RE: Skoda Fabia vRS

[Podie]

Balmoral Green said:

Podie said:

Welshbeef said:

Is there anyone here who owned one would would totally not recommend one of these??

Nope, they're ruddy great.

My black one went back on Monday, and I got my new (old) LE model.

I was really sad to see my old one go, it has been a fantastic little car. The new one is more of the same, but a bit more 'shouty' being in race blue with red calipers and pimped out tinted glass, it's not as subtle as the black one was, and is a bit 'boy racer'. But anyway, here's to the next three years.

The missus loves her Furby.. cracking thing. Leather seats are SO much better too.

Like you, we were sad to see the old one go...

[Hub]

I have one... not fast in the grand scheme of things, but brilliant fun because they FEEL fast

[Balmoral Green]

Podie said:

The missus loves her Furby.. cracking thing. Leather seats are SO much better too.

Yes, the blue piping and blue stitching is pretty good. My work colleagues couldn't stop laughing when they realised it was a Skoda with leather sports seats, and that they were so funky too. Going to put Gliptone Liquid Leather on mine at the weekend, so they smell like BG's.

Regards to Rude.

[liner33]

Is there anyway to clean the seats on the normal model??

[Balmoral Green]

Regular foam car upholstery cleaner from an aerosol can, and get one of those battery operated de-furrers that folks use for de-pilling woolly jumpers.

Have to say, mine did OK over three years and it went back looking like new, but it was a reps car and only me in the drivers seat 99% of the time.

[Welshbeef]

So whats the price range ? £5.5k - £10.5k
Whens the Cambelt due to be changed on them?
Ipod compatible std stereo?
Whats the size of the fuel tank & ave range?
What are the tyre size and can you fit bigger more std size tyres on the same rims?

With the trip computer does it give ave mpg/instantanious MPG/Ave speed/range & does it have two setting like the Gold Mk4 i.e. for the current trip (and if you return within 2 hrs) & one for the total car lifetime - which you can reset if you hold in the button?

Is it better than the Polo GT Sport 130TDI?

For the same money is it better getting a newer vRS or an older Golf GT TDI 150/Leon Cupra TDI150?

Is the 150TDI worth the extra?

[Balmoral Green]

Welshbeef said:

So whats the price range ? £5.5k - £10.5k

Yes

Welshbeef said:

Whens the Cambelt due to be changed on them?

100,000 miles, but best done at 60,000.

Welshbeef said:

Ipod compatible std stereo?

No

Welshbeef said:

Whats the size of the fuel tank?

45 litres / 9.90 gallons

Welshbeef said:

& ave range?

How long is a piece of string?

Welshbeef said:

What are the tyre size

205/45x16

Welshbeef said:

and can you fit bigger more std size tyres on the same rims?

I wouldn't, upgrade both the wheels and tyres.

Welshbeef said:

With the trip computer does it give ave mpg/instantanious MPG/Ave speed/range & does it have two setting like the Gold Mk4 i.e. for the current trip (and if you return within 2 hrs)

Yes

Welshbeef said:

& one for the total car lifetime

No

Welshbeef said:

Is it better than the Polo GT Sport 130TDI?

AFAIK, that is exactly what it is anyway, and is the closest DNA match of all the branded variants throughout the VAG ranges.

Welshbeef said:

For the same money is it better getting a newer vRS or an older Golf GT TDI 150/Leon Cupra TDI150?

I had a Golf TDI 150 for two months, I prefer the Fabia.

Welshbeef said:

Is the 150TDI worth the extra?

Chipped Fabia would be my choice, but you can chip a 150 Golf too.

Edited by Balmoral Green on Friday 2nd November 17:27

[Hub]

There is a longer term trip computer mode, but not for the lifetime of the car, it resets after 99 hrs 99 minutes of driving I think.

It is the best value for money car with the PD engine in the VAG range. You can get the Ibiza cheaper but it has a rock hard ride and feels cheaper inside. And as said you pay a premium for the Polo and Golf.

[Hub]

Oh, and as for range, about 4-500 miles from a tank for me, although I don't let it get completely empty, and it depends how you drive it!

[joej23]

I'm considering getting a fabia vrs, but torn between this or a mk4 golf gt tdi, seat leon cupra tdi, polo gt, or ibiza fr. The owner reviews for the fabia are outstanding though. I don't think I've heard one person not recommend it.

Has anyone had experience of these cars aswell as the vrs? How do they compare?

This weekend I'm going to go for some test drives so should have more of an idea by then.

[baSkey]

joej23 said:

I'm considering getting a fabia vrs, but torn between this or a mk4 golf gt tdi, seat leon cupra tdi, polo gt, or ibiza fr. The owner reviews for the fabia are outstanding though. I don't think I've heard one person not recommend it.

Has anyone had experience of these cars aswell as the vrs? How do they compare?

This weekend I'm going to go for some test drives so should have more of an idea by then.

the leon cupra has smaller front brakes than the 1.8 20vt petrol version (when it could actually do with bigger ones!). perfectly decent car - i'd take the fabia but if you need more space then the leon is a decent alternative. if you are going to look at the leon then look at the dirt cheap toledo sport tdi and bora sport tdis before you consider the golf imo.

[Sharief]

I'm learning in a vRS at the moment.

[Welshbeef]

baSkey said:

joej23 said:

I'm considering getting a fabia vrs, but torn between this or a mk4 golf gt tdi, seat leon cupra tdi, polo gt, or ibiza fr. The owner reviews for the fabia are outstanding though. I don't think I've heard one person not recommend it.

Has anyone had experience of these cars aswell as the vrs? How do they compare?

This weekend I'm going to go for some test drives so should have more of an idea by then.

the leon cupra has smaller front brakes than the 1.8 20vt petrol version (when it could actually do with bigger ones!). perfectly decent car - i'd take the fabia but if you need more space then the leon is a decent alternative. if you are going to look at the leon then look at the dirt cheap toledo sport tdi and bora sport tdis before you consider the golf imo.

mmm yes the Bora is an option (but not sure it will fit into the garage with th junk I have in there while a hatchback certainly will.

I had a test of the Golf Gt Sport 140TDI on the weekend and must say it is a fine car - however it is not fast what so ever but you could live with tha level of performance. When I tested it over 20 miles (pretty hard driving from cold) it returned just over 40mpg combined and that was on a car with 150 miles on it. It also had 3 adults in it and full tank of fuel. I thought mid range i.e. exiting a roundabout it seemed to overtake everything that was on the road and on the M way 6th 60-90 was acceptable.

Interior quality I thought was second to none fantastic - that was until I sat in the new 320d m Sport Touring with leather pro nav etc and that moves the game on again - mind you thats comparing a £20k car to a £35k (with options BM).

[liner33]

The Octavia VRS is massive inside , the boot is huuuuuge!!

Plus it comes with the 170hp diesel (chipable to 200) and the interior is nicer than the normal furby VRS

[TimmyArt]

Had mine for 6 months now after having a Fabia for 3 years before. Got a great deal on 3 yrs 0% finance.

I've had a few niggles with mine - a couple of rattles here and there and the standard seats do get very dirty quickly - leather wasnt worth the £1500 extra mind you Having said that - if you can get a Ltd Edition one with the free leather its a bargain.

You might also find that the engine is a bit 'spluttery' sometimes - I complained and the dealer fitted a larger turbo inlet gasket which has got rid of it - a factory improvement.

Generally its better value than anything else at that price and it is very fast with the right driving technique - its a standard car. From what I've read, the only things I would upgrade or have fitted are - Stiffer rear anti roll bar which provides oversteer and gets rid of any understeer - From Jabbasport, and possible an engine chip, but get a decent one done.
I wouldnt change the wheels or go for the lowered/sporty suspension as this can make it too firm on a b road. Depends where you live I guess, but I do alot of lanes.

[Welshbeef]

liner33 said:

The Octavia VRS is massive inside , the boot is huuuuuge!!

Plus it comes with the 170hp diesel (chipable to 200) and the interior is nicer than the normal furby VRS

Yes but tha Fabia is £5-10k the vRS 170PD is £14-18k, you canno compare these as they are not in the same budget.

[joej23]

I test drove a fabia vrs yesterday and was very impressed. It was a red 05 plate with about 30,000 miles going for £8995. Im seriously considering buying it but am trying to push the dealer down to about £8500, but having a hard time as he claims he's just reduced the price by £1000!
Also I was advised against having it re-mapped as this would void the warranty. Is this the case and is there any way around it?

[liner33]

Welshbeef said:

liner33 said:

The Octavia VRS is massive inside , the boot is huuuuuge!!

Plus it comes with the 170hp diesel (chipable to 200) and the interior is nicer than the normal furby VRS

Yes but tha Fabia is £5-10k the vRS 170PD is £14-18k, you canno compare these as they are not in the same budget.

I wasnt, i refering to the previous comparison of the Seats and Golf with the Furby

[minimoog]

joej23 said:

I'm considering getting a fabia vrs, but torn between this or a mk4 golf gt tdi, seat leon cupra tdi, polo gt, or ibiza fr. The owner reviews for the fabia are outstanding though. I don't think I've heard one person not recommend it.

Has anyone had experience of these cars aswell as the vrs? How do they compare?

This weekend I'm going to go for some test drives so should have more of an idea by then.

I has a company car choice between the Ibiza FR Tdi 130 and the Fabia VRS. On test the VRS was just too soft for me. Having lived with the FR for a little while now I find the ride pretty awful but live-withable but much worse is the tyre roar/cabin noise which is bordering on the untenable. The handling whilst superficially tighter than the VRS is not that chuckable compared my Mini Cooper. On that basis were i choosing now I'd look at a VRS in a more favorable light as trading off handling for refinement might be worth it.

Make sure you get as much wheel time in your options as possible.

Edited by minimoog on Wednesday 7th November 15:54

[Welshbeef]

minimoog said:

joej23 said:

I'm considering getting a fabia vrs, but torn between this or a mk4 golf gt tdi, seat leon cupra tdi, polo gt, or ibiza fr. The owner reviews for the fabia are outstanding though. I don't think I've heard one person not recommend it.

Has anyone had experience of these cars aswell as the vrs? How do they compare?

This weekend I'm going to go for some test drives so should have more of an idea by then.

I has a company car choice between the Ibiza FR Tdi 130 and the Fabia VRS. On test the VRS was just too soft for me. Having lived with the FR for a little while now I find the ride pretty awful but live-withable but much worse is the tyre roar/cabin noise which is bordering on the untenable. The handling whilst superficially tighter is not that chuckable compared my Mini Cooper. On that basis were i choosing now I'd look at a VRS in a more favorable light as trading off handling for refinement might be worth it.

Make sure you get as much wheel time in your options as possible.

Is the vRS better value than the Kia Ceed?