Thats only your opinion re price guides, however they are large and successful business and won't be for long if they were off the mark.

30% more power Bhp-wise (and probably nearer 40% more in reality: most are near to 140Bhp) compared to the 100Bhp Tdi, 6 speed gearbox, 16" alloys, sports suspension, significantly different appearance, sports interior. I could go on but I think you do not do the Fabia vRS justice. It is significantly different from the 100Bhp Elegance and the proof is in the fact that it has made it on to Top Gear and Fifth Gear both TV shows that do not bother with 'cooking' motors. I'm more than happy with my purchase and very relaxed about how things will turn out.

Thats only your opinion re price guides' date=' however they are large and successful business and won't be for long if they were off the mark.

[/quote']

No, that's my opinion from talking to people who've tried to get trade-in prices on their Skodas over the past two years.

It is significantly different from the 100Bhp Elegance and the proof is in the fact that it has made it on to Top Gear and Fifth Gear

The Octy vRS has also appeared on both of those. Residuals for that are still the same %wise pretty poor, as on the rest of the Octavia range. That has 17" wheels and a "sports interior" and closer to 190bhp, so surely if any car was going to not suffer from poor residuals, it would be this?

The Fabia vRS is a diesel Fabia - all the bits of trim won't make the dealers view it any differently, apart from when they're selling it.

Rob.

I see I'm not going to convince you that the Fabia vRS is one of those rare cars that comes along but once in a blue moon and re-define the standard. It's precisely because its a diesel that it has such squirtability (with 82% more torque than the 2.0 petrol) and it is this that makes the car such a joy to use. That coupled with a comfortable ride and excellent value. Having covered 550 miles in 8 hours coming back from France in my vRS last year at an average of 68mph (on autoroutes) and nevertheless averaged 58mpg on the run, with only one 15 minute stop I can testify to its excellence.

I see I'm not going to convince you that the Fabia vRS is one of those rare cars that comes along but once in a blue moon and re-define the standard.

No, I've driven one, and I thought it was pretty poor TBH.

It's precisely because its a diesel that it has such squirtability

It's because it's a turbo-diesel it has such squirtability...just like every other TDi in the Fabia range...and in fact, probably most TDi units across manufacturers. The engine alone doesn't make it special, and not least because it appeared in the Golf GTI PD a while back now...

Rob.

OK so I missed out the word turbo, take that as read. I don't think the standard Tdi Fabias would be nearly so much fun personally.

Yes but the weight advantage of the Fabia, its chassis etc. are make it a swift drive in comparison to a portly Golf IV Tdi which I would agree was not a great car. Plus the Fabia is only 2/3rds the price of the Golf. My contention is that the Fabia vrS represents the spiritual successor to the original Golf GTi Mk1 in what it seeks to give the driver by way of performance and Q car status.

Yes but the weight advantage of the Fabia, its chassis etc.

That has to be the first time I've ever heard anyone use the term "weight advantage" in the Fabia vRS' favour!

My contention is that the Fabia vrS represents the spiritual successor to the original Golf Mk1 in what it seeks to give the driver by way of performance and Q car status.

And understeer...

Rob.

There you go you live and learn ! The performance figures speak for themselves, particulary the all important 30-50mph time through the gears.

Personally I've never had any understeering problems but then I'm not into putting it round corners on two wheels, thats not what swift driving is all about in reality. Its about getting safely and quickly from A to B in comfort and during a driving life of 25 years and having owned more than 25 cars personally, ranging from the mundane to the supercar exotic, I can safely say that the Fabia vrS is well up there in the 'great drives' category and perhaps overall, one of the very best cars I've owned.

There you go you live and learn !

No...at 1300+kgs, the Fabia vRS is not a light car for it's size. This would probably explain why no one has ever referred to it as having a weight-advantage...

I can safely say that the Fabia vrS is well up there in the 'great drives' category and perhaps overall, one of the very best cars I've owned.

Well, I'm glad you're happy. It's still going to depreciate the same as every other diesel Fabia.

Rob.

The diesel Fabia is heavier than the petrol model for sure but I maintain it is lighter than the Golf equivalent and given its Bhp and torque output it equates favourably to the Golf GTi Mk1 that is still raved over by petrolheads.

