Hey guys,

It been a while since I've been on here.

I'm currently looking at purchasing a brand new car.

I've looked at the;

. VW Polo Gti dsg

. Vauxhall corsa vxr

. Renaultsport clio 200

. Fabia VRs

I'm currently driving a renaultsport clio 172

After a quick question on piston heads, I've discovered that the Fabia Vrs is not only far cheaper than the polo for the same motor and box, but IS in the no VAT offer, making it really really cheap.

Am I right in thinking that's correct, someone said the skoda website is wrong. Not sure how true that is.

I'm quite happy to have another Skoda again, my first car being a Felicia L&K, the second being an Octavia.

I also hear the Fabia is about 100kg heavier than the polo, is that just because of the different body shape.

Also since VW have provided a "fix" for the oil consumption issues, an oil breather apparently, that puts my mind at rest on the engine side, which is fantastic.

The only thing is having never driven an auto before yesterday, when I drove the polo gti, I'm still unsure about getting a dsg, I really really enjoyed the drive in the polo, with the tsi its always on the power, and the gearbox was great fun to use up and down on the paddles. But I'm hearing people say the dsg will develop issues as it gets older... This does put me off.

So some reviews from Vrs owners would be great.

Edited 14 October, 201213 yr by Felicia racer

Have a look again at the weights on the Polo GTi, because VW seem to have changed them recently in the brochures.

Polo GTi Unladen 1269 Kg

Gross weight 1680 Kg

Payload 486 KG

Fabia vRS Hatch Kerb Weight 1243 Kg

Total weight 1718 Kg

Payload 475 Kg

(The Fabia has a 25 KG of weight bolted to the rear crash bar under the bumper)

** Both VAG cars, no idea why they use different terms

& if the GTi got heavier or they just corrected the figures to the correct ones**

The Polo is on 215/40/17 tyres & the Fabia is 205/40/17

I would go out and roadtest them & see if its worth paying £5000 or so more for the Polo.

I like the looks of them compared to a Fabia, but the seating position does not suit me

& i do not believe they are any better performance wise.

I took one out a few weeks ago and was not that impressed at the price.

Basically the vRS is the bargain & there should be no engine difference.

AS to oil usage, the Breather Mod applies to the engines be it A1, vRS or GTi, & you should not need to worry, its a new car.

Have fun trying them.

george

The supposed oil fix is still unproven so be aware.

Dsg is awesome when you get used to it. Most say thy won't go back to a manual.

The extra 100kg is partly down to VW not wanting the Vrs to be as quick or as appealing as the polo. Also means the polo has lower tax due to lower emissions however there is alot you can do to reduce the weight.

If I was you I'd wait and test drive the new 1.6 dual clutch Clio. Should have power of fabia and handling of the Clio.

James

Yeah I'm waiting on confirmation of a test drive of a Vrs.

I'm just playing the waiting game now I guess.

The new renaultsport clio isn't coming out for ages though, the new non RS is hitting the roads next march I believe. Yet no confirmed date for the RS.

Of course the corsa vxr is always an option, but its a bit more in your face than the others, however it is cheaper than the polo.

As for the clio 200 the salesman in our local dealer is rubbish and was looking at the prices of Meganes, plus it interior of the 200 is so dull.

And as to the amount of track use my cars get, a couple of laps round the Nurburgring, doesn't warrant me getting a 200, over one of the others I've mentioned.

I have a friend with the VXR, I had a go a while back and hated the seats, the position, the ride, the interior, to be frank there wasn't much I did like.

My brother has a Clio and as a track day machine there isn't much to beat that chassis in this size category. I cant comment on the Polo which would mean for me, as an every day car I would probably have the vRS, its a balance between fun and everyday usage but maybe as a Fabia owner I'm bias

Edited 14 October, 201213 yr by MediaJunky

I wouldn't bother with the corsa. A guy round my ways got a nur edition and is slower than an unmaped Vrs in a straight line and just about kept up in the corners. Even an astra vxr don't pull away in a straight line.

Way I see it you can have an awesome handling car like the Clio but you'll find it hard to gain any real power without spending Mega bucks

Or

Get a car that's a straight line monster that can be made really quick in a straight line with little money and go round corners reasonably well for not tomuch money.

I came from a ph1 172 fella..personally I'd try out the Clio 200 if u can't wait for the new 1.6. Why, because you will be shocked how the vrs handles compared to the 172, they are worlds apart. Bearing in mind my vrs is the estate, it handles like a bus, compared to the Clio's go cart cornering..performance wise the vrs maybe quicker 0-60, but rolling acceleration or private road stuff the Clio leaves it..the vrs when you boot it seems to rev it's tits off but doesn't move, feels like clutch slip in a manual. Steering input has no feed back in the vrs, and the brakes are not up to the job for the power output/weight, a 172 will stop on a dime with no drama..I've had the vrs sideways whilst braking..A lot of the issues are down to the weight differences 172 coming in at 1084kg vs 200 kg more for the vrs on and the fact u can wear a top hat in the vrs. The vrs for the price is great fun, but it isn't the giant killer a lot on here think it is!

I came from a ph1 172 fella..personally I'd try out the Clio 200 if u can't wait for the new 1.6. Why, because you will be shocked how the vrs handles compared to the 172, they are worlds apart. Bearing in mind my vrs is the estate, it handles like a bus, compared to the Clio's go cart cornering..performance wise the vrs maybe quicker 0-60, but rolling acceleration or private road stuff the Clio leaves it..the vrs when you boot it seems to rev it's tits off but doesn't move, feels like clutch slip in a manual. Steering input has no feed back in the vrs, and the brakes are not up to the job for the power output/weight, a 172 will stop on a dime with no drama..I've had the vrs sideways whilst braking..A lot of the issues are down to the weight differences 172 coming in at 1084kg vs 200 kg more for the vrs on and the fact u can wear a top hat in the vrs. The vrs for the price is great fun, but it isn't the giant killer a lot on here think it is!

Nockmeister, do you have any suspension mods installed or not?

I ask because I remember how disappointing the hatch was as stock. So I can only imagine how worse that would be on the estate version. Change those springs though and add an ARB on the back and only then you start enjoying what this engine/box combo has to offer. Tremendous improvement in the way the car "sits down" during corners (engilsh term???) and the behavior under hard cornering. Not to talk about the looks. Again I cannot comment on the estate version which I imagine to be worse in all handling aspects. But a Clio vs. X Estate comparison is probably unreasonable in any case (unless maybe X is replaced by "Audi RS4")

Edited 15 October, 201213 yr by newbie69

Big difference in the various vehicles on the purchase prices new.

3 doors costing £17,000, £18,000. £20,000 & £20,000plus

&

5 doors @ £14,000/£15,000 or £20,000

george

Coming from a Clio RS to a fabia vRS would be hard IMO.

In comparison to the Clio, the Fabia is dynamically retarded. Its sloppy and soft and has crap brakes. Even modified, the fabia will never have the feel of the Clio, especially the cup, BUT if your into modifying and willing to throw maybe £2.5k at the chassis and brakes, then you will not be to far off it and it will still be easier to live with. But at that point, you could have just bought a clio lol. An example of hjow good this chassis can be with just coilovers, brakes and a rear ARB is here http://goapr.com.au/media/mm-june2011.pdf

Theres no way i could live with a stock fabia as my main car, thats for sure. If i never planned to modify the car, id have to go for the clio tbh.

Engine wise, its the opposite. The 1.4TSi is a much better engine for all uses. The clio is only good at flat out, plus the clio IMO is absolutely gutless in the midrange, is really loud and generally crap on fuel.

I agree with nockmeister, the fabia, when stock will not annihilate the clio in a straightline, but it will keep up with it, despite the 20hp deficit. Throw a stage 1 remap, and its no contest then though. (197hp/154lbft vs 205hp/250lbft).

Just a quick update, I bought a new Fabia vRS in blue today.

After test driving a Toyota gt86 then a Fabia.

I still have my clio, I'm think of tracking it

I pick it up Friday, I have a pic but the forum won't upload it.

Good move, we can asume you were impressed then!

What was your opinion or feelings on the GT86

& was it a manual one?

I had an Automatic out for a good part of a day and liked it a little but not really loved it.

A local dealer has lined up a customers BRZ auto that i am getting to borrow, due to the customer seriously disliking it having bought it sight unseen,

and wanting to try a vRS.

Looking forward to the BRZ owners views and a try of his car, (see if i notice any difference from the GT86)

and he has a few other interesting cars in his garage.

george

The GT86 was a good looking car, on looks alone it wins hands down.

However it's not powerful, I drove the manual one, and I wasn't blown away by its acceleration.

It certainly drove nice, the steering is weighty, and the gearbox has a short throw, the suspension is nice and tight.

The air box feed to the cabin sounds fake, especially as it doesn't work in 6th gear, it must shut a valve to keep it quiet on the motorway.

It has no pull in 6th what so ever, even on a dual carriageway, its purely for cruising.

When I drove it, no one could sit behind me, as there was no gap between the front and Rear seats. When I was a passenger whilst the salesman drove first, I had my knees up against the dashboard, to give my dad some leg room in the back, and his legs were against the front Seat too.

The salesman said everyone who's been out in one had a smile on their face afterwards, I didn't. Lol

I couldn't justify spending 25000 on one, if Subaru do bring a turbo brz out, like the rumours have suggested, I'd be more interested.

After already driving a polo gti the other weekend, I could concentrate on the Fabia itsself this time, rather than how to drive an auto car for the first time.

I took the fabia on the same route as the gt86, and found the Fabia accelerates quicker, is far far more roomy, pulls in every gear even 7th due to having a twin charged engine.

The only downside is the Fabia interior, but hey oh it's 10,000 cheaper

Now I can just wait a few years for Subaru to bring out the turbo model, whilst enjoying my commute in a comfortable Fabia with a easy to use dsg box. Which is actually great fun to drive, and surprisingly doesn't run away when you show it a corner or two.

Edited 28 October, 201213 yr by Felicia racer

The GT86 was a good looking car, on looks alone it wins hands down.

However it's not powerful, I drove the manual one, and I wasn't blown away by its acceleration.

It certainly drove nice, the steering is weighty, and the gearbox has a short throw, the suspension is nice and tight.

The air box feed to the cabin sounds fake, especially as it doesn't work in 6th gear, it must shut a valve to keep it quiet on the motorway.

It has no pull in 6th what so ever, even on a dual carriageway, its purely for cruising.

When I drove it, no one could sit behind me, as there was no gap between the front and Rear seats. When I was a passenger whilst the salesman drove first, I had my knees up against the dashboard, to give my dad some leg room in the back, and his legs were against the front Seat too.

Traded in my clio 172 for 1 exactly same as this but estate version, awesome car :-)

The salesman said everyone who's been out in one had a smile on their face afterwards, I didn't. Lol

I couldn't justify spending 25000 on one, if Subaru do bring a turbo brz out, like the rumours have suggested, I'd be more interested.

After already driving a polo gti the other weekend, I could concentrate on the Fabia itsself this time, rather than how to drive an auto car for the first time.

I took the fabia on the same route as the gt86, and found the Fabia accelerates quicker, is far far more roomy, pulls in every gear even 7th due to having a twin charged engine.

The only downside is the Fabia interior, but hey oh it's 10,000 cheaper

Now I can just wait a few years for Subaru to bring out the turbo model, whilst enjoying my commute in a comfortable Fabia with a easy to use dsg box. Which is actually great fun to drive, and surprisingly doesn't run away when you show it a corner or two.

Any updates on owning the vrs @Felicia racer?

My mate has just ordered one as he's fed up with his Leon cupra running costs.

This will be his 9th car in 9 years lol!

I still have the same car after over 9 years and still enjoy driving it lol!

Loved the GT86 when I drove one. Couldn't care less if it isn't "fast". To drive it felt better than almost anything I've ever driven. You do have to work it to make it go but it's rewarding. Power wise it's about the same as the vRS