Should It, Could It, Would It Handle?

[Rob.]

I read on here all the time that the Fabia just plain can't handle.

(EDIT - ok, so maybe not all the time.. but I' noticed it said a few times)

Even some of the members that throw cash at the chassis and suspension claim that Fabia just isn't built to go round corners.

Just thought I'd open the floor to any ideas why this is, and is a sorted Fabia something that can ever be achieved?

What is it that makes it handle the way it does.. and are Ibiza & Polo as equally poor, and if not how come? And can it be transplanted to a Fabia?

Is it just that it handles as well as any other FWD car of it's size? If that's the case why do I hear that the Fiesta drives so well?

Edited 9 December, 2009 by reflex88

[trundlenut]

It's probably got something to do with the big lump of pig iron under the bonnet.

[MoggyTech]

Well I would say I drive my VRS enthusiastically, and even as standard it handles just fine. If we are talking about the handling of something like a BMW M3 or better, the suspension alone costs more than a complete VRS.

I doubt the engine weight causes all the handling issues, as the famous understeer under power is simply the front tyres struggling to put down all the torque.

The rear end is likely to be the main culprit, as it's a simple beam axle. Changing that for a full 5 link rear end, would turn the VRS into a road hugging monster

So great for track days, but then you need to be driving like a plonker on public roads for the VRS handling to be anything short of more than adequate. :p

[dfullb]

Compared to lots of other cars, they do handle, it is just the outright speed that the Fabia Vrs can achieve, it goes quicker than what the chasis can handle at daft speeds.

A good set of Shockers & Springs, Rear strut brace & rear Arb, Cupra console & powerflex suspension bushes & the car is transformed

I live in the countryside & have a nice run home & can competently throw the Vrs Estate about & give all a run for there money upto the national speed limit of course .....

Car is still white & furry, but just starting to thaw ....

Dean

Edited 9 December, 2009 by dfullb

[trundlenut]

Recently on a trip to the dump, I found that the several bags of rubble in the boot of my octavia did improve the cornering.

I have a diesel octavia and SWMBO has a petrol Leon, I don't think there is any great difference in the suspension and I know the octavia is heavier but the leon is definitely less nose heavy when cornering.

[devonutopia]

Mine handles OK. Does take some serious amounts of cash though, unlike just going out and buying a cheap 15 year old MX5.....

[dfullb]

Mine handles OK. unlike buying a cheap 15 year old MX5.....

That's called Cheating :lol:

Dean

[Decron]

Mine handled well, but it cost about £1000 to make it so...

[devonutopia]

Dread to think of the handling bits thrown at mine. Guess #1 is the Peloquin differential, #2 being the Jabbasport rear ARB, then the KW V1 coilovers, then the 215 wide T1R tyres, then the little bits which add up, i.e weight loss (rear seats & aircon gone, carbon bonnet), and weight shifting (battery in boot)....?

[yegnold]

Rear anti roll bar and decent tyres is the cheapest way to improve the handling on the fabia without spending stupid money.

[Rob.]

With all these mods does it handle any better then a Cupra though? or a GTi?

And What about a Cupra or GTi with the same mods? Wouldn't that then step it all up above the Fabia again?

Edited 9 December, 2009 by reflex88

[yegnold]

Also - despite what some members on here think, I don't think VAG ever intended the Fabia to go around corner like a train on rails.

[dfullb]

Dread to think of the handling bits thrown at mine. Guess #1 is the Peloquin differential, #2 being the Jabbasport rear ARB, then the KW V1 coilovers, then the 215 wide T1R tyres, then the little bits which add up, i.e weight loss (rear seats & aircon gone, carbon bonnet), and weight shifting (battery in boot)....?

Ok, that's not cheating .. yes forgot about the Diff, The Quaiffe ATB makes a big difference ...

Dean

[ric04vrs]

i'm running standard shocks with the Eibach lowering springs, Cupra bushes and Jabba RARB

i think it handles reasonably well, never had any problems on the road or track

[Rob.]

I should say, I think it handles ok as stock.. but then, the 3 cars I've had are... a K Reg Escort 1.3 L - a 2001 Fabia Elegance and now my vRS so I can't say I'm experienced.. It's just that I've heard it said more than once that the Fabia's not exactly sharp.

