Right I have so many things to say so I'll just put it here, sorry if it's hard to understand.

Firstly what are pros and cons between a Fabia vRS and Ibiza FR as they are pretty much the same cars. What would you say has the better interior (I quite like the FR's interior), handles better (have seen people on here likening the fabia's handling to a boat!. How can that be it doesn't have a rudder :P) and is more reliable? Am I right in thinking it has stronger suspension bits or are they the same and the Cupra has the stronger bits?

In your opinion which is the better car and give reasons why this is. The vRS is 5 door and more practical but the FR comes in 3 door also and I would consider a 3 door as I'm a student and all my mates are nimble enough to get in the back.

Another option is this:

A mate of mine recently bought a Golf GT TDI 130 that is stunning to drive and you can tell it's a quality product. Everything feels solid and well put together, feels like a heavier version of my Polo in some ways. I tried to insure one and even though he has no NCB, points on his license and is the same age as me (19) I can't get a reasonable quote on one. One thing that puts me off with a Golf is that you pay through the nose for it while an Octavia is pretty much the same car although IMO doesn't look as nice and does feel a little cheaper inside.

So does anyone know where I could insure one for less than £1k? If I can't it doesn't really matter as even though I would like a Golf over a vRS or FR it does make more sense to buy one of those two over a Golf as it's cheaper to insure. Both the vRS and the FR I can get for £860 a year with 2 yrs NCB, Garaged and 10,000 miles a year.

Thanks in advance to all who answer my questions. Sorry if it's hard to understand.

I've always found it difficult to choose between the two cars as they are so similar. I think it really depends on personal preference.

The suspension on Ibiza is firmer than the Fabia and imho, a bit to crashy over potholes and country roads compared to the Fabia. The Fabia's suspension is a little more forgiving and for the country roads where I lived suited me more. That said, the standard suspension set up on both could be improved which is why so many people fit ARBs and/or new shocks & springs.

I always struggled to choose between the Fabia and Ibiza interior. The fabia felt better made and had nice touches like a/c glovebox and drinks holder, but I missed the climate control of the Ibiza and the way the stereo and heater controls were angled towards the driver slightly to make you feel more important:O. When I drove an Ibiza FR recently I didn't like the indicator stalks for some reason, they changed them between the tdi sports I had a few years ago.

I now drive a Golf GT TDI and as you said it feels really well put together but you do pay more for it. It was the ideal compromise for me between performance, comfort and a bigger car although if I could have found an Octavia PD130 when I was looking I would have had one of those rather than the golf. Given the extra cost of the golf, do you need the extra size of the golf over the ibiza or fabia??

Oh and if inusrance is looking expensive, have you considered an early Ibiza tdi sport (02/03 reg)? IIRC they are a lower insurance group that the Ibiza FR or Fabia VRS.

I considered the Ibiza FR but wouldn't have been happy as i'd always long for the pd160 cupra.

Whereas the Fabia vRS is top of the tree

I also preferred the fabia's styling but thats personal preference

I was in this exact same dilemma last summer mate when I was looking at them both.

In the end, I chose the Fabia for the following reasons:

1) From what I've heard and read, it seems to be more reliable and well built.

2) It had 5 doors making it more practical as I have a daughter, it also had a slightly bigger boot.

3) As Jase said, it's top of the Fabia tree

4) The fact it is actually a Skoda, nobody expects you to smoke all over them in one, I doubt it would be as satisfying in a SEAT

5) Although both interiors are nothing to write home about, I felt the Fabia one was made out of better quality materials, where as the plastic of the Ibiza dashboard was a little too tacky for me.

6) I had read that the FR's suspension was firmer than the VRS, but it actually handled no better, so you got more crashiness for little handling gain. Niether handle very well compared to similar hatches e.g. Citroen C2 VTS

However you do get a few little extras in the FR, such as climate control.

I think styling is a personal preference, I think the Ibiza's styling is much more feminine than the Fabia, possibly a little prettier? But the squared off Jaw of the Fabia VRS certainly looks good in its own way.

