Well after a good 6months it looks as though my old fabia vRS has been sold to a very unfortunate person.

Due to a lot of technical problems with the car it was not viable for me to keep going backwards and forwards to the dealership so decided a replacement car was needed, which i got and really enjoy my octavia vrs tdi much better than the fabia.

On my arrival to work this morning, i notice a familiar looking fabia vRS in the depot next to mine. On a closer look it turns out to be my old car (poor chap)!! Hopefully they don't experience the same issues i had, definatley took the dealer a long time to sell it a numerous price drops.

Its nice to be able to see my old car however even after the issues

If you see the bloke would you let him know about the issues? Lol

If you see the bloke would you let him know about the issues? Lol

Haha we work for the same company however in different departments. I would love to let him know, however I feel its abit harsh/nasty to burst his bubble of his new car, im keen to have a close look of the car however as when i handed it back it had a small dent in the door, back wheels lightly scratched in the middle and a cracked windscreen.

Haha we work for the same company however in different departments. I would love to let him know, however I feel its abit harsh/nasty to burst his bubble of his new car, im keen to have a close look of the car however as when i handed it back it had a small dent in the door, back wheels lightly scratched in the middle and a cracked windscreen.

True, would be harsh to take the shine off his new-car feeling I guess!

Wonder if he'll sign up to this forum if it starts playing up hehe

True, would be harsh to take the shine off his new-car feeling I guess!

Wonder if he'll sign up to this forum if it starts playing up hehe

Haha it will be something id like to see as bad as it sounds, simply because of the treatment i have had from skoda

Good luck with the Octavia. I agree with you they are a far better car and i sometimes wish i would have gone for the Octavia VRS again. I did have one of the diesel Octavia VRS as a loan car the other day and was very impressed.

Found out that my old car got rejected again by the second after just 4 days. The dealer sent it straight to auction this time haha.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Good luck with the Octavia. I agree with you they are a far better car and i sometimes wish i would have gone for the Octavia VRS again. I did have one of the diesel Octavia VRS as a loan car the other day and was very impressed.

The issue is reliability.If my Fabia is reliable in the future,which being a revised engine model it should be,I will be very happy with it,and it's been faultless so far.

Compared to the Octy VRS petrol (no interest in diesel) the Fabia is cheaper,just as fast and has better mpg,and its compact size is better suited to urban motoring and parking.Of course the Octy has certain advantages over the Fabia (eg space) but I was aware of these and the still don't regret the change.

So the Octy is different to the Fabia,it's not better.

Actually the Octavia is a better car; had a Fabia vRS estate now have an Octy vRS diesel estate and other than the Octavia being a bit slower there is really no comparison.

The Octavia handles better, stops better, rides better and on the whole just feels better engineered; as it should given that its essentially a stretched Golf GTD.

Thats not to say the Fabia isnt a good car as I enjoyed driving it for the 18 months I had it for but there really is no comparison; after all a new Octavia vRS costs a good 4-5k more than the Fabia; if it was no better just bigger why would anyone buy one?

Why does anyone buy anything ? because it suits what they need or want or think they want.

If spending 4 grand more and wanting a bigger car, it would probably not be an Octavia for me.

There are better cars at that price point IMO,

a bit showy in a cheap way really or like a Taxi when basic models.

I think i just like fuggly cars that are easy to park.

Cheaper the better.

george

An Audi S4 is better than both, BUT IT COSTS MORE,there's no better car than a Fabia vRs for the money,happy with that statement?.

If you noticed I had a Octavia before the Fabia and now I don't feel short changed.

Point of fact it doesn't ride better,the Fabia has a rather soft compliant ride and I look forward to fitting my Eibach springs and rarb tomorrow when it will then handle better than an Octavia not having the handicap of the long rear overhang that wasn't designed for that chassis.

Why does anyone buy anything ? because it suits what they need or want or think they want.

If spending 4 grand more and wanting a bigger car, it would probably not be an Octavia for me.

There are better cars at that price point IMO,

a bit showy in a cheap way really or like a Taxi when basic models.

I think i just like fuggly cars that are easy to park.

Cheaper the better.

george

Agreed.

...there's no better car than a Fabia vRs for the money...

Correct, but only when talking about brand new cars.

...An Audi S4 is better than both, BUT IT COSTS MORE...

A BMW M3 is better than an Audi RS5, yet the BMW is 4 grand cheaper as we speak. There's always a few exceptions to "you get what you pay for".

Point of fact it doesn't ride better,the Fabia has a rather soft compliant ride and I look forward to fitting my Eibach springs and rarb tomorrow when it will then handle better than an Octavia not having the handicap of the long rear overhang that wasn't designed for that chassis.

The long rear overhang works wonders for the Octavia's weight distribution. That's why it handles so well right out of the box, without any modifications. Therefore, I wouldn't call it a handicap. If anything, I have found the handling of the mkII Octavia to be marginally better than that of a mkV Golf. Just my opinion, but thought it was worth mentioning.

At any rate, let us know how different your car feels with the Eibachs and rarb. I'm considering getting a rarb for mine (and all of its 60hp...).

My mk2 PD VRS didnt handle as well as my Fabia does in fact it under steered dreadfully not helped by that heavy engine up front of course, i found the brakes underwhelming as well but there is no doubt its much more practical

Sorry, I was referring to petrol Octavias. Well petrol cars in general. I hate diesels, engines are way too heavy and kill the handling, they sound terrible, they don't rev high, they're just not for car enthusiasts, and they don't belong in a sporty car. For economy, they get .

Pipsyp I wonder if there was something faulty with the Fabia you had for it to be so poor relative to your new Octavia?

