Does Anyone Else Miss The Mk1 Škoda Fabia vRS?

[David87]

Is it just me, or does the new Fabia vRS just not hit the spot like the old one did? Despite not having ever driven one, I've always been drawn to the original one because it offered something different from the norm in being a TDI, but the new one has just become run-of-the-mill with its petrol motor. Okay, it is the fancy turbocharged and supercharged 1.4 unit, but for me it's just lost its uniqueness in not having the diesel. I know many on PH will see the dumping of the fuel of the devil a good thing, but for me the Mk1 vRS had a certain charm. Anyone else feel the same way?

[hornetrider]

It's not extinct, you know.

[EDLT]

The twin-charged engine is quite economical, and being fast and frugal was the VRS's "thing" imo. The problem is the Ibiza and Polo can have the same engine, while Fiat have some clever small engines too. So its not really unique any more.

[Clark]

EDLT said:

The twin-charged engine is quite economical, and being fast and frugal was the VRS's "thing" imo. The problem is the Ibiza and Polo can have the same engine, while Fiat have some clever small engines too. So its not really unique any more.

The PD130 engine the Fabia had was available in both the Ibiza and the Polo too.

The cleverest thing about the Fabia VRS was its marketing.

[tim2100]

Well the old one wasn't unique as the pd 130 engine was in most/all of the VW range.

FWIW, I was seriously impressed with the new Vrs when I had a look at one in the showroom.

[pbirkett]

The new one is a better car in every way. Except in terms of looks, but other than that, the new one has it utterly licked. Much faster and better handling by all accounts. Often criticised for being a tad boring but then that's no different to the old one in that respect.

[David87]

I know it's not extinct. For some reason I never found the same engine in the Ibiza anywhere near as attractive... perhaps it was that clever marketing. Oddly, somehow the Škoda just seems cooler.

[Zoki]

David87 said:

I know it's not extinct. For some reason I never found the same engine in the Ibiza anywhere near as attractive... perhaps it was that clever marketing. Oddly, somehow the Škoda just seems cooler.

New Ibiza FR has the new 140 TDI, prob closest you can get in the new line up. TBH I'd rather have the new 1.4 TSI.

[HereBeMonsters]

David87 said:

Is it just me, or does the new Fabia vRS just not hit the spot like the old one did? Despite not having ever driven one, I've always been drawn to the original one because it offered something different from the norm in being a TDI, but the new one has just become run-of-the-mill with its petrol motor. Okay, it is the fancy turbocharged and supercharged 1.4 unit, but for me it's just lost its uniqueness in not having the diesel. I know many on PH will see the dumping of the fuel of the devil a good thing, but for me the Mk1 vRS had a certain charm. Anyone else feel the same way?

You really never have driven one have you?

Totally not what it should have been. The old 1.9 boat anchor in the front ruined the handling. Performance stats were not equal to any of the other "hot" hatches of the time, and it runs out of puff too quickly when pointing it down a country lane.

My mate who's got one only ever goes on about the fuel economy of it, which kind of misses the point of a hot hatch in my opinion.

In factg just yesterday in another thread I was reminiscing about how we went for a hoon when he first got it, me in my 205 GTI. I stopped in a village 12 miles in to phone him as I thought he had broken down. No, he was still trying to catch me up.

[David87]

Ah, you might have just ruined my enthusiasm for them.

[HereBeMonsters]

David87 said:

Ah, you might have just ruined my enthusiasm for them.

Sorry, too much time spent winding my mate up about them. I had to buy the Octavia vRS just to trump him...

They are a great, frugal little car that can be made much better with some upgrades. My choice would be to stick some softer springs or higher profile tyres on it, and enjoy it and its economy for what it is.
A lot of people on Briskoda go the other way and modify the engine to produce the power the chassis can handle. One with a genuine 180bhp and almost 300lb/ft goes much more like it should do in my opinion. I just don't like how they don't rev, and to me a hot hatch should always be thrashable around the tacho.

[Chris_w666]

HereBeMonsters said:

David87 said:

Is it just me, or does the new Fabia vRS just not hit the spot like the old one did? Despite not having ever driven one, I've always been drawn to the original one because it offered something different from the norm in being a TDI, but the new one has just become run-of-the-mill with its petrol motor. Okay, it is the fancy turbocharged and supercharged 1.4 unit, but for me it's just lost its uniqueness in not having the diesel. I know many on PH will see the dumping of the fuel of the devil a good thing, but for me the Mk1 vRS had a certain charm. Anyone else feel the same way?

You really never have driven one have you?

Totally not what it should have been. The old 1.9 boat anchor in the front ruined the handling. Performance stats were not equal to any of the other "hot" hatches of the time, and it runs out of puff too quickly when pointing it down a country lane.

My mate who's got one only ever goes on about the fuel economy of it, which kind of misses the point of a hot hatch in my opinion.

In factg just yesterday in another thread I was reminiscing about how we went for a hoon when he first got it, me in my 205 GTI. I stopped in a village 12 miles in to phone him as I thought he had broken down. No, he was still trying to catch me up.

I think they sold well because they felt quick in a straight line, were cheap for something sporty looking, and did 50+mpg. But the handling (not to be confused with grip)was very poor for something claiming to be a hot hatchback. I test drove one on the same day I test drove an ST170, the skoda test route was all dual carriageways and straight A roads, the ford one was a very good B road, the skoda was a one trick pony and despite not feeling it I am almost certain the focus was at least as quick 99% of the time.

[Olivera]

Nope, not fast by even warm hatch standards, handled poorly, engine has about 1000 usable rpm and isn't even unique as the same unit could be found in about 12,823 other VAG variants. The Ibiza Cupra diesel of the same era was actually much better, came with 50 more bhp, handled better and actually came with a set of AP Racing brakes as standard!

[TheLurker]

Ive got the ibiza with the same engine, and love it. IMO the looks of the ibiza were better than the fabia.

It does exactley what I want it to. Its not fast, but quick enough to be fun. Handling isn't great, but is fun to drive. Fuel economy is great, and it looks OK. It's also a cheap car (for what it is).

The main plus point for me with the car is the engine. I dont like the new TSI (170bhp from a 1.4? Thats going to last a long time...) or the 2L CR diesel (lots of problems, so I hear).

There are lots of nicer cars out there, but I think the VRS and ibiza (not sure about the polo) do their job well. Small, fun, cheap supermini.

[pbirkett]

Olivera said:

Nope, not fast by even warm hatch standards, handled poorly, engine has about 1000 usable rpm and isn't even unique as the same unit could be found in about 12,823 other VAG variants. The Ibiza Cupra diesel of the same era was actually much better, came with 50 more bhp, handled better and actually came with a set of AP Racing brakes as standard!

Hmm, don't get me wrong, they weren't the greatest and not worthy of the hype but half of your post is bks TBH. It went well enough between 2000 - 4000 rpm, so a little more than 1000 rpm usable power (which is best part of 2/3 of the available revs), and it was certainly just as quick as most contemporary "warm" hatches. The Ibiza Cupra TDI was about £4k more expensive BTW, and was certainly not to be pitched against the vRS; it was aimed more at the Clio 182 or CTR.