I picked up my new Fabia VRS yesterday (Race blue, everything else standard) and took it out for it's first big drive today (out through West Wickham and onto the M25).

I love how easy the car is to drive at low speed, though a light foot is required so as not to jolt forward too much when pulling away. Most of all, however, I was really impressed by what happened when I floored it to go from 30-70 - it was like going into hyperdrive when the turbo kicked in (I love the 'whoooosh' sound).

Given that my last car was a 1.1 Citroen C2, perhaps I would have been impressed by any car, but I love how rounded a package the Fabia is - it's really solidly put together, has great performance, decent enough economy, dsg gearbox, comfortably seats four and has a good sized boot --> all for 14k with the VAT off - what other car can compete with that?

I know that the appearance of the car is a sticking point for many, but I think it looks much better in the flesh than in magazines. I love that it's discreet but slightly aggressive at the same time, so that you're not getting lots off attention apart from from the connoisseur.

Only downside is having to go to work on Monday and wait 'till next weekend before the next drive!

Only downside is having to go to work on Monday and wait 'till next weekend before the next drive!

Whys that? One of the things that helps me wake up for work on Monday's is knowing the drive will be good

Came from a 1.2 Punto myself. If you're coming from something which is like 60bhp then you really appreciate the vRS' pace. :p

Whys that? One of the things that helps me wake up for work on Monday's is knowing the drive will be good

Next Saturday just seems so far away :(

Maybe I'll fit in a little drive after work one day...

welcome to the club

Ah yes forgot to say congratulations

its alright for you guys, ive sacrificed 100hp form my octy vRS. im trawling for a remap to cancel out the loss of power though

its alright for you guys, ive sacrificed 100hp form my octy vRS. im trawling for a remap to cancel out the loss of power though

let us know how that goes.... this is the first car I've had where i thought the performance was "enough" , but I would like a review from the first person who maps it

plus, from experiance, I know this as as quick as a markII octy vRS (standard) though I assume your's was mapped , I'm sure you will give a write up :yes:

Edited 6 March, 201115 yr by sharkrider

its alright for you guys, ive sacrificed 100hp form my octy vRS. im trawling for a remap to cancel out the loss of power though

I find it hard to conceive what a more powerful car would feel like to drive!

My driving history is:

Driving lessons / test --> Micra

Pass Plus --> Older Micra

First car --> C2 1.1

Hire cars --> 1.25 Fiesta, 1.9d Leon

Fabia feels like a rocketship compared to those.

I'm not sure I'd trust myself with any more power!

Makes me wonder what it must feel like to drive a supercar --> I imagine that hill starts + parallel parking must be a bit dicey, trying to gently dab the throttle so as not to end up totaling the car!

One downside of the Fabia is a bigger turning circle than the C2 - must be because of the 17inch wheels.

let us know how that goes.... this is the first car I've had where i thought the performance was "enough" , but I would like a review from the first person who maps it

plus, from experiance, I know this as as quick as a markII octy vRS (standard) though I assume your's was mapped , I'm sure you will give a write up :yes:

yeah i had a stage 2+ octavia VRS whihc was in the region of 270-280hp. great car. also had many other cars incl focus TS, mini cooper S clubman, scoprio cosworth, mondeo ST, fiesta XR2i etc etc. and most recently a 1.6LX 307 estate that was a temporary measure though

ref a remap on the 1.4TSI revo have a stage 1 map out thats making 215hp. APR have a stage 1 map out thats making 205hp. shark performance havent broken the encryptions as yet, so im not sure what they can offer. P-Torque have maps out for the fabia, he said he matches REVOs figures. theres also GIAC who have maps out for the 1.4TSI (170) in the golf and scirocco which makes 216hp. obviously figures are just pub talk really, as they are all on different dynos etc so maybe not directly comparable.

to many choices though. Im very tempted with APR though, they cruise control switch ability is pretty useful. Shark is an option if they break the encryption, although mikko believes theres very little to be gained from the TSI (180), although REVO are running 240Hp+ in their stage 2 maps now. P-torque are another option. A few guys on the SCN forum are all booked into get the new maps ind miltek exhausts imminently.

In all fairness id like to see more of the tuners producing some maps and dyno graphs to lure customers in. or at leats offering discounts to guys for a remap if they havent developed the map yet. All the need is a doner vehicle, which im sure most people would be more than happy t provide if they get a free map out of it. so far its pretty much just revo showing dyno graphs, and they bought their own ibiza cupra and fabia vRS to do their research and map development on.

yeah i had a stage 2+ octavia VRS whihc was in the region of 270-280hp. great car. also had many other cars incl focus TS, mini cooper S clubman, scoprio cosworth, mondeo ST, fiesta XR2i etc etc. and most recently a 1.6LX 307 estate that was a temporary measure though

ref a remap on the 1.4TSI revo have a stage 1 map out thats making 215hp. APR have a stage 1 map out thats making 205hp. shark performance havent broken the encryptions as yet, so im not sure what they can offer. P-Torque have maps out for the fabia, he said he matches REVOs figures. theres also GIAC who have maps out for the 1.4TSI (170) in the golf and scirocco which makes 216hp. obviously figures are just pub talk really, as they are all on different dynos etc so maybe not directly comparable.

to many choices though. Im very tempted with APR though, they cruise control switch ability is pretty useful. Shark is an option if they break the encryption, although mikko believes theres very little to be gained from the TSI (180), although REVO are running 240Hp+ in their stage 2 maps now. P-torque are another option. A few guys on the SCN forum are all booked into get the new maps ind miltek exhausts imminently.

In all fairness id like to see more of the tuners producing some maps and dyno graphs to lure customers in. or at leats offering discounts to guys for a remap if they havent developed the map yet. All the need is a doner vehicle, which im sure most people would be more than happy t provide if they get a free map out of it. so far its pretty much just revo showing dyno graphs, and they bought their own ibiza cupra and fabia vRS to do their research and map development on.

yeah, I've looked at revo's "development" thread, I assume we will bve notified with their finished product

and I like your first paragraph, some interesting cars, I like the scorpio cosworth I've had some good "old" cars, my favorite was my Lancia Thema Turbo, same 220 bhp turbo engine as in the integrale, but a body that was like a sierra safire suprised alot of drivers especially with its ability to go to 47 mph in 1st gear, and 0-60 in 7 ish second and ABS brakes ect in a 1987 car ... wish I had kept it!

im a bit reluctant to go with revo. they always seem to make the highest figures. but what is that at the expense of?

You know the old saying, the lamp that burns twice as bright, burns out twice as fast.

theres also lots of occurrences where guys have had issues with their car and revo flat out refuse to accept it could be their map. often they are right, but id rather have someone with good customer service, whos willing to help out in the event of an issue.

I also want to go with a company who has done lots of R&D. There's probably very few companies who can match APR for their R&D program and budgets. REVO take a lot of time to release their software due to their R&D. but id rather go for APR over revo personally purely on the aftersales. Although revo do have a huge dealer network in the UK.

im a bit reluctant to go with revo. they always seem to make the highest figures. but what is that at the expense of?

You know the old saying, the lamp that burns twice as bright, burns out twice as fast.

theres also lots of occurrences where guys have had issues with their car and revo flat out refuse to accept it could be their map. often they are right, but id rather have someone with good customer service, whos willing to help out in the event of an issue.

I also want to go with a company who has done lots of R&D. There's probably very few companies who can match APR for their R&D program and budgets. REVO take a lot of time to release their software due to their R&D. but id rather go for APR over revo personally purely on the aftersales. Although revo do have a huge dealer network in the UK.

I agree that ultimate power figures don't make the best map. I used to have a grande punto sporting, 1.9 diesel, mapped by angel tuning to a "modest" 165bhp ish, when other tuners made figures of 190+bhp BUT, If you looked at my my RR graph I had more power over the average rev range than the 190+bhp people had, thus making my car the faster car with "only" 165bhp.... without the "spike" at 190+bhp... hhhhhmmmmm

but angel we alwsays talked of as "buying maps" and not developing their own... may just have been the Fiat Forums sponsureship of reddot that caused this, but I know I had my car mapped at 4k by angel and ran it to 107,000 miles with no issues, with the angel map, and people with reddot maps had their turbo's blow...... I would like some info before I decide, as I may keep this car a while

I may just wait and watch...... do post you're experiances, I by your posts you may be one of the first to map at mark II vRS...

im away to kenya and then the middle east in september, so i doubt ill get it remapped before i get back. the wife would wrap it into a tree lol.

Ima actually quite keen to hold back a second and watch the guys in the cupras with their stage 1 and stage 2 maps. there seems to be a lot of guys using mapped cupras on the 1/4 mile runs and tracks, so if theyare going to blow, we'll find out from them.