Hi all

I recently traded in my furby vRS and purchased an Octy vRS 20 FSI. I really like the new addition which drives and handles superbly (as someone aware of the skoda brand for many years always new it would). My insanity is manifesting itself in the form of the 'fun factor' that I miss from whizzing around in the fabia. I know it is , but the octy just dosent have the same feeling of acceleration. (maybe I just cant drive it properly).

Has any one else had the same experience ..............hold on.............is that a yellow furby vRS pulling up outside my door.:confused: No, it's a yellow van with men in white coats :eek:..............

I think Shifty went through the same trauma. Even despite tuning the Octy as well.

I think Shifty got p!ssed off with the fuel cut issue, that was solved after he got rid of it.

As well as it being too safe/boring/etc

Hi all

I recently traded in my furby vRS and purchased an Octy vRS 20 FSI. I really like the new addition which drives and handles superbly (as someone aware of the skoda brand for many years always new it would). My insanity is manifesting itself in the form of the 'fun factor' that I miss from whizzing around in the fabia. I know it is , but the octy just dosent have the same feeling of acceleration. (maybe I just cant drive it properly).

Has any one else had the same experience ..............hold on.............is that a yellow furby vRS pulling up outside my door.:confused: No, it's a yellow van with men in white coats :eek:..............

In my mind, nothing (for reasonable money anyway) the size of an Octy can give you the real chuckable feeling that a smaller/lighter supermini can give you. I use my modified Fiesta TDCI everyday for commuting and that is great for nipping in and out of the traffic and also does an incredible job of embarrasing the more powerful metal around the local roundabouts :P

Even though the Octy is highly modded in the handling department there isnt the same feeling of 'lightness' or agility as the Fiesta offers (as you might expect), none the less, I love it all the same!

The torque delivery of the Fabia makes it feel faster than it is. My Leon is noticeably less surgey, and doesn't feel as quick, but I reckon it actually is, round about.

Maybe missing the diesel engine torque/low down grunt, which always seems to make acceleration seem quicker than it actually is. I know I missed it when I swapped from diesel to petrol. I swapped back 6 months later.

Octavia > Fabia

Try driving a Stage2+ 2.0TFSI and then come back and say a Fabia vRS is more fun

...Torque all over the rev band and a shed load of power - a Fabia has not got a chance in hell against it.

I think its mint!!

I've had an Octy Mk I vRS estate (180HP standard), a Octy Mk II 2.0 TDi (140hp + Dragon Box) and now a Fabia vRS (130HP +re-map) so pretty much the full mix of Octy & Fabia, hatch & estate, diesel and petrol.

I have to say that the Fabia definitely has the biggest grin factor - makes me feel like a kid again.

My commute to the office is 80 - 90 miles each way and I do it once or twice a week. The Fabia is the car that makes me go the non-motorway route on the way back even though I know it will take me longer.

The TFSI Octy vRS IS faster than a Furby vRS by about 10mph on top speed and 2 secs or more 0-60mph.

However the Octy is about 300kg heavier and this shows up in the comparative nimbleness of the Furby. Additionally, there is the difference in power delivery/characteristics that you have to get used to and relearn how best to drive a petrol engined car e.g. use the revs/power. Only time will tell whether you can adapt.

@ OP

I've made exactly the same transition as you and had the same experience. The Octy is faster (as long as you rev the tits off it), pitches and rolls less, has better turn in, less understeer, stronger brakes and a more stable ride but despite all these things, the Fabia was much more fun. I think the ridiculous torque peak, scary body roll and inadequate brakes all contributed to a seat-of-your-pants experience that is missing in its big brother. Because the Octy's a better car, it feels like you're going slower.

Edited 11 March, 200917 yr by Gasss

There is a similar analogy to this thread in this month's EVO with a roadtest of the FIAT 500 Abarth Essence vs. Mini Cooper S. The Mini, on paper is the faster car and objectively has the better handling package BUT the FIAT Abarth is the one the road testers would buy 'cos it is more fun.

So, perhaps, the moral of this story is that bigger is not necessarily better and all us Octavia vRS owners should sell and buy the Fabia II vRS when it comes out later this year and have more fun OR perhaps all those who bought the vRS TFSI Octy should have bought the TDI vRS 'cos you still get that tsunami of torque you have gotten used to in your Furby.

Takes me back to the "very" early days of hot hatches! Small car + (relativly) big torquey engine = FUN FUN FUN!!! Think of the MK1 XR2, Renaullt Clio Williams, early Astra GTE etc, etc, etc; hugh grin factor! Loads of grunt & pin sharp handling. But would I get SWMBO, kid, friends, viola, cello, dog, shopping, 2 weeks luggage etc in them and still say "are we having fun???" !?!?!

Having said all that if you tinker about with the Octy it becomes loads better and if you do long trips it's a real fun mile muncher! Love mine sooooo much!!!

I'm in a not too dissimilar position also. I went from a Renault Sport Clio 182 to my Octy vRS.

I know the Octy isn't quite as quick and isn't as nimble as the Clio was, but the Octy is twice the size, much better built and a touch more economical. Doesn't stop me from wondering if I made the right decision though!

i have both a Fabia Vrs and a Scout, the Vrs was always fun to drive over short distances but on long hauls to and from europe to the uk it was tiresome at substained hi speeds- the OCty on the other hand eats up the miles but is less fun point to point on short trips- so answer-sold the Vrs to my daughter and borrow it from time to time

Just been released from the loony bin and have just read all the replies, and most interesting they are.

a lot of very valid points and 'horses for courses' comes to mind.

I love the Octy and it certainly handles and stops better than the fabia.

Its one hell of a lump of motor for what I paid (why any of these so called skoda snobs would pay more for the equivelant V/W or Audi I dont know)

Was out for a considerable drive today (windy roads) and am certainly getting used to shifting through the gears (rarely had to do that with the diesel lump) 3rd and 4th are awsome.

also had the tuning box in the Fabia which made a difference.(for sale if anyone wants it)

Guess you could argue the pro's and con's of both cars all day, but the upshot is IMO, they are both quality motors.

I would just point out that it is the Octy I sold to get the mx5 and not the Fabia.

I'm in a not too dissimilar position also. I went from a Renault Sport Clio 182 to my Octy vRS.

I know the Octy isn't quite as quick and isn't as nimble as the Clio was, but the Octy is twice the size, much better built and a touch more economical. Doesn't stop me from wondering if I made the right decision though!

182 was good to drive but at any speed it sounded like you had the exhaust strapped behind your head rest.

Chuck a RARB on her and she'll be able to get chcuked around way more.

182 was good to drive but at any speed it sounded like you had the exhaust strapped behind your head rest.

Chuck a RARB on her and she'll be able to get chcuked around way more.

Yeah I had a Blueflame, then I junked that and fitted a Milltek system - I loved the sound of that exhaust.

I do miss the way the Clio could change direction with such agility, although the Octy is 400kgs heavier and consequently the way it does handle it can certainly hold its head high. Perhaps a rear ARB could be added to my long wishlist of future developments.