So first bit of background.

I currently own a mk1 Fabia VRS with a Shark stage 1 remap. I have also driven the car before with my father sat beside me so not a totally new experience.

So i though i would be able to get straight out of the Fab and drive the Octy. Wrong. Its different, totally different. It's mega comfy, its a lovely place to sit. Everything inside the cabin is well laid out, loads of toys to give it that luxury feel (compared again to my plain and boring fabia). When you start the engine, its quiet, that distinctive diesel sound is gone. My first experience is that when pulling off from a stand still the clutch and gear box are both light, the engine is so smooth, it drives like a N/A petrol. Going round the first corner, it feels bigger and wider than the Fabia, but then it is so, what was i expecting? Driving through town, its easy, sit in 4th at 30mph and just cruise. Coming up the country roads, opening up to national speed limit, just gently press the accelerator and it shrugs off all its size and weight and picks up speed effortlessly.

This car is only 2 years younger than my Fabia, (58 plate) yet the distance between how this car is in comparison with mine is enormous. Its a lovely car.

Even managed 53mpg (indicated) with a mixture of driving and road conditions.

Nice little review. It's why I got a Mk2 Octy after having 3 Fabia vRSes

Cabin quality is much improved. Still miss the smaller Fabia sometimes though as it's a bit more nimble.

Funny, since I find my Octavia Estate to be as nimble as one could possibly need. Then again, I've had 3 Volvo estates in a row.

Edited 16 November, 201213 yr by Perc

I've had 3 Volvo estates in a row.

Man that's pretty bad, were they all rejected under warranty?

Funny, since I find my Octavia Estate to be as nimble as one could possibly need. Then again, I've had 3 Volvo estates in a row.

Yep, all depends on your point of reference I suppose

And the Fabia isn't exactly the most dynamic car of its size out there either...

Nice review, all you've got to do now is nick his keys!

That's exactly how I felt after my test drive.

The mk1 fabia is so much fun compaired to the octavia, but the octavia is so very very nice to drive.

I went from a mk1 Fabia VRS, mapped and on coils, to an Octy VRS mk2 mainly because my kids wouldn't stop growing and I needed a bigger car.

I test drove both the diesel and petrol Octy and went for the petrol in the end - mainly because I don't do many miles and I could get a better spec for the money with a petrol .

I've enjoyed the Octy since I bought it, but now am looking for some handling mods - the Octy is a little roly-poly in the corners.

I owned the Fabia for 5 years, and will probably own the Octy for the same period - both have been great cars.

Having said that, my heart belongs to mk2 Golfs and once I've talked the wife into it I'll own another one :love:

Plenty of handling mods available - will transform the car

Having said that, my heart belongs to mk2 Golfs and once I've talked the wife into it I'll own another one :love:

Good luck finding one of those these days, let alone a good one!

LOVE mines, only had it a couple weeks now and easily the best car ive owned im only 21 so may seem an odd choice to some but im a family man and do alot of miles for work, couldnt have picked a better car :p

Coming from a long line of Vauxhalls (Cavaliers, Belmont & Vectras) to a VRs Diesel which I've had since June, it's a really fun car to drive, plenty of get up and go when needed and reasonable economy (not quite as good as the Vectra which gave a 53.2mpg over 7yrs / 84k miles).

Only niggles are the fog lamp switch not a separate unit, and the heated door mirror switch. Everything else is great.

Coming from a long line of Vauxhalls (Cavaliers, Belmont & Vectras) to a VRs Diesel which I've had since June, it's a really fun car to drive, plenty of get up and go when needed and reasonable economy (not quite as good as the Vectra which gave a 53.2mpg over 7yrs / 84k miles).

Only niggles are the fog lamp switch not a separate unit, and the heated door mirror switch. Everything else is great.

I thought i was the only one who thought the heated mirror switch was stupid. Why did it not just come on and off with the rear screen demister like every other car?.....lol

I quite like the fact mirror heating is separate, but can see the issue. Often I need rear screen demist, but the mirrors are fine.

And what's the issue with the foglight function being integrated into the main light switch? Thought that was quite common now?

I quite like the fact mirror heating is separate, but can see the issue. Often I need rear screen demist, but the mirrors are fine.

And what's the issue with the foglight function being integrated into the main light switch? Thought that was quite common now?

I'm with Wardy on this- I find I rarely use the mirror heaters and when I do it's normally for seconds rather then minutes. As far as the Fogs are concerned guess

we'll have to make allowances for ex vox drivers!