I've put about 1,000 miles on my Fabia now, and I'm really pleased with it. I'm also getting used to the handling, which seemed a bit twitchy at first.

I realised what had really impressed me the most today, though: the control of the diff. There's hardly any torque steer, which is amazing, and the turn-in under power is quite incredible: the diff seems to pull you around (it's noticeably better at turning in with a light throttle, than with no throttle at all).

So what is the diff actually doing? It's a very clever bit of kit, but I can't quite picture what it's up to. Is this sort of diff control used in anything else?

AFAIK the Fabia has a standard open diff, nothing fancy.

The EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) doesn't actually involve the diff but if a driven wheel is spinning away the torque the brakes are applied to that wheel.

This in itself will pull the front end in if the inside wheel is spinning on a bend, a bit like a poor mans ESP.

If your Fabia has ESP then that's a whole new ball game.

Cheers

Lee

According to the literature, the vRS has MSR and ASR, and the Elegance has ASR and EDL.

But I can't find any reference to MSR, to explain what it does. What's the difference between MSR and EDL? The way torque is transferred feels a little unusual at first, but now that I'm used to it, it's very effective. I'm just not sure what's going on mechanically with these systems!

They are entirely different. MSR is a system which keeps the revs up to prevent excessive engine braking from locking the front wheels.

Edit: See my answer here (clicky), which was refined a little by StressedDave.

Yep,

MSR is a sort of ABS for engine braking, MSR stands for a German term so it's a waste of time putting words to the letters.

It's been said on here that the vRS Fabia does have EDL as an integral part of the ASR and ABS. Seems strange leaving EDL off the most powerfull model.

Cheers

Lee

Thanks for the replies! At first, I was having to correct my steering mid-corner, as it turns in so quickly, but I've got the hang of it now. I'll definitely get the steering made heavier at the first service, to see if that improves things further.

Most Fabia's allready have the heaviest setting allready coded into the steering ECU.

And dealers arent supposed to recode the steering as if an accident occurs they could be liable.

And MSR does translate into English, ill double check but it stands for Motor Slip Regulation or Reduction.

Can't remember the exact German wording for MSR but the R stood for relung? :confused:

VAG UK seem to refer to it as "Drag Torque Control" :confused:

Cheers

Lee

All the current Skoda brochures say the same thing about MSR in the Technical Glossary at the back, namely:

MSR: the engine torque control system recognises when the wheels are subject to too much slippage and regulates the power supply by intervening in the engine management system. This prevents wheelspin when, for example, changting down on a smooth or wet road surface. MSR is a constituent part of the ASR system.