Skoda Fabia VRS...

GinG · 13 Nov 2006 at 14:05

Possibly early next year i could possibly changing jobs within the company and may require a diesel. Want to get away from the ford badge as i feel there are very little choices for a decent performance diesel. Plus i dont like the mk6 ZS.

Anyway i kinda like the Fabia however i feel it lacks a bit of styling on the outside. However this can be fixed ny adding bigger wheels, dropping it and just getting some sideskirts fitted.

Most of the reports i have read have really gone in the favour of this car, im just wondering if anyone acctually owns one, or has driven one and could tell me what they think.

Also if anyone can get a decent pic of one to photoshop i wouldnt mind a quick look at it just dropped on standad alloys also

Cheers

Dogbreath · 13 Nov 2006 at 14:27

A friend bought a brand new one recently and had the delear fit the 17" wheels. Nice car in general, but the big wheels give a very harsh ride, certainly not something I would be looking at doing motorway work in (I assume thats why you need a diesel?).

Lowe · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:03

My best mate has one, driven it a couple of times. They're a nice and torquey, effortless, comfortable drive really. Handling is good, but isn't quite as sharp as something like a Clio 182 etc. Plenty of poke though, enough to get it moving out of slow corners quickly and the in gear acceleration is pleasing.

If I needed a diesel I'd certainly have one, though I can't help wishing they did a 3 door.

*Moangroan* · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:47

I think the current vrs will be stopped late next year........just make sure you get that one before u end up with the new one...although this is standard I think....lol

http://news.auto.cz/nova-skoda-fabia/nova-skoda-fabia-stojici-a-za-denniho-svetla.html

Leeum · 13 Nov 2006 at 16:35

Apparantly Skoda will be doing a limited edition model in blue before the release of the new shape Fabia next year :cool:

The new vRS won't be released until about August IIRC.

My dad picked up his 55 plate vRS in black a couple of weeks ago and is very impressed - he prefers it to the Golf MK4's he's driven for the past few years.

Black is the best colour imo but it's a real pain to keep it looking clean, invest in some good quality wax! I'd also recommend getting some form of scotch guard fabric protector for the interior as the white on the seats doesn't stay clean for long.

GinG · 13 Nov 2006 at 16:46

Leeum said:
Apparantly Skoda will be doing a limited edition model in blue before the release of the new shape Fabia next year The new vRS won't be released until about August IIRC.

My dad picked up his 55 plate vRS in black a couple of weeks ago and is very impressed - he prefers it to the Golf MK4's he's driven for the past few years.

Black is the best colour imo but it's a real pain to keep it looking clean, invest in some good quality wax! I'd also recommend getting some form of scotch guard fabric protector for the interior as the white on the seats doesn't stay clean for long.

Nice, the one thing that bugs me is that it sits so high, i would deffo have to fit a lowering kit to solve this.

Im not too fussed on the ride quality, i wouldnt mind fitting 17" to these, can imagine this making it look a lot smarter. What are the arches like, are they the same as the golfs? can you fit decent size wheels under?

*Moangroan* · 13 Nov 2006 at 18:22

If you can wait for a possible limited edition......you might even get free leather with it......cos its going to drop in value when the new vrs comes out.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2006 at 18:26

Over hyped diesel citycar. It's no Clio 182.

Diesel · 13 Nov 2006 at 18:34

Leeum said:
Apparantly Skoda will be doing a limited edition model in blue before the release of the new shape Fabia next year The new vRS won't be released until about August IIRC.

Thought the new vRS wouldn't be available until 2008?

I've currently got a silver 54 plate, and it pretty good. Unfortunately its just got the common leaky door problem, but that'll be fixed under warranty soon.

Eibachs are the way to go if you want to lower it, plus a remap for extra "powah"!

Diesel · 13 Nov 2006 at 18:35

[TW]Fox said:
It's no Clio 182.

Was it meant to be? :confused:

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2006 at 18:37

Diesel said:
Was it meant to be?

The way some people on here talk about them you've think so..

GinG · 13 Nov 2006 at 18:54

[TW]Fox said:
Over hyped diesel citycar. It's no Clio 182.

If i wanted a clio i would have asked for your opinion, dont think there is a car in the clio's class that can out handle. However at the end of the day its still french.

