I can see that the Fabia vRS would appeal to a lot of younger drivers (I'm only 32 myself, but that means insurance is pretty reasonable on most cars for me). The insurance group is low, economy is good, the price is reasonable, and the performance is pretty impressive. In addition, it's got all the bits and bobs that marketing departments throw at a car to make it 'sporty':

- coloured calipers

- two-tone sports seats

- fog lights

- thoroughly silly chrome exhaust trim

- big airdam, and little rear spoiler.

These items weren't a big draw for me, although I prefer the black door trims, the seats are comfy, and I like the 6-speed box. Don't get me wrong: I really like my car, it's just I'm a little tired of the 'marketing by numbers' approach that most manufacturers adopt.

The trouble is, I can see this becoming a 'chaviot' quite quickly: it's ripe to be plucked (or something that rhymes with it).

Does this bother anyone else? I can see it now: huge wheels which completely screw the handling, economy and ride; blue lights; all stickers down the side, like a shopping list; dummy bonnet vents; carbon fibre filler flap surrounds; shocking taste in music.

I'm not opposed to modifications: I'm only opposed to mods that either don't do anything to the way the car drives, or actually make it worse (ill-considered wheels and tyres being a case in point).

Will you run away screaming if our cars get the same rep as Saxos and Clios? Or will you just ignore it?

I might get one of those 'shopping lists': can anyone make me some graphics up, in silver, that I can stick down the side of the front wing? I'd like it to say:

1 lb potatoes

loaf of bread (white)

ketchup

beans

white plain flour

onions

I've noticed that the Fabia vRS has become a chav wagon. We're getting all the Kev's who used to own Clios and Saxos starting to get them, and in a way yes it does bother me. I bought it primarily because at the time, I didnt see it as a chav car, but quite clearly I was very very wrong about that.

Like you though, I have nothing against genuine modifications (dons flame proof suit in anticipation.....) such as chip, suspension, brakes, but I have seen a big increase of chav's who buy em and just want to stick big wheels on and then go on about how they destroyed some other hot hatch in a race (which I've never believed anyway).

Thats why I actually feel slightly better about having debadged it, unless someone knows their cars its not going to attract too much attention. Indeed, I have seen a big reduction in people tailgating me and goading for races since i took them off... nobody gives me a second glance now.

However, I fear that it is becoming a chav car in just the same way as a Saxo VTR or something like that....

We already have a so-called "Real" vRS, so the Labia deserves a title as well, so with "pride" I proclaim it "Chava" vRS

Not only that though, but I am beginning to notice the muppet count on this forum heading upwards too.... which is a shame IMHO.

I can see that the Fabia vRS would appeal to a lot of younger drivers (I'm only 32 myself' date=' but that means insurance is pretty reasonable on most cars for me). The insurance group is low, economy is good, the price is reasonable, and the performance is pretty impressive. In addition, it's got all the bits and bobs that marketing departments throw at a car to make it 'sporty':

- coloured calipers

- two-tone sports seats

- fog lights

- thoroughly silly chrome exhaust trim

- big airdam, and little rear spoiler.

These items weren't a big draw for me, although I prefer the black door trims, the seats are comfy, and I like the 6-speed box. Don't get me wrong: I really like my car, it's just I'm a little tired of the 'marketing by numbers' approach that most manufacturers adopt.

The trouble is, I can see this becoming a 'chaviot' quite quickly: it's ripe to be plucked (or something that rhymes with it).

Does this bother anyone else? I can see it now: huge wheels which completely screw the handling, economy and ride; blue lights; all stickers down the side, like a shopping list; dummy bonnet vents; carbon fibre filler flap surrounds; shocking taste in music.

I'm not opposed to modifications: I'm only opposed to mods that either don't do anything to the way the car drives, or actually make it worse (ill-considered wheels and tyres being a case in point).

Will you run away screaming if our cars get the same rep as Saxos and Clios? Or will you just ignore it?

[b']I might get one of those 'shopping lists': can anyone make me some graphics up, in silver, that I can stick down the side of the front wing? I'd like it to say:

1 lb potatoes

loaf of bread (white)

ketchup

beans

white plain flour

onions[/b]

Rooboy and myself are getting a set of these made for our next track day

I did say this ages ago that I feared the Furby would be a victim of it's own success.