In your opinion, we shall see how it fairs depreciation wise.

Don't forget that biodiesel goes on sale with a 20p price advantage per litre over conventional diesel, this month so diesel might yet come to dominate the UK market.

The weight of the vrS is only 10% more than the 2.0 petrol verson by the way but torque (the true measure of power) is 82% greater. I rest my case.

The diesel Fabia is heavier than the petrol model for sure but I maintain it is lighter than the Golf equivalent

But the Fabia isn't comparable to the Golf "equivalent" - it's built on the Polo platform, not the Golf!

Don't forget that biodiesel goes on sale with a 20p price advantage per litre over conventional diesel, this month so diesel might yet come to dominate the UK market.

If everyone switches to diesel, then the market will be saturated, so diesels will stop being so expensive. So the Fabia vRS, along with the other Fabia diesels, will depreciate further...

Rob.

The weight of the vrS is only 10% more than the 2.0 petrol verson by the way but torque (the true measure of power) is 82% greater. I rest my case.

Torque is a measure of force, not power.

Weight distribution is as important as overall weight.

And which case is this that you're resting?! It doesn't prove that the vRS is either special, nor will retain it's value any better than the other diesel Fabias?!

Rob.

Yes the Fabia vrS is based on the Polo, I was suggesting that it was the 'spiritual' successor to the Golf GTi Mk1. In other words it offers similar driving properties.

Funny when I was at school (back in the dark ages when schools actually taught things), 'force' and 'power' were one and the same thing. To be pedantic, torque is force applied through a moment, sometimes called 'twisting force' but I'm sure you knew that.

As I say, we will have to see how the Fabia vrS depeciates. You have your thoughts and I have mine, only time will prove one or other of us right.

Greza, you'd get no where with rob, he tends to argue with everyone that doesnt share the same opinion as him.

Gets a bit boring after a while.

Gets a bit boring after a while.

It's called a discussion. If you don't like it, don't read it.

Rob.

Thanks for the support, I can't believe that he can be so short sighted !

Thanks for the support, I can't believe that he can be so short sighted !

I'm not being short-sighted! All I'm saying is the Fabia vRS is *not* anything special, either in terms of the Fabia range, nor with other manufacturers.

I don't really see how the Fabia will retain it's value any better than any other Skoda - they are bought because they are cheap, and unless dealers can sell used ones cheap enough, they won't be bought.

Would you really have bought your Fabia if it had been more expensive than, say, a VW or Audi? Or were you attracted to the fact it was a bargain?

Rob.

It's called a discussion. If you don't like it' date=' don't read it.

Rob.[/quote']

Again, your like a coiled spring

i think there is something special bout this little fabia! :peepwall:

I bought my vrS because it offered great performance for a great price and did not demand that I compromise.

I looked at other cars but genuinely feel I would have had to spend at least 60% more money to equal what I got in the Fabia vrS and much of that extra cash would have been wasted on little round pieces of plastic with funny drawings on them known as premium brand logos.

If price is everything then you buy a Panda, something Korean or just maybe a Fabia 1.2Mpi.

This is the central part of my argument, Fabia vrS buyers are not your standard Skoda customer. They discern the subtle qualities that this model offers.

It may not be special to some, but to me it is

I bought my vrS because it offered great performance for a great price and did not demand that I compromise.

But, as I asked - would you have bought it if it was, say

No, I disagree. It starts with a significant price advantage from day one. In percentage terms it can depreciate in line with other marques but in money terms it will lose less actual notes - this is simple maths.

Like a fine wine verses a cheap bottle of plonk from Tesco, the qualities of the vrS become more and more evident as you live with it. I can only hope you have the opportunity of borrowing one for a weekend and doing a reasonable trip in it. The 82% increase in torque is key to its being such a great drive plus the firm but forgiving sports suspension...I could go on.

Try to buy one, you'll soon see. Try to find a dealer with a second hand one, they just don't have them to demonstrate new let alone for sale second hand. For now the market is very much buyer driven.

Er, if there are not any available to buy or test, that means it is not a buyers market but a dealers market. From this month, all new Fabia prices have dropped, except the VRS.

Absolutely right, the proof of the pudding so to speak !