Dragged myself into the garage this week to drop the car in for a complimentary dusting of Supaguard and was given a car to use for the day. I was fully expecting them to throw the keys to a Citigo at me, but then they produce the keys to an Octavia vRS. Before they had chance to change their mind I pottered off in a bright green lump.

First thing I noticed was that the acceleration in the Octy is nowhere near as rapid or brutal as the Fabia. Literally miles away, or at least that's how it felt. If you were timing it it may be different as the Octy is slightly more refined in terms of the cabin so may have dampened the feel of acceleration. It doesn't feel as sharp or nimble (which I vaguely expected from a bigger car but still), and the steering was numb.

It did feel a bit more planted in the corners, but nothing a million miles away from the Fabia. I was mildly disappointed as I was expecting what is supposed to be the 'flagship' model of the brand to be a bit more exciting. Anyone else had similar experiences or is it just me?!

Great post,

I think you summed them up, 'Grown up cars for Family Motoring or Taxis.'

They do the job and can do the same speeds but using more fuel when not trying to be sporting,

Comfortable, well built, reliable-ish, stable, good for long distances, Boring really IMO.

george

I wouldn't say totally boring, it still has a little rummage every now and then but it just doesn't do it with enough gusto. I have driven diesels that felt much quicker right through the rev range. It's a very strange car to sum up!

Was the Octavia a petrol or a diesel?

Two different cars. Crowd pleaser for this forum. Fabia small go-karty. Octavia bigger. "Brutal?"

Yeah I appreciate that they are two different cars I am in possession of a couple of brain cells!! You seem to be missing the point. It wasn't supposed to be a 'crowd pleaser' either. I was merely making observations about the two cars having driven them back to back, which very few people either choose and/or get the opportunity to do and expressing an opinion on how I felt it performed. By brutal I mean when you bury your foot in the Fabia it's instant and exciting, the Octavia didn't deliver its power in the same way. It is more refined in that respect, which as George said is great as a family car but not particularly exciting.

For what it's worth the Octy is better looking, just not when it's green.

Was the Octavia a petrol or a diesel?

It was a petrol

I've driven both petrol and diesel Octy vRS. Both nice cars but the petrol didn't feel as rapid as my current Mk II Fabia vRS. Diesel felt on a par with my old Mk 1 vRS.

I'm sure there would be plenty of people over on the Octy forum that would disagree tho!

Great post,

I think you summed them up, 'Grown up cars for Family Motoring or Taxis.'

They do the job and can do the same speeds but using more fuel when not trying to be sporting,

Comfortable, well built, reliable-ish, stable, good for long distances, Boring really IMO.

george

The Octavia vRS is anything but boring IMO

Very very good in the cornering department

Better built than the Fabia too

How do I know?

We have both.

The Octavia vRS is anything but boring IMO

Very very good in the cornering department

Better built than the Fabia too

How do I know?

We have both.

We agree for once lol

I can confirm ChrisRS's octy tackles the corners very well

Yeah I appreciate that they are two different cars I am in possession of a couple of brain cells!! You seem to be missing the point. It wasn't supposed to be a 'crowd pleaser' either. I was merely making observations about the two cars having driven them back to back, which very few people either choose and/or get the opportunity to do and expressing an opinion on how I felt it performed. By brutal I mean when you bury your foot in the Fabia it's instant and exciting, the Octavia didn't deliver its power in the same way. It is more refined in that respect, which as George said is great as a family car but not particularly exciting.

For what it's worth the Octy is better looking, just not when it's green.

It was a petrol

Not supposed to be a crowd pleaser.... sorry ....Failed... just pi**ed myself when I read this.

Best laugh I've had all night, so thanks!

I agree with Chris and vRSy, having driven a friend's petrol Octavia vrs quite extensively. I haven't driven a Fabia vrs though, but if you think that the Octy has numb steering compared to the Fabia (I take it you're judging one compared to the other), then I'd have to assume that the Fabia's steering is nothing short of spectacular.

Octy is a bit more involving the drive, chassis is far better.

Engine wise the fabia is more sprightly and the dsg makes it shine. If the cars had the same bhp per ton then they'd feel then same I guess.

Don't get me wrong, it corners well for a mid-sized car, I just prefer the handling of the Fabia as it feels a bit sharper on the turn. The Octy does feel more planted though granted, but I know which I'd prefer to be taking on a fun B-road thrash. I'm not saying it's spectacular by any means, I've driven far better, but as a back to back drive I preferred the Fabia. As with everything when it comes to feel and the way a car handles a lot is down to personal preference.

I don't know about being better built, haven't been in the Octavia or the Fabia long enough to give a balanced enough opinion on quality and reliability. I can imagine that the Octy would be far more comfortable on a long motorway run.

You do expect the people who try them buy them and keep them to like them.

If they buy a second one, then they certainly like them.

I happen to just have tried and not bought a Octavia because i prefer bigger cars to be more exciting than a Octavia vRS.

Petrol or Diesel.

Its good to have choices and free choices.

& Fabia vRS are nice cheap buys used because of the less then fantastic quality.

Nice and light as well, due to the cheapo build.

george

Engine is great in the Fabia, lively and spins up well; makes a nice noise too. However I think its fair to say the Fabia feels quicker than it actually is for a multitude of reasons; sharp throttle response, high revving, short lower gears and most of all.....its just not very refined.

Ive had a Fabia vRS estate for about 18 months, just got a Blackline DSG estate. The diesel runs out of puff in the gears quite quickly and as a powerplant it is considerably less lively but whilst it feels slower than the Fabia its obvious on the road that it really isnt a great deal slower once up to speed; the Octavias superior refinement helps exagerate the feeling of it feeling slow.

The Octavia also handles and stops a million times better than the Fabia. I loved the Fabia and it was good fun but the Octavia vRS is all round a considerably better drivers car. Dont regret changing at all.

Edited 24 January, 201313 yr by pipsyp