So I guess the neons and go faster stripes are off then? :P

I did say this ages ago that I feared the Furby would be a victim of it's own success.

So I guess the neons and go faster stripes are off then? :P

You could say that...

It's the baseball caps that do my head in. It's not a convertible, the heater is pretty good, so why are you wearing a hat? Is it because they're chavs, and have to look like all the other chavs, at all times?

In fact I now recall starting this thread back in April.... seems my fears are begining to be realised!

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/t9284-fabia-vrs-is-itwill-it-become-a-barryboy-car.html

Sorry but at the end of the day having a vrs badge glued to your tailgate will not make an ounce of difference to anyone's perception of the car.

I have never encountered anyone sitting on my bumper, I've a few nice car responses but that's from a side on profile and you can't even see the badge. What's driving me mad is the 'What cars have you had of the lights' posts that have recently been created and YES everyone is responding to them, why I ask?

This is what's giving the VRS a bad name and we shouldn't condone these type of posts.

Des

Is it because they're chavs, and have to look like all the other chavs, at all times?

I've started to see quite a few motorbike riding chavs recently.

The big giveaway is the way they wear their baseball caps under the crash helmet with the peak sticking out at the front

You could say that...

It's the baseball caps that do my head in. It's not a convertible' date=' the heater is pretty good, so why are you wearing a hat? Is it because they're chavs, and have to look like all the other chavs, at all times?[/quote']

what about them stupid hats (like craig davis wears) they bug me no end!

Has to say des I haven't had any bad reactions to the VRS, even had a merc 320 (ck?) owner really checking it out, you could see that he wanted to ask question about it. With every great car comes a great chance the "chavs" will get hold of it. Lucky it's only when it comes into the price range which the furby seems to just be out of at the moment

Sorry but at the end of the day having a vrs badge glued to your tailgate will not make an ounce of difference to anyone's perception of the car.

Ah well, I guess I'm just imagining that nobody has drove up my ass since I took em off yet beforehand it was daily

This is what's giving the VRS a bad name and we shouldn't condone these type of posts.

Yip I agree with that, its turning into cliosport or saxosportclub, cant be good. I've seen some pretty bold claims from some folks on here, but in the end who cares if you like the car

Yip I agree with that' date=' its turning into cliosport or saxosportclub, cant be good. I've seen some pretty bold claims from some folks on here, but in the end who cares if you like the car [/quote']

trust me this place is nothing like saxosportsclub they are without doubt the biggest bunch of w***kers on the planet. Yeah your right I didn't get on well in that club

I only ever went there once when it was linked to from other forums and i did get that impression...

Also cliosport has its own forum dedicated to street racing.... muppets

they are very unfriendly if you dont share the views of others! Guy who ran it was ok, but some of the "big" member on there kinda run it really pier pressure and all!

Glad the powers that be here are not like that!

listen to you's, the Vrs is the sports model so of course peopla are going to buy them and want to upgrade parts from wheels to the interior. Don't really care what people do to their cars but to wish it was taste full (not always the case). Putting biger wheels oncan have an advantage as it does help the handling wider wheels more grip,and i know in the wet it can hinder. The bigger wheels can also help with the look, and as was said about them effecting the handling but suspension being ok surely suspension effects it more?

I only ever went there once when it was linked to from other forums and i did get that impression...

Also cliosport has its own forum dedicated to street racing.... muppets

I used to help out at that club but ended up throwing in the towel due the torrent of abuse we used to get even though we did it all in our spare time people used to bitch. The Racing tales forum has now been changed to Drivin Tales but essentially it is still the same thing just worded differently.

its not there any more anyway

ivan of course we gave you **** cos u is crap aight

listen to you's, the Vrs is the sports model so of course peopla are going to buy them and want to upgrade parts from wheels to the interior. Don't really care what people do to their cars but to wish it was taste full (not always the case). Putting biger wheels oncan have an advantage as it does help the handling wider wheels more grip,and i know in the wet it can hinder. The bigger wheels can also help with the look, and as was said about them effecting the handling but suspension being ok surely suspension effects it more?

