'Strictly for armchair sportsmen...The Skoda Fabia Sport is as sporting as eating pies'

Thats the title for the review of the fabia sport in Autocar.

They conclude it should have been called the 'Fabia Sensible' and then go on to talk about other cars with misrepresentative names!

I'm afraid i have to agree really.

Such a shame after all the good reviews the vRS - and indeed most other models in the range - are still getting.

True, the impression i got is that they think the car is fine but that the marketing misses the mark.

They should have put the TDI 100 powerplant in it IMO, or at very least the 1.4 16v 100 bhp engine.

The title "Sport" does not belong to a ~ 1200 kg car with 75 bhp

My old car had 82 bhp in a 870 kg shell, and it was not particularly sporty either by any stretch of the imagination, so the little Fabia really would have its work cut out. The seats are about the only sporty thing in it.

But just because it's not fast doesn't mean it's not "sporty"...and, if we're really honest with ourselves, the vRS's are not sports cars either, they are merely normal cars with a few spoilers and a more highly tuned engine. Whether they're "sporty" or not...WTF does it even mean?

Rob.

they should call it Skoda "to tight or stupid to buy an Octavia" actually that applys to the whole range not just the Sport. (only joking)

Any car called a sport that doesnt offer an increase in performance over the "std" is pointless.. It doesnt have to be fast but it does have to be "faster!"...

Any car called a sport that doesnt offer an increase in performance over the "std" is pointless.. It doesnt have to be fast but it does have to be "faster!"...

But then, is the "std" one the 1.4MPi, or what?

And surely it depends on the specific sport they are alluding to as to whether it needs to be "fast" or not?

Anyway, technically darts is a sport, so I don't see what the problem with a 75bhp Fabia also being a sport is...

Rob.

But just because it's not fast doesn't mean it's not "sporty"...and' date=' if we're really honest with ourselves, the vRS's are not sports cars either, they are merely normal cars with a few spoilers and a more highly tuned engine. Whether they're "sporty" or not...WTF does it even mean?

[/quote']

I'm sure you would agree that a sports car should at least have some pace or be at least somewhat entertaining, this is likely to be neither.

And where did I say the vRS was a sports car? It isnt, its a hot hatch.

I'm sure you would agree that a sports car should at least have some pace or be at least somewhat entertaining, this is likely to be neither.

I'd agree to that...but people quoting the 75bhp vs. 100-130bhp don't seem to be taking into account the entertainment factor. It *could* be an entertaining drive - certainly the 75bhp 1.4 TDi manages this, and from the same peak power output.

And where did I say the vRS was a sports car? It isnt, its a hot hatch.

You didn't...but then where did I say you did? And I wouldn't say the Octavia vRS is a hot hatch...I wouldn't say the Fabia vRS was a hot hatch either, but let's not get into that...

Rob.

It could be an entertaining drive, but that doesn't change the misleading name - as Paul rightly says, if you see a "sport" edition, you'd be justified in thinking it went a bit quicker than the normal ones, rather than just looking sporty...

It could be an entertaining drive, but that doesn't change the misleading name - as Paul rightly says, if you see a "sport" edition, you'd be justified in thinking it went a bit quicker than the normal ones, rather than just looking[/i'] sporty...

But that's just it...does a "sporty" car have to be quick to be sporty? I'd say not.

What kind of sport is it supposed to allude to anyway?

Rob.

I'd agree to that...but people quoting the 75bhp vs. 100-130bhp don't seem to be taking into account the entertainment factor. It *could* be an entertaining drive - certainly the 75bhp 1.4 TDi manages this, and from the same peak power output.

I am not denying a 75 bhp car can be fun - I mean, if its in a light/small enough body then it will seem quite lively... but not many cars are these days. My old Micra was reasonable for 82 bhp but that was much lighter than the Fabia Sport.

As for the TDI, well at least its got enough torque to be entertaining, a 1.4 16v* in a car that size will just be gutless.

* 75 bhp version, I keep forgetting they do a 100 bhp version too. Thats what they should have used.

Whoa there fellas, this started out as a thread about the "fabia Sport" not being that sporty!

As far as i can see it, if you walk into a showroom and see a "sport" addition to the range and think "Hmmm, a 1.4i sport, that's gotta give the Evo 8 a run for it's money!".....you best go and rethink your life. It's merely a marketing ploy, VAG trying to inject a little more life and variety into the range.

Just because some idiot who gets paid to drive cars and slate em for a living says it's sh!t, doesn't mean it is. I went froma tatty old 1.3i escort to my 1.4i 8v fabia, and i'm not sayin it's gonna set the world on fire, but it doesn't go that badly for what it is.

Now, i'm gonna get my pipe and slippers and go and sit by the fire for a bit! :holmes:

I think the point is though, some people may take that as being misleading.

Certainly, if I bought a car named "Sport", then I'd generally expect more than a normal base model car, which this isnt really, 1.2 models excepted.

Having said that, I feel Rob has a point somewhere, I mean, a lot of cars are named that nowadays and they are anything but sporty. For example, Renault Clio 1.2 Sport, Nissan Micra 1.0 Sport, Almera 1.5 Sport etc etc.... its getting to mean less and less these days.... a bit like the "GTI" badge

well said, it seems that it's something that manufacturers do, bung a sport badge on, a few extra toys and a few hundred quid on the askin price without actually thinkin about what the word sport means! Fiat cinquicento sport anyone?

well said, it seems that it's something that manufacturers do, bung a sport badge on, a few extra toys and a few hundred quid on the askin price without actually thinkin about what the word sport means! Fiat cinquicento sport anyone?

Although to fair to the Chinky Chento, it did actually have alloys, sport seats, rev counter and a bigger engine compared to its more mundane models... not to mention the fact it weighed less than a feather.

my nova says nothing on it it let alone sport and only has about 80bhp ish but it certainly upsets a few people, even if it is because of the smoke

in all honesty it would probably upset any standard fabia and most standard octavias too. all from a

MMM, Nova TD vs Fabia vRS.... I agree it'll be nippy, but I dont think so... no disrespect.

in the dry it keeps up with a standard octavia 4x4, has since gained a bit of power. btw it only weighs about 650Kg and the fabia vRS(for example) weighs 1315Kg

should also be gaining about another 40bhp soon when the weather gets warmer(ie when i can be arsed to do it). traction is already an issue though

So have you stripped it out then? I dont think they are that light as standard.

I still dont think it would "have" a Fabia vRS... I personally believe a Fabia vRS would outpace a standard Octavia 4x4 (albeit not by a big margin).*

* Edited to add at legal speeds i.e. 0-85 or so...

As far as I understand it, the Sport is the method of Skoda shifting surplus 1.4 16v engines left over as the Auto hasn't sold as well as they had hoped. I think there would have been a better way of branding a 75bhp petrol engine. Something like a Zest or a Fabia S would have been better IMO.

yup, its got.........erm................doors and er...............windows left

only 67bhp standard but it now has stupid massive exhaust that makes it a *little* louder than standard and also boost will be up from around 0.7bar to around 1.5bar soon and also the intake is improved somewhat

Having the most disgusting caramel colour seats in my 1.9 tdi ill have the interior out of a new Sport, you can keep the rest of the car.

yup' date=' its got.........erm................doors and er...............windows left

only 67bhp standard but it now has stupid massive exhaust that makes it a *little* louder than standard and also boost will be up from around 0.7bar to around 1.5bar soon and also the intake is improved somewhat[/quote']

That'll be mental