Hi Guys,

I have a few questions about the fabia vrs i wonder if you can help with.

I currently have an 03 turbo WRX which I am looking to sell as the fuel bills are killing me - i do roughly 300miles per week. I am considering replacing it with a VRS and I have a few questions I hope you guys can help with.

1) i would be looking to spend around 8k and from what i can see, that will get me roughly a 05 plate 30-45k miles. At this age/mileage, what big routine repair bills may i expect, such as timing belt/tensioner? So I can make sure they are done prior to purchase.

2) At what age did the BLT engined VRS's get built from?

3) How would the performance of a remapped VRS compare to the WRX, I am not that interested in top end speed or handling, just acceleration, mainly from 20ish to 70ish..

4) I have read alot about clutch/dmf issues post remap, are there any remaps that have proven to be least damaging to the clutch, i realise driving style also influences this.

5) as above - which of the tuning that have proven to be reliable are based in the North East?

Any help greatly received.

Cheers guys - and great forum.

Hi Guys,

I have a few questions about the fabia vrs i wonder if you can help with.

I currently have an 03 turbo WRX which I am looking to sell as the fuel bills are killing me - i do roughly 300miles per week. I am considering replacing it with a VRS and I have a few questions I hope you guys can help with.

1) i would be looking to spend around 8k and from what i can see, that will get me roughly a 05 plate 30-45k miles. At this age/mileage, what big routine repair bills may i expect, such as timing belt/tensioner? So I can make sure they are done prior to purchase.

2) At what age did the BLT engined VRS's get built from?

3) How would the performance of a remapped VRS compare to the WRX, I am not that interested in top end speed or handling, just acceleration, mainly from 20ish to 70ish..

4) I have read alot about clutch/dmf issues post remap, are there any remaps that have proven to be least damaging to the clutch, i realise driving style also influences this.

5) as above - which of the tuning that have proven to be reliable are based in the North East?

Any help greatly received.

Cheers guys - and great forum.

Hello,

1) 35 - 40k miles, should be serviced by the dealer before you get it and the cam belt is a 60k change, so not to worry yet.

2) I think the BLT was from 07 onwards???, Mine is a ASZ and it's a 2004.

3) They are fairly rapid in the gears anyway but a remapped one will be even better, but somebody may be able to give you concrete figures as mine is not remapped.

4) Not sure here, most people seem to have the same DMF and the odd cluch upgrade if they are pushing lots of HP

5) There is a company on here called Awsome, but not sure where they actually are? there may be a few contacts in the maintainace and tuning section to help you.

HTH.

The fuel economy is good for the standard car, I regularly get 50mpg if I drive normal, and about 42 - 45 with a bit more right foot.

Ben

Welcome to the forum by the way,

Ben

I've got an 05,bought a few days ago at 34000 miles for 8k, acceleration from 20-70 is excellent. Check brake disks, mine were warped, dealer replaced pads and disks free, also if car is out of Skoda warranty watch out for aftermarket warranty offered 'free' by dealer. Mine was 3 months, but small print when I got home said max claim was £300.00. Crap, then.

Have a good look around, including the spare tyre, make sure aircon and all electrics work before you buy it. Electric windows squeak on mine, WD40 cured it. Wiper blades shot. Halfords replaced.

Front tyres seem to wear, swap rears to front (not diagonally) every 10,000 miles to even wear, other than that , all feels fine.

Car is, er, suprisingly brisk on windy A roads. :-) Bonkers torque from 2000 rpm to about 4000, then change up, if not earlier. Pulls like a train.

I get 42-50 mpg on the trip computer, 48 on the motorway at 70-80.

VAG top-up oil from Dealer is £13.75 a litre...

OEM Cd radio ok too, but replaced with a Kenwood which is prettier.

Edited 30 July, 200817 yr by airbag

Hello and welcome

you could try revo in darlington

Check the insde of the tyres as they seem to wear here more than anywhere.

You don't have to pay 13 odd quid a litre for oil. Halfords sell better (fully synthetic) 505.01 spec oil for 30 pounds for 4 litres, often on sale for 20.

You don't have to pay 13 odd quid a litre for oil. Halfords sell better (fully synthetic) 505.01 spec oil for 30 pounds for 4 litres, often on sale for 20.

I know - now - but had a trip coming up when I collected the car.

Hi mate

When I first joined Brisky I was doing exactly the same thing, I went from an 03 blobeye WRX PPP to a Fabia vRS. To be honest, I did not get on with the Fabia, I am not saying there is anything wrong with them, they are great cars but it just did not suit me at the time.

On mine it was treated to a Remap, 312mm Brakes, Jabba RARB, Seat Strut Brace, Green Filter and PD160 intake and Eibach springs.

On the performance front the Fabia is a "quick" car, but when remapped they can (depending on map) be a bit "Wallop" a big slap in the back and then it's all over. I would say 100% that my Blobeye would have mullered my Furby anywere and everywere unless it was caught off boost or in a petrol station.

There are some huge gains to be had power wise if your prepared to spend with very little effect on fuel economy and there are a few on here that are pushing well over 200BHP. Bad remaps or bad driving can lead to DMF problems, if you bury your right foot from low RPM you will feel a rumble or judder, or if the clutch can't cope it will slip.

If your looking second hand which you are, I would be wary of remapped cars, there are a lot of cowboys out there and there have been examples on here of people having cheap remaps, the car is pushing stupid amounts of boost and the turbo goes pop.

that's about it from me, if you get on with one, it is a fantastic fun, frugal and quick car, but seriously, don't expect to go out and whup WRX's unless your prepared to throw a little money at it (clutch / Hybrid turbo / ATB / etc)

Right, I am going to sit back and wait to be savaged by the die hard furby gang

Hi mate

When I first joined Brisky I was doing exactly the same thing, I went from an 03 blobeye WRX PPP to a Fabia vRS. To be honest, I did not get on with the Fabia, I am not saying there is anything wrong with them, they are great cars but it just did not suit me at the time.

On mine it was treated to a Remap, 312mm Brakes, Jabba RARB, Seat Strut Brace, Green Filter and PD160 intake and Eibach springs.

On the performance front the Fabia is a "quick" car, but when remapped they can (depending on map) be a bit "Wallop" a big slap in the back and then it's all over. I would say 100% that my Blobeye would have mullered my Furby anywere and everywere unless it was caught off boost or in a petrol station.

There are some huge gains to be had power wise if your prepared to spend with very little effect on fuel economy and there are a few on here that are pushing well over 200BHP. Bad remaps or bad driving can lead to DMF problems, if you bury your right foot from low RPM you will feel a rumble or judder, or if the clutch can't cope it will slip.

If your looking second hand which you are, I would be wary of remapped cars, there are a lot of cowboys out there and there have been examples on here of people having cheap remaps, the car is pushing stupid amounts of boost and the turbo goes pop.

that's about it from me, if you get on with one, it is a fantastic fun, frugal and quick car, but seriously, don't expect to go out and whup WRX's unless your prepared to throw a little money at it (clutch / Hybrid turbo / ATB / etc)

Right, I am going to sit back and wait to be savaged by the die hard furby gang

No savaging from me, you have given an honest assessment of the car

hey, thanks for all the replies,

I would probably steer clear of an already mapped car, again, u dont know what ur getting. I have been looking at small hot hatches, test drove ibiza cupra petrol and was totally dissapointed, my thinking was considering a clio 182 but if a vrs could be mapped to similar power, then that makes more sense than the peaky clio

130 hp in a stock Fabia. Are you going to be disappointed with it? The payback is 'low' fuel consumption...

Hi CHris,

i too moved from an impreza (MY00 turbo) to a vRS.

24k in my last yr with the scoob = a lot of v power. :(

i think of the fabia as an economical "warm" rather than hot hatch.

but i'm happy with half the power due to double the MPG and lower insurance etc.

with fuel prices/road tax, i wouldn't leave it too much longer to try and sell your wrx.

cheers matt.

Deleted by MODVRS

Edited 20 June, 200917 yr by MODVRS

Its probably older and higher miles than you want, but I noticed a guy on Ebay who would consider a Scooby as part-ex against his Fabia vRS - FABIA VRS TDI 130 CANT SWAP SWOP EBAY RULES on eBay, also, Skoda, Cars, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 31-Jul-08 13:51:01 BST)

I'd have a scooby anyday over a vRS, BUT as fuel prices are stupid, the furby does me well........it will suprise a few things if you have a good remap etc

At the end of the day, its a diesel, not a jet fighter and performance is only going to be dictated by the amount of cash you throw at it lol

But i must admit......i love my furby vRS now that she's been remapped (at Angel Tuning) lol

HTH (let the abuse begin..........*head lowered*)

i love my vrs far more thani ever did my scooby,tho it was the worst and lowest powered jap car i owned,horses for courses you need to spend a fair amount of cash to get the performance you have with the imprezza,but when you tune the vrs the econamy gets better if driven correctly,i really can't put my finger on it but the fabia vrs has somthing i love in a car even tho it has some big flaws,and thats big praise considering my last car was a 400bhp skyline:D

Edited 31 July, 200817 yr by oilburninnut
no need to quote

going back to the original question of what to look out for in a 30-40k car do pop it up on a ramp and look at the play in the front suspension arm bushes

easily wobbled if they are shot.

replacment cost approx 200+VAT dealer or 130+VAT local garage for me

Hey Chris see your not too far from me

I've just bought a 55plate VRS for 7k with 34kmiles on the clock, happy days.

There is a good place in Fenchhouses/houghton to get a re-map the place is TDi performance, a couple of the lads i know have had there cars mapped there and are very happy (Bora 130, passat 130 golf 150). They even own a VRS with a remap so you can see what it'll be like. I got quoted £250 for the remap including an ITG air filter.

@ Conshine - is the cam belt every 60k miles or 40k, i thought i read somewhere on here that it was 40K or 4years?

Cheers Bru

Hi @ Bru, do u mind me asking, was that at a main dealer you bought yours? seems quite a reasonable price., would be interesting to go out in a mapped one to see what they are like...

I mean looking at spec a mapped one in theory should be a bit quiker than a standard cupra TDi? which from memory was about 7.6 to 60? I know thats not that important but does give a bit of an idea.

Cheers

Hey Chris see your not too far from me

I've just bought a 55plate VRS for 7k with 34kmiles on the clock, happy days.

There is a good place in Fenchhouses/houghton to get a re-map the place is TDi performance, a couple of the lads i know have had there cars mapped there and are very happy (Bora 130, passat 130 golf 150). They even own a VRS with a remap so you can see what it'll be like. I got quoted £250 for the remap including an ITG air filter.

@ Conshine - is the cam belt every 60k miles or 40k, i thought i read somewhere on here that it was 40K or 4years?

Cheers Bru

The cam belt is 60k or 4 years whichever the sooner.

hey, thanks for all the replies,

I would probably steer clear of an already mapped car, again, u dont know what ur getting. I have been looking at small hot hatches, test drove ibiza cupra petrol and was totally dissapointed, my thinking was considering a clio 182 but if a vrs could be mapped to similar power, then that makes more sense than the peaky clio

Don't be put off a mapped car as long as its been done professionally it should not be a problem, ive had mine remapped now for nearly13,000 miles with no problems what so ever. It was done by Chipboost.com in Scarbrough who can also travel to you if needed and i must admit the remap transforms the car.

The cam belt is 60k or 4 years whichever the sooner.

Cheers mate i'll put the bank card away lol

@ Chris - it was from an independant garage in darlington mate, not a dealer.