I, like many on this forum, have been looking forward to the Fabia RS being introduced - thinking something practical and pokey at the same time . But, I was quietly reminded by my wife , who has a new Ibiza Sport (Petrol 100 BHP) that Seat already have the 130 PD in the new Ibiza. Given this, is the Fabia RS going to be anything special? How will it compete will the Ibiza? - price and build quality were the only things I could think of which isn't very exciting :( :confused:

It'll look less ugly?

IMHO of course...

Rob.

Does the Ibiza get the 6 speed box?

Ibiza Cupra available as 5dr?

Different driving experience?

Equipment levels?

Which do you prefer?

Build quality should be better, hopefully?

When I came to buy new at the end of '01, the two main cars I looked at were the fabia and the ibiza.

The ibizia lost out bigtime because it felt too light and was bouncing around like an empty tin can once I got it above 70 - didn't feel safe in anyway. I'd imagine the fab RS would be a lot more 'solid'...

Has anyone seen anything on how much the Fab RS is expected to cost?

Rob.

13k I thought... although i may have read it on these forums somewhere.... :p

That would sound about right...it's a bit close to the Octavia vRS in price though,

which could make it harder to justify...

Rob.

Ian - those were the sort of questions I asked and my answers were:

1) Ibiza does get 6 speed box - I actually view this as a negative given my mums Leon Cupra and other stories ive heard on its ability/reliability vs the 5 speed in the Octy RS (one of the reasons I got the RS)

2) Ibiza TDi Sport is not available in this country as a 5 door - only 3 door (is everywhere else - thats why I got our Ibiza Sport 5 door as an import from Ireland!)

3) There is a different driving experience but there is not much in it - the new Ibiza replaced the Fab as Car of the year and is a massive improvement on the old Beeza.

4) Similar on most ranges - don't know about the Fabia RS obviously.

5) Personal preference - Fair enough point but I think its a bit dire if thats the only thing really making much of a difference ... and the Skoda is about 2 years behind.

Anyway, just raising this as im well confused re: VAG's policy on its various brands and am still feeling a bit let down about the Fab RS not really being a ground breaker ... Skoda - please make a Fab 150 PD instead

Originally posted by robmawer in this post

That would sound about right...it's a bit close to the Octavia vRS in price though,

which could make it harder to justify...

I'm sure i've seen the

...Plus isnt the new Ibiza Cupra going to be BOTH tdi PD 150 AND 150 bhp 1.8T petrol , which is another reason to choose the Ibiza over the Furbie.....I'm pretty positive that these specs have been forced on Skoda tho , as VW head office wants SEAT to be the 'sporty' brand , and Skoda to build worthy A to B family cars. If only SEATS build quality wasnt so ****e , this might make sense , but judging by the moans about the Cupra Leons on Cupranet , it seems the Spanish siesta at SEAT lasts from Monday morning till Friday night!

You can always fettle the engine. Not sure if you'd get much more out of it though... What are the diesel engines in the Fabia like for tuning?

Originally posted by Witchfinder in this post

What are the diesel engines in the Fabia like for tuning?

Oh not bad....

But dont tell anyone, otherwise everyone will want one!

Looking forward to seeing what u get from your derv Fab on our little trip to Jabba's FabiaTDi! I'm hoping to have a healthy improvement on standard now. It certainly feels more torquey at lower revs now which was a bit of a problem with the 1.4 16v

I did 650 miles back along going from Devon to Leicester, to Peterborough, and then home again via west london to get my alloys. I managed to get the car to average about 55 mpg over the whole journey, thanks mainly to sticking around the 75/80 speed for most of the way. Sometimes the computer was reading in the high-fifties too, especially on the A47 which is a 60mph road. As for 13K being expensive for the Fabia RS, I had to shell out over 11K, I think it was 11500, for my 100BHP TDI, and it wasn't even the Elegance trim, comfort only (although I don't see it as an "only" for what you get.) I guess Skoda have to justify the

I've never quite worked out why Seat were chosen as the 'sporty' brand (is it because they won the F2 world rally Championship about 6 or so years ago? That would be a very flimsy reason, no?), when it's Skoda that's involved currently in the World Rally Championship, competing against Scoobies, Mitso's and Full-on Focus's, and have been now for many years? This involvement costs serious dosh, I just don't understand why they are not able/allowed by VAG to capitilise on this aspect of their image. It doesn't make sense to me at all. :confused:

As far as I know, Seat aren't involved in any premier global area of motorsport, are they?

