Now that I know I'm going to be looking for another one, it's got me thinking.

I could buy new.

Pros: It's new. I'm the first keeper. I can spec it to have it exactly how I like.

Cons: If I spec it how I want it (all I want are xenons) and no new car is on the way in, I may have to wait forever.

I could buy 2nd hand.

Pros: It'll be a bit cheaper. Although from looking, they have hardly depreciated at all so it all depends how much the 1st owner or 2nd owner on the V5 matters to me. It'll have the old gear box, with longer ratios.

Cons: It's second hand. Need to check for damage, etc...

Now I'm pretty sure I'm after one with the older gearbox. I'm 99% sure all new fabia (whether facelifted model) or last year's model which could have been on a 54 plate have the newer shorter ration gearbox. I have a real preference for the long ratio one, mainly 'cos I do a fair bit of motorway driving and doing an indicated 80mph at about 1900 is just the dogs (for me)

Does any techie person hear know at what point the cars came with the newer gearbox? Which code is the new box and which code is the old one?

If anyone has an 53 plate fabia vRS with xenons in either black or silver going, let me know

Thank you dear briskodians.

P.S I'm back now and will actively chase up the ins co on Monday. I know for a fact they've been told over a week ago that mk1 has been declared a total loss and so wtf they haven't called me yet

I think all the 04 cars (March 2004 onwards) had the new gearbox, at least thats when I got mine, and it did have it, and I'm sure it was pretty unheard of back then. Having driven both, I have to say I do prefer the newer box personally even though its at the expense of top speed and fuel efficiency, but thats just my personal preference + I dont do many motorway miles unlike yourself.

My Furby vRS was built in June '04 and has the newer gearbox, code HDS.

ETKA lists three 6-speed gearboxes, with codes FJW, FSM and HDS. The gearbox code will be listed on the options label, one copy of which is stuck to the boot floor next to the spare wheel well, if I recall. So looking in the boot should tell you what gearbox is fitted.

I don't know what the difference between the FJW and FSM boxes was.

I don't understand what the issue is with a few hundred more revs at 80 or 90. In my last car (Honda Civic 1.6) it sat at between 4k and 4.5k at 80-90. Anything above 90 and it sat within the VTEC so did about 25 to the gallon on a good day!!

issue is noise my clio sat at 4k on the motor way and it was just too damn loud.

Also the higher the rev's the less fuel efficient it is when cruising on a motorway, and we are talking a leap of 500-1000 revs here. Notice how the PD Golf 150 manages to still get excellent consumption @ 80 mph

issue is noise my clio sat at 4k on the motor way and it was just too damn loud.

What he said

and

Also the higher the rev's the less fuel efficient it is when cruising on a motorway, and we are talking a leap of 500-1000 revs here. Notice how the PD Golf 150 manages to still get excellent consumption @ 80 mph

What he said too

The fuel economy was apparently hardly worse. Still, it's revving more and it will wear quicker as a direct result.

I didn't dislike the vRS I test drove though Although I am surprised about it, I suppose it will make the car a little snappier at higher speeds, such as on private roads

In reality though, the 'longer legs' would have benefitted those who remapped more as it would just pull hard(er)

mine has the newer gearbox and i got mine march 04 also it has the old vRS badge on the back (the longer one) (under where it says Fabia) if thats any help

shows there wasn't that many with the longer gearbox

Thanks for the replies, chaps.

Just looked at the service manual of my ex-furby and I had the FSM box.

6Y2585 FABIA     HATCHBACK RS
   FSM 9110       BH  96KW ASZ
EOA 1D0 5SJ 5RV 1KP 6FB 1AP 3FA
1N2 1NL H2J 4UF 4R2 3NC 3QT 4X0
4AO 8L3 J0L 7AH 8GD 6YO 9AP 8RM
7QO 8UE 8QL 8X1 4K3 B09 GO4 QN1
3L2 9P0 Q4H 7XO 9WO BWR 7AO
QGO OGZ L35 7PO FDA     3S4

Out of interest, does anyone have a list of what all the codes mean? I know Denis has a useful post with the "optional equipment" bits. I wonder what the others are for.

