One fact remains most smaller capacity higher output turbo petrol engines under most conditions do not return better fuel economy than an equivalent larger turbo engine.

Case in point when used as intended a 1.4 twincharger is no better on fuel than a 2.0 TSi, that engine typically driving a bigger heavier car with more HP and torque. I know i'll get the usual suspects saying "I get 50+ mpg out of mine its fantastic" but lets face it they are few and far between.

Mine returned approx 31-32 mpg over 11k miles, given it was supposed to be able to get mid 40's I found it a huge disappointment; was quite cheap to tax and insure though.

My diesel Octavia vRS isnt outrightly as fast or in certain respects as fun but any longer journey driven swiftly will see it return late 40's MPG and at motorway speeds, beat its head in over a shorter distance and it'll still return high 30's. In terms of fuel costs its costing me alot less money too as I'm on average getting a good 150/200 miles more out of it to a tank.

I also dont think my standard Fabia vRS would leave it under heavy acceleration as it has very strong go in its higher gears its just a bit carp from a standstill as most diesels are.

Edited 12 May, 201313 yr by pipsyp

Oh I don't know about that , whilst I agree about the economy of the 1.4 not being great , although mine is much better than yours I do think that like for like they aren't quite as thirsty as the 2.0 petrol turbo .

As for comparing them to the diesel its not even close, I went from a diesel Vrs Octy to the Fabia and the little 1.4 is much faster , the diesel does feel quick due to the torque surge they get but they aren't close to the little Fabia, its just simple power to weight . Plus you really feel the weight of that heavy Diesel engine in the corners

id agree with RichF when i had a 2.0 turbo TT as a courtesy car a couple months back, on just my normal motorway drive to work it returned about 27mpg. to the point where i had an argument when I refused to fill it back to the point I got it considering it did about 25-30 mpg less than my A3

Fuel consumption v Power and driveability is all about managing expectations really. When I look at long term fuel consumption on my maxidot it reads 32 mpg from brand new over 7k miles. Am I dissapointed? Not at all since I know if I mpg chase her she'd give me 39-44mpg on my daily commute depending on traffic conditions. Why do I get 32 average over 7k? Because I use the loud pedal to get what I bought that car for

Oh I don't know about that , whilst I agree about the economy of the 1.4 not being great , although mine is much better than yours I do think that like for like they aren't quite as thirsty as the 2.0 petrol turbo .

As for comparing them to the diesel its not even close, I went from a diesel Vrs Octy to the Fabia and the little 1.4 is much faster , the diesel does feel quick due to the torque surge they get but they aren't close to the little Fabia, its just simple power to weight . Plus you really feel the weight of that heavy Diesel engine in the corners

I wouldnt call 1 second quicker to 60 a great deal quicker myself not when you consider the octy is down 10hp and weighs about 180kg more.

Having had both cars also my view is that real world there isnt alot to tell them apart and the Fabia isnt much faster as you suggest; the Octavias lower power and heavier weight is to some degree offset by its much stronger low end torque output.

The Fabia is quite a heavy car given its size too, i know it has a superior power to weight ratio (118 vs 140 something) but that does only tell part of the story.

LOL.

Do you pat your back every day and say 'didnt i do well getting rid of that Fabia!'

Have you fully convinced yourself yet?

Do many people go on the Octavia Section and post, 'my Superb is so much superior to the Octavia i used to have'.

If the same car suited everyone, would the manufacturer like Skoda not only build one Model and get it right,

totally suit everyone and no choice or option.?

george

LOL.

Do you pat your back every day and say 'didnt i do well getting rid of that Fabia!'

Have you fully convinced yourself yet?

Do many people go on the Octavia Section and post, 'my Superb is so much superior to the Octavia i used to have'.

If the same car suited everyone, would the manufacturer like Skoda not only build one Model and get it right,

totally suit everyone and no choice or option.?

george

LOL as it happens I do and m entirely convinced it was the righ thing to do George thanks for asking!

