Top Gear Website Review

cant disagree with that apart from the DSG, i relally liked it. I new that before buying it wasnt dynamically the best, in fact thats a reason for me buying. the VAG modification scene is huge, and theres alot of potential to be had with the chassis and engine.

its not really a bad review, he just hates the fact that its a clone of the the other 2, and hates the DSG... I don't know why it can't hold at the red line in manual without changing up either... Our 5 ton mercedes ambulances do, you select 2nd or third, and the box willl hold that gear at the red line all day, essential when trying to hustle 5 tons round a corner quickly,the stability with all that weight is vital, if they changed up unexpectedly, the vehicals would come off the road, admittedly not so bad in a light hot hatch, but still mildly annoying, as it upsets the balance, in a way you didn't instruct it to....

having said that, I would probably still go for the DSG if there was a manual option....

wonder if a software update can delete automatic upcganges in tiptronic mode? hhhmmm....

its not really a bad review, he just hates the fact that its a clone of the the other 2, and hates the DSG... I don't know why it can't hold at the red line in manual without changing up either... Our 5 ton mercedes ambulances do, you select 2nd or third, and the box willl hold that gear at the red line all day, essential when trying to hustle 5 tons round a corner quickly,the stability with all that weight is vital, if they changed up unexpectedly, the vehicals would come off the road, admittedly not so bad in a light hot hatch, but still mildly annoying, as it upsets the balance, in a way you didn't instruct it to....

having said that, I would probably still go for the DSG if there was a manual option....

wonder if a software update can delete automatic upcganges in tiptronic mode? hhhmmm....

hello there i see it was writen by the guy of fith gear so a realy dont give a s--- what he thinks ,i have one and i love it would not even look at a renault for what i use the car for (dogging) LOL

Another flamboyant journo twit, who can't use the DSG via the paddles. Makes me laugh reading twaddle like this from people who ought to write for Country Life magazines.

You need long term tests to see how it performs, not a jolly nice afternoon drive into the Lakes "darling"

He says he'd have the Clio Sport and as hot hatches go it is brilliant. However he fails to mention a few things about it that's put me of ever buying one even though I've driven one. Yes it's about the same price buy they lose loads in the first 3 years. They are woeful on fuel. Old 172's could easily do 30-40mpg hammering. My cousin had one and it was never driven slowly anywhere. Plus being french things will fall apart and dealers apparently aren't that good.

Admittedly the DSG does put me off a little but I think I'd have one over a Clio. One thing I never tried on my vRS test drive was that if I was going round a long bend say in 3rd and holding speed and I wanted to keep it there knowing there was a straight coming up, would it change up to save fuel or drop down again when I booted it (revs depending)?

Edited 15 March, 201115 yr by MartynVRS

He says he'd have the Clio Sport and as hot hatches go it is brilliant. However he fails to mention a few things about it that's put me of ever buying one even though I've driven one. Yes it's about the same price buy they lose loads in the first 3 years. They are woeful on fuel. Old 172's could easily do 30-40mpg hammering. My cousin had one and it was never driven slowly anywhere. Plus being french things will fall apart and dealers apparently aren't that good.

Admittedly the DSG does put me off a little but I think I'd have one over a Clio. One thing I never tried on my vRS test drive was that if I was going round a long bend say in 3rd and holding speed and I wanted to keep it there knowing there was a straight coming up, would it change up to save fuel or drop down again when I booted it (revs depending)?

I've got a Clio 200 CUP and a Fabia VRS on order, yes the Clio on the right road in the right mood would murder the Fabia but I got sick of the crap build quality and all of the 'character'. How come if something doesn't work in an Alfa or Renault it's character but the DSG box in the Skoda is not?

wonder if a software update can delete automatic upcganges in tiptronic mode? hhhmmm....

I would imagine it would not do that. However, if you get the DSG ECU remaped, then this may remove the up-changes. I know the map removes the kickdown at full throttle in manual mode.

I would imagine it would not do that. However, if you get the DSG ECU remaped, then this may remove the up-changes. I know the map removes the kickdown at full throttle in manual mode.

well that would be nice for a start... I do this myself by only using 3/4 throttle if I want it not to kick down in tiptronic, but would be better be able to boot it without it kicking down, you know, use the gear I actually want....

it does all the same things in auto when you override, they could leave that bit alone, and give proper control in tiptronic. tiptronic is no different to leaving it in 'D' and overriding with the paddles...

