I took ownership of a VRS Estate in blue (with black pack and black wheels) 3 months ago. Wanted to share some thoughts on the car at this point.

I've totted up 4000 miles so far, I live near Bristol.

Here's a quick picture of the little lady, snapped on my phone.

Dislikes

Cigarette lighter socket placement not ideal.

Missing 80mph on Speedo

How tall the car is, although I'm 6ft3, but aesthetically I think it looks odd at certain viewing angles. Like others, I think the estate helps negate this a little bit.

The petrol cap lock, drove me mad when I first got the car.

Drab Interior

Double tap on unlock to open all doors.

Sports mode holding gears for too long, makes it a little redundant.

Likes

DSG gearbox with paddles, very impressive.

Black pack, makes the car look much meaner and less toy like

The acceleration, never owned a fast car before.

The economy when not booting it.

Ride comfort on motorways.

The rarity, I've still not seen another VRS estate on the road. I've been asked twice by people 'what is it'.

Practicality mixed with fun (estate)

Engine sounds beefy but not over the top attention seeking.

Low insurance

Relatively inexpensive

Hope some potential buyers might find that useful.

On a side note, after 4000 miles the oil light came on and had to top up, not sure if that's about right or not.

Edited 27 November, 201213 yr by GiJones

Only on my phone at the moment - so not seeing it at its best - but still looks smart.

I'm sure one of the techies will be along but I certainly wouldn't worry about 4,000 miles before topping up. However, I've always gone by the safety first practice that the oil light isn't a signal to top up - should always keep an eye on the oil level (preferably after every fuel fill up) so that it never reaches the warning light stage.

Ah that's good to know Bryan, I'll check the oil again next time I fill up.

Also meant missing 90mph not 80mph as I put in the OP

Yep - you think you're doing 84mph and you're actually doing 90....

You can change the double tap for unlocking to one. Mine is.

Oh and the lowering springs help with the height.

Double tap on unlock to open all doors.

Sports mode holding gears for too long, makes it a little redundant.

........

On a side note, after 4000 miles the oil light came on and had to top up, not sure if that's about right or not.

Double tap is easy to change if you have maxidot or get them to change it when it goes in for a service.

I find that S mode is good for rapid overtakes and is great around country lanes.

The low oil light after 4k miles? No that is not right! That light is a last ditch cry for help from the engine 'cos you are neglecting it! You have a dipstick and should use it.

Can't change things on a Fabia Maxidot like (it seems) you can on an Octavia, sadly..

Sadly, the "safety" double tap to unlock is supposed to prevent car jacking and is present on all VAG cars and most Fords and Vauxhalls I've driven recently. A pain and you are guaranteed to forget to double plip, in the rain, in a busy car park, with bags and children...

S mode holds the gears longer to access the higher revs (where the power is), does it not?

It looks a very handsome beast - much smarter than the Red Monte...hmmm

Let's face it, the looks of the Fabia vRS are the worst thing about the car,and,personally,I think the estate looks even worse than the hatch...having said that, I'm regreting a little I didn't go for the estate because I'm finding the luggage space in the hatch a bit tight.

Criticisms about the rest of the car at the moment are NIL...and you can't have everything,all cars are compromises.

Can't change things on a Fabia Maxidot like (it seems) you can on an Octavia, sadly..

Wonder why that is? I have 3 options - driver door first then all the rest on the 2nd, driver and offside passenger first then all the rest, or everything on a single press.

In that case it can definitely be changed at service time or by someone with VCDS. Bro-in-law had his VW switched to open all doors on single press - can't believe that facility is unavailable on the Fabia.

Sadly, the "safety" double tap to unlock is supposed to prevent car jacking and is present on all VAG cars and most Fords and Vauxhalls I've driven recently. A pain and you are guaranteed to forget to double plip, in the rain, in a busy car park, with bags and children...

S mode holds the gears longer to access the higher revs (where the power is), does it not?

I find in S mode it red-lines before changing up and there's little in the way of pull after 6000rpms, in fact you can feel it drop off drastically (mine is stock).

The low oil light after 4k miles? No that is not right! That light is a last ditch cry for help from the engine 'cos you are neglecting it! You have a dipstick and should use it.

Yes I'm going to keep a closer eye on that from now on.

Remember girls n boys castrol edge 5w/40 is £6.99 at homebargains for 1 litre

To clarify, it's perfectly possible to alter the door unlocking procedure for the Fabia II, with VCDS. So one unlock press will unlock all doors.

The dealer should be able to do this for you as well, with the VAS system.

Good to know Wardy, I will get them to do this when I take it in for it's first service.

Oil warning light comes in two colours - orange for safety please check and red for you idiot I warned you once already.

Oil warning light comes in two colours - orange for safety please check and red for you idiot I warned you once already.

I didn't know that! Fortunately I've never even reached stage 1.

Had locks mine changed to one press all doors open the as you drive about 5 kph they all lock pull the door handle it opens or press the door lock button on the centre consul

Yep double press is a pain. I got the dealer to activate single click and also anti-hijack as that's pretty useful. Is possible to set alarm beep too but I thought it sounded at bit bent and didn't want to pee my neighbours off locking the car late at night.

I also disagree with the comment above regarding the looks of the vRS estate. I know its personal preference but I think the look of the estate is better resolved than the hatch; its load lugging potential (other than being a little narrow) is also fantastic for such a small car. I'm actually very surprised given the negligable cost difference that they aren't more popular

I know its personal preference but I think the look of the estate is better resolved than the hatch; its load lugging potential (other than being a little narrow) is also fantastic for such a small car. I'm actually very surprised given the negligable cost difference that they aren't more popular

I agree 100%

I just don't feel the young hot hatch brigade would want an estate generally, even if it is better.

Hello

I had it mainly for my fishing reasons. I have a kayak I use, although it's only been used twice since I've had the car so am slightly regretting that. The space has come in handy more than once and got some doors back no problem at all. Gave a local Barry a shock in his Clio when I left him through a set of roundabouts with this on

Would have been more impressive if you'd got a set of ladders on there as well...

Didn't need those

Good write up and interesting to read what other owners opinions are, always .

As for oil I think orange light would need 1. ltr top-up? Guessing here. If so then well within spec.

Fabia is not a looker, especially in Estate guise, but that is my personal preference and like some cars Black and others not - can't stand Superb in black, looks like coffin wagon .

I agree with your comments on "S" mode, no need to red line it as top power ends at 6.2k rpm.

Thanks for this GiJones. Really useful and honest write up. I'll get around to doing one myself and we can compare notes. Not having an 80 mph is baffling and struck a chord with me :-) I've owned mine exactly 3 months now too (hatch tho) but luckily no oil issues at all yet (touch wood.)