Jonboy99

So I was out for a gentle evening cruise today, and came to a set of traffic lights just before a national speed limit road. The vRS was nicely warmed up, with a hint of black smoke (or was it in my imagination?) drifting purposefully by the rear window as I idly blipped the throttle. The lights were still on red as I heard an undeniably pleasant burble become steadily louder and an Impreza STi pulled up next to me, with a bit of a scally driving it. He looked across and it was clear he was in the mood to race, so I slipped it into first and lifted the clutch to just below biting point.. Now now, you didn't really think it was one of _those_ posts did you? The truth is, i've just upgraded from a vRS to the subaru, and after it being standing in the driveway for a while I just sold the fabia tonight. The scooby is a bit of a monster no doubt, but as I took the new buyer-to-be for a test drive I was struck by just how eager the fabia was, and just how much grunt she has from just above idle (nowt happens in the subaru until 3000ish rpm). Lovely weighted steering, (not too light), decent sound system, great little motorway cruiser, 45mpg all day long with no effort. I guess the truth is despite the new toy I am only just getting aquainted with (can't wait until the snow), i'll miss my little furby. 7 years and never let me down once, and plenty of good times. The only reason I bought her was because I wanted an economical small motorway cruiser with a bit of poke, and memories of ragging an Estelle around icy car parks as a 17 year old wouldn't let me past the Skoda showroom without a look inside. The purchase was a wise one. And that's all i've got to say. I suppose this post started off as a waste of time and then just got worse, but I felt I needed to say something about the old bird, cos i'll miss her. Take it easy skoda fans, i'll probably be back someday. jb.

Thanks guys, had another play with the car today and I think the spring is fine (maybe a touch weak, not sure) but the gear stick itself is a tiny bit sticky - with a slight nudge the stick will self centre. The gear select itself is fine and the box is very smooth, so I suspect like you say LB123 a bit of grease over the bushings will free it up fine so will have a look later. Thanks all.

Hi guys, My 05 fabia has developed a minor problem after being left standing for a while in 1st gear - the return spring seems to have gone, so when the stick is in neutral, it no longer returns from the side to the centre position. Easily drivable, but feels weird - so when changing from 2nd to 3rd, it no longer springs to the centre by itself, and easy to accidentally go into 1st. Does anyone know where the spring is located, and how I might get to it? Am hoping it isn't inside the gearbox.. Had a search on here and the problem has been mentioned, but no clue on how to fix. Am wanting to sell the car and worried this might put a new buyer off. Thanks Jon

Cheers Wilcox, sorted now. The problem was all 4 doors were unlocked, and I knew I couldn't lock them manually without the central locking working. I don't think you can lock the rear doors manually can you? However then remembered my car is set to only open the drivers door on first click of the fob, so just did that, disconnected battery then locked it with the key. If the ECU was set to unlock all 4 doors on first press of the fob though, not sure how you'd lock them all again with no power. cheers Jon

Sorry, in a rush and no luck with search. I want to disconnect my (fully charged) fabia battery to trickle charge it for a few months while car in storage. However I need the doors locked before I disconnect the battery. This means the alarm is armed, so every time I disconnect the battery it goes off! The key fob won't deactivate it, and the manual doesn't say anything about this? How do I disconnect the battery without setting off the alarm? Urgent replies much appreciated! Jon

Ditto that - people who do this **** me off no end. Almost wiped out on snake pass when a ***** in a van did the same thing and left puddles of diesel over every left hand bend. We had words when I caught him up at the other end.

Would I buy the same again? Well, no. But only because i'm a bit bored of the type of car. Next car will be a fair bit pokier and either a RWD with big engine or a big 4x4. If I was in the same position I was 5 years ago wanting a small cheap quickish diesel to commute a lot of motorway miles in - definitely. Mine hasn't had any major problems in 5 years, although the rattles are a bit annoying. I think most VAGs get a bit rattly though, my old Leon certainly was the same.

Got some 185s on mine on some old Audi wheels. They are bloody amazing. Check ebay if you've trouble sourcing them - I found my local garage on there selling them and just drove along to get them fitted.

Cool, cheers mate. I've just rung the garage as well and they say will be fine as long as all 4 tyres are the same size.

Hi folks, My car is due to go in for an MOT soon, and a few days ago I fitted some audi wheels to it mounted with snow tyres. Will these be fine for the MOT, and will they put any comment on the certificate? The tyres are slightly narrower than standard, 195 vs 205 for standard. I guess there are lots of folks on here who've fitted aftermarket alloys, is it commented on or causes any probs when it comes to MOT? cheers Jon *edit aftermarket wheels, not afterkarket..*

Damn right I have! See this thread for report: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/148526-vrs-keeps-getting-stuck/ Just spent another 4 or 5 hours in the snow today, all over the peak district - top fun. They are infinity winter heros, chosen as they were the only ones I could find, rather than good reports. I will google some reviews out of interest I think, just to see how they compare to others. Ta for the encrouragement to get some!

Well, winter tyres - what can I say? Took mine out for the first time after fitting them and am absolutely flabbergasted. Grip levels are astonishing and the furby was transformed into an unstoppable snow monster! I didn't try to get through anything deeper than 3 or 4 inches, but still spent nearly 3 hours hunting out every snow covered road I could find, many on steep hills and not one was a problem. It is also the best fun in the fabia I have had since, well, ever! Forget just not getting stuck, thrashing around in the snow when you know you can get grip is hilarious. I am shortly going to be putting photos in the alloy wheels thread and take the record for the smallest alloys on a vRS, heh heh.

Fitted! Studs definitly long enough. And just as I tightened the last one up, it started to snow. If i'm not back on the board by tomorrow, someone call the RAC for me.

Just a quick one - I have managed to source a set of winter tyres that were actually in stock, and got them all mounted up on some 2001 Audi A3 alloys - very excited! However just occurred to me the wheel nuts from my fabia may not be compatible. I found a page on the net (can't remember which now) which says some wheels (mainly the hub-centric type) have nuts which have a flat surface against the wheel, and others which are tapered. Now the vRS wheels even though hub centric still have tapered wheel lugs, but will the be a different taper to the audi's? I imagine if the nut taper is different it could put a big strain on the alloy around the nut hole, and lead to splitting or fractures. Is this likely to be an issue? Have those who have fitted audi wheels to their skoda used nuts from the audi, or the original skoda ones? Quick answers needed, I wanna fit my wheels!

Manual http://ws.skoda-auto.com/download/4all/Documentation/en/Olders/Fabia/manual/A04_Fabia_OwnersManual.pdf Brief instructions http://ws.skoda-auto.com/download/4all/Documentation/en/Olders/Fabia/manual/A04_Fabia_BriefInstructions.pdf MS402 http://ws.skoda-auto.com/download/4all/Documentation/en/Olders/Fabia/radio/A04_Fabia_MS402_CarRadio.pdf Symphony http://ws.skoda-auto.com/download/4all/Documentation/en/Olders/Fabia/radio/A04_Fabia_Symphony_CarRadio.pdf Sat nav DX http://ws.skoda-auto.com/download/4all/Documentation/en/Olders/Fabia/navigation/A04_Fabia_DX_NavigationSystem.pdf