I'm hoping I don't dislike the DSG as much as the reviewer.

Currently have a Clio 182, it's fun to drive but I average 37mpg. The vRS is going to be £100 less a year to insure and £110 less a year to tax. Hopefully I'll also see 40+mpg. The difference in purchase price though (with the current VAT offer) is way more than £500 so it's a no brainer.

How is it fair to judge a car on Hardknott Pass, would be interesting if the Polo and Ibiza versions were taken to more flowing road. I mean by that not a road where you do well to get to 30 - 40mph.

Anyway I've had a brief go in one and I say it's fantastic....

How is it fair to judge a car on Hardknott Pass, would be interesting if the Polo and Ibiza versions were taken to more flowing road. I mean by that not a road where you do well to get to 30 - 40mph.

Anyway I've had a brief go in one and I say it's fantastic....

true they are extream roads glad you enjoyed your drive

The Clio 200 is a great drivers car but it has a couple of real issues......they are ugly (facelift has ruined it) and fall to bits. A clio with 60-70K on the clock having been thrashed to death all its life will be a horrible thing to own. At least the vRS benefits from German build know-how and good durability, i'd compromise on overall fun for this any day of the week, certainly if I was looking to keep a car long term.

I have to laugh at some of these car reviews ,the latest being 'Top Gears!'

What they forget to mention is, not everyone likes to thrash/throw their car about like a rag doll along the roads!

I think I speak on behalf of most vRS mark 2 owners in that it's a fantastic little car, superb around town yet when you want some fun , a shed load of power comes with it!

Ok, the DSG is not everyone's cup of tea ,but it's gear changes are lightning quick and I for one would never go back to a manual gearbox if you paid me!

Top gear's comments about thrashing it around the red line are just plain mental, they are probably used to driving vastly more powerful cars so yes, the vRS aint going to match up is it!

As for my vRS ,I love it ,it puts a smile on my face everytime I drive it

In defence of Tom, he's normally a good reviewer and knows his stuff. Some cars just don't cut it for some people. We all know that the DSG learns your driving style once it's been used for a while. There are comments on here by people who don't like the DSG and people who do. It's not a lousy review in my opinion.

Hopefully I'll also see 40+mpg.

Good luck with that best I have had out of a full tank is 38 and thats with quite a bit a motorway driving. Although it only has 2K on the clock so may get better yet

We all know that the DSG learns your driving style once it's been used for a while.

It was probably designed to forget the driving style of those Top Gear nutters.

This month's EVO magazine makes an interesting point in one of its articles - which is that the cars the buying public actually choose to buy are vastly different from the cars the motoring journos tell us to buy.

Either that's a scathing comment on our unwillingness to do what we're told, or our requirements in a car are vastly different from those of a motoring journalist on an afternoon jolly.

Sure - I'd take a Clio Sport any time - if someone else was paying the bills and I could trade it in as soon as the dashboard starts hanging off without losing any money...

This month's EVO magazine makes an interesting point in one of its articles - which is that the cars the buying public actually choose to buy are vastly different from the cars the motoring journos tell us to buy.

Either that's a scathing comment on our unwillingness to do what we're told, or our requirements in a car are vastly different from those of a motoring journalist on an afternoon jolly.

Sure - I'd take a Clio Sport any time - if someone else was paying the bills and I could trade it in as soon as the dashboard starts hanging off without losing any money...

Wanna but mine ? Dashboard still intact ( few rattles though ! )

I may have exaggerated slightly, but you get my point. People around here seem too worried about unfavourable reviews in magazines or other people not liking their particular choice of car/colour/options/hairstyle.

If I want to be an eastern-European-car-driving-mullet-wearer I don't see why I should care if Jeremy t*tting Clarkson gives a stuff.

Enjoy your cars folks.

Only earlier today I was reading a test of a Fabia vRS and the tester was very inpressed and commented that the DSG really 'made' the car.

Sadly, most of the roadtests today are too much of the tester's opinionsrather than an unbiased account of the facts, with the verdict left up to the reader to decide if they like the car or not.

Many of the test conditions are far from what the everyday driver wants or is likely to undertake and is probably the reason that the buyers do not necessarily opt for the jurnos favorites as mentioned in the thread above.

As an example, what percentage of the buying public is even faintly interested in how their shopping basket handles at the extreme on the track?

Another favorite picking point is interiors....'too plain' we hear so often well, that can be considered an advantage tomany and funnily enough in the Autocar driving impression of the new McLaren that is commented on as a plus which is a total contradiction of their normal assesments...mind you, I don't suppose they will be able to find any fault with it, real or illusory.

The journos could well look back through a few old copies of their own magazines from the 60's to see how to write up a roadtest

theproblem with car reviews is they compare all cars to the bench mark. In this case because the fabia is the sportiest model skoda prduce, it'll get compared to all other sporty options.

That pits it against the clio. As a result they say its not as good. Funny really. theclio was designed from the outset to be the ultimate in FWD hot hatch handling. The fabia was designed different. Its designed as a grown up alternative with lower running costs, slightly softer setup, more room than ALL the other options on the market.

The Clio is a focused hot hatch. The fabia is an all rounder as all VAGs are.

well that would be nice for a start... I do this myself by only using 3/4 throttle if I want it not to kick down in tiptronic, but would be better be able to boot it without it kicking down, you know, use the gear I actually want....

it does all the same things in auto when you override, they could leave that bit alone, and give proper control in tiptronic. tiptronic is no different to leaving it in 'D' and overriding with the paddles...

Not so, in my experience. On my vRS when the stick is over to the left and throttle all the way down it just accelerates 'in gear'. Only kicks down in tiptronic if you actually operate the kick-down switch at the bottom of the throttle pedals travel. When its locked in tiptronic it only shifts gear if danger of over-revving or stalling (or as above you click the kickdown switch).

Agree paddle-override is pretty pointless most of the time as it will kick-down still and also reverts back into D mode quite quickly.

Not so, in my experience. On my vRS when the stick is over to the left and throttle all the way down it just accelerates 'in gear'. Only kicks down in tiptronic if you actually operate the kick-down switch at the bottom of the throttle pedals travel. When its locked in tiptronic it only shifts gear if danger of over-revving or stalling (or as above you click the kickdown switch).

Agree paddle-override is pretty pointless most of the time as it will kick-down still and also reverts back into D mode quite quickly.

so are you saying I can use full throttle and it won't kick down? If I'm in 3rd on a country road (and tecnically it could kick down to 6500 revs in 2nd) if I put my foot down it does! unless you mean the same as I mean (maybe a slight misunderstanding) i.e I use 9/10th throttle if I don't want it to kick down (I wrote 3/4 before) .... I still think 'kickdown' is daft in tiptronic, it should give you the ability to choose...

you use the term "kickdown switch" is there actually a switch? or is it just detecting full throttle? if I have to use 3/4 throttle I still feel I'm not getting the engines whole performance

(maybe I should get my mats moved under the pedal lol...)

so are you saying I can use full throttle and it won't kick down? If I'm in 3rd on a country road (and tecnically it could kick down to 6500 revs in 2nd) if I put my foot down it does! unless you mean the same as I mean (maybe a slight misunderstanding) i.e I use 9/10th throttle if I don't want it to kick down (I wrote 3/4 before) .... I still think 'kickdown' is daft in tiptronic, it should give you the ability to choose...

you use the term "kickdown switch" is there actually a switch? or is it just detecting full throttle? if I have to use 3/4 throttle I still feel I'm not getting the engines whole performance

(maybe I should get my mats moved under the pedal lol...)

Not sure if there is a physical switch or not but on my car (and the demonstrator I tried) you can depress the throttle all the way down and then press it a little further and you can feel (and sometimes hear) a definite 'click' which activates kickdown. I have heard others referring to it as the 'kick-down switch'.

When the stick is over to the left, locking it in tiptronic, I find it quite easy to press the throttle fully down but still avoid triggering the switch which then makes for smoother progress. Dunno if there are slight differences between cars in this regard or if I just have over-sensitive feet