Is the cost of upgrading to Fabia Monte Carlo 'worth it'?

[Blaze]

Hello all

Am looking at buying my first new car...and I want it to be a Skoda Fabia!

It will be a manual, in the new year when hopefully 2012 model runout sales are on. My preference would be Monte Carlo but I feel they are priced too high relative to Polo Comfortline in the Australian market - imo they should be 10% cheaper given overseas patterns, safety ratings, brand awareness, resale etc...at current pricing the Polo looks a great deal and I'll go that path if Skoda pricing doesn't change, I feel.

Does anyone know why Skoda's are pricing their Fabia's so high when I see few on the road and the company keeps talking about high growth targets? I would have thought sales in the small car category at sub and right on $20K was the way to go.......given they sponsor a stadium and an AFL football team in Sydney I would have thought they'd want Fabia's on the road in Sydney! Or is there a political dynamic in Australia btw VW and Skoda preventing 'realistic' pricing?

If Skoda won't undercut Comfortline, is the base level Fabia fair or poor value at around $3000 cheaper than the MC? Engines are the same so driving should be pretty similar...

Appreciate any advise from those who have purchased or considered a Fabia or are aware of Skoda's pricing policy/strategy...

[pologti18t]

From what I can see (carsales.com.au) a Monte Carlo manual can be bought for about 20K on the road. A Polo Comfortline can be bought for about the same price.

You have to ask yourself whether getting a basic Fabia and getting some alloy wheels is a better deal than the Monte Carlo.

The polo will be a more refined car (later chassis and 6 speed manual).

[Jake02]

Blaze if you like the Fabia more, then buy it! Why bother getting the car you don't like as much (the Polo) if it's cheaper? I don't see it. Look at the Fabias on carsales.com.au and a few fair undercut their $18,990 RRP (some even are the 2012 model with the Swing radio and Bluetooth audio streaming as standard equipment). A lot of Monte Carlos undercut their RRP too (even 2012 models) and honestly the Monte Carlo looks just so much better in my eyes so I'd say go for that. It looks like Skoda actually put effort into styling it, instead of copying the Suzuki Swift. It's interesting to note that Suzuki NZ did a limited edition Swift that looked almost identical to the Monte Carlo (even the 16 inch alloys we get here that should be 17s...), even though only one Monte Carlo was sold there.

It's your car Blaze, go for whichever one you like most!

[Blaze]

Blaze if you like the Fabia more, then buy it! Why bother getting the car you don't like as much (the Polo) if it's cheaper? I don't see it. Look at the Fabias on carsales.com.au and a few fair undercut their $18,990 RRP (some even are the 2012 model with the Swing radio and Bluetooth audio streaming as standard equipment). A lot of Monte Carlos undercut their RRP too (even 2012 models) and honestly the Monte Carlo looks just so much better in my eyes so I'd say go for that. It looks like Skoda actually put effort into styling it, instead of copying the Suzuki Swift. It's interesting to note that Suzuki NZ did a limited edition Swift that looked almost identical to the Monte Carlo (even the 16 inch alloys we get here that should be 17s...), even though only one Monte Carlo was sold there.

It's your car Blaze, go for whichever one you like most!

Cheers...haven't bought a new car before and my current car was before the time of carsales.com.au I think because I hadn't looked at it before!

Yes found there are a few MC's for under 21K, which makes things a bit easier. While I am happy to choose the vehicle I want within reason, my wife is an accountant (she won't read this!) and will say to me 'the polo has a 5 star safety rating, has 6 speed transmission and strong brand resale, we're not paying more for a marginally inferior product'. If I can get a MC for under the price of a Polo (ie around 20K), I might swing her based on individuality and interior head room/space. Battling the dealer will be easy after convincing the 'boss'!

If I saw a few more Fabias on the road it would give me more confidence in the product however..though people on this site and others seem pleased with their Fabia purchases.

[Blaze]

From what I can see (carsales.com.au) a Monte Carlo manual can be bought for about 20K on the road. A Polo Comfortline can be bought for about the same price.

You have to ask yourself whether getting a basic Fabia and getting some alloy wheels is a better deal than the Monte Carlo.

The polo will be a more refined car (later chassis and 6 speed manual).

Thanks for the carsales tip...yes saw the cars you refer to. I found out this arvo there is a sale on Polo Comfortlines this month, so maybe VW have told Skoda to back off discounting short term....suits me fine as I won't be purchasing for 3 months.

I'm guessing alloys will cost 1K or so which would mean around 19K for a driveaway base model....for an extra 1.5K I could get a MC or Polo - think I'm talking myself out of the base model as I type. Agree the Polo is an outstanding vehicle and I probably should just get one of those, but something about the Fabia appeals - can't quantify it.

[Difinity]

I think the MC looks better. Might feel better on the road too, not sure. I went looking for one and fell for the vRS instead. Costs a bit more, but is better value on the lease. Won't get it before New Year though it seems.
The Polo cost less, has less room, and is a little bland by comparison. But then for me a Monte Carlo can only be a Saab 96 so it had to be the vRS anyway. Good luck, I'm sure you'll love your new car.

[MJKooLio]

I too would buy the Fabia.... Perhaps the vRS though as I currently have the new GTI Polo...

I only drive auto so that's the case but the Monte only came in Manual and knew I'd pick up a Polo GTI at some stage as I couldn't. Wait for the vRS in Auto....

But get the Fabia to be different, it'll be cheaper on the servicing, basically a VW so you can take it anywhere and probably get cheaper parts from CZ online!

[VAG newbie]

I had a similar struggle myself when I was choosing between the Passat and Superb. Back then the Passat seemed "better value" and from every aspect, I should get a Passat. In fact I even put the deposit in and signed the contract, I was set to get the Passat.

However, my love was still toward Superb. Every time I saw a Superb pass by I just couldn't help but take another look at it. I regretted every time why didn't I get a Superb. I tried to go to VW car yard at night looking at a Passat trying to fall in love with it. I just couldn't. Eventually I realized I won't enjoy the Passat if I get it and I'll regret for another 3 years until my lease is due. I cancelled the Passat order (luckily VW dealer completely forgot my order and left he contract sitting in a pile, I used that as an excuse and cancelled it without panalty) and got myself a Superb.

And you know what, after 10 months of ownership I still have that grim on my face every time I sit in it. Especially when I got my RVC fully functional now, I would giggle every time I think about it!

I agree resale is important. But the difference will be a few hundred bucks only, especially if you keep it long term.

Safety? 4 star is safe! You need to read the full EuroNCAP to see why it got 4 stars. There is another thread purely on this. Did you know Jaguar XF only has 4 stars? So is Nissan Xtrail, Mitsubishi Challenger...etc, that don't make these cars unsafe. A Toyota Yaris a 5 star, now you try to have a head on collision of an Yaris vs Nissan Xtrail or Mitsubishi Challenger and see who wins! Don't read these crash tests just on "stars" alone. This is how you can convince your Mrs.

Brand awareness? VW is just a German Toyota, nothing special about it. Skoda is actually a prestige brand in India! In fact, Polo is made in S. Africa, whereas Fabia is from its own factory in Czechia. Which one is better? It's like comparing a Samsung LCD TV from its own Korean factory vs Sharp TV from China. At least we know based on JD Power survey, Skoda is up there with the very best regarding reliability, VW is right at the bottom.

At the end of the day, don't get a car you don't like just based on these factors.

[Merrick]

My wife needed a new car to and from work. We tried few Korean and Japanese cars and they were blunt and the last car we tried was Fabia Monte Carlo. Initially we wanted to try VW Polo too, but after the test drive we were hooked to Fabia and we put $2000 deposit down for Fabia Monte Carlo red with DSG, driveway price $23000. I just enjoyed driving my wife's Monte for a week to and from work. This car is really superb! Looks good, drives well, Bluetooth, voice control, well equipped, heaps of leg and head room to name few. And DSG is just great! We are very happy with the car and our decision. Congratulations to Skoda.

[MISS VDUB]

Dude, get the Monte Carlo, you wont regret it. I was originally going to get a Polo until I drove the Fabia. Much more bang for your buck than a crummy comfortline, plus its something a little different from all the other polo's i see on the road. I get alot of great comments about mine, so many people love the styling of the Monte Carlo!