LOL.

Do you pat your back every day and say 'didnt i do well getting rid of that Fabia!'

Have you fully convinced yourself yet?

Do many people go on the Octavia Section and post, 'my Superb is so much superior to the Octavia i used to have'.

If the same car suited everyone, would the manufacturer like Skoda not only build one Model and get it right,

totally suit everyone and no choice or option.?

george

LOL I do that every day just for you George! The OP misses his vRS; I dont particularly miss mine because as far as Im concerned my Blackline is an all-round better car than the Fabia was, and its fact its not light years slower either. Thats my opinion and i dont expect people to share the same view otherwise this would be a properly dull forum.

The Fabia handles like carp unless youre prepared to spend money on springs and ARB's that will largely make it ride even worse than it does as standard, its brakes are weak and its a thirsy little bugger for oil and petrol.....and alot of cars havent exactly proven all that reliable either......but then i didnt have mine that long.

For me about the only things it did really well in standard form was offer alot of go in a straight line for the money and it was more practical than it had a right to be but as a really decent warm hatch it just didnt meet my expectations at all. I could say its fantastic but if i did id be lying and would clearly still have the car so there we go.

The day when I have to sell mine I won't be back in the Fabia II forums telling everyone who will listen how "bad" it is. I've never gone into the Fabia I forum and slagged off the Mk1 vRS which I've also owned. It had it's faults but so does every car. When they day comes to sell I'll know if it's right to or not. Quite a few have become quite bitter after selling up. Some understandably because they've had one that's bitten them but lots haven't. A few have even bought a second because they like it so much.

Mine's done 16k now and it's been good. Thought it was using more oil than it should but I think It's over reading then sticking it straight out the back when there's too much. It's only had 200ml in 3 months purely because I'd forgotten to check it and thought I'd better had before seeing everyone at Combe. The only place it's ever felt "slow". On the roads it's great and I can cover ground on A and B roads very quickly while carrying a kayak, all my fishing gear, and 4 people comfortably, and for the performance still doing respectable MPG.

The day when I have to sell mine I won't be back in the Fabia II forums telling everyone who will listen how "bad" it is. I've never gone into the Fabia I forum and slagged off the Mk1 vRS which I've also owned. It had it's faults but so does every car. When they day comes to sell I'll know if it's right to or not. Quite a few have become quite bitter after selling up. Some understandably because they've had one that's bitten them but lots haven't. A few have even bought a second because they like it so much.

Mine's done 16k now and it's been good. Thought it was using more oil than it should but I think It's over reading then sticking it straight out the back when there's too much. It's only had 200ml in 3 months purely because I'd forgotten to check it and thought I'd better had before seeing everyone at Combe. The only place it's ever felt "slow". On the roads it's great and I can cover ground on A and B roads very quickly while carrying a kayak, all my fishing gear, and 4 people comfortably, and for the performance still doing respectable MPG.

OK then so what we're really saying is everyones welcome to post on the Fabia 2 forum until they have something derogatory to say about the car, particularly the vRS. I've owned one; it was a good car but as a driving machine found it somewhat of a disappointment and im sharing that with current, past and potential owners. So whats the problem with that?

Lovely stuff, an informative and balanced view based on experience.

Thanks for sharing.

Lovely stuff, an informative and balanced view based on experience.

Thanks for sharing.

Mate I owned one of these things for 18 months, at least people are getting to see the other side of ownership of a vRS in that not everyone thinks they are fantastic. If im not mistaken its a forum; people can comment as they please can they not?

You quoted my post, did you not read it as well?

Please yourself, its a free world.

"Lovely stuff, an informative and balanced view based on experience.

Thanks for sharing."

I thought that was quite clear and could not be taken as meaning other than it says!

You quoted my post, did you not read it as well?

Please yourself, its a free world.

"Lovely stuff, an informative and balanced view based on experience.

Thanks for sharing."

