I am just wondering about this really, but I notice that the VAST majority of people who come into this forum with Fabia vRS's immediately make plans to change most of the car, and this is what does not really make sense to me.

So you get your basic car, which is a

Oh dear I made the mistake once of pointing out that it was some what daft to mod the Octy vRS rather than buying a faster car to start. You are going to get jumped on .

I'm more than happy with my Fabia vRS in standard form, if it helps! I'm not too concerned about outright performance, but it really is fantastic for overtaking, which is what I wanted. The response is so immediate, and you're never in doubt as to whether you're in the power band.

I'm tempted to try some different brake pads in the future, but that will probably be the limit of my meddling (and that will be to improve brake feel, rather than ultimate performance).

I've nothing against people modifying cars to make them quicker, but I've done this in the past, and found my cars have lost some of their character and driveability. To me, the vRS is a great no-nonsense, everyday car, that goes well, handles well, and doesn't cost me much for insurance or fuel.

http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/images/progs/oldgits.jpg

Sorry couldnt resist. I can understand your rant and feel for you about job worries and etc, not precisely over the moon with life at the moment myself either.

I think its down to personal preference. I have a smart and have modified it (wider wheels, ECU remap, debadged, new stereo, looking for a new zorst etc.) but i am far from wanting to own or join in on the level of saxo's or 106's and hope my car gets in max-fast-mag-evo-car-power magazine. Its all down to what you want from your car and personalisation, Its like fascias for nokia phones

This also gets on my tits, sorry man boobs.

When I looked into buying a car las tyear I was after driver enjoyment. Not how quick it is on paper. The changes I've made so far are to areas I feel needed improvement, brakes and suspension.

My car is now the way ive always wanted it to be.. and it cost less than 12k including mods

William, I was well aware of the possible backlash I was letting myself in for However it really is what I feel, I just dont think it makes sense to take a car, mod it and lose its warranty and spend all that extra so it costs the same as a car that is faster anyway.

Heebee, I was starting to wonder if I was on my own in this forum - Pbirkett - Owner of the only standard Fabia vRS in the UK

David Collins, Yes I am a grumpy git, especially at the moment It will always be in my nature to be a grumpy git and I've got my parents to thank for that

Faboka, I wasnt looking to offend anyone, sorry if I give that impression, like I say its just the way I come across at times.

You and me both

I agree with you, and I agree with them!

Firstly, despite the fact that the Fabia is 'only' a warm hatch in outright performance figures such as the 0-60 and top speed, it posesses enough torque to compete with 'faster' cars because life is not about driving much more than 100mph on public roads without risking jail and a ban, and the vRS will easily cruise at 100 better than any petrol competitor.

It may be beaten by a petrol head from 0-60, but only if they rev it to bits in the process, but the intermediate acceleration will whip nearly everything you come across with just a prod on the throttle and a huge surge of torque!

The Fabia is a victim of it's own success, which is why it is being compared with more exotic machinery!

The strength of the fabia lies in its unique blend of effortless performance, quality and day to day practicality, which includes the fuel economy, and few of the hotter hatches offer any real benefit in outright performance while none get close in the other respects.

It's a nice car just as it comes!

JT

Don't worry about it. I set out to chip the Fabia when I got it, something I hadn't thought about until I found Briskoda, but after a few thousand miles I don't feel that it's really necessary. The car is great as it is, faster than most things on the road, you hardly ever see another one on the road, people are usually complementary about it, motorway mile crunching is superbly effortless and the fuel economy is brilliant (not wishing to wind you up ).

If you're happy as you are, then it doesn't matter, just get on with enjoying it. I can honestly say that the standard car is one of the best all rounders I've driven and definately the best car I've owned.

Why do I modify my car? I want it to be different to other peoples'. Just like I wear a different tie to other people, I want to be individual. Of course, I only do pimptastic mods rather than performance mods 'cos people can't see engine or brake upgrades. It's chrome all the way for me. The other reason for not modding brakes, suspension or engine is that, with my limited ability, I couldn't handle the upgrades in performance.

Go chrome everything is my advice

Faboka' date=' I wasnt looking to offend anyone, sorry if I give that impression, like I say its just the way I come across at times.[/quote']

No mate you never offended me. I was just saying why I bought the car I did If anything I agree.

http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/images/progs/oldgits.jpg

don't you mean

????????

TaviaRS, you are one sarky git

So what has led to this rant? I cant really put my finger on it' date=' but I guess I am feeling a little bit down at the moment, with job worries, but when people come on here and effectively seem to suggest that they've bought a car which is not up to par out of the box and that they have to perform all these mods to make it acceptable, it almost makes me wish I hadnt got one if it really is that bad.

Sometimes I think I should have just bought a plain normally aspirated car that was sorted from the beginning. The whole thing reeks of someone buying a Saxo VTR and then proclaiming it not good enough and then attempting to modify it into being a 106 GTI or something, when they could have just bought a 106 GTI in the first place and had the warranty.

I also wonder where some folks get the money from for all these upgrades. Perhaps I am just a tramp.

I am not trolling here, but I am genuinely curious to know what motivates people into risking their warranties and transforming a car into something that I dont think it was ever meant to be.

I was led to believe that this was a warm / semi-hot hatch out of the box, only now I am being led to believe it isnt.

Quite honestly, I almost wish I'd just bought a Ford Puma or something. :([/quote']

Paul I see where you are coming from, I also have not done a single mod (unless you count removing the rear vrs badge) I don't want to invalidate the warranty, having had expensive problems with two previous cars.

The std Fabia vrs can be made to press on quite niecly without needing anything modified from std, it is a shame that the large brakes were not fitted as std, but its not the end of the world, driving style can be changed to take account of the brakes. Don't recall the short comming that others are finding... brakes, suspension, heat soak... slowing you down in North Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago

The std Fabia is a decent all round package, and my personal feeling is a good value vehicle.

I know how you feel about work later today I have a meeting with a line manager to see if my contract will be extended past 31st December, I may be looking at starting 2005 on the dole :( My job only pays "pocket money" so

I was starting to wonder if I was on my own in this forum - Pbirkett - Owner of the only standard Fabia vRS in the UK

If it helps I've kept mine standard and have no plans to modify it with the possible exception of adding a TomTom navigation system.

My dad has just ordered one and I know he won't even think about modifying it.

I think it's a case of each to his (or her) own.

roo, that'd be the one, i dont go advanced though when i post, just lazy

If it helps I've kept mine standard and have no plans to modify it with the possible exception of adding a TomTom navigation system.

Tomtom's not a modification: it's an essential item! I'm not sure it counts as a mod, though: it's just something you carry around with you, a bit like boiled sweets and a thermos flask.

Moi? Sarky? :grumpy:

I just feel it is a personal choice thing really. So, you want more power? Fair enough, if you feel that the car needs it, fair play to you. Ditto the brakes and suspension.

Me, it wasn't just about individuality, mine was modified with a very specific couple of purposes in mind and as such is far "better" than a standard one for what I want it for. There is no way a standard one would be suitable for what I wanted. Admittedly, my needs are different to 95% of the users on this forum and probably 99% of Octavia buyers. The way I look at it, to get another car to do what I want, at the level I want, to get a realistic improvement over what I have now would have cost me another

Tomtom's not a modification: it's an essential item! I'm not sure it counts as a mod, though: it's just something you carry around with you, a bit like boiled sweets and a thermos flask.

From my point of view it depends on how it's powered - from the 12v socket it's not a mod but if it's directly wired in it is a mod. I think.

What put's me off is the thought of the cable going down to the socket by the handbrake. But that's probably for a different thread.

Don't recall the short comming that others are finding... brakes, suspension, heat soak... slowing you down in North Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago

I've gotta say I am impressed with the responses I've got to this thread, I almost expected to be shot down in flames with what I said, and like I say I dont have problem with modding, but I am just trying to get my head around it. This is without doubt the friendliest car forum I've ever took part in

Anyway, I will be doing one mod - that rear FABIA and vRS badge has got to go

Ahhh! Ahhh! He's a bloke who modifies his car! Burn him! Burn him!

Actually, I think it is jolly good that you are going down the aesthetic route rather than the performance route

Respec' the Bling! :D

This is without doubt the friendliest car forum I've ever took part in

That's because there are very few ******* on here.

Present company excepted :P