EVO FQ300, Suburu WR1, Mazda 6MPS, Volvo S60R, Leon Cupra....was after an easy 300Hp+ but thought itd be a waste of money to buy one now when im away for ALOT of the next 18months. Plus the missus hates that size of car. so bought the fabia as an interim gap filler, does the job well. Needs modding to get it right as in std its gutless and handles like a wet sock lol. I'll sell up after about 2 years and get something much better. Might let the wife keep it tbh, as its a good little car. bloody good on fuel, nippy and small

Edited 7 June, 201115 yr by janner_Sy

We looked at the Ibiza, the Polo and the Fabia, we decided on the Fabia as it was there in the showroom, taxed and registered and we could have it that week! Also I have a Yeti on order so the deal was exceptional on on the Fabia.

I looked at the Renault Clio RS200 Cup which was a riot to drive and imo it's the best hot hatch I've ever driven. But it being a Renault put me off and fuel consumption and the hard ride on carp roads. Also looked at second hand Golf GTI's, Mazda 3 MPS, Corsa VXR (awful, just awful) and the Octavia vRS. All of these are still a bit pricey and it made the vRS a no brainer. I was tempted to wait for the Suzuki Swift Sport since VW now has a share of it but it's still a while off yet and it probably won't have enough power even though it would handle really well.

Also looked at a Corsa VXR but decided it was overly chavvy and a little ridiculous on insurance...What did you find wrong with it???

Also looked at a Corsa VXR but decided it was overly chavvy and a little ridiculous on insurance...What did you find wrong with it???

I owned a corsa d before and I could say the following about it:

Cramped interior

Awful build quality - the amount of rattles/clunks I heard!

Awful dealership network - NOTHING is covered under warranty

A nasty grinding sound from the brakes (a known issue, no fix found by VX)

Thirsty old engines carried over from cars in 2002 (unless you buy a 2011 VX now they've finally updated them but they're not great either)

Very thick A pillar makes it hard at junctions

Useless air con, never really got cold...

That's about all that springs to mind at the moment

I briefly looked at a new Astra but when I spec'd it up how I wanted it and saw the price I though sod that and took a drive to my local Skoda dealership where me and the wife fell in love with their showroom Furby vrs, even though we were there to look at an Octy!

Also looked at a Corsa VXR but decided it was overly chavvy and a little ridiculous on insurance...What did you find wrong with it???

I owned a corsa d before and I could say the following about it:

Cramped interior

Awful build quality - the amount of rattles/clunks I heard!

Awful dealership network - NOTHING is covered under warranty

A nasty grinding sound from the brakes (a known issue, no fix found by VX)

Thirsty old engines carried over from cars in 2002 (unless you buy a 2011 VX now they've finally updated them but they're not great either)

Very thick A pillar makes it hard at junctions

Useless air con, never really got cold...

That's about all that springs to mind at the moment

All the above plus the chavviness, it wasn't that fast, didn't handle that well, not that good on fuel, Vauxhall dealers are know to be dire especially by us. It's a bit expensive considering an RS200 was a bit cheaper and kicks it's arse just about everywhere. The fact the temp gauge is in their equivalent of maxidot that's in the centre console. For anything with a turbo I'd want an easy to access temp gauge to know when it's safe to give it the beans. Oh and Piston 4 is known for melting itself. The one I drove was a VXRacing special edition too.

I was offered a a very well sorted 300bhp Astra VXR Nurburgring. The guy who owns it is meticulous and everything he's done with it has been spot on. Covers the seats to prevent marking the leather, details it every week, covers it over when he's not using it. But it only does around 25mpg, and a bit more on a run and expensive to insure with me only being 22 and it having about 5k of mods on it. Plus it would break his heart knowing I'd be using it for fishing

EVO FQ300, Suburu WR1, Mazda 6MPS, Volvo S60R, Leon Cupra....was after an easy 300Hp+ but thought itd be a waste of money to buy one now when im away for ALOT of the next 18months. Plus the missus hates that size of car. so bought the fabia as an interim gap filler, does the job well. Needs modding to get it right as in std its gutless and handles like a wet sock lol. I'll sell up after about 2 years and get something much better. Might let the wife keep it tbh, as its a good little car. bloody good on fuel, nippy and small

I think Nippy is a bit of an insult to be honest. its pretty rapid really! and also, wet sock, really... how did you judge this exactly on public roads?

I think Nippy is a bit of an insult to be honest. its pretty rapid really! and also, wet sock, really... how did you judge this exactly on public roads?

I think it's because Janner is used to a lot of faster stuff that's all. When you go "backwards" it's bound to feel a bit odd, although my parents Swift, while technically slower than my current vRS is bags more fun and I rarely go over 60 in it since it carries speed so well

I think Nippy is a bit of an insult to be honest. its pretty rapid really! and also, wet sock, really... how did you judge this exactly on public roads?

Sorry to say, but I kinda agree with Janner on this point. Unmodified the engine feels rather dull (you get no serious feeling about the power despite that it's there).

About the handling, it's abit hard on bumpy roads but soft when you push it to the limit...

My last car didn't behave like this, but it had new dampers and springs on it (SAAB 9000 2.3T, 315 bhp / 460nm torque with Bilstein B6 dampers and H&R springs).

I know it's not fair to compare those two cars since they are miles away... But since the upgrade the Fabia is really quick 0-100 km/h and not as far away on 100-150 as I would have suspected compared to the old SAAB!

Roll on 3 years time. Once the warranty is out I'll book it into Shark for a remap and a few other bits an pieces. Even though it's a 4 hour drive, going by what people have said it's worthwhile. Plus I'll be much quicker coming back

I didn't look at anything else, maybe the Yeti for a breif moment but then again at the vRS

I think Nippy is a bit of an insult to be honest. its pretty rapid really! and also, wet sock, really... how did you judge this exactly on public roads?

an insult!! Dont take it to heart mate I have a history of more powerful cars so the fabia was a step back in performance for me. as said above its only an interim measure until im settled with work, as im away alot and for the next year or so.

I have mine stage 2 mapped now with a modified exhaust and its stillonly about as quick as my octavia was at stage 2 (260hp). When the octavia was stage 2+ it was running closer to 280hp. So if even when stage 2 mapped it isnt as quick as what i had before you can understand why i think the standard car was slow.

Reference the handling just because it feels stiff on normal roads doesnt make it a good handling car. Im not saying its rubbish, because its not, but its no where near as good as my Mk2 Focus ST, mk2 Octavia vRS, Mini Cooper S Clubman or my Mondeo ST200 etc when compared standard for standard. ive also driven the newer minis, Golf GTI, Cupra and the Clio RS amongst many others and they are leagues ahead in the handling dept.

I will add though i thought all of this when i test drove it as well, but i dont keep my cars stock, i modify them to suit the way i like it. So i bought it knowing what could be done to improve it. i like a nice project and the fabia is a great base for it. The engine is more than adequate now, plus have a forge intake to fit. The handling is going to be uprated as are the brakes.

I see your in Medway, which just so happens is where i live. Im back from work on the weekend so your welcome to call by and see what they go like when mapped. It really is a night and day difference in perfomance. It'll stay with a mazda3MPS now and can out pull an Astra VXR or mk2 Leon Cupra. But as said,i wouldnt say they were that fast IMO.

Also is you Fabia vRS green? I keep seeing one around the hospital in Gillingham

Edited 7 June, 201115 yr by janner_Sy

BMW 123d

BMW 330d

Leon FR

Merc 180

Megane Cup d

Fabia VRS mk2

Ended up going for a Fabia VRS MK1, as I find the new a bit girly

Oh and Piston 4 is known for melting itself.

This. All you need to know about the Corsa VXR.

This. All you need to know about the Corsa VXR.

Just wanted to know because my mate, being the wan**r that he is, always thinks he's a bit better than everyone else. Tells me he's getting a corsa VXR and it would smoke me in the Fabia. To which I just pointed him to the EVO review which says that the VXR is the slowest.

Also if its prone to a piston melting, think i'm glad I went for the Furby in the end! . It's also a lot more understated which I like and a lot more rare. Soooo many VXR's on the roads...

I suppose I look at it differently to a lot of you, for a start its a Motability car, so price as such doesn't really play a major part in things, just the "up front" payment which in our case will be a maximum of £1k, secondly it must be able to hold my other half's wheelchair, folded, but without having to fold down the arms and still be able to carry luggage including her medication for holidays... That sort of requirement rather narrows it down to an estate or MPV... When I also factor in a minimum combined mpg of 60+ and the ability to cruise at high speed on Autobahns without losing the economy it narrows it down even further! (I have better things to spend our money on than fuel!)... Which then tends to ensure its a diesel!

So for the up-coming changeover we are looking at the Fabia Estate in the Supermini category (None of the other so-called estates seem big enough except perhaps the Clio)... The only one big enough in the Mini MPV category is the Roomster, but from my last few years experience its not good at holding its economy at high speed (why can't Skoda fit a 6 speed box on their smaller cars?!!), the other MPVs were discounted for lack of economy...

So I've also looked at the next class up (small/medium family) and we will have to test out the estate versions of the Focus, C'eed, Megane and possibly the Golf and Astra, though the Golf is priced a little high and the Bluemotion is extortionate and the Astra is not as economical as some of the others...

Finally I also want Cruise Control for motorway/autobahn work and a computer to find out how I'm doing...

Not much to check for, then, but it should prove an interesting July/August looking round... One final thing, I ain't waiting 6 months for it to come, so these 22 weeks waits I see some of you have had will mean the car is ignored, no matter how good it may be!

Edited 8 June, 201115 yr by The PM

BMW K1600GT at the moment, so nice, but so expensive. Other BMW R1200RT's comparing to mine, a Kawasaki ZX10R such a small toy, Victory Hammer S, Ducati 1098...oops, they are all motorbikes, damn!

A Car is something to get from A to B, a motorcycle is something to desire. Well unless its an Aston.

BMW K1600GT at the moment, so nice, but so expensive. Other BMW R1200RT's comparing to mine, a Kawasaki ZX10R such a small toy, Victory Hammer S, Ducati 1098...oops, they are all motorbikes, damn!

A Car is something to get from A to B, a motorcycle is something to desire. Well unless its an Aston.

But doesn't it make you feel abit wierd that your car does better MPG then any of the bikes above?

The 1600GT is too much money and more like a rocket ship, again, more expensive then the greenline 2.

I have a 650GS, (Restricted because i have only had my licence 1 and abit years and I'm under 21) I do enjoy riding it, but there's something abit sad about paying more road tax then my car and doing about the same MPG.

But doesn't it make you feel abit wierd that your car does better MPG then any of the bikes above?

The 1600GT is too much money and more like a rocket ship, again, more expensive then the greenline 2.

I have a 650GS, (Restricted because i have only had my licence 1 and abit years and I'm under 21) I do enjoy riding it, but there's something abit sad about paying more road tax then my car and doing about the same MPG.

I know what you mean, the 1200RT will do around 50mpg at a steady 85mph and the GL2 will get mid-50's at that speed. But then manufacturers have never been bothered with mpg on bikes until recently and they are not subject to the same CO2 emissions standards, so it's all politics driving engine economy anyway (and in recent years the cost of fuel).

But I was trying to capture the feeling, the acceleration, the freedom, the speed, the ability to travel without restrictions, the restrictions that a cage provides. That's why a car, for me, will be transport, A to B, economical, sure, nice to have, but nothing like a motorbike

And if you don't ride motorbikes, then you might not know that feeling, so you will not know the difference between driving a cage and riding a motorbike.

Edited 8 June, 201115 yr by Guest

was looking at

mk5 golfs-

audi a3s-

audi A4s-

seat leons-

deceided on the monte because i could afford it brand new not like the others

it made more sence because of its £20 tax for a year ,cheaper insurance,78.5mpg,no mots,plus 3 years warranty, and it will be a 61plate woop

Edited 8 June, 201115 yr by Turbo Dezzel zz

I think Nippy is a bit of an insult to be honest. its pretty rapid really! and also, wet sock, really... how did you judge this exactly on public roads?

Long time lurker first post... hi!

Wouldnt take it as an insult just a fact of life mate. Judging by the cars the other guy was looking at all were saloons running 250+ bhp he's driven some quick stuff and if i was being honest the VRS is quick but the engine is a little bit, well gutless is the wrong word but put it this way, drive a Focus ST or similar and you will realise why the vrs needs its 7 speeds... 0-60 no doubt the lack of weight and the dsg means it will keep up with a lit of things quoted as quicker purely because its easier to launch and people in manuals tend to value their clutches and boxes. No doubt my 5 series would keep on the tails of the fab, but i dont feel like replacing my synchros. In a 30 to whatever speed a fq300, focus st, 6mps or s60r is going to get away.

