I was in Greece a few weeks ago and I saw a tv advert for the new fabia advertising a 115hp version. Considering the most in the UK is 105hp i wondered what engine it was, 1.9PD, 1.6 FSI or 2.0 8v? :confused:

I forgot about till now but today I was browsing the greek skoda site. It turns out the Greek Fabia Sport can have a 1.6 115hp engine and its badged as a vrs! :eek:

Skoda Fabia SportEdition

Then browsing the other models, they still sell the mk1 octy (Tour) and do a GT version which has the 1.8T 20v engine and a claimed 193hp :confused:

Skoda OctaviaGT 193hp

And in the mk2 octy the "Octavia 5" they do a GT version and a RS version

Randomly the GT has a 200hp 1.8TSI engine compared to the 160hp engine in the uk: Skoda Octavia 5 GT 200hp

and the RS is still the 200hp 2.0TFSI: Skoda Auto - Octavia RS

FWIW, the normal mk2 octys have the normal enignes:

Skoda Auto - Octavia - ????????

1.4 MPI/80 ίππων, 1.6 FSI/116 ίππων, 1.8 TSI/160 ίππων, και 2.0 TFSI/200 ίππων και το νέο Πετρελαιοκινητήρα 2.0 TDI-PD/140 ίππων που εφοδιάζεται προαιρετικά με το εξαιρετικό αυτόματο κιβώτιο DSG. H παλέττα των κινητήρων συμπληρώνεται με τον κινητήρα 1.9 TDI-PD/105

So what I think I'm getting at is I'm surprised by the difference in engines, I thought the UK would get better ones and very surprised by the vrs badge on the fabia sport

greeks

I wouldn't trust a word the greeks say :P

But saying that they have much better fuel than us in cyprus, so maybe its mapped for the higher octane fuel?

But saying that they have much better fuel than us in cyprus, so maybe its mapped for the higher octane fuel?

Well this is proper Greece not pretend Greek Cyprus and I doubt it as they call 95RON "Super" don't know what's below 95RON unleaded

In cyprus they have 100 octane.. at about 2/3 of the price of our 95. I cant see greece being very different, they share alot!

EKO

In cyprus they have 100 octane.. at about 2/3 of the price of our 95. I cant see greece being very different, they share alot!

EKO

That must be be low taxed. In Crete 95RON, 3 weeks ago, was in the range 1.20 to 1.40 Euros depedning how far in the sticks you were. Which I make to be 96p to £1.12 when I was paying £1.16 in Manchester

Being Greek I think I can shade some light into the matter (if you believe me that is ).

There are very few Diesel powered private cars in Greece as there are restrictions in all major cities (i.e. diesel powered private cars are not allowed in any major city, which can be a bit of a nuisance for some people :eek:)! The reasoning (if you can call it that) is that Diesel cars are (still) considered *dirty*and bad for the environment (bad, BAD). Of course there are no restrictions on commercial vehicles (that I know of) including taxis, of which there are several hundred thousand in cities. Consequently a lot (if not most) taxis are diesel powered (the diesels in the text box you quote are aimed at cabbies). Makes perfect sense if you ask me .

The reason for the increased output of the new Fabia compared to the UK model is Gov legislation as vehicles with large engines (over 1600cc that is, … , indeed….) are taxed heavily and there are extra hoops to jump through. It is the same reason that (as you might have noticed yourself) the vast majority of cars in Greece are under 1600cc. Things are a lot better now as restrictions have been relaxed with a bit of *persuasion* from the EU. Not too long ago only bona fide big earners could afford anything above 2000cc.

For that reason Greece has perhaps the most competitive market in the EU for cars up to 1400cc (and consequently the lower prices in that category), one of the most competitive for cars between 1400 and 1600cc, and it’s downhill (or uphill pricewise) thereafter. I was trying to persuade my pal of the new Octavia VRs’ merits, but with a price of 28000euros in Greece it doesn’t look as attractive as it does it does in the UK where it costs under 24000euros – and wages are a LOT stronger here, and that is both in absolute and relative (earning/cost of living) terms.

Hence every manufacturer has to try hard to compete in the up to 1400cc arena. You could say that Greece gets the better engines (up to 1600cc), but one might also say that (from a certain point on at least) if you want more power it’s better to go up an engine size than try to squeeze out every ounce of juice form a tiny engine. There is no replacement for displacement the Americans say, and although not absolutely true in every case the statement has some merit.

Finally advertising regulation is a lot more relaxed (or ineffective if you prefer) in Greece (as everything else). With the right connections (and right sized pockets of course) you can slap a sport (or VRs if you prefer) sticker on a pram and claim 0-60 in nanoseconds. False advertising you say? Right this way sir, the complaints bureau is just round back, …, never mind the dogs…:P.

I don’t know if the 1.8 GT actually produces 193bhp (could it be the old engine with a better map?), but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a certain degree of optimism somewhere there. Of course I am not saying or implying in any way that Skoda are falsely advertising the car, just moaning about the genera situation and the liberties advertisers are allowed to take (you think *up to* 8Mbps broadband is miss sold in the UK?:eek:).

My 2drachmas :P

BTW I am based in the UK and enjoying my MK1 Octavia VRs immensely

Thanks,

my wife is Greek and we're out there were her family a few times a year. I'm going again this weekend (she's spending the summer out there) and its seeing TV adverts that I can relate to, like "wtf? a 115hp fabia?" that keeps me sane whilst there. I'm guessing that the engine is the FSI engine seen in the Octy so fabia owners will be sorely disappointed if this is the closest the mk2 gets to a vrs

Diesel is still a dirty word but I'm starting to see a few more private than I used to but we are out of the city. 'Patera mou' is thinking of getting one as he has a boat and claims to be a fisherman so can get cheap fuel.

From my observations it seems the easiest way to get a cheap nice car is to have 4 kids. Shame about the giveaway number plates though.

One thing I recently learnt was that you insure your car not the driver. I'm told I can drive my in-laws cars without needing to be insured myself. I didn't believe it at first but it was backed up by another, unconnected Greek chap.

Thanks,

my wife is Greek and we're out there were her family a few times a year. I'm going again this weekend (she's spending the summer out there) and its seeing TV adverts that I can relate to, like "wtf? a 115hp fabia?" that keeps me sane whilst there. I'm guessing that the engine is the FSI engine seen in the Octy so fabia owners will be sorely disappointed if this is the closest the mk2 gets to a vrs

Diesel is still a dirty word but I'm starting to see a few more private than I used to but we are out of the city. 'Patera mou' is thinking of getting one as he has a boat and claims to be a fisherman so can get cheap fuel.

From my observations it seems the easiest way to get a cheap nice car is to have 4 kids. Shame about the giveaway number plates though.

One thing I recently learnt was that you insure your car not the driver. I'm told I can drive my in-laws cars without needing to be insured myself. I didn't believe it at first but it was backed up by another, unconnected Greek chap.

Glad I could be of assistance daiking

I forgot to mention that there are also exceptions for vehicles classed as “work machines”. I am not aware of the details, but most off-road vehicles are classed as “αγροτικα” (your wife will know the word), which in direct translation means vehicles used in farming (in the fields), but nowadays covers most “off-road” vehicles, including those onion and “καρπουζι” (water melon) carrying Cayennes and X5s

By exceptions I mean different taxing (and insurance I’d presume) regulations, making such vehicles a lot more affordable than standard cars with engines of similar size. That is why there are so many Chelsea tractors around in Greece (yes, a lot of people have boats to pull, but still), whilst if you find a 2ltr mondeo anywhere make sure to take a pic cause noone will believe you.

Therefore your father in law, as a fisherman, should be able to get a diesel powered “off-road” vehicle under the special regulations if he declares it as “αγροτικο”. At least that was the case up until very recently; I know they are gradually changing this system. Also, if he doesn’t’ go into big cities often, he might just want to buy a private car with a diesel engine, I'm not sure what applies in that case. I don’t know anything about cheap fuel either, but it sounds reasonable

As for insurance yes, that is the case. I’d say I prefer the Greek system as by insuring the car you can drive anything (if you have an appropriate driving licence that is), whilst over here things are a lot more complicated as you are insuring the driver AND the car. As to why you’d want to drive in Greece is beyond me :P

BTW may I ask where your wife comes from? I used to live in Athens, but my grandparents live in an island called Samos. Lots of fishermen there, you never know…

Edited 7 August, 200817 yr by Ioannis

My wife's family live on the south east coast of Crete and even after 8 years I don't speak any greek but even I can read "agro-tika" :P and my favourite greek word car-pussy

My father in law is not really a fisherman its more of a hobby but he has a nice boat for it. He's been running a petrol Freelander for the last 6 or 7 years and was keen to swap to boat fuel.

Driving in Crete is bad at first but you get used to it. The open road is easy but city driving in Heraklion is quite scary. The bit I struggle with the most is the lack of road markings. I never know where I should be and my wife is no help with road signs/markings or other traffic rules.

My wife's family live on the south east coast of Crete and even after 8 years I don't speak any greek but even I can read "agro-tika" :P and my favourite greek word car-pussy

My father in law is not really a fisherman its more of a hobby but he has a nice boat for it. He's been running a petrol Freelander for the last 6 or 7 years and was keen to swap to boat fuel.

Driving in Crete is bad at first but you get used to it. The open road is easy but city driving in Heraklion is quite scary. The bit I struggle with the most is the lack of road markings. I never know where I should be and my wife is no help with road signs/markings or other traffic rules.

LOL, nice one there with the car-pussy, best one I’ve heard in a while!

As for the road markings we do that to confuse foreigners,…, and locals (take the third left after Mr Manolis’ olive tree, and then right at the big fig tree, NOT the small one, the big one)

I know only too well (unfortunately), about road conditions in Greece as I spent a large part of my youth “acquiring” land in the island of Samos (and a few patches in Athens). According to tradition every patch of road that you fall over (with a motorcycle, although cars going off the road and down a field, ditch or cliff are not at all uncommon) is considered yours (i.e. “acquired” by you), until someone else has a worse accident on the same spot. Hence Ioannis’ hairpin, Nikos’ ditch, Dimitris’ cliff and so on

I was fortunate enough to make all of my “acquisitions” with motorcycles, which taught me valuable lessons in the cheap (in monetary terms that is – off road motorcycles aren’t phased by such incidents, just straighten the handlebars and off you go, the levers work fine with the tip missing – can’t say the same for knees, elbows and soft flesh though…). And that was the case for all of us braving it with motorcycles on those roads. I take it you have seen the tarmac “glow” under the summer sun, and fumes coming off it. Even at normal speeds rural roads are dangerous, let along when you try to brisk it up a bit.

I used to read stuff like “Colin McRae (RIP) and his team refused to test drive Z motorcycles” (kindly provided by … after the Acropolis Rally), or “German/French journalists refused to ride the latest Yamazuki introduced in Greece last week” as they got scared after they saw the condition of the roads (Italians and Spaniards never had a problem on the other hand), and wonder what sort of butter were they made of. Not anymore :thumbdwn:.

In any case it is all fine, if you don’t know any better. But once you’ve driven on proper tarmac (and wide enough roads with proper markings, appropriate cambers, unobstructed visibility, respectful drivers around you, the list goes on…) that changes…

Does it come with a free chicken kebab???

Skoda Fabia SportEdition Love the black roof on that silver model....An octavia 2 RS front badge stuck at the back.