Hiya chaps, i'm currently driving a petrol fiesta zetec s and thinking of chopping it in for a mk4 gt tdi or fabia vrs in the near future, just wanted your opinions on which to go for and why? Many thanks!

No offence, but your asking a SKODA forum what car they would buy???? lol lol

Depends what your looking for in the car? Size wise, the Fabia's closer to the Fiesta than a Golf. Golfs bigger and heavier, Fabia's smaller and slightly lighter (if memory's correct)

Fabia is cheaper to insure despite being faster in every way (Was quoted £600 less on the Fabia than equiv. Golf).

Fabia also has much more character - Golf is boring and old manish.

Golf however has more toys and is built a bit better, and has more space

You'll be able to buy a Golf cheaper than a Fabia and there's a much wider range of engines and if you get the right one it'll have lots of options not available on the Fabia. I've recently bought a PD130 Golf with heated black leather, climate, cruise, electric sunroof etc. with just under 70k on for just over £6k. I'm not sure if you'd get a Fab for that money? Granted the Golf is a 51 reg but it feels like it built a helluva lot better than my old Octavia which felt decidedly ropey.

I do like Fabia's but didn't have that knid of money to spend, don't like the interior and i wanted a bit more space with a baby on the way.

This probably sounds a bit too obvious but...why not test both and find out which you prefer overall...?

You're asking this on a Skoda forum. What do you expect the answer to be?

Joking aside, test drive both and see how you feel. Golf Mk4 feels a bit boring as std. That said, it's a more grown-up car and the cabin finish are to a higher standard IMO. It's also the next size class up.

Steve

Fabia vRS all the way.Much sportier and less 'common' than the Golf.

I did test drive both back to back recently at available car supermarket lol, golf definitely has a classier cabin, i'm not the biggest fan of the vrs' light coloured seats tbh however being 19 insurance is obviously more appealing on the vrs. Are repairs and servicing cheaper on the skoda than the VW? Even tho they're both from the VAG stable lol. How do they both handle? I hear the VRS rolls around alot?

Edited 9 September, 200817 yr by Boots

the servicing cost aint cheap on the vrs and i'd say the golf probably handles slightly better in my opinion,but all said i think the vrs is a better car to buy

I drive a mk4 golf tdi for work and I think it does handle better than the vrs. However, the vrs is loads more fun to drive, has more character etc and better fuel economy. I prefer the interior of the vrs too (except for the light coloured seats that is) and I find it more comfortable on longer journeys. Also, golfs are everywhere and there aren't so many vRSs

Also.........if you aint hapy with an area of the vRS, modify/change/uprate it lol Lowering the car helps the handling and a remap improves fuel economy! (well thats what i told SWMBO anyway lol lol)

I looked at both the Fabia vRS and the Golf GT TDI and it worked out that to buy approx the same year if car was going to cost me around £1000 more to buy the Golf so it was hello Furby

^ Yep same for me.. yes you can get Golf GT TDI's cheaper than the Furby BUT it will be an older model with higher miles, if you look at a furby say 04 plate with 40k on it and look at an equiv golf its going to be a fair wack more money

Well , waits to be shouted down.

Why dont you do the PD100 Fabia , get it mapped and get the extra bits on

I have a PD100 mapped to 141 and returns a healty 60MPG and that is steaming it

Front and rear ARB , bloomin fantastic with these on

The a suspension kit to lower it

Even lower on insurance too

Sarah

OR

An 03/53 Reg Ibiza Sport TDI 130.

Same engine as Fabia VRS - cheaper to buy and lower insurance group

Depends what you're after really as they bother have their good points as everyone has already mentioned...

I swapped my Fabia 100 with Revo remap and a few other mods for a Golf GT TDI (130) earlier this year. I was after a slightly more grown up car and I find the golf more comfortable over longer distances - better seats and the suspension is more forgiving. I also give lots of people lifts and they like the extra room in the golf. As other people have said, the golf also feels better put together although I didn't really have any problems with the Fabia.

They're both good cars though so I'd say have another test drive and decide which you prefer. If you're planning on modding them then costs are fairly similar anyway.

OR

An 03/53 Reg Ibiza Sport TDI 130.

Same engine as Fabia VRS - cheaper to buy and lower insurance group

Good thinking that man. The Ibiza's can be had for quite a bit less and the cheaper insurance is a bonus...

You're qualified on the Ibiza front as well Rob

It's a good shout, which is probably why we both chose it! TDi Sport PD130 Ibiza from an 02-plate onwards and group 7 or 8 (IIRC?) so plenty of options if you want something PD130 based.

Or what about a Bora? Or are you set on a hatch?

Steve

DONT buy a skoda, you will get laughed at!

I looked at both the Fabia vRS and the Golf GT TDI and it worked out that to buy approx the same year if car was going to cost me around £1000 more to buy the Golf so it was hello Furby

I looked at Audi A3, Golf, Ibiza, and Fabia. The A3 and Golf cost more for the same age/mileage, and the Ibiza is relatively rare with 5 doors.

Or what about a Bora? Or are you set on a hatch?

Steve

I was all set to get a Bora (octy vRS was in the running too) when i was looking for a new car, but after having a good look round a fabia vRS (i'd never paid them any attention before) and subsequently driving one, i just had to have one..... really enjoyed my test drive and had to have it!

I never did get round to trying out a bora though.......

I was all set to get a Bora (octy vRS was in the running too) when i was looking for a new car, but after having a good look round a fabia vRS (i'd never paid them any attention before) and subsequently driving one, i just had to have one..... really enjoyed my test drive and had to have it!

I never did get round to trying out a bora though.......

Read this...

The experience is similar

My 2p's worth? Oh go on then!

I came from a 1999 GT TDI 110 with a genuine superchip:) to approx 130bhp, to my vRS and they are quite similar in many ways!!

I've got to be honest here and say that the golf probably handled a bit better (not much in it though) and it soaked up the bumps and rough surfaces WAY WAY better than the Fabia.

As for interior, the Golf also walks this one I'm afraid. Nicer seats (and no stupid light colour either!) better instrument lighting (blue!) and roomier. Also the materials used were just 'better' in the Golf, but then that's why you'd pay more for the Golf in the first place I guess.

I think I prefer the way the Golf looked too, but there ARE a LOT of them about. It annoys me that the Fabia door handles and rubbing strips etc aren't colour coded, but then that's just my personal taste I suppose. And it probably looks worse on my lemon yellow one as opposed to a black Fabia for example. I do like the 'aggressive' look of the Fabia, but it so needs lowering a lot from standard to look decent.

I can't see why there'd be much difference on servicing prices etc as you'd probably be taking them to an independent specialist so prices would be roughly the same anyway. I also got marginally better fuel economy with the golf but then it was the TDI and not the PD engined model which was known for it's frugality!

Any other questions, just ask:thumbup:

I also got marginally better fuel economy with the golf but then it was the TDI and not the PD engined model which was known for it's frugality!

I found my 110 TDI A3 sport (so your Golf with a few different panels!) marginally more economical than the Fabia.

One of the great advantages for us 'grey surfers' apart from very cheap insurance is that we don't have bother too much any more about hype and can just go with what looks and feels right. We also get more scroogelike every year, but that's another discussion...

The vRS is a phenomenal combination, real 'Q' car all round. There are of course faster, sleeker looking, better handling, better built, more economical and spacious cars but nothing quite combines the all round balance of these that vRS does. Value for money, and for entertaining real world driving its up there with the best.

Ear to ear every time you get in one!!