Well, 6Y is the Fabia chassis code, 96KW ASZ is the engine

The others are just the bits that are fitted, 7AO could be the leather steering wheel for example. As the spec has not changed these would be the same apart from the gearbox code.

Well' date=' 6Y is the Fabia chassis code, 96KW ASZ is the engine

The others are just the bits that are fitted, 7AO could be the leather steering wheel for example. As the spec has not changed these would be the same apart from the gearbox code.[/quote']

Yup, just as 9110 is the colour (black magic) and BH is the interior styling.

I would think some of the codes listed are for the xenon headlights, the washer jets, the airbag deactivation switch and the cruise control stalk. At the bottom, there's QG0 to mention fixed servicing.

Out of interest, are all fabia vRS fitted with asz engines?

To get back on topic...

Also the higher the rev's the less fuel efficient it is when cruising on a motorway, and we are talking a leap of 500-1000 revs here

If you look at the gear ratios posted on that other thread you'll see that 5th on the old gearbox is virtually the same as 6th on the new gearbox.

So it's like having an extra gear or overdrive on the old car. Hence economy is going to be affected largely whenever the old car would have been in sixth gear - mainly cruising on open A roads and motorways. On a long journey that could be significant - but probably of no consequence at all around town.

Hence all the more surprising that Autocar - whose car would have had the old gearbox - could only manage 42mpg overall. But at least the performance figures will be better than they achieved in in-gear acceleration!

Personally I think first gear is too low on my newer car and hence would have preferred the new gearbox but with each gear upped somewhat.

Driven one with the newer box (in fact 2), and mine with the older box, and I would def go for older box, especially if remaping is an option to you. I do however do LOTS of motorway milage (bought it in Nov 2003, so one of the first ones) and have done 25k on it without (touch wood) any major mishaps.

Just my personal feelings but hey up to you...... Oh the newer box feels a little tighter and snappier in change action (but that may be because mine has done 20+k when I tested the new ones).

I discussed this with my dealer and it seems that the change was not made for any Skoda products, it was done for another car in the VW group (he wouldn't say which), and that the new 'box didn't suit the Fabia as much. It was done about 19 months ago apparently.

surely fuel economy of these two `boxes isn`t so different? i get 50mpg@80 in my 05 vrs and its only done 1.6k

Have driven VRs with new and old gearbox.

I prefer the older one, seems to suit the engine better.

I have the new box on my 54 plate and I find that missing a gear makes for faster progress in some conditions. This suggests to me that the ratios are far too close.

The old car felt quicker tyhrough the gears.

FunkySi, strange that you feel the new one feels slower, I felt the opposite... the new one feels more urgent in any given gear, and my mate who owned an Ibiza TDI Sport felt the same...

FunkySi, strange that you feel the new one feels slower, I felt the opposite... the new one feels more urgent in any given gear, and my mate who owned an Ibiza TDI Sport felt the same...

Strange indeed

I must admit though, I do in a way feel the lower gears in the new one are too short, especially first and second. Second is all over by 40 mph more or less and third is pretty much past its best much beyond 65... the higher gears though I definitely prefer them - but then a lot of my journeys are not on motorways, so the close ratio box kinda suits me fine

If I'm pointing downhill at a junction/lights I don't bother with 1st. I go straight for second, just give a few revs and your off. On the level or up hill, I change within a second or so.

Equally, if I'm coming out of a 30 zone into a 50/60/70, i miss one ratio and go for the next.

Does seem pointless.

I'm fairly sure the older car gave you a bit more time between changes.

Think I know what you mean there, I do that sometimes, 30-60 in 3rd and straight into 5/6. Maybe it is pointless to have as many gears :confused:

Hmm, I really must try a newer fabia vrs with the shorter gearing to see what it's really like, but by reading most responses, it seems the general concenses is that most people prefer the old one.

It really makes me wonder why they changed it at all :confused: Interesting what you're saying Steve, if the dealer wasn't giving you rubbish... Maybe he was talking about the polo gt tdi...

just changing my 30k (m/way miles) 53 plate vRS to an 04... didn't think there'd be any difference... i'm not going to like it as much am i? :(