REASONS FOR THE FABIA’S LONG LIFE
The fact that Kirchhoff’s ŠKODA FABIA goes on and on and on even after seventeen years is no coincidence. The reason for its long life is prudent and materials-friendly driving. When a traffic light turns amber or a highway exit is coming up, Kirchhoff lets off the gas and slows down gradually – allowing the vehicle to coast. That saves on the brakes. “You should only have to change them every 300,000 kilometres. That is really important,” says Kirchhoff. In addition, he avoids stressful fuel-robbing manoeuvers when overtaking.
“I prefer smooth driving” , Kirchhoff says, explaining his strategy. He notes that while a sporty driving style may be exciting, it also pushes the car’s materials to their limits – not to mention what it does to fuel consumption. He didn’t always drive like this, though. In summer 2003, Peter Kirchhoff was caught by radar. Instead of the permitted 80 km/h, he was speeding along at 169 km/h. He had to pay a EUR 1,000 fine, was prohibited from driving for one month, and faced special sanction if caught exceeding the maximum permitted speed by more than 10 km/h before 2008. Kirchhoff took this warning to heart, and his desire to save on fuel was born.