Am I alone that saying in the VRS, in theses snowy conditions, the power steering really hinders my driving, as i do not know where the traction lies.

With a scare of me going side ways - then the XDS kickin in to save the day so i could continue in my intended direction. This did leave me to drive like a grandad for the rest of my journey as i was shocked/scared.

Your thoughts?

Am I alone that saying in the VRS, in theses snowy conditions, the power steering really hinders my driving, as i do not know where the traction lies.

With a scare of me going side ways - then the XDS kickin in to save the day so i could continue in my intended direction. This did leave me to drive like a grandad for the rest of my journey as i was shocked/scared.

Your thoughts?

If i had to make any negative comment about the vRS it would be that the chassis is nowhere as well developed as the drivetrain.

The Twincharger and DSG gearbox is brilliant and i cant fault skoda at all for putting this engine in the car; way better than a 2.0 TDi 140/170 would have been. Sadly i dont think anyone can really deny that in standard form the suspension, brakes and steering really arent that great. In the dry its competent enough but the brakes and particularly the steering just do not inspire confidence. The steering is way to light and provides little or no feedback no matter what speed you are carrying; the brakes work well but feel a bit wooden and need an unnatural amount of pressure to achieve the required braking force. The suspension whilst very compliant it is a little bit wallowy when really pushing on.

I've had a couple of occasions where i've **** myself where i've felt like i'm not exactly taxing the car where i know in the same scenario my Golf would have been no trouble.

At the end of the day vRS or not, its still a Fabia and they arent exactly renowned for their dynamic abilities; its largely based on the previous gen Polo after all and that wasnt the best of steers. There is only so much Skoda could do to hide the sins of this old platform. It is probably the one and only area the Polo GTi semi-justifies its price premium.

Edited 9 February, 201214 yr by pipsyp

Even My 1.2 polo 6r handled fantasticly compared to the vrs, parking the vrs is a nightmare compared to the polo it just turns sooo much easier and felt alot lighter.

The vrs handling is awful

Saying handling is awful is a bit excessive. Compared to the Mk1 its much better and I find I can make much more progressive progress with the Mk2. Sure it has its limits but when I've found them I'm verging on driving like a nobber. What people seem to forget is that the car is a compromise. It can't be a stripped out track car as most wouldn't buy one.

It can easily be improved though and for not much money. Proper suspension setup, tweak the XDS etc and its a lot better.

Am I alone that saying in the VRS, in theses snowy conditions, the power steering really hinders my driving, as i do not know where the traction lies.

With a scare of me going side ways - then the XDS kickin in to save the day so i could continue in my intended direction. This did leave me to drive like a grandad for the rest of my journey as i was shocked/scared.

Your thoughts?

I'm sure I read some where that the steering can be made heavier/lighter using VCDS, with less steering assistance I would think you would get more road feel.

Saying handling is awful is a bit excessive. Compared to the Mk1 its much better and I find I can make much more progressive process with the Mk2. Sure it has its limits but when I've found them I'm verging on driving like a nobber. What people seem to forget is that the car is a compromise. It can't be a stripped out track car as most wouldn't buy one.

It can easily be improved though and for not much money. Proper suspension setup, tweak the XDS etc and its a lot better.

+1

Takes some time getting used to it. After lots of testing on ice and snow, all I can say is that it handles well. A bit of understeer sometimes, but I blame myself rather than the car.

My vRS Fabia is the best handling car I have driven. Terrific turn in and the nearest to rear wheel drive handing characteristics.

I won't bore you with all the cars I have driven in over 50 years motoring, including on track and in rallies.

I realise the vRS will not out handle the Clio Cup which it is frequently compared with; but you have to realise the Renault is a homologation special to make it eligible for a special race series on track.

Try getting the Wife, the Mother in Law and a wardrobe in a Clio Cup; give me my vRS estate any day.

Brilliant!!!

Tony

My vRS Fabia is the best handling car I have driven. Terrific turn in and the nearest to rear wheel drive handing characteristics.

I won't bore you with all the cars I have driven in over 50 years motoring, including on track and in rallies.

I realise the vRS will not out handle the Clio Cup which it is frequently compared with; but you have to realise the Renault is a homologation special to make it eligible for a special race series on track.

Try getting the Wife, the Mother in Law and a wardrobe in a Clio Cup; give me my vRS estate any day.

Brilliant!!!

Tony

+1 Although what we're talking about here might be slightly off topic as the OP's issue had to do with power steering. And to agree with you, I too love the steering of the vRS, it's obviously not the sharpest out there, but I find it gives a significant amount of information and has never hidden something from me regarding my exact place on the road. When I drove my friend's MX5 it's turn-in was almost scary and demanded attention the whole time which I didn't like that much. All in all, it more than does the job for me in that area and with some inexpensive additions I think it would be just perfect. After all, If I was after the ultimate steering I wouldn't buy a vRS at the first place, simple as that. Asking this from a car that is narrower and sits higher than its competitors is just not fair.

I too find that most VAG products have pretty lifeless steering but VAG did switch to Electric assistance before other manufacuters. Not talking about turn in sharpeness or grip or steering weight but actual communication between the tyres and the steering wheel.

Drive something like an older Mondeo or Focus and you know exactly what the wheels are doing the steering wheel is full of feel even if sometimes you get too much feel through the wheel on poor surfaces.

The new Focus has Electrical power steering and many reviews have said the new car has lost it's alive feel of the previous model and the next Mondeo will go electric.

Same goes for BMW, always been a drivers car and have resisted electrical power assistance but the brand new 3 series has it fitted.

So looks like true mechanical "Feel" is on the way out, the need for fuel economy and fancy driver aids have forced even driver focused manufacturers to ditch hydraulic assistance.

Cheers

Lee

Hi mine was pants in the snow as well but as for handling since ive put the coils on its much improved with a lot more feedback through the wheel. although this is the expense of comfort.

Im pretty good on the brakes and although never having any mishaps or scary moments do think they are ****. over servoed no feedback whatsoever and seem far to small for the task in hand the 312mm set up would have been adequate

I'm sure I read some where that the steering can be made heavier/lighter using VCDS, with less steering assistance I would think you would get more road feel.

it can indeed, as the steering is electronically controled a tweak with VCDS is all thats needed.

I would have thought you WOULD drive like your granddad on snow and ice... The car being driven should be irrelevant!

If you wanted to drive like it was a hot, dry, sunny sunday afternoon, I would hope you let everyone else know beforehand, so they could remove their cars from the area you wish to crash in!

I am jesting here, a little, but honestly, just the other day, after the snow, I had one complete she-ite drive about 2 metres away from my bumper, as I started to slow down, due to a refuse cart ahead pulling across the road to the centre, trying to reverse into a side road on the right, the numpty behind must have seen my brake lights, desided he could still travel at the same speed, and tried to go round me... It was at this point, he realised WHY i had started to slow down, panic ensued and the twonk hit the brakes, slide around a bit, narrowly avaioding coliding with the back of my vehicle! I had spotted the likelyhood of this action early, braking very lightly to warn him I was slowing, but still he thought he was the better driver, with super-human powers to drive fast ans stop quick... If I had done the same and braked firmer, later, he would without a shadow of a doubt have had his insurance company treat me to a new bumper!

I then procceeded to observe many other motorists treating the roads as if they were dry and warm, driving their vehicles at the very edge of traction, with scant regard for the fact that ice and snow was everywhere and the surfaces of the roads changed with almost alarming regularity!

It NEVER ceases to amaze and amuse me as to how these drivers manage to get to the end of their journeys unscathed, although I have no doubt that many dont!

OR, to put it another way, TAKE IT EASY OUT THERE! Remember, if you hit someone else, its YOUR fault, not the road condition, or the vehicle, as YOU decide whether to drive and where or how you do it!

, he would without a shadow of a doubt have had his insurance company treat me to a new bumper!

Assuming he would be insured!!!

Brilliant post.

Tony

Assuming he would be insured!!!

Brilliant post.