Confused of Bucks,

Mark D

I don't think Seat have any involvement in the touring car championship, do they? But I suppose this is a bad example, because I don't think that Skoda do either. I haven't watched Touring cars since the days of alain menu and jason plato dominated everything in their Laguna's... thats a long time

Jason

Keep an eye on the 'Super racing weekends' on Eurosport , at the next meeting the Skoda Superb race team will be making their debut in the ETCC , although this isnt a factory team , im pretty sure that Skoda will be putting something in , whether its personel , factory know how or maybe just a bit of dosh! ...and theres the new Fabia WRC in the World rallies also soon , but I havent heard of any SEAT involvement in anything for a long while now...which makes the decisions RE the Fabia RS' engine specs really confusing!

If I may interrupt as an informed follower of all forms of motorsports - if you keep an eye out for those Super Racing Weekends you will see both Seat and Skoda competing against each other in the ETCC

In fact, the Seat effort is the works effort here. They will be fielding Toledo Cupras (yes, in competition form they exist!) for Jordi Gene and Frank Diefenbacher, whilst the Skoda effort is run by a privateer team, Autospektrum, fielding Superb for two semi-amateur Czechs that came up through the ranks of local Czech motorsport - so not quite your Tomas Enge or Jaroslav Janis.

Furthermore, the UK will soon be flooded with race-bred Cupras as this will be first season for the one-make Leon Cupra Cup...

As for racing heritage - well, that contest is won hands-down by Skoda. But isn't Audi an even more impressive name in racing?

I think VAG have their motorsport activities well-sorted, actually, and they are fitting with the respective brand images.

Seat - Spanish hot-blooded matador type of image, so sprint-like circuit racing

Skoda - rugged Czech quality, so rallying

Audi - smart Bavarian

Dutch4x4 - I get the feeling you probably have every sports satellite channel in Europe at your disposal I'm chuffed about the Fabia being in the WRC - that's one motorsport I can follow in the UK as there's a daily half hour rally-report when there's a rally somewhere in the world. Also saw that 1 minute mpeg of the WRC fabia being tested - Looked bloody good. I noticed last season that VW had a go at the WRC, but weren't really up to the job, so I think they've pulled out of this season. As you say, Audi is definitely the best example of racing heritage. I can vaguely remember their quattro's dominating the rally circuit, when I was a kid - and they still do the UK touring cars with the A4. I do like them, and enjoyed taking my Dad's lowered A4 out for a spin, but he's gone and bought a Honda now...

It's a shame the only engine alternative is the 130bhp diesel, especially when the Ibiza Cupra R is going to get the 150bhp diesel AND the 180bhp 1.8t :( It also gets big brakes and 17" wheels... It's not fair! Why even bother to call the fabia "RS"? "Sport-diesel" would be more apropriate.

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

Dutch4x4 - I get the feeling you probably have every sports satellite channel in Europe at your disposal

As a matter of fact, I don't. You'd be surprised how much you can learn by having access to something called the Internet!

Oh, and a couple of old-fashioned magazines...

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

As you say, Audi is definitely the best example of racing heritage. I can vaguely remember their quattro's dominating the rally circuit, when I was a kid - and they still do the UK touring cars with the A4. I do like them, and enjoyed taking my Dad's lowered A4 out for a spin, but he's gone and bought a Honda now...

Not to mention Audi being the rightful heir to the Auto Union name!

If that Honda is the new Accord, then I'd say that's a wise decision. Bloody excellent car.

Its an 18 month old Accord Sport - Not one of the really new ones, buts its got a decent 130HP 1.8 under the bonnet plus 16" wheels and 205/50 tyres. Feels good to drive, apart from the fact that its so DAMN quiet that I kept stalling the engine in car parks, unable to hear the revs at all. I suppose I'm also too used to the TDI's inability to stall (apart from the one time I parked up and left it in first whilst lifting the clutch - DOH!

Dutch 4x4

Well , maybe next time I better watch the ETCC before posting about it...lol! I had heard that the Skodas werent racing untill round 2 so gave it a miss. Thanks for the reminder RE the Toledos (that still makes me think of the Triumph Toledo , remember them?) I had a sneaking suspicion that SEAT was running a works touring car team , and was trying to remember where whilst i was writing my post above , but i couldnt! .....at least now we will (hopefully) see the Superbs whip the SEAT in every race!!! (maybe ,lol!)

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

. Sometimes the computer was reading in the high-fifties too, especially on the A47 which is a 60mph road. As for 13K being expensive for the Fabia RS, I had to shell out over 11K, I think it was 11500, for my 100BHP TDI, and it wasn't even the Elegance trim, comfort only (although I don't see it as an "only" for what you get.) I guess Skoda have to justify the