Hi guys, i've joined today in the hope you can give me a bit of intimate info on the fabia vrs . I wish i was asking about exciting stuff about turbos and 0-60 but sadly I need to know the boring stuff they don't tell you in brouchure!

My 1990 mazda 323f gt is getting a bit old and the running costs are getting on my nerves so i'm beginning to think of my next car. Can anyone give me an idea of servicing costs (and intervals), tyre wear rate (front bridgestone re720's only last 6k miles on the maz!) and any other costs I need to consider on the vRS.

Does the fabia have a drivers foot rest? If it doesn't does anyone have a problem with this? Sorry if I sound like a real wierdo but little things can be very important when choosing a car!

Thanks for any info you can give, I hope to get involved in the forum a bit more when I buy a vRS, then we can talk about more interesting stuff

PS Check out popuplights.co.uk if you need to know anything about old mazdas with funky headlights!

:wavey:

Don't own a rollerskate myself, but I think the service intervals are 10k miles, not sure of costs.

Yep, IIRC, it has a clutch foot rest.

Standard tyres are a bit pants, should last 10-12k as a rough guess. Then bin them and put some decent ones on.

EDIT: Original standard tyres were Pilot Primacy which were pants, seems recent ones come with Conti SportContact 2 which are jolly good

does have a foot rest but my foot is too big to fit down the side of the clutch pedal so I have to put it under the clutch, a little annoying

Yes it does have a footrest..

standard tyres are michelin pilot primacy.. which will last at least 20k on the front if well behaved

Servicing costs vary from dealer to dealer.. my 10k was

On the subject of basic questions - keys

The brochure suggests it comes with one of the chunky "flick" keys with remote and one without the remote. Is that correct? If so, if the car is locked with the remote can it be unlocked/unalarmed etc with the non remote key? Apologies if that sounds stupid

On the subject of basic questions - keys

The brochure suggests it comes with one of the chunky "flick" keys with remote and one without the remote. Is that correct? If so' date=' if the car is locked with the remote can it be unlocked/unalarmed etc with the non remote key? Apologies if that sounds stupid[/quote']AFAIK, it should come with 2 flick keys, however, if it doesn't, I'm pretty sure the non-remote key does everything the remote key does, you just have to do it at the door

Chris

new ones come with 2 remote keys, only had mine 1 month and mine did. Problem is if you lock it with the remote and open with the key you set your alarm off

new ones come with 2 remote keys, only had mine 1 month and mine did. Problem is if you lock it with the remote and open with the key you set your alarm off

Don't you get 30 seconds to put the key in the ignition, which turns it off?

Chris

Don't you get 30 seconds to put the key in the ignition' date=' which turns it off?

Chris[/quote']

Yes

Mine came with conti SP2, they seem like hard wearing tyres with good performance, foot rest will be useless if your plates of meat are 10 or more, servicing is 10K miles and about ton-ton thirty. Economy is good, 45MPG if you drive in lead shoes, 50+ easy if you are lighter on the go pedal.

Black is a nightmare to keep clean, burns oil for about first 5k so keep an eye on it, seats are comfy and steering wheel has lots of adjustment to keep you happy.

All in all nothing better for the money.

AND it has that cool badge: SKODA ! ! !

God you guys are quick! Thanks for the good news about the foot rest, I can sleep easy at night now :happyface

Right lets make it more interesting, what is it really like to drive? I know you all say it has alot of grunt but how does it handle? I don't expect crazy lift off oversteer (like tinny french rubbish) but i really don't like understeer. I imagine I would be getting good tyres and stiffer suspension, does the fabia respond well to this?

How is the steering and brake feel? How is the clutch and gearchange? I know I will have to try it myself but I am interested in your opinions first. How does it compare to other fast cars you have driven?

Keep up the good work guys, i'm getting excited about my first skoda already

servicing is 10K miles and about ton-ton thirty.

And the rest, I just paid

Is a little understeery but that might be down to el cheapo tyres! Replacing the suspension is a good step and getting on some Eibach springs and dampers will make it hug the road nicely, coupled with various strut braces will significantly reduce body roll.

Steering is initially quite light - get someone with VAG-COM or the dealer to weight it up for you (it can be adjusted through the diagnostic port) and the brakes are fine, if a little over-servoed until you get used to them!

Clutch is nice and weighty, but not too heavy and gear change is slick, even if the throw is quite long for a sporty car

Compared to a Scooby it's not sporty and in standard form is slow and dislikes corners. However, it is quite fun, and with a bit of fettling will feel significantly better (as it should have come out of the factory!!! ). For the money, you'd be hard-pushed to find a better package, and it does have plenty of torque so overtaking is brisk and you always have power available

Chris

Paid

not sure about service as I haven't got to the first one yet (even when I do it will be FOC) but is should be about

Mine is 12 days old on 54, got two remote keys, and my standard tyres are Continental Sport 2....which incidentally are superb actually.