My VRS is at the dealers today and tomorrow getting some stuff done to it...so they have given me a 10 plate 1.2HTP Fabia...what can I say...what a little beast!

I don't know if there is something wrong with the exhaust but it sounds like a V6! Easily louder than my VRS.

It was a little strange getting used to a manual again, but after I got used to it, the gearbox was as smooth as anything.

For a 1.2, it is not bad at all. Just really, really loud. Does sound nice though.

Yeah funny old things arent they?! The three cylinder units sound like a mini Golf VR6, shame they dont go as well! The 3 cylinder TDi's are the same as well; they actually sound mean as hell before the noise starts hurting your ears (PD not CR I will add). I had a Polo 1.4 TDi PD 70 as a courtesy car for a day and enjoyed ragging the hell out of it to begin with....then got fed up of how slow it was (had to thrash it just to get upto 70). Was chuffed to bits that we got a 1.4 petrol, surprisingly perkier and quieter by comparison.....still aint a patch on the vRS estate thats on its way; getting more and more excited by the day. We're expecting a baby and the missus is still convinced i'm more excited about the car!! haha :-)

Yeah funny old things arent they?! The three cylinder units sound like a mini Golf VR6, shame they dont go as well! The 3 cylinder TDi's are the same as well; they actually sound mean as hell before the noise starts hurting your ears (PD not CR I will add). I had a Polo 1.4 TDi PD 70 as a courtesy car for a day and enjoyed ragging the hell out of it to begin with....then got fed up of how slow it was (had to thrash it just to get upto 70). Was chuffed to bits that we got a 1.4 petrol, surprisingly perkier and quieter by comparison.....still aint a patch on the vRS estate thats on its way; getting more and more excited by the day. We're expecting a baby and the missus is still convinced i'm more excited about the car!! haha :-)

Yeah, it certainly wasn't as fast! Just made a really nice noise and when you looked down it was still like 30mph

Your right, it isn't a patch on the VRS, but it is nice to drive a manual again, I have to admit, I have sorta missed it.

Yeah, VR6 is an excellent description actually!

Probably sounds stupid, but I was genuinely torn between a 1.2HTP and the VRS.

The HTP is incredibly good value and for the money, great fun to drive. Only problem with it is the seats in my opinion.

Hi Stuart, I'm way beyond Vrs territory being a pensioner and would not claim the 1.2 HTP is a young petrol heads car but I can tell you I've had some really great cars and I came from a 2.8i 5 series to my little 3 pot but I'm actually enjoying driving again!! It's such a willing little thing either about town or on the motorway. I'm loving the rorty sound of the 3 pot and the gearing which makes it feel so nippy. Its light and easy for an old guy like me to drive and it's simple, little to go wrong and cheap to keep. Of course it's nowhere near other Fabias on performance and the Vrs is in a different league but for anyone wanting a good runabout thats comfortable enough for the occasional long journey I would say buy one. Glad you enjoyed the experience.

I think it sounds like a 911!

I don't notice the sound any more. Just sounds like a normal engine...maybe it's cos i'm use to hearing it and take no notice of it.

I don't notice the sound any more. Just sounds like a normal engine...maybe it's cos i'm use to hearing it and take no notice of it.

Yeah I bet, really shocks you though when you first get into it.

I'm just used to whines of superchargers and turbos, that usually gives me my fix

Hi Stuart, I'm way beyond Vrs territory being a pensioner and would not claim the 1.2 HTP is a young petrol heads car but I can tell you I've had some really great cars and I came from a 2.8i 5 series to my little 3 pot but I'm actually enjoying driving again!! It's such a willing little thing either about town or on the motorway. I'm loving the rorty sound of the 3 pot and the gearing which makes it feel so nippy. Its light and easy for an old guy like me to drive and it's simple, little to go wrong and cheap to keep. Of course it's nowhere near other Fabias on performance and the Vrs is in a different league but for anyone wanting a good runabout thats comfortable enough for the occasional long journey I would say buy one. Glad you enjoyed the experience.

What a brilliant mini review - really enjoyed reading that.

Yeah I bet, really shocks you though when you first get into it.

I'm just used to whines of superchargers and turbos, that usually gives me my fix

yeah when i first heard this engine, as a passenger, I thought, this engine has a nice roar, especially when you put your foot down.

I'm still quite surprised by the performance. It give most 1.4 petrols a good run, it feels faster than a 1.4 grande punto and much more nippier than a pogeot 207 1.4 petrol.

yeah when i first heard this engine, as a passenger, I thought, this engine has a nice roar, especially when you put your foot down.

I'm still quite surprised by the performance. It give most 1.4 petrols a good run, it feels faster than a 1.4 grande punto and much more nippier than a pogeot 207 1.4 petrol.

Agree on the 1.4 bit.

I was also borrowing a 60 plate 1.4 Polo (DSG) in December for a few days, and my god did that feel slow in comparison to this thing!

I mean like, it felt a lot slower. Maybe it was just me.

I think it sounds like a 911!

I trust you have hearing problems......................

I trust you have hearing problems......................

I think there perfect cars for young drivers/ boy racers sounds like your going a million mph and cheap to boot

The fuel consumption is so low it makes it the perfect city car... as long as you don't push it too hard.

The fuel consumption is so low it makes it the perfect city car... as long as you don't push it too hard.

Thats a good point and something I never mentioned in my reply above. Being a three pot the engine works its socks off if you push it. It will easily sit on 80mph (sorry officer ) on the motorway but at around 35mpg. Hold it nearer 60 mph and I can get 50 mpg. These figures are just taken from the OBC and PLEASE don't tell me OBC's aren't accurate as I know that :p . I went up to Bradford last Sunday (90 miles)and sat on 60-65 ish, got figures of 48.9 mpg so quite happy with that and I can get 38-42 mpg around home depending how I drive.

I trust you have hearing problems......................

No, they really do sound like a baby 911! Have you not heard one? And you can rev the nuts off them and they still sound like they want to give more:

No, they really do sound like a baby 911! Have you not heard one? And you can rev the nuts off them and they still sound like they want to give more:

Is that youtube clip one of the Mk1 model? It has all sorts of fancy things on like a temp gauge and proper fuel gauge....anyone know?

I believe it is the MK1

Thanks for the back up.

They do sound good don't they I thought mine sounded like a baby 911 too, but I did get tired of it's slowness.

As an urban commuter it's a cracker, but once up in the higher gears, they don't have any performance left :(

I've driven the 1.2 in a Ibiza and it's a nippy little unit much quicker than I expected.

Once the miles mount up these things just want to go and go.

Davy

Well it went back today.

When I told the dealer how impressed I was, he offered me a straight swap for my VRS. I politely declined

Well it went back today.

When I told the dealer how impressed I was, he offered me a straight swap for my VRS. I politely declined

So the big question, which sounds better HTP or vRS?

Hi Stuart, I'm way beyond Vrs territory being a pensioner and would not claim the 1.2 HTP is a young petrol heads car but I can tell you I've had some really great cars and I came from a 2.8i 5 series to my little 3 pot but I'm actually enjoying driving again!! It's such a willing little thing either about town or on the motorway. I'm loving the rorty sound of the 3 pot and the gearing which makes it feel so nippy. Its light and easy for an old guy like me to drive and it's simple, little to go wrong and cheap to keep. Of course it's nowhere near other Fabias on performance and the Vrs is in a different league but for anyone wanting a good runabout thats comfortable enough for the occasional long journey I would say buy one. Glad you enjoyed the experience.

I still have a few years left before reaching your age, but I can only say that you exactly right.. I love my tripot. Most of my driving is in the city and it is perfect. Quick and easy to drive and a perfect engine. When I bought it I tried the other models but went back to the tripod and have never regretted it.

If you then add some Koni shocks, H&R springs and a Whiteline RARB you have yourself quite a funny car...

Can only recommend it....

Bgds Dan