Why would people definitely want to 'upgrade' (one man's improvement is another man's travesty) the car? I'm quite happy with it, although I've changed the head unit (so I can use an iPod).

Your comment about the wheels is exactly the sort of thing I'm talking about: fitting wider tyres, with lower profiles, will often reduce the handling capabilities of the car, because of the limitation of the geometry of MacPherson strut suspension. You'll probably find severe wear occurs on the edges of the tyre, because the tread can't adapt to stay square with the road surface when cornering. But the chavs assume bigger is better, so slap them on without a second thought. But bigger wheels don't necessarily mean more grip, particularly on cars such as the Fabia and Octavia, with pretty run-of-the-mill suspension systems.

What's particularly sad is that most of the wheels sold in Halfords etc are complete garbage, and are sold with crap tyres. Why pay for an expensive model in the range, then bin all the bits that cost the extra money?

Heebee,

we get the message that you dont like modifying cars..

however dont make ill informed comment based on your assumptions of what others do.. most people fitting larger wheels to vRS's of either types are sorting suspension setups etc as well... if your comments are aimed off site purely at chavs then ok.. but dont brand briskodians who modify as chavs cos i dont think we will take too kindly to it? (speaking as someone who had neons on his octy for the fun of it... still got them somewhere they may have to re appear on something even siller soon)

completely agree ref tyres from halfords..

bear in mind chavs are buying bmw merc porsche and ferraris now... chav is way beyond townies on a street corner.. that was 10 years ago.. some of them earn 40-50k but their sense of style has not developed as quick as their income...

Heebee' date='

we get the message that you dont like modifying cars..

[/quote']

That's simply not true. I've modified a few cars in the past myself, but certain cars seem to attract a particular type of modder, who has no knowledge whatsoever.

however dont make ill informed comment based on your assumptions of what others do.. most people fitting larger wheels to vRS's of either types are sorting suspension setups etc as well...

They're not ill-informed comments: I know for a fact that the design of most suspension systems these days relies on the tyres to make up for geometry limitations. As for suspension mods: I've not read about anyone altering the geometry, only of fitting different springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. These mods, if done without enough research, can also reduce grip. I've done a bit of work on suspension design, and a friend of mine has been involved in this field for years: big rims, wide tyres and stiff springs are rarely the best route to better handling.

Oh, and how did people know you were joking when they saw your car had neon lights on it?? :P

speaking as someone who had neons on his octy for the fun of it...

And yet, standard wheels...

Rob.

bear in mind chavs are buying bmw merc porsche and ferraris now... chav is way beyond townies on a street corner.. that was 10 years ago.. some of them earn 40-50k but their sense of style has not developed as quick as their income...

If they're driving Porsches and Ferraris with tacky mods, they're not chavs: they're neauveu riche...

Hmmm.

I'm only 19, and I've opted for a brand new vRS, purely cos I don't wanna be branded a "chav". Proper "chav's" would rather spend the 12k a really decent little car costs doing things that should be illegal to Novas...

I'm certainly not opposed to people personalising there cars, as long as it is because they like what they are doing, and not trying to impress the "chavs".

Mine will be staying standard btw, except maybe the mandatory chip, brakes and suspension tweeks... oh, and binning the crummy speakers for ones that actually work!

Tom

bear in mind that optimum handling geometry is a long way off tyre economy geometrey... some people dont like the tyre wear generated to run a proper amount of camber etc..

having a fast skoda is a joke.. one we all find funny.. .and one that a true chav would never understand.

Robs whose car is that cos mine had wrc wing when i had my neons on?

bear in mind that optimum handling geometry is a long way off tyre economy geometrey... some people dont like the tyre wear generated to run a proper amount of camber etc..

That's a fair point, but swapping to tyres with smaller, stiffer sidewalls still reduces the range of motion over which the tread can be properly located in relation to the road surface: it would compromise a circuit car as much as a road car, unless a suspension system such as double wishbone is used.

If you set the car up to have plenty of camber for cornering, unless the tyres suit the set-up, you won't have much braking ability in a straight line: it's all a compromise, and I rather suspect the chavs who shoe-horn 17 inch rims on their Novas and Saxos would have no clue about this.

Unfortunately, I can see them buying Fabias before long. Lets hope the 'granny' image puts them off...