Im starting to grow to the idea of getting one now, i would chip it and lower it as soon as i get it, however if i was to get the leaky door syndrome would i have voided the warrenty by doing these to it? Would u reccomend i wait a while before i did anything to it and see if i get the same problem?

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:03

The problem with cars like this is the only market they really satisfy is those people who think they ought to have a diesel, but don't bother to do the sums.

If you are genuinelly doing enough miles such that a decent diesel would be worth having, then you are probably doing the sort of driving you really want something better than a supermini for. Whereas if you really are doing the level of driving whereby a Fabia is just fine, then you probably don't actually NEED a diesel.

By all means chose a vRS if you love the power delivery style, but if you actually NEED a diesel becuase you do a lot of miles, you really would be better off with a more suitable car.

May I take the liberty of recommending something like a Leon Cupra TDI perhaps?

Scrutinize · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:06

[TW]Fox said:
Over hyped diesel citycar. It's no Clio 182.

Occasionally you speaketh the truth.....This is one of those times

Fire 1 · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:07

Had mine for a couple of months. No problems so far. Like any make of car you get good ones and bad ones. Check out http://www.briskoda.net/ for more info.

GinG · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:13

[TW]Fox said:
The problem with cars like this is the only market they really satisfy is those people who think they ought to have a diesel, but don't bother to do the sums.

If you are genuinelly doing enough miles such that a decent diesel would be worth having, then you are probably doing the sort of driving you really want something better than a supermini for. Whereas if you really are doing the level of driving whereby a Fabia is just fine, then you probably don't actually NEED a diesel.

By all means chose a vRS if you love the power delivery style, but if you actually NEED a diesel becuase you do a lot of miles, you really would be better off with a more suitable car.

May I take the liberty of recommending something like a Leon Cupra TDI perhaps?

That comment is so true, i feel i need a diesel, quite like the thought of Mid range power comared to my Zetec-S where u gotta psh it too 4k+ revs to get any power delivery.

I would love a cupra however insurance is just a stinger for me! I have been looking at the 130bhp ones with the cupra kits on. Coming back with the same price insurance as the fabia.

*Moangroan* · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:30

The fabia has greay quality, sporty, mpg is cracking....just a general good all rounder...understated.......not badge snobs....

clv101 · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:33

[TW]Fox said:
Over hyped diesel citycar. It's no Clio 182.

Of course it's no Clio 182, in some areas the 182 is much better and in some areas the VRS is much better, they are very different cars. As for over hyped? No way - the VRS is the best performance/efficiency combination, there isn't anything faster and more economical available. I've owned a Mk3? (51 plate) Clio, though not a 182 and it was rubbish compared to the VRS, build quality, materials, dealers etc were all inferior. On a track I'm sure the 182 is better but in the real world to live with I'd take the VRS every time. I've had mine for nearly 3 years, 35k and it's been faultless. Oh and it's before we mention that fantastically slow depreciation (which probably doesn’t apply to people buying new now).

oweneades · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:45

clv101 said:
Of course it's no Clio 182, in some areas the 182 is much better and in some areas the VRS is much better, they are very different cars. As for over hyped? No way - the VRS is the best performance/efficiency combination, there isn't anything faster and more economical available. I've owned a Mk3? (51 plate) Clio, though not a 182 and it was rubbish compared to the VRS, build quality, materials, dealers etc were all inferior. On a track I'm sure the 182 is better but in the real world to live with I'd take the VRS every time. I've had mine for nearly 3 years, 35k and it's been faultless. Oh and it's before we mention that fantastically slow depreciation (which probably doesn’t apply to people buying new now).

Excellent post.

I own a vRS as well and all round its an excellent car. Quick enough in the real world and pretty fun too.

If you like the fabia then take one for a test drive. The other main choices with the same platform would be the seat ibiza Cupra (available in a PD160 model) and the Polo GTI Diesel however both are more expensive than the fabia and imo don't look as good).

Overall a excellent car in most areas.

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2006 at 19:45

Have you actually sat down and worked out how much the amazing economy actually saves you over a quicker, better diesel with marginally inferior fuel consumption?

Can't fault the residuals though, absolutely excellent. Only problem is you need to stump up the rather large initial sum for what is basically just a diesel hatchback, but thats more a pshysological issue as you do get most of that back.