[devonutopia]

Handling isn't just about going around bends though - It's also the braking on approach and how the car pulls away too - This is where big brakes (I forgot those) helps, combined with the KWs to keep the car steady on heavy braking, then the KWs and mild power to pull through the corner and then full power to get the differential working and pulling the car out the other side.

I believe as it is (should say was.....) , my car will out handle a mk4/mk5 GTI and Cupra in stock form. But add the same diff, coilies, brakes, etc then yes, it comes down again to that pig iron lump up front. Still - at the Bovington day I was able to catch a tuned Scooby WRX which got a 15 second headstart on me, over a 3.5 minute course, so there must be something my car is doing right. (follow link below and see my other videos for clip)

[Rob.]

So in the famous TG vid, when Clarkson says the Mini out brakes him, does he just mean Hammond could brake later... or his brakes have set him up better for the bend.. or both?

[devonutopia]

So in the famous TG vid, when Clarkson says the Mini out brakes him, does he just mean Hammond could brake later... or his brakes have set him up better for the bend.. or both?

Having seen that a few times I say Clarkson braked too early as the difference is night and day. Likewise when the vRS overtakes the mini down the back straight, Hammond has eased off the gas despite his "Giving it everything it's got" claim..... So all in all, I believe if 2 equal racing drivers were behind the wheel and not caring too much about damage, etc, the fabia would have taken the lead, and stayed there..... *just*

[giandougl]

The Fabia has by design a high centre of gravity, seems to me it's achillies heel. If compared the old Mini Cooper S, was everything, the Fabia isn't. Body much lower to the ground greatly reduced the centre of gravity, and those little 10'' (inch) wheels, the list is seems endless. Don't get me wrong I love my little VRS and challenge something most days, but do miss the Cooper S.

[Babs]

Same reason why old Audi's don't handle all that well, two much weight over the front wheels.

They can be made to handle "decently", but that's it really.

[andypandypoos]

With all these mods does it handle any better then a Cupra though? or a GTi?

And What about a Cupra or GTi with the same mods? Wouldn't that then step it all up above the Fabia again?

whilst it both accelerates and stops quicker, a diesel Ibiza Cupra with ATB, JABBA RAAAARB and SEAT Sport strut brace isn't as nice to drive quickly along a nice flowing twisty road as a boggo mk1 1.8 Focus that's standard other than a set Eibach springs. I'll most probably get some Bilstein kit fitted, but I'm not exactly holding my breath that it'll transform the car... :(

[Babs]

And the Cooper will still take the Fabia if both were driven properly

[PastyBoy]

I think given the performance of a standard VRS (let alone a remapped one) the speed at which the handling issues become a problem is probably too fast for most road situations anyways.

I am not adverse to a spirited drive on the Cornish roads around my parents place and never in my previous remapped Ibiza PD130 or in my significantly more tweaked Fabia have i felt the handling wasn't up to it. But on the same roads at probably less speed i have had the tail of a TDI Escort wagging!

In a competitve sense though at my last track day at a damp Colerne I spent a good 20 minutes running in front of an M reg Clio Williams and what i made up on the straight and accelerating out of corners he made up under braking and through the corners.

My thinking is that generally a driver will run out of talent before a chassis will and while the Fabia will never be an Impreza, Evo or Elise it does an admirable job for 99% of over 99% of the time.

[vrsneil]

Hi, I dont have a problem with the fabias handling, although i wouldnt put it into a corner at silly speeds as your just asking for a crash, its a bit heavy in the front an quite a short chassis, this means that once its gone you have to act quick to get it back.

When i first tried a bit of hard cornering i managed a slight 4 wheel drift exiting a roundabout (in the dry) that my audi a4 (same engine as the fab vrs, non-quattro) used to easily handle at that speed. I quikly realised that to get the best out of the vrs you have to be smooth and gentle in the bends (so to speak) The torque can unsettle the car if applied to early out of a corner, if you want a realy pointable car, look elsewhere in my opinion.

Just drive within its limits and you will have no problems, if you expect it to be nibble and pointy like a hard core sports car or (dare i say) a true hot hatch then you will be a little disapointed.

As you have seen from this forum some people go to great lengths and expence to get that true sporty handling, so im sure its possible, just with a fair amount of tweakery and pay-cheques.

I personally love the car and the way it handles, very safe and predictable with bags of grip up to a point (although a lot of roll)

PS- mine is completely standard.

[Jonny5ive]

And the Cooper will still take the Fabia if both were driven properly

Unless the Fabia was a 2.0l