wank, my washing machine looks more appealing!

 

I'd pick the fiesta a map and focus injectors and they go well plus I think they look good and are comfortable the skoda interior is enough reason to make me not want it

 

This ^

loved mine, used to surprise the hell out of loads of people only downside and the reason I got rid of it was even with stock suspension (which I only changed for lowered when a spring snapped and the lowering kit was free) was its just too bumpy, it killed my back driving for long distances. I'd love another just for the fact it was so damn quick and nimble, cheap on fuel/hardly used any and was cheap to fill up.