I thought that was quite clear and could not be taken as meaning other than it says!

Sounded a bit scarcastic to me but if it wasnt intended to be then apologies.

I find that with people that drive cars that get mistaken for Private Hire Cars or Airport Transport,

they get to think people are waving them down

when actually they are just waving.

Now, Thats sarcastic.

Oh it actually handles like a boat, couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, and takes a year to stop....

Now THAT's sarcastic

I'm not saying you can't have negative views over a car you've owned but it's almost become a popular thing on here to slag off certain models when I think people expect too much of it. I've driven faster cars than the vRS, better handling cars, more spacious, better on fuel but not all in one package. It covers as many bases as it can so there will be compromises.

I wouldnt call 1 second quicker to 60 a great deal quicker myself not when you consider the octy is down 10hp and weighs about 180kg more.

Having had both cars also my view is that real world there isnt alot to tell them apart and the Fabia isnt much faster as you suggest; the Octavias lower power and heavier weight is to some degree offset by its much stronger low end torque output.

The Fabia is quite a heavy car given its size too, i know it has a superior power to weight ratio (118 vs 140 something) but that does only tell part of the story.

1 second quicker to 60 is very noticeable on the road in terms of the feel of the car IMHO.

I've had abit of experience driving octy 170 vrs and tbh didn't feel any quicker than my old mk1 vrs which in turn feels waay slower than the current mk2.

As been said already - fun factor is most important thing really, which at the end of the day is down to personal taste.

Keep expressing your view mate but I'm sure you can understand why people on the furby 2 section are getting abit fed up of hearing how amazing you think the blackline is compared to the Fabia?

1 second quicker to 60 is very noticeable on the road in terms of the feel of the car IMHO.

I've had abit of experience driving octy 170 vrs and tbh didn't feel any quicker than my old mk1 vrs which in turn feels waay slower than the current mk2.

As been said already - fun factor is most important thing really, which at the end of the day is down to personal taste.

Keep expressing your view mate but I'm sure you can understand why people on the furby 2 section are getting abit fed up of hearing how amazing you think the blackline is compared to the Fabia?

Agreed,they are totally different cars that fulfil different needs and I'm not going to repeat what I've already said .

The Fabia vRs has various advantages over an Octy vRS,and I should know.

The opposite is true of course,but it all has little consequence because at the end of the day they are not the same price and if any car mag or tv prog was running cars in a comparative test to the Fab then the Octy would not be included.

I went from one to the other because my needs changed and I don't feel disadvantaged.

How much were you able to get a Blackline for OTR at a Dealer?

EDIT,

i see a new one at a dealers with a 20 Grand asking price.

£3000 only over a Fabia vRS Estate is quite good IMO.

How much were you able to get a Blackline for OTR at a Dealer?

EDIT,

i see a new one at a dealers with a 20 Grand asking price.

£3000 only over a Fabia vRS Estate is quite good IMO.

...but since Fabias are vat free new a vRS Estate is about £15k,so £5000 difference.

Im sorry but i just find it funny how precious people seem to get when some negative (and I think quite valid) comments are made about Fabia vRS's.

Ive never said they are bad cars, if it were that bad id have not kept it for 18 months. I just dont think Skoda did enough with the suspension (its no different to that of a Monte or sport suspended SE/Elegance) and it needed bigger brakes.......blimey VAG fitted 312mm front brakes to 180hp MK4 Golfs and 1.6 TDi Passats i just think 288mm brakes on a car with its power carrying about 1300kgs with a driver werent enough. I know with money, the inclination and willingness to somewhat discard the manufacturers warranty all these things can be solved but I wanted a sorted car from the factory which I didnt think it was.