I have driven both petrol and diesel octy vrs on a number of occasions and can say with absolute honesty that in my opinion they 100% do not feel like they ride/handle/stop better than the mk2 fab vrs. You have bought an octy so I don't blame you for making out its better than the Fabia but it really all is a matter of personal opinion :-)

IMO in standard form an Octy petrol vRS handles better on fast sweeping bends because the suspension settings are harder than a Fabia vRs..on the other hand on tight twisty roads the Octy felt too long and unwieldy.

A stiffened up Fabia should outhandle an Octy on all types of roads ...that's my theory to be proved or otherwise.

Sorry, I was referring to petrol Octavias. Well petrol cars in general. I hate diesels, engines are way too heavy and kill the handling, they sound terrible, they don't rev high, they're just not for car enthusiasts, and they don't belong in a sporty car. For economy, they get .

I'd argue the Octy VRS isnt a sporty car , its a massive compromise , it has sporty features but fitting a few bolt ons to a pretty basic model doesn't make it a sporty or particularly rewarding drive

Pipsyp I wonder if there was something faulty with the Fabia you had for it to be so poor relative to your new Octavia?

I have driven both petrol and diesel octy vrs on a number of occasions and can say with absolute honesty that in my opinion they 100% do not feel like they ride/handle/stop better than the mk2 fab vrs. You have bought an octy so I don't blame you for making out its better than the Fabia but it really all is a matter of personal opinion :-)

No, no problems with it at all....11k trouble free miles and for what it cost it was a whole lot of car.........I was just never that enamoured with how it drove. The engine was fabulous and the gearbox a good match for it but the chassis, steering and brakes were a bit of a let down.

The car is after all largely based on the old type 9N Polo which was never known for being a particularly good steer. Narrow track, primitive beam rear suspension, too much suspension travel, damping that was quite compliant but clearly at the cost of good body control, light electronic steering with no feel and brakes that did the job but felt wooden. Also its inability to put power down well in anything resemling damp conditions was another frustration.

Dont get me wrong for those who are so enclined...spend a few hundred quid on new springs and a rear ARB i'm sure it would make a world of difference, bigger brakes an even bigger improvement. I leave my cars standard though and ultimately didnt want to spend the money on it; also I knew anything I did to the suspension would inherrently ruin the ride; something I didnt want to do.

The Octavia by contrast is just worlds apart; yes its all in the eye of the beholder but thats just my view. The Octy vRS (even the diesel) drives so much like a MK5 Golf GTI if you shut your eyes you could well be driving one; planted, nice weighty steering, pin sharp brakes. Its not as raw or manic as the Fabia but for me thats no bad thing. The interior is a much nicer place to be too; though it would be even better if it didnt steam up all the time (damn Climatronic turning the AC compressor off below 2 degrees!!).

For me if Skoda had gone to more effort to make it drive like it went (which it did go like stink) i'd have probably kept it. There are a couple of things I find disappointing about the Octavia...lack of curtain airbags and hill hold control but on the whole I dont regret the change. Also the fact that I can drive at pace and return mid 40 mpg where as the Fabia would be struggling to return early 30's makes quite a difference; particularly when in reality (particularly once the 170 CR is rolling at speed) there isnt alot between them in performance.

I'd argue the Octy VRS isnt a sporty car , its a massive compromise , it has sporty features but fitting a few bolt ons to a pretty basic model doesn't make it a sporty or particularly rewarding drive

You're right actually, I just didn't know how else to describe it. It's certainly not a full on sports car. These have RWD in my book. A sporty version of a family car is fitting, I suppose.

Owning both an Octavia VRS CRD and an Fabia VRS I'll add my 2penth.

The Octavia IS a much better made car. It's like a bank vault...unfortunately it handles a bit like one as well! :-(

The Fabia is a more lovable car IMO..chuckable & nimble in a way the Octy can only dream of.

BUT...I find it a more anoying car. The vent controls lack of feedback drives me mad...I need a bit more air...turn knob..nothing happens...turn it again..it's full blast!! ARGHHH!!

I also find the ecconomy of the Fabia way below the book figure...but the Octavia is pretty much bang on (when driven in a similar way).

The Fabia has had a few faults...not unlocking the back doors, PS electric window malfunction, Heated seat element fail & the Octy has had none...well, except for a duff battery.

For urban work the Fabia rules...so easy to park & the gearbox works in town (I'd still pay a premium for a manual though!).

If the Fabia was built as well as the Octy it would be my favourite...as it stands I'd say it's a dead heat...Fun but Flawed Vrs. Drab(ish) but Dependable.

This sounds a bit harsh, cos I really like both cars & wouldn't swap them for anything around the same price point.

BUT...I find it a more anoying car. The vent controls lack of feedback drives me mad...I need a bit more air...turn knob..nothing happens...turn it again..it's full blast!! ARGHHH!!

+1 on the vent controls. They are a pain in the ass!

I guess if the Fabia was as well built as the Octy* they would be priced the same, would people really spend 20k on a Fabia??

*Not that that is much to aspire to imo

I've personally never aspired to owning a Skoda; Fabia, octavia, superb or otherwise. Plain economics for me....why would any logically minded person go and spend nigh on 30k on a new Golf GTD when for 19k you can have an Octavia vRS a car with more equipment that is at least 90 percent as good with a boot thats more or less as big as a passats?

VRS Doug more or less sums it up for me; the Fabia was fun when in the mood but the flaws annoyed the hell out of me when just driving it normally. The Octavia isnt as fun and I admit it doesnt light my soul on fire when I drive it (maybe more to do with it being a Diesel) but what it is generally is more accomplished; very effective rather than being outrightly loads of fun....I can happily live with that though.

Sorry Richf appreciate you have an old Skyline to play around in, were not all in the position to have a toy sitting on the driveway but thought your aspiration comment was a bit daft considering youve got two new Skodas yourself.