driven both a lot recently (mum has a fabia vrs that iwas using till i got the rallye) and its struck me on how the two cars are so incredably different given that they are both hot hatchbacks. The main thing I've found is how much easier it is to drive fast in the skoda than in the rallye.

The fab has tonnes more mid range poke than the rallye does meaning that cross country you end up accelerating between corners at visious speed with minimum effort keeping between about 2.5-3.5k whereas in the rallye your above 5.5k at all times making the skoda a lot more relaxing to drive. Its a lot lighter on its controls too (gbox is perfect) whereas everything is a lot more of an effort in the rallye. The rallye is faster when your pushing it, but i'd bet that most of the time i'd actually drive the skoda a lot faster. The only place that the rallye really nails it is in tearms of handling feel, it goves you a whole load more confidence than the skoda, there is however as much grip from the wheels in the skoda as the peugeot, its just a bit harder to unlock. The skoda also has a better ride and cabin + does around twice as many miles per gallon.

Was really supprised having driven both of how close the skoda is as a drivers car to the peugeot whcih is one of the best hot hatches ever, especially in the sharper rallye guise and to be honest if i was buying my own car at that price range I think I could well see myself having one instead of the more obvious clio 182. The fact that I'm a 22 year old who has always been massively into cars and I rate a diesel skoda so highly speeks massive volumes. who'd of thought eh?

306 Rallye? Jolly nice car Rate them very highly and of the 2, no disrespect to the Fabia owners, I'd take the Rallye as it suit my driving style better. s a day to day prospect, taking into account runnin cots, I'd have the Fabia though.

driven both a lot recently (mum has a fabia vrs that iwas using till i got the rallye) and its struck me on how the two cars are so incredably different given that they are both hot hatchbacks. The main thing I've found is how much easier it is to drive fast in the skoda than in the rallye.

The fab has tonnes more mid range poke than the rallye does meaning that cross country you end up accelerating between corners at visious speed with minimum effort keeping between about 2.5-3.5k whereas in the rallye your above 5.5k at all times making the skoda a lot more relaxing to drive. Its a lot lighter on its controls too (gbox is perfect) whereas everything is a lot more of an effort in the rallye. The rallye is faster when your pushing it' date=' but i'd bet that most of the time i'd actually drive the skoda a lot faster. The only place that the rallye really nails it is in tearms of handling feel, it goves you a whole load more confidence than the skoda, there is however as much grip from the wheels in the skoda as the peugeot, its just a bit harder to unlock. The skoda also has a better ride and cabin + does around twice as many miles per gallon.

Was really supprised having driven both of how close the skoda is as a drivers car to the peugeot whcih is one of the best hot hatches ever, especially in the sharper rallye guise and to be honest if i was buying my own car at that price range I think I could well see myself having one instead of the more obvious clio 182. The fact that I'm a 22 year old who has always been massively into cars and I rate a diesel skoda so highly speeks massive volumes. who'd of thought eh?[/quote']

The Fabia vRS is not a hot hatch, it is marketed as a sport diesel so there is a big difference in the class it is aimed at. The Peugeot rally has a very very basic interior to cut down on weight so I would suspect it is alot quicker in the twistied than the fabia. It is not fair to compare the 2 as they are aimed at different classes of drivers.

Don't bother with the 182, sneeze inside it and bit's of trim fall off at random. It's has a very good engine but build quality lets it down IMO.

no disrespect to the Fabia owners,

:eek: Danger, emergency bridge repairs in progress.... loads of Fabias crossing in just 6 day's!

Couldn't get Denis to shout that one out too could you Jon?

I had a bit of an old ex school of motoring 306 basic non turbo diesel a few years ago, and I was suprised ..1,. how nippy it was, and 2, how well it held the road. It was indeed an entertaining drive.

Shame about all the rattles and squeaks. :(

I believe the turning circle on the 6 speeder is a absolute nightmare. Like trying to turn the QE2 around apparently.

Would love to have a drive of a 306 Rallye/GTI-6. Always been a fan of old shool Pug GTi's.

CJ, that is why God invented the handbrake

CJ, that is why God invented the handbrake

But can only be used mid corner

I know...just discovered that the AX has in fact got one after nearly 7 years. Gave me quite a shock when the rears locked up. :eek:

Just wish the fronts were as effective. That is probably...no definately..why you won't here me complaining about the brakes on the Fabia. These on the Cit., are VERY VERY scary, especially the first time you drive it :eek:

Suprisingly good though when you've sussed out just how hard you need to stand on the pedal..preferably with both feet!

having owed a Peugeot 306 1.6 I have to say it is my second favourite car I have owned, the Skoda being my first! It was only a 1.6 and as slow as anything but it handled very well, I still regret getting rid of it for the paxo, that was the dawn of the dark times in my driving life!

Given the choice between a 306 GTi-6 or the fabia, it would be a easy choice to make, the fabia, it's cheaper to run and insure, better build quality and nicer to drive. I personally think the Fabia is more a GT than GTi.

had a passenger session in a 306 gti-6 at silverstone once, on one of the smaller in field circuits round the back somewhere.

the driver was from the rally school so took every corner sideways.

it was a cracking car and he rated it very highly, at one point i did think we were going to roll cause it was totally sideways for most of the corner but it didnt.

i wouldnt call the 306 an old school pug though, or one of the best hadling hatches of all time, for those titles you have to go back to the 205 gti's. although the 1.6 is better than the 1.9 cause the fronts lighter.

The GTI-6 turning circle is only bad when turning right.... due to the 6 speed gearbox poking through the inner wheelarch!

Would take the ZX 16v myself, same 167bhp engine, but with 5speed box and a decent turning circle!

took a 306GTi-6 (race prepared) around silverstone, it was very quick, then the instructor took me out in it, then I thought sod me this is fast!

actually, i wouldn't say that day to day the turning circle makes a difference, didn't seem to be any good on the fabi either! As a day to day drive I was really really shocked as o how good the fabia is, its nearly as comfortable as my mates gt tdi golf and 8k less and a better stear. The rallye, to me, is not that uncomfortable, mine has a cd player and all have great seats and ABS which meens it'll more than do, the ride isn't bad either though keep fit windows are a pain. The real issue is the fact that the skoda costs half as much in fuel, if I start having to do many more miles then it'll start looking very tempting. In red please.

oh and the zx never had the same engine, I think the most it could ever have had is the 155bhp s16 engine which is no where near as nice, the xsara gets the same engine as the rallye with a 5 speed box and they cost sod all to buy but bizzarely a lot to insure compared to the rallye/gti6

build quality lets it down IMO.

what build quality???

what build quality???

Well the panels are thrown together like Renault do

Well the panels are thrown together like Renault do

lol, not having that, the 306 is as well made on the body as the skoda or any VW. They never rot unless they've been stuffed. The interior is a different matter. and the gearboxes fail a bit, and the mechanicals in general aren't as solid, but the bodys great!

lol, not having that, the 306 is as well made on the body as the skoda or any VW. They never rot unless they've been stuffed. The interior is a different matter. and the gearboxes fail a bit, and the mechanicals in general aren't as solid, but the bodys great!

I was refering to the Clio Sport 172/182 build quality, it is shocking :eek:

309GTi is a better car than the 205GTi in my book, having owned the first and driven the second a few times.

Looks pretty hideous though... but handles well when lowered 90mm

309GTi is a better car than the 205GTi in my book' date=' having owned the first and driven the second a few times.

Looks pretty hideous though... but handles well when lowered 90mm [/quote']

Isn't the 309 and 205 with a boot though, the 205 should handle better due to less weight :confused:

I had a 406 as a company car - not my choice!

I hated it the first day and I hated it on the last day and every day in betwen including the numerous days in the garage for replacing bits that dropped off!

it was slow,badly built and the worst handling car i have ever driving - show it a round a bout and it gave the best demonstration of "terminal understeer" i have ever seen

On top of that the local dealers were hopeless at fault traceing and tried the old "replace bit thats are ok" con

you may get the idea I didn't like it

Oh and the boot opened without the key...just hit it by the lock :eek:

I loved my 406 estate, badged as a HDI. Shame it was actually a modded 3.0 24v V6, bye bye Mr BMW

I loved my 406 estate, badged as a HDI. Shame it was actually a modded 3.0 24v V6, bye bye Mr BMW

i'm seeing a trend with badges here...

i'm seeing a trend with badges here...

That explains his 'I am 21' badge then

Isn't the 309 and 205 with a boot though, the 205 should handle better due to less weight :confused:

the 309 had a slightly longer wheelbase so handled better.

Isn't the 309 and 205 with a boot though, the 205 should handle better due to less weight :confused:

That's what a lot of people thought, but it was a myth.

The 309 had a longer chassis as stated and better weight distibution. And being a big bloke, I didn't have my knees at 3 and 9 o'clock on the steering wheel in my 309, unlike the 205s I have driven

It was a good handling car, they even made a Thundersaloon 309 years back that looked squat and went v.fast...