The Octavia isnt a riot to drive, in diesel form its reasonably quick but I admit i dont get a hoot from carting it about (performance is definitely compromised over the TSI in pursuit of MPGs) but it is very competent, mainly because its almost entirely based on a MK6 Golf GTI, again not the worlds most inspiring driving car but very efficient. Its compliancy is very good and it doesnt pitch and roll v much, its not quite as crashy as the Fabia over rough sufaces and it doesnt really struggle getting its power down in dry conditions; bit more of a handful in the wet but acceptable. Steering is nicely weighted and also the brakes are very strong and ive yet to experience any meaningful fade with them.

In contrast I found the Fabia very soft but it definitely didnt soak up bumps as well as the Octavia (which i found a great surprise), also at higher speeds or if braking hard into sweeping curves it often felt like it was floating; with its light steering and lack of feedback it could at times feel very disconcerting...most of the time when driven hard on a twisty bit of road it just didnt inspire confidence and at times felt unsafe....and I consider myself to be a keen and relatively competent driver. Also with the brakes ive had to stop quickly from speed a couple of times in it and on those occasions the brakes faded terribly to the point I wasnt sure i was going to stop in time and were not talking super high speeds either.

Id always quite fancied an Octavia vRS and felt seeing as my love for the Fabia wasnt exactly growing by the day started looking and ended up with a Blackline, ideally id have liked a TSi but i was going to end up paying more money for a less spec'd car from the factory also having not been overly impressed with the Fabias fuel economy didnt think the Octy was going to fair any better....not to mention the higher tax cost as a DSG TSi attracts a 225/year road tax bill. I ended up with nearly 26k of car (comparing the BL to an equivalent spec CR DSG factory order list price) for 20k which i think is great value for money but yes alot more expensive than a sensibly spec'd Fabia.

Theres things i dont like at all.....the leather looks nice but i dont think it will stand the test of time well; also the seat bases and leather indent easily, particularly care of child seats. Also the DSG slips the clutches alot and is way too keen to shift up and no so keen to shift down, in manual also slips into 1st when rolling which the Fabia never did, annoying to the point i rarely use M mode. Also it really doesnt feel 170hp quick until its really rolling at a decent pace, its too smooth really but then Ive had VAG CR's before so kind of expected it. It does however return excellent MPG and burns no oil, things I now appreciate.

I didnt mean in any way for this to become a **** measurement exercise; i just posted what i thought to be objective "in my opinion" posts which were not meant to cause anguish

but as a really decent warm hatch it just didnt meet my expectations at all.

I think this sums it up really:)

It's all about expectations. Clearly vRS did not raise to the occasion with you. Fair enough.

To say you give an "objective" is simply a misunderstanding on your part, or more to the point and oxymoron really.

One cannot simply compare Fabias and Octavias, totally different class of cars with absolutely nothing in common bar being Skoda, having engne, 4 wheels and a steering wheel .

To say that it handles crap is a simple admission of driver 's inability to handle the car and extract it's potential.

To say brakes are no good and it needs bigger discs tells me you do not understand how brakes work - bigger not always means better . I only find braking wanting when I try to stop my vRS from 130+mph to 0mph and only because tyres cannot handle the braking torque OEM brakes are able to apply.

As an example please watch Lewis Hamilton driving a reasonably priced car (whatever that rust bucket was at the time) on Top Gear show. A master-class of car handling. Conversely if you (or any of us) were sat in modern F1's cockpit the only conclusion you could be left with would be that the car is complete crap, no grip, no suspension, no brakes. If you don't believe me have a look at Richard Hammond making a teet royale out of himself trying to drive one in 2008 I think it was, Renault F1 Team wasn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to perform a character assassination on you because you dared to criticise vRS

All that irked me here was you claiming to be objective. No can do gov...

Everybody has an opinion and are free to express it. Whether you like a car or not is a very personal opinion born from your personal experiences and mirrored in your expectations - totally subjective thing.

I think this sums it up really:)

It's all about expectations. Clearly vRS did not raise to the occasion with you. Fair enough.

To say you give an "objective" is simply a misunderstanding on your part, or more to the point and oxymoron really.

One cannot simply compare Fabias and Octavