have you had a similar go in a mk1 Focus? to me, it just feels much more planted and the steering noticeably more direct than my Ibiza

I must admit it's been a few years since I've driven a mk1 Focus. Maybe I should again to compare.

I actually came to the VRS from a Focus 1.6 Zetec

That's interesting. Do you prefer the Fabia though?

I must admit it's been a few years since I've driven a mk1 Focus. Maybe I should again to compare.

That's interesting. Do you prefer the Fabia though?

Yep, its a fantastically well rounded little car, whereas the Focus was just a common as anything family hatch that just happens to be a decent drivers car on the side. As I said, I half wish i'd tried a "hotter" Focus, but the VRS was a bit of an impulse buy but I don't regret it. I like having something a bit different

Yep, its a fantastically well rounded little car, whereas the Focus was just a common as anything family hatch that just happens to be a decent drivers car on the side. As I said, I half wish i'd tried a "hotter" Focus, but the VRS was a bit of an impulse buy but I don't regret it. I like having something a bit different

That's good to know. Oh, yes I meant to reply about the ST170. I think I would like one but it defeats the object of changing car to save money in the long term. Insurance, mpg, tax will probably work out more per year than my big Volvo. The Fabia seems ideal as it does everything I need. However, I will be paying about 1500 to 2000 more so will take about 2 or 3 years to make the money back. Decisions...

Ok - I'll add a bit having owned a new Mk2 8v GTI and a Mk1 Focus Tddi Ghia as well as my current (remapped) VRS LE

The Golf was definitely the best handler of the 3 on twisty roads, the Focus next and the VRS the worst of them. However it's all relative and the VRS isn't bad - just not as good as the others.

I love my VRS and just drive it differently - as said above corner at a reasonable rate and then use the torque out of the corner. 50+ mpg has its advantages.

HTH

Just my 2pence worth, had an 05 Focus 1.8tdci (only for 6 months) did handle pretty well but

the one thing I always hated was the gear box, a right mop in a bucket compared to the Fabia.

the ib5 in the mk1 1.4/1.6/1.8 petrol is nicer than the mtx75 in the 2.0 and diesel, I find it slightly (but noticeably) more positive than the 6 speed in my Ibiza too. a mk1 Zetec with Eibach springs rides and handles better than standard

when i first got my Fabia vrs it had a lot to live up to i like powerful cars over the last few years i have had a Meriva VXR, Ford Mondeo ST24 R reg, Vauxhall Vectra Gsi, but for my work the mpg was starting to realy hurt my wallet the Vectra was LPG converted but at 17mpg it still drank like a fish and that was with out driveing it hard.

When i test drove the Fabia i found it to have some good mid range poke and the handeling wasnt to bad but wasnt that good never gave me confidence as such. So when i put the deposit down i started buying bits before i even picked her up lol.

Over the last 10 months i have been to the Nurburgring and after a few laps i had made a list of what i thought needed doing so to date i have done:-

Remap 182bhp - 300ft-lb (much better power through the rev range and more mpg aswell)

PD160 air intake and trumpet

Pipercross panel filter

Strut Brace (tightens up the front end well worht the £50 for seat)

Eibach lowering springs (more forgiveing over bumps than std but handels much better)

Audi TT 312mm front brakes (stops on a penny)

With these done it is now a very fun car to drive it handels so much better although it does now need a RARB i could leave it at this but there is a few things i want to do but in this form it is quicker than all the above cars i have owned and handels the power well.

As for being realible it has now had the remap on for over 10K miles and the car has done 155,000 miles look after it with oil changes every 6 months and it will look after you its a cracking car i love it power with good mpg i did 1340 miles on 2 tanks of fuel when i went to the Nurburgring and that included 2 laps.

Well, I drove a mk1 Focus 1.6 Zetec today. Not the best example around but not too bad. So how does it compare? Initial impressions were that it felt "tinny" compared to the Fabia. Seating positon not as comfortable, but more space.

Brakes - didn't like them. No bite and lack of feel. Wasn't confident in them.

Steering - not bad but Fabia had more feel in my opinion. Turned in quickly and accurately but felt a bit remote.

Engine - okay, but nothing special. A bit lumpy but this could just be the particular car. Not quick but okay.

Clutch - vague feeling. A bit light and couldn't quite get on with it.

Handling - good. Probably better than Fabia as the flat cornering and front grip is superb, but I prefer the Fabia as it was more chatty and I felt more in control even though probably not as accomplished.

Gearbox - pretty good. no better or worse thatn the Fabia.

Emotional response - nothing special. Didn't do it for me. Loved the Fabia when I drove it - had character.

Quality - does not feel as well built, but I know they are good cars.

Still want the Fabia. Darn it.

you're weird

:p

Just go for it, your emotional response says it all! The little Fabia really is the best of both worlds, very useable real world power and great practicality and running costs. You can't go wrong if you find the best one you can afford.

Cant compare the 1.6 zetec to a vrs lump imo - the 1.9tdi is in a totaly differnet league! Even more so after a remap!

Deposit down on red 04 Fabia VRS. Phoned garage where it has had last few srvices and just happened to speak to husband of previous owner! Been looked after well and just had cambelt, water pump and tesioners done.

Pick it up next week. Will be a change from the big V70!

Until recently we ran both a Fabia vRS, and a Mk1 (52 reg) Focus 1.6 petrol Zetec.

The only thing I liked about the Focus in preference to the Fabia was the radio controls on the steering stalk, and the amount of space in the boot.

Yes, the Focus handles better, but I didn't push either car hard on the roads where you would notice a big difference.

Driving the focus after being in the vRS just made me power/torque hungry. - most of my driving is either on motorways (so the Fabia wins on being able to overtake easily or get up to seepd quicker) or on back roads with steep hills and rare, short opportunities to overtake sunday drivers / tractors(so the fabia wins again with the available grunt)

we were getting an average of 38-40mpg on the Focus, and 48-50mpg on the Fabia

Edited 18 August, 201015 yr by Wet Kipper