27/04/2005, 1000 miles, 1 week old.

I know this type of thread now fits very snugly into the been there, done that category, but I feel compelled to write down my thoughts and opinions on my Fabia vRS. I'll update this thread every 1000 miles or so unless I experience something that warrants an addition.

Initial impressions:

"WOW this things quick!

Brakes work fine, just push down on the peddle Feedback is rubbish with standard fluid, and a lot of people recommend pad upgrades. I will probably do the fluid upgrade and then replace the pads with better ones when they need it.

Vibration - are you planting it when the revs are below 2k? If so, feed in the accelerator more smoothly and you'll find it 1) goes away pretty much and 2) you'll go faster anyway

Nice review

Gearbox:

I'm beginning to notice some vibration in the clutch peddle and the gear stick that I didn't notice in the first few hundred miles. Gear changes also feels less smooth' date=' an overly mechanical feel. A bit worrisome, anyone else? I haven't driven this car hard at all; kept below 3KRPM for the first 600 miles.

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Vibration in the clutch pedal and the gear stick is expected and it should ease as the miles pile on, but it's nothing to worry about unless it gets really bad - a search on here should turn up some similar tales

Brakes:

Hmmm' date=' not up to scratch in my opinion. My Dad has an aging Laguna with drums on the back and that thing can stop far quicker. I like an instant response in the brake peddle, which I feel the Fabia lacks.

[/quote']

This has been discussed at length and I posted up a link from a Lotus site which tells you how to bed the brakes in which a couple of members tried and said it transformed their brakes. Upgrading to the Octy's 312mm brakes can be done for a few hundred pounds as well and will give you a much wider choice of uprated pads to choose from

Suspension: I don't rally this thing around corners so the standard setup feels pretty sweet to me. This will probably change as I learn to drive it harder in the corners. Body roll is minimal during normal driving.

Minimal body roll?! You really don't push your car at all But when you do, you'll be wanting some Eibach springs and dampers

Glad you're enjoying it

Chris

i think the brakes are dam good on mine! i drive a few vauxhalls at work, now they have bad brakes!!

They NEED to be bedded in as before that they're scary.

Now I've had a few hard braking sessions under 'the belt' it's vastly, vastly improved. Doesn't change my feeling about the brake fluid though as the feedback is not great.

They NEED to be bedded in as before that they're scary.

Now I've had a few hard braking sessions under 'the belt' it's vastly' date=' vastly improved. Doesn't change my feeling about the brake fluid though as the feedback is not great.[/quote']

Ditto. Sometimes I really wonder about all these people who complain about the brakes, honestly :P

I drove mine like a Maniac most days and the brakes never failed to stop me in time

Ok! Ok! I suppose I've been a bit premature in criticising the brakes! Although I'll still maintain Renault brakes are in a different league!

- no need to concede - seriously though, try bedding them in, see if your opinion changes. It took a good 1000 miles before I felt comfortable with the brakes.

The feel in the brakes is rubbish compared to the R21 I used to own, so I can see where you're coming from

Brakes in our fabia vRS seem better than my Octavia vRS.Maybe I need new brakes :eek:

Probably should post this comment elsewhere but anyone else have trouble getting sixth? I don't bother with it now

Ok! Ok! I suppose I've been a bit premature in criticising the brakes! Although I'll still maintain Renault brakes are in a different league!

HEY YOU GOT MY ADVATAR THINGY!! FIRST COME FIRST SAVE PAL.

Stolen of the Skoda website it would seem! I'll find something more original soon....

I'm getting a vibration in the light cluster (above the rear view mirror) when I accelerate briskly. It's beginning to annoy me. Anyone else had this problem and solved it? :confused:

I'm getting a vibration in the light cluster (above the rear view mirror) when I accelerate briskly. It's beginning to annoy me. Anyone else had this problem and solved it? :confused:

Hi, I had the same "problem" with that light - mostly during the acceleration round 2.000RPM - I know it

Popped into my dealer today. I'm told that this is a common problem on the Fabia vRS and should subside after about 2500-3000 miles. Still no explanation as to the cause but he said that VW & Skoda were aware of the problem and a fix is possible if the vibration does not dissipate after 3000 miles. Leaves me wondering...

There are two more things with this car that annoy me:

(1) I can't stop driving the thing! Which pretty much negates the fuel saving I now have from a diesel!

(2) The 'New Car Paranoia' that I am experiencing is rather funny. "Was that oil patch there before?" "Is that a scratch or just the wax?" "Did you hear a rattle?" "I think I'll park in that space there, the one that