If I did not need the practicality of the 5 door, I probably would have gone for the Ibiza, but IMO the 5 door ibiza looks rubbish compared to the Fabia VRS

I got the fabia over the ibiza cupra as i was going to upgrade the turbo etc which i have done and it now looks im going to have to sell up as insurence is going to rape me......

all down to personal preference ! the fabia in my eyes is a nicer car but it's your choice

Yeah it does look like the vRS is the better option over the FR. I did here that the Ibiza's have a problem with the headlights misting up due to dodgy seals. I have heard of it happening but has this happened to anyone's Fabia?

Thanks again to everyone who helped me out. It's hard making a firm decision about a car on your own, you do need other people's opinions.

One more thing:

The vRS I want will most likely be from a dealer as I've seen some nice ones about. I know it sounds daft but how do I go about asking about a test drive? As I've never bought from a dealer before I don't know how easily they would be of letting me have a go.

Although I did go into Capitol Skoda in Newport a few months ago and asked a salesman (can't remember his name) could I have a closer look at a vRS. It was no trouble, he got the keys and had a good look round one. I just said I was seriously considering a vRS as my next car and wanted to see what one was like inside. Was very impressed actually by how I got into my driving position straight away and it was very comfy. The salesman wasn't pushy either and answered all my questions well.

Not like Carcraft where you get mobbed by about 5 and you have to beat them off with a stick!

I'd take you for a spin if I was nearer to swansea.

I got the fabia over the ibiza cupra as i was going to upgrade the turbo etc which i have done and it now looks im going to have to sell up as insurence is going to rape me......

all down to personal preference ! the fabia in my eyes is a nicer car but it's your choice

OOOOOOooooo, first dibs on your turbo etc

I got the fabia over the ibiza cupra as i was going to upgrade the turbo etc which i have done and it now looks im going to have to sell up as insurence is going to rape me......

all down to personal preference ! the fabia in my eyes is a nicer car but it's your choice

this money is making an awful rattling in my pocket

Remember you're more likely to get people voting for the Fabia on here as that's why they're on a Skoda forum after all

Quote - Not like Carcraft where you get mobbed by about 5 and you have to beat them off with a stick!

Lol... Went to Carcraft for 4 weeks running for lunch. The canteens are quite cheap and nice. Told everybody at work about it.

Back on topic.

Thought about a Bora?

Quote - Not like Carcraft where you get mobbed by about 5 and you have to beat them off with a stick!

Lol... Went to Carcraft for 4 weeks running for lunch. The canteens are quite cheap and nice. Told everybody at work about it.

Back on topic.

Thought about a Bora?

Good point but like the Golf I still can't insure one. Carcraft was good years ago (where my 1st car came from) and still is in some ways as there's plenty of choice there although it's all common stuff - Clio's Corsa's, Astras, etc. It's just that on my way home I popped in to see what they had. On the way in one sales man pointed me in the direction of the small cars and I had a look around. There were no Fabia's so I went to leave. Then a few came up asking what I was looking for and how much. The minute I mentioned I only had a budget og 8k they all walked away.

I looked at the FR,but got the vRS as a 5 door FR seems to be hard to find.

Yeah it does look like the vRS is the better option over the FR. I did here that the Ibiza's have a problem with the headlights misting up due to dodgy seals. I have heard of it happening but has this happened to anyone's Fabia?

No.... The fabia just lets water pi55 in through the doors instead!

Poll on the issue: BRISKODA - The Skoda Forums - View Poll Results

http://briskoda.net/forums/fabia-i/fabia-door-water-leaks/80673/

Loads more posts here: BRISKODA - The Skoda Forums

I just got my Fabia vRS about a week & half ago now and what with all the rain over the weekend, my carpets are a bit soggy.... it appears mine is one of the many that suffer from the problem. :(

Don't let it put you off one though...... i still love mine.

seeing as they're broadly the same car I'd get the Ibiza, but it's for purely personal reasons; I don't need 5 doors and I prefer the looks of the Ibiza (although I actually prefer the looks of the mk3(?) Ibiza to the current model)

best advice so far is to take both for a spin, weigh up the pros and cons (as they appear to you) of both and make an informed decision

Fabia, for me. One reason above the rest, the fact you smoke people in a derv skoda. But if your not into that, then maybe not lol.

I considered the Ibiza FR but wouldn't have been happy as i'd always long for the pd160 cupra.

Whereas the Fabia vRS is top of the tree

That's true! The FR looks almost the same as all the other Ibizas since they facelifted the range!

I know it sounds daft but how do I go about asking about a test drive? As I've never bought from a dealer before I don't know how easily they would be of letting me have a go.

They want to sell you one, so they ought to be pretty keen. Walk in. Spot sales staff. Walk up. Say "Hi. I'd like to test drive a Fabia VRS." Off you go.

Actually, might want to check they've got one first, or you might look a bit silly. Maybe "Do you have a Fabia VRS in?" "In that case, I'd like to take a test drive in it. Chop chop."

They want to sell you one, so they ought to be pretty keen. Walk in. Spot sales staff. Walk up. Say "Hi. I'd like to test drive a Fabia VRS." Off you go.

Actually, might want to check they've got one first, or you might look a bit silly. Maybe "Do you have a Fabia VRS in?" "In that case, I'd like to take a test drive in it. Chop chop."

Yeah I went up to SEAT in Pontyberem to see if they had an FR and they didn't. Even the dealer says it's very rare that he gets one and when he does they are gone in a few days. But I do agree with TomH all the new Ibiza's look the more or less the same. I walked up to one thinking it was an FR the only difference being was the door mirrors.

I am starting to go more towards the Skoda even though my mates still say get a Golf. They can get insurance on it and I could if I was stupid enough to start having to pay a 4 figure sum for insurance again. Yes the Golf is a quality car but I'd feel all the time that I had been ripped off because Skoda and SEAT both offer practically the same car for less money.

Did anyone see Top Gear on Sunday? Even James May said that he wouldn't have a Golf GTI or the new Sirocco because of SEAT's Leon Cupra having more power and being cheaper.

Edited 8 July, 200817 yr by kai_mitsurugi

Golfs are silly insurance.

They wanted £600 more than the Fabia VRS for a 1.9 GT TDI 130!

Ludicrous.

Well my new female friend has a 1.2 Ibiza Sport.

Its quite nice tbh and im coming round to the styling...

Only problem would be i would want the Cupra as the FR just isnt too sporty looking for my liking...

IMO the Ibiza interiour is 10x nicer than the fabia's, the 3 door's is cool too

BUT OMG how horrible is the 1.2 69bhp engine.... no idea if its a 16valve but what a bloody racket, whines on and is pittiful...

... She now wants a Fabia vRS after driving mine.. lol

I have a Fabia VRS, my brother has a 5 door Ibiza FR.

The way I read it, a Fabia VRS costs less to buy and the options are cheaper.

However....

The Ibiza handles well enough out of the box. Runs 205x40/17s and isn't very comfortable at all.

The Fabia doesn't really do well other than as a longer distance cruiser, out of the box. Yes, the engine torque is nice to accelerate out of corners, but the whole overall jelly-like body control isn't my thing. Which is why I got the springs, dampers changed and a Jabba ARB. Funnily enough this has had an effect on the ride comfort, though it's still better than bro's car.

So.... If you like sporty, taut handling from the box, get an Ibiza.

If you want a cheaper car that's more comfy and cruises better, get the Fabia.

Obviously, personal preference and likes/dislikes play their part in these decisions.

PS: Can you find a 5 door FR. They're like hen's teeth.

J.

you wouldnt need ask me twice, vrs all the way!! it has its own cult followin which i like and like other people said, to blow someones doors off in a skoda must be much more rewardin then doin it in any other car! imagine drivin round in an M3 beemer, everyone expects ya be quick so no one bothers lol. sorry to have gone off on a tangent there ! lol

I have a Fabia VRS, my brother has a 5 door Ibiza FR.

The Fabia doesn't really do well other than as a longer distance cruiser, out of the box. Yes, the engine torque is nice to accelerate out of corners, but the whole overall jelly-like body control isn't my thing.

Surely the vRS's can't have been that bad in the 1st place otherwise they wouldn't have sold as many as they have. Even Clarkson thinks it "hangs on well". Obviously it won't handle like an Elise but it can't be that bad. What can the handling be compared to?

Surely the vRS's can't have been that bad in the 1st place otherwise they wouldn't have sold as many as they have. Even Clarkson thinks it "hangs on well". Obviously it won't handle like an Elise but it can't be that bad. What can the handling be compared to?

QE2...

there the same chassis so basically same car, just depends what one you personally prefer. Have a test drive in both and decide:thumbup: