Hi Folks,

I collected my Fabia vRS on Monday and haven't been able to stop smiling since

Having driven it for a couple of days now I thought I'd share my initial thoughts on the car and see how this compares with others.

To start with I wasn't too impressed with the DSG, found it surged a bit, seemed to select the wrong gear occasionaly and sometimes there appeared to be a delay in providing drive. However, it seems to have settled down or adapted to my driving style for I find it very smooth, in fact I'd say it's as smooth at changing gear as an automatic BMW I owned a few years ago. It's also really quick at changing gear, especially when giving it the full beans!

To begin with I found the engine quieter than I expected and the car not as quick as I had expected. I remember thinking where are my 180 horses hiding, have some of them wandered off? It was then I noticed that the DSG was changing up quite early, so I thought lets slip it into 'S' and see what happens? Exiting a roundabout onto an empty dual carriage way I nailed the throttle and I think I just found those missing horses! I thought the engine sounds like its going to explode or hit the rev limiter, nope, a quick glance at the rev counter revealed there was still 1000rpm to go and then wham it was into the next gear with no loss of drive. Then I was at 50mph? and time to back off

I thought it would be like other turbocharged cars I'd driven and have a big shove in the mid range before tailing off towards the redline, but no this thing chases to the redline like a madman!

I find the driving position a little high, can't seem to sit as low as I do in my octavia. It doesn't really bother me as it gives a good commanding view of the road ahead and makes it easier for SWMBO to park.

I'll post another installment of my thoughts once I've driven the car a bit more, which I think I'm going to be doing a lot.

Anyway, if I've done it right there should be some links to photo's below, but being a complete newbie to these forum thingy's I've probably messed up

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looking good the engine gets better and better as the miles go on, 10k+ now, and its just had its first service, and it positively sings when pressing on... first car I've had since the lancia (thema turbo) that I actually turn the music off to listen to the engine

keep us updated with how you get on

Nice looking car !! As already suggested by sharkrider you will probably find the engine will loosen up a bit with a few miles on the clock..Mine "seems" a bit quicker now with 4k on the clock and the MPG has definately improved from new.Also the DSG either gets used to your driving style or alternatively you will subconsciously interact with the DSG for best effect..hard for me to decide which way round it is !!

Nice looking car !! As already suggested by sharkrider you will probably find the engine will loosen up a bit with a few miles on the clock..Mine "seems" a bit quicker now with 4k on the clock and the MPG has definately improved from new.Also the DSG either gets used to your driving style or alternatively you will subconsciously interact with the DSG for best effect..hard for me to decide which way round it is !!

lol.. this is so true, I have said "it took me about 4k to learn how to use the gearbox properly, now I will never go back to manual.." maybe it was the otehr way round, maybe the gearbox "learned " me

Looking great mate. I think the red trim really suits a green car.

Very nice car mate i do like the black wheels and the red trim look very cool on a green car :thumbup:

Obviously the best colour always wondered if the red seats woul work with the rallye green and I have to say they do. Nice one

Thanks guys for the positive comments on my exterior/interior colour combination, you've put my mind at rest. When I ordered the car I hadn't seen the red interior and took a bit of a gamble, I'm pleased with my choice and now know I've made the right decision having seen it.

When I first ordered and told my mates the colour, they were all like, red interior? Are you sure? And I said the vRS badge is red and green so it must be Skoda's sports colours? Besides if you cut open a green frog that's red on the inside - silly logic I know, but it shut them up!

Also good to hear the engine will loosen up as the miles go on, something else to look forward to

lol.. this is so true, I have said "it took me about 4k to learn how to use the gearbox properly, now I will never go back to manual.." maybe it was the otehr way round, maybe the gearbox "learned " me

Who knows..It could be a combination..or I could just be imagining it all !! But it works for me..I still would enjoy working a manual box and hoping it will all come back to me in a few weeks cos I'm doing a Vauxhall/VXR track day at Croft in a few weeks..Hopefully I will get back in the swing of things pretty quickly !

very nice just remember to check your oil once a week never done mine and the oil light came on at 1055 miles no oil on the dip stick.

If oil light comes on like that its just a warning that you need to put a litre of oil in. So long as you do this ASAP no harm will come to it. There will still be a few litres in the block so its not like its running bone dry. Recommended oil is Castrol Edge 5W/30, is made to VAG specs.

Very nice, lots of spec too. I wouldnt have put so much on it personally but it does make for a very nicely kitted out little car. Like the red seats, nearly went for these on our white estate but having not seen them in the flesh thought it a bit risky.

Thanks for the heads up on the oil consumption, I'll make sure I keep an eye on it.

I also own an Octavia 1.4 TSI that uses the same oil as the Fabia. I was going to get some Castrol Edge 5W-30 for Octavia, but it hasn't used any oil in the past 12 months/7500 miles and assumed the Fabia would be the same. Looks as though I'd better get some in ready then.

I've found Castrol Edge 5w-30 for £35 at ASDA and £35.15 at Opie oils, which I think is really good value compared to the £45.99 Halfrauds want. Is ASDA price the best price or does anyone know where its on sale for less?

Looks exactly the same as mine so it's definitely a thumbs up from me

Just a heads up on the oil warning light. If it comes on, the dipstick is BELOW the level where the metal on the dipstick indents. Meaning it's at the point where it's at the small bearing. I think you can do 100 miles with the warning before it'll tell you to stop the car, get out and get some oil :no: