Right guys, the decision has been made, and it looks 99% certain that officially, I will move out, luckily it does not increase living costs all that much over what I pay now, but still I would not mind a bit more disposable income. Lets just say, I can afford to keep the Furby, but I am looking at my options.

The first option would simply be, to keep the Furby, but if I did that, I feel I would *have* to get it tuned. After living with it for a year now, the appeal is starting to wear off, and the performance as it stands now, is not up to what I guess I thought it might be. I've had two encounters lately that suggest the car is no faster than your average 2-litre mid-sized hatchback. The first race was with an Alfa 147, and I could not pull away at all. Yesterday I had a race with what looked like a Seat Leon Sport 1.8T (one of the earlier models with the multispoke alloys) - although it had a Cupra R badge on the back, I dont think it was - but he still spanked me

The second option would be to get a classic hot hatch type vehicle. I'd be looking to pay

If you want reliable motoring, Jap cars are the way to go. If practicality isn't the order of the day, check out the MX-5 which is nice and light so relatively light on fuel, and RWD so is a hoot to drive. Jap imports will be higher spec than UK cars, but may be harder on the insurance......

Chris

The first is a VW Golf GTI Mk2 16v, as these cars apparently go on for ever - although the 8v is apparently even more reliable, but a lot slower (112 bhp v 139 bhp).

I'm not especially convinced that the extra bhp makes *that* much of a difference. The 8v engine will also generally pull better lower down the rev range...you might prefer the 16v, but I wouldn't dismiss the 8v just on paper figures...

On the one hand, the Furby will be a lot more expensive per month, however, its unlikely to suffer the same potential reliability problems as an older car, and its almost certainly going to be more economical - although the Furby is not as economical as I thought it would be - 40 MPG is about my average, and I was expecting more TBH.

The Furby is a lardy little motor though - a Mk2 Golf will probably be quite a bit lighter, as would a Honda Civic. Factor in that (certainly for the Mk2 Golf), there's probably less electronics and sensors to go wrong, it'll probably be cheaper to fix if things do go wrong...and if you're planning to tune the Furby, you're risking the warranty anyway.

Oh, and a lardy 1.6 8v Octavia will typically see between 30 and 40MPG, so you might find the economy between the Furby isn't that much better really...

Rob.

Thanks for your thoughts so far.

At the moment, I am seriously giving thought to changing the car. I have also been looking at Peugeot 306 GTI-6 and Peugeot 106 GTI / Citroen Saxo VTS. OK I know those cars are not as well built or as good looking as the Fabia, but they will be a lot quicker presumably and more fun, and perhaps not much less economical. For example, the Saxo is 120 bhp and weighs about 900 kg. Compare that to the 130 bhp of the Fabia and its circa 1300 kg weight, and it doesnt take a genius to realise you'd have to be chipped to even stand a chance.

I can see where you are coming from, but two things crop up in my mind which sound really boring, but hey!

I wouldnt expect a fabia vrs to be faster than a well driven sporty alfa 147 or a leon 1.8T really, but i guess this is one of the reasons you are thinking of changing it

Also, the cars you are talking about replacing the fabia with might be cheap to buy but the CRX for example is insurance group 16 :eek:

There again the premium you get from the sale of the fabia would pay for quite a bit of insurance i guess.

These comments aren't meant to be critical, just thoughts i had when i read your post.

The first option would simply be' date=' to keep the Furby, but if I did that, I feel I would *have* to get it tuned. After living with it for a year now, the appeal is starting to wear off, and the performance as it stands now, is not up to what I guess I thought it might be. I've had two encounters lately that suggest the car is no faster than your average 2-litre mid-sized hatchback. The first [b']race[/b] was with an Alfa 147, and I could not pull away at all. Yesterday I had a race with what looked like a Seat Leon Sport 1.8T (one of the earlier models with the multispoke alloys) - although it had a Cupra R badge on the back, I dont think it was - but he still spanked me

as far as the golfs go, both 8v and 16 are really still pretty fast. im sure the 8v was 0-60 in about 8.3sec. 16v is a pretty quick car for its age, somewhere around 7.5sec.

really depends what you are looking for. mine was an 8v but it pulled really well in any gear. you can get a 2ltr conversion on the 8v for not that much and it puts out around 140-150bhp with a few extras. or you could get a 1.8t conversion...more

Got to ask....is it really that important that you can pull away from an Alfa 147 or a Seat Leon?

Whilst they had speed away then pull into the service station to fill, you cruise by and wait for them to catch up again.

Goodas raises some good points with the comparison...was going to say something similar myself.

As good as the Furby RS is it's not the be all and end all of hot hatches...I would even argue that it's only a warm hatch before a remap.

I think some of you might be missing the point slightly. Its not so much that I expect to whip everything on the road, but perhaps my expectations were unrealistic. I was expecting a hot hatch, and my point is, that its not as fast as I thought it would be, hence I am starting to get bored. Warm hatch indeed.... but for

@Eddy, you give me the but in your profile you have a 1.8T Octavia with "more modifications than it lets you list", so I presume you have never had a play with anyone on the road huh? And if not, what was the point?

Paul, you missed my point. I have no problem with the act itself. The words I highlighted and the fact another thread was locked for that reason is why I gave the . Wasn't aimed at you mate.

Ah right, I see, sorry for the misunderstanding

Anyway I've certainly ruled out the Saxo / 106, I've been on carsurvey, and the list of problems is eye opening to say the least. Also, the jap Civic, while it may well be reliable, I am told parts can be very hard to get and very expensive if they are needed. That leaves the 306 (which has some of the same issues as the other French pair), and the Golf GTI, or to simply chip the Furby.

Seeing as theres still a lot to like about the Furby (quality of the interior, appearance of the car, cheap running costs, fun to drive) then I guess thats still up there.

I wouldn't rule out the Civic VTI, parts are very easy to get in my experience and not pricey. Very quick for what they are and a fantastic sounding engine.

If you do swap, don't buy French. They are too unreliable.

306 problems seem to be in the waterproofing and electrics. In particular the electrics in the doors and damp in the footwells.

I looked at a few 306's and asked on a few forums about the 306. Before buying my Fabia.

Ah right' date=' I see, sorry for the misunderstanding

Anyway I've certainly ruled out the Saxo / 106, I've been on carsurvey, and the list of problems is eye opening to say the least. Also, the jap Civic, while it may well be reliable, I am told parts can be very hard to get and very expensive if they are needed. That leaves the 306 (which has some of the same issues as the other French pair), and the Golf GTI, or to simply chip the Furby.

Seeing as theres still a lot to like about the Furby (quality of the interior, appearance of the car, cheap running costs, fun to drive) then I guess thats still up there.[/quote']

I would be tempted to steer clear of the 306 as well mate. I know three people who've had them and without exception their comments run along the lines of

'never again, it was the worst car I've ever owned. Great when it went. But it spent a lot of time not going anywhere.'

You know the solution... buy an Octy

Paul, you missed my point. I have no problem with the act itself. The words I highlighted and the fact another thread was locked for that reason is why I gave the . Wasn't aimed at you mate.

Think we've learned from that one Eddy.

Think we've learned from that one Eddy.

Forgot to say was also intended to be tongue in cheek.

Anyway I've certainly ruled out the Saxo / 106, I've been on carsurvey, and the list of problems is eye opening to say the least.

But, by the same token, you don't hear much about all the happy Saxo/106 owners who've never had a problem with their cars...

Also, these cars sold in large volumes, and are now getting on a bit in years - do you think that the list of issues people have with the "newer generation" of Skodas will not be quite extensive in another 10 years time?

What sort of budget are you thinking about for an older vehicle? How much would you want to spend on insurance (not necessarily in absolute terms, but more/less expensive than the Fabia)?

On old cars things will start going wrong...it's a risk you take...but if you could buy reliable old cars and still save a fortune over the cost of a new car, I suspect that the demand for new cars would dry to a very thin trickle!

Rob.

On old cars things will start going wrong...it's a risk you take...but if you could buy reliable old cars and still save a fortune over the cost of a new car' date=' I suspect that the demand for new cars would dry to a very thin trickle!

[/quote']

Thats just it though isnt it, in general, things always seem to balance out in the end... get an older car, and risk the repairs, the unreliability and all those things that will cost more in other ways. Any car I considered would almost certainly have more expensive insurance, and in most cases, be 25-50% less economical depending on what/how I drive.

I'm beginning to think the best course of action is to keep the Furby, get a digital tuning box, that should see a nice power increase, see how I get on with it after that, while I pay off some more of the debt. Then, if I dont like it, I can just sell the tuning box and get some cash back, without having spent so much on the car. My mate with the 1.8T Ibiza seems to think chipping it would be worthwhile, and thinks that my car and a 1.8T would be evenly matched if I did until I reach higher speeds. So maybe that is worth doing, for the sake of

Paul,

tis a difficult decision to make....

What is it you think you want out of your motor?

Pros and con on either side but I think they're be a few more cons by changing to an older car.

But...and importantly...what ever make you happy.

I guess I'd like something more back to basics, light, agile, nippy.

However, if I got something like that I am certain I would miss the comfort, and refinement of my Furby.

I am almost tempted to test drive an Octy vRS I have to say... but it'd have to be second hand.

Edit: Come to think of it now, an Octy vRS would probably make sense if one could justify having a bigger car, and were considering doing up a Furby. A 180 bhp Octy is probably not much slower than a remapped Fabia, and already it has 312mm brakes, and might not be much less efficient either. I bet the insurance is a lot more though.

I guess I'd like something more back to basics, light, agile, nippy.

Smart?

You might not find the insurance on an Octy vRS is that much more than a remapped Fabia - insurance co's generally like a standard cars, so, despite the grouping, you might find most insurance companies would do a better quote for a standard higher-powered car than a lower-powered non-standard car.

Also, if you have a standard car, you still have the opportunity to shop around almost every insurer there is...a modified car, you'll be restricted...

Rob.

I guess I'd like something more back to basics' date=' light, agile, nippy.

However, if I got something like that I am certain I would miss the comfort, and refinement of my Furby.

I am almost tempted to test drive an Octy vRS I have to say... but it'd have to be second hand.[/quote']

Apart from it being French....the closest motor that comes to your criteria is a Clio Sport Cup...the new 182bhp one.....even has climate control/air conditioning.

However insurance is going to be higher then you have the built quality....that's even before you talk about cost to change and increase fuel consumption.

Probably the tuning box is the best compromise all round.

Why not try a remap? I believe most Revo dealers give a 28 day money back offer on the diesels as they don't have the trial code. You pay for the remap and if you decide it's not for you they reflash to standard and refund the payment.

You might not find the insurance on an Octy vRS is that much more than a remapped Fabia - insurance co's generally like a standard cars' date=' so, despite the grouping, you might find most insurance companies would do a better quote for a standard higher-powered car than a lower-powered non-standard car.

Also, if you have a standard car, you still have the opportunity to shop around almost every insurer there is...a modified car, you'll be restricted...

[/quote']

From the quotes I had so far, believe it or not a tuning box does not add much to the cost. We're talking less than

At least if you do decided to change your car you are in the nice position of having a very well looked after car with good residuals

I have seen several fabia Vrs with no extras and 20,000miles on sale at dealers for