Tony

+1

I have winter tyres on all our cars, they are of course excellent but you have to drive very carefully as the majority of drivers still drive far too close and you just know if you jump on the brakes they are just going to slide straight into you.

Cheers

Lee

take it easy on my mrgf, lol.

I may not be the best of drivers - yet thinking im better than i am at times.

Im sorry to hear of your story of idiots on the road - i know there alot out there! i'v been in a crash every year i can be on the road (from 16-20), of which none where my fault! the worst was probably 2 days before passing my car drivers test, where a bloke pulled out behind a van, and came head on into me, thinking it was a dual carridge way!

I appreciate that it was my fault that the XDS kicked in, i was slightly rushing to get past the traffic lights, approaching the corner faster than usual and going on a slightly frosted surface (which turned out to be ice). Thankfully the XDS saved me.

However my point was after that scare on me, i was driving like a grandad however the roads were totally clear and fine, and i was judging the road conditions to find the grip and i found it almost impossible, due to the powersteering that was my point of the original post.

Now commense bombardmant on me :(

! i'v been in a crash every year i can be on the road (from 16-20), of which none where my fault! the worst was probably 2 days before passing my car drivers test, where a bloke pulled out behind a van, and came head on into me, thinking it was a dual carridge way!

Now commense bombardmant on me :(

I think you need to build your awareness and drive defensively. ie try to anticipate what other road users will do, expect the worse and adjust your drivng to suit. There's always an accident that you can't avoid but if you are always aware of what's going on around you and expect the worse then you can avoid a lot of situations before they occur even if it's someone elses fault.

I passed my test 4 months after my 17th Birthday, I'm now 43 (That's 26 years) I do 20k miles a year and have owned quite a few cars quicker than the vRS and many before the days of ABS and ASR/ESP/XDS. My current car is my 30th, I've been involved in motorsport, track days and owners clubs etc and I've never been involved in a road traffic accident.

Cheers

Lee

I too find that most VAG products have pretty lifeless steering but VAG did switch to Electric assistance before other manufacuters. Not talking about turn in sharpeness or grip or steering weight but actual communication between the tyres and the steering wheel.

Drive something like an older Mondeo or Focus and you know exactly what the wheels are doing the steering wheel is full of feel even if sometimes you get too much feel through the wheel on poor surfaces.

The new Focus has Electrical power steering and many reviews have said the new car has lost it's alive feel of the previous model and the next Mondeo will go electric.

Same goes for BMW, always been a drivers car and have resisted electrical power assistance but the brand new 3 series has it fitted.

So looks like true mechanical "Feel" is on the way out, the need for fuel economy and fancy driver aids have forced even driver focused manufacturers to ditch hydraulic assistance.

Cheers

Lee

Have to agree if you want steering feel buy a Ford or BMW I have test driven a Ford Mondoe ST 155 this morning and boy is it superb, probably one of the last real drivers car to be made and I just loved it, felt like a true sports car with a flat competent ride, tons of grip and the most fabulous steering feel out there. Combind with 295ft of torque and fuel economy that shames my peice of junk of a car I am seriously considering chopping it in for this older Mondoe with some cash back of course. Shame the fabia has got shockingly bad trade in values at the moment due to the on going vat deals,

Have to agree if you want steering feel buy a Ford or BMW I have test driven a Ford Mondoe ST 155 this morning and boy is it superb, probably one of the last real drivers car to be made and I just loved it, felt like a true sports car with a flat competent ride, tons of grip and the most fabulous steering feel out there. Combind with 295ft of torque and fuel economy that shames my peice of junk of a car I am seriously considering chopping it in for this older Mondoe with some cash back of course. Shame the fabia has got shockingly bad trade in values at the moment due to the on going vat deals,

Agree the Mk3's chassis is excellent.

My last Mondeo was a 3.0V6, was an awesome drive and same engine can be had in an ST. Averaged 30-35mpg which was great for such a big car. It's range of torque meant it cruise along and pick up easily at 35mph in 6th and smoothly accelerate to 150mph+ in the same gear. The chassis and steering was a joy.

Clarksons view

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbvKv-PofzM

Cheers

Lee