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rmuir

rmuir

rmuir

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Joined
18 Mar 2006
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1,252
Well, i finally got round to going car hunting today and was all set to have a look at a ton of Mondeo TDCi's and maybe tease myself with used e39 5's. However i had to stop at asda for some grub and while the missus was hard at work spending our hard earned i took a wander over to the Skoda emporium and ended up getting a test drive in a Fabia vRS... i was left speechless to be honest. The grunt that it has in second gear thru to six is unbelievable and considering it can crack 50 mpg i am mighty impressed.

I know there are a couple on here that own one so your views on day to day life the Fabia would be much appreciated. Stuff like tyre costs, etc etc.

Cheers

Considering a red 55 plate for £10k with 9k on the clock.

already registered @ briskoda.
 
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I brought one about a month ago. Loving it in every way. Managed 70mpg on a trip from leeds to nottingham which was driving 75 most of way. On a spirited drive from leeds still getting 55-62mpg.

Around town is brilliant as all the torque just makes it fun. I haven't got mine remapped as insurance would kill me but people seem to rave about it and in the future if i still own the car would think about it.
 
70mpg!!!! thats crazy stuff...

Im pretty set on one now, before todays test I was intrigued by one but not overly bothered. Quite addictive the pull in fourth and fifth.
 
You clearly didnt bother to test drive the E39 5 you had your eye on then.

A Fabia vRS doesn't even compare, you'd feel hard done by even if you got one as a courtesy car whilst your E39 was being serviced.
 
What he says ^^^

When I took the Fabia VRS for a test drive, I didn't find it that comfortable to drive and the dash seemed very plasticky and rattled a lot. Very off putting. A BMW would destroy the Fabia in terms of build quality.
 
[TW]Fox said:
You clearly didnt bother to test drive the E39 5 you had your eye on then.

A Fabia vRS doesn't even compare, you'd feel hard done by even if you got one as a courtesy car whilst your E39 was being serviced.
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Not that i didnt bother, none within striking distance unfortunately. In all honesty the servicing/running costs seemed prohibitive.

I will openly admit, in an ideal world, i would have an e39 over a fabia any day. However i would be looking for the car to last six maybe seven years @ 14k miles a year ( at most ) most e39's I looked at on autotrader had 60k miles ish so after seven years thats what... 150k plus...

Also had to consider im doing 200 miles a week to work and back.

I know your still gonna make sense of this for me fox, i just know you will.
 
Slackworth said:
What he says ^^^

When I took the Fabia VRS for a test drive, I didn't find it that comfortable to drive and the dash seemed very plasticky and rattled a lot. Very off putting. A BMW would destroy the Fabia in terms of build quality.
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I drive a rover 416 on a 98 R with 81k on the clock. To me the car appeared to be hewn from granite... :p
 
rmuir said:
Also had to consider im doing 200 miles a week to work and back.
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Exactly. And what better place to do it than in an E39.

Ok sure it's going to cost more but then, travelling First Class is always more expensive than Standard Class ;)
 
rmuir said:
...a test drive in a Fabia vRS... i was left speechless to be honest. The grunt that it has in second gear thru to six is unbelievable and considering it can crack 50 mpg i am mighty impressed.
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Another man sees the light. ;)

Yeah they are great cars, I don't know of anything faster without being less economical to boot, also great to live with my 54 plate has done 34k without missing a beat. Just a few hundred miles ago I replaced the rear tyres for the first time and the fronts for the 2nd time. Other than that just three 10k services at something like £180, £140, £180. It's only group 9 so insurance won't break the bank. Build and material quality is excellent, it's not a 5 series but I think it's better than anything French, from GM or Ford which must put it in the top 20% or so.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Exactly. And what better place to do it than in an E39.

Ok sure it's going to cost more but then, travelling First Class is always more expensive than Standard Class ;)
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Cheers fox...

Im still seriously considering a fabia reasons for this is the servicing seems reasonable ( £160/£255 alternate ) insurance is 384 via Bell and the mpg/performance ratio will take some beating

anyway, found this http://tinyurl.com/le3ts says discount for no part ex, which considering the skoda folks would only give me 500 notes for the rover seems tempting. How low do ya reckon i could go on that?

And to refresh my addled mind. Whats servicing and general costs like on an e39.

Though i doubt the 525i/525d will match the shove of the Fabia vRS.
 
rmuir said:
And to refresh my addled mind. Whats servicing and general costs like on an e39.
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Pricey.

Main dealer:

Oil Service: £180ish
Inspection 1: £300ish
Inspection 2: £400ish

Knock £100 off those prices for specialist independants. Servicing is roughly every 15k - and goes Oil, Ins 1, Oil, Ins 2, Oil, Ins 1 etc. So you only need the expensive £400 service every 60k miles.

Though i doubt the 525i/525d will match the shove of the Fabia vRS.
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[/quote]

You are joking right? It might not feel quite as quick becuase it's so refined, but it'll certainly dispatch any following Fabia's with ease. Might as well get a 530d over a 525d anyway.
 
[/quote]

You are joking right? It might not feel quite as quick becuase it's so refined, but it'll certainly dispatch any following Fabia's with ease. Might as well get a 530d over a 525d anyway.[/QUOTE]

never having driven one i suppose surprise would be closer to my reaction then.

my budget would be 10k, would that get me a 530d that would see me seven years @ 14k miles a year and still be going strong?
 
I really dont know about BMW's but i know for sure there a world above VRS's, dont get me wrong, there both good, but theres level's of good, why settle for second best?
 
[TW]Fox said:
Becuase if he must have diesel, he is going to struggle to get a minter for £10k.
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Tell me about it, ive hunted high and low for a even half way decent e39 d, and there have been some close but just not close enough.

Plenty of pre-facelifts but then its cloth interior, or they don't have climate... etc etc
 
What's wrong with a mondeo TDCI ghia x?
Its a comprimise of the 2 cars,
It's more luxurious and probbably more comfortable than the fabia, it has decent economy, cheaper servicing (I paid £130 last time) and has more toys than either.

It also has a decent engine with enough poke to get around and decent economy.

edit - happy? :D
 
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