As for handling on public roads, show me the law for going round a roundabout too quick... actually dont cos ignorance is bliss! On a serious note the fab does handle quite well but not like a quick renault or Focus, and even my 7 year old barge has more "feel". Some uprated dampers on the other hand may sway me...

Pointless trying to compare a vRS to an Evo, ST, MPS. They are all on a different level performance wise not to mention fuel economy. You may as well compare it to a Veyron. You normally get what you pay for and the vRS is the best value for performance and with a remap and other tweaks it can be even better. Over the next next few years like the MK1 more mods will come out. I once had a passenger ride in a Nissan GTR that went at very naughty speeds. Everything I've been in since had felt slow.

As for roundabouts I was always told its 30mph unless it says otherwise.

I know what you mean, the 1200RT will do around 50mpg at a steady 85mph and the GL2 will get mid-50's at that speed. But then manufacturers have never been bothered with mpg on bikes until recently and they are not subject to the same CO2 emissions standards, so it's all politics driving engine economy anyway (and in recent years the cost of fuel).

But I was trying to capture the feeling, the acceleration, the freedom, the speed, the ability to travel without restrictions, the restrictions that a cage provides. That's why a car, for me, will be transport, A to B, economical, sure, nice to have, but nothing like a motorbike

And if you don't ride motorbikes, then you might not know that feeling, so you will not know the difference between driving a cage and riding a motorbike.

I do indeed ride a motorbike and I know what you mean. Regarding the MPG etc for bikes, years ago they were seen as cheap to run etc, that's why they were so popular. But now they just seem to be pleasure items, it's sad that it's cheaper to run a car as a winter hack then most bikes, but what can you do?

Oh, I love my bike, it just alittle annoyance of mine.

Long time lurker first post... hi!

Wouldnt take it as an insult just a fact of life mate. Judging by the cars the other guy was looking at all were saloons running 250+ bhp he's driven some quick stuff and if i was being honest the VRS is quick but the engine is a little bit, well gutless is the wrong word but put it this way, drive a Focus ST or similar and you will realise why the vrs needs its 7 speeds... 0-60 no doubt the lack of weight and the dsg means it will keep up with a lit of things quoted as quicker purely because its easier to launch and people in manuals tend to value their clutches and boxes. No doubt my 5 series would keep on the tails of the fab, but i dont feel like replacing my synchros. In a 30 to whatever speed a fq300, focus st, 6mps or s60r is going to get away.

As for handling on public roads, show me the law for going round a roundabout too quick... actually dont cos ignorance is bliss! On a serious note the fab does handle quite well but not like a quick renault or Focus, and even my 7 year old barge has more "feel". Some uprated dampers on the other hand may sway me...

I have absolutely no doubt that focus st, 6 MPS etc etc would eat the fabia for breakfast, but to base calling it gutless on that is a bit wrong. seeing as theyre all 230ish or more bhp makes it pointless comparison. but in comparison to 95% of cars youll meet on the road, its a lot quicker.

I have absolutely no doubt that focus st, 6 MPS etc etc would eat the fabia for breakfast, but to base calling it gutless on that is a bit wrong. seeing as theyre all 230ish or more bhp makes it pointless comparison. but in comparison to 95% of cars youll meet on the road, its a lot quicker.

Define the word "guts".

I would as repeated not go as far as to call the Fabia gutless but you certainly have the work the engine. It is a 1.4 after all! Power and guts to me mean different things; for example I regularly drop 2 cogs on the Fabia in order to over take something; be honest it's not the most torquey of engines and if it wasn't for the DSG the changing of gears could be a bit of a PITA. And again dont take this the wrong way it has its own character and I love the engine for what it is; but it is a little bit "flat" at times. It is kind of like the whole diesel vs petrol argument, you have got to respect the advantages of both.

And I agree with the original guy in that in comparison the Fabia does feel a bit gutless, in the same way as if you were to jump from a 63AMG or similar into a mere member of the 220-300bhp car you would be saying its a bit gutless but not necessarily more or less fun or better or worse. Same applies when you step down from the mid 200bhps into the upper 100bhps. Mazda RX8 for example, fairly powerful but gutless (and fun!!!).

If you don't mind me asking what is your previous car history?

Edited 9 June, 201115 yr by ike