Skoda, Honda, or Seat?

[nickmann]

A replacement car for my wife. We are looking at either a used Honda Civic, a used Seat Leon, or a new Skoda Fabia. The prime requirements are 5 doors, a decent NCAP crash rating, and smallness, and not French, Taiwanese or Chinese.

Without getting into the specifics of trim options etc, what do you all think? Any other suggestions maybe?

 

[BTB 500]

We got an 03 reg Honda Jazz 2 years ago - simply can't fault it. Great to drive, nippy (1.4 petrol), economical (consistently averages 50 mpg), totally reliable, and the unique 'flip up' rear seats are fantastic for carrying stuff (including big dogs!) in the centre of the car ... much easier than lifting into the boot.

Never has a Honda before ... it's a real gem.

 

[nickmann]

Good call. That looks like just the sort of thing. We'll check it out, thankyou.

 

[Dieselman]

Personaly I think any of the above will be good.
The Jazz is a good package but only available in petrol form, the Leon is larger, maybe an Ibiza might be more appropriate. The upmarket Fabia are good.
We recently changed my wifes car for a Fabia VRS and have no complaints, small outside, large inside. In fact it's the largest interiored car in it's class. Don't expact to get a fat discount off a Fabis and probably nothing off a VRS, the vrs residual is 91% after 1 year.

 

[scumbag]

i had a leon. bear in mind some models are built in belgium and not spain. and it leaked. altho mine was fixed, by a trip to a different dealer, the first one took 20days over a period of 2 months not to fix it. dealers were cak.
you may get the one that hasnt been fixed. The leon is big too like the above post said. and no rear view. you can only park them using the mirrors!!!! was a good car tho. plenty of space.

Skoda customer service is good and my parents bought a new Octavia last year. its fanatic value and well put together. the fabia was okay but they didnt do a auto diesel which I insisted they bought.

Hondas are well thought out and very well put togther. just a spot on the boring. The Jazz is recommended by most magazines. altho the Renault Modus is a bit more cubby hole friendly and the mags are raving about them too. but thats french so it will probably burn your sheep, and then smash your windows. And they stink of garlic, then they walk out on strike just before you need to go on holiday!

 

[Kinky]

Hondas all the way I'm afraid.

Honest and reliable.

Currently own 2 of them (Shuttle and Accord), and have 2 in the past (Civic and Accord) - and I can honestly say that they are the one brand I have never ever had a problem with whatsoever.

Ironically, when I got my first Accord (1999 Type V model) it was either that or a Seat - test drove both for a weekend - and the Accord won hands down.

K

 

[SEM]

Have to agree with scumbag Seat Dealers are the worst, BUT the cars are imo really Good, I've had 3 Seat Ibiza Cupra's and they have been great fun to drive (boy racer car). Have taken two of them across europe.. had no problems at all. 35mpg (average) and very pokie for a little car insurance group 13 for 20VT. Bad points.... little boot space but the seats fold down, tyres dont last on the front, and only 3 door. Lower spec models have 4 door (granny car). Have been told the Diesel is very economical

 

[petef]

The Honda Jazz has gotta win, nice package all round, and nice lookin car . I like SEAT too...but not too sure on the skoda...i think it still has an image issue and this reflects in resale values.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Too late to reason but the FABIA VRS seems pretty nice and economical too. A girl at work has one and cant speak highlly enough of it.

 

[CAT220]

Have heard nothing but good reports about the Skoda Vrs however id go Honda all the Way, Ive had my Civic Type R for 2.5 years now and its all round superb. Have had the Jazz as a courtesy car on a few occassions and was very impressed. Great engines/gearboxes and also good warranties backed up with good dealer sevice (in my experience anyway)

Good luck in your choice.

Cheers,
C

 

[jeremytaylor]

I think I'd go for a Fabia RS of the ones listed so far.

If you're talking used Civics, the current model is actually quite big. Drove a friends one (3 door Sport) and it was OK, just lacking in character (don't know if that's important).

The Jazz is highly rated apart from the suspension and lack of diesel.

Why the objection to French cars?

 

[lookskyward1]

Another vote for the Honda, second place for Skoda.

 

[BTB 500]

Honda recently introduced an even more economical 1.2 petrol engine for the Jazz, possibly instead of a diesel option. I suspect with small & light cars the extra noise/vibration/harshness from diesel may not be worth it. Certainly the new Polo diesel I had as a courtesy car last year was pretty bad in that respect ... like driving a tractor, compared to the Jazz.

 

[CAT220]

Why the objection to French cars?

Think the build quality is the main problem, my experience of Renault has been nothing but very poorly put together cars. Also renault/french cars in the same price bracket to Honda's will depreciate far quicker.

Cheers,
C

 

[jeremytaylor]

It's funny, this thing about French build quality/reliability.

I've had a few, mostly Citroens, over the years and they have all been good, and certainly nothing like other people's experiences. And yet the one VW I have had was abysmal, contrary to most people's impressions.

The only Renault I've had was an 18, which was fine as long as you had a spare clutch cable on board. The RHD conversion was very unkind to them, although the cable only failed on me once.

Ho hum.

 

[CAT220]

Seem to remember some problems in the last few years relating to the left hand drive conversions...was it not the case that in one instance the passenger could apply the foot brake?

 

[Lazarus]

Seem to remember some problems in the last few years relating to the left hand drive conversions...was it not the case that in one instance the passenger could apply the foot brake?

My HF turbo was like, that except it was the clutch, my friend riding *shotgun* discovered this and had a habit of dipping my clutch when I was trying to move off!

 

[CAT220]

My HF turbo was like, that except it was the clutch, my friend riding *shotgun* discovered this and had a habit of dipping my clutch when I was trying to move off!

 

[jeremytaylor]

A replacement car for my wife. We are looking at either a used Honda Civic, a used Seat Leon, or a new Skoda Fabia. The prime requirements are 5 doors, a decent NCAP crash rating, and smallness, and not French, Taiwanese or Chinese.

Without getting into the specifics of trim options etc, what do you all think? Any other suggestions maybe?

How about a used A-class. If you're not too bothered about the ultimate driving experience they are small but seriously roomy.

 

[BTB 500]

FWIW Honda Jazz was 6th out of 159 in Top Gear 2005 survey (highest placed hatchback).

Fabia came 9th.

Civic came 21st.

Leon came 56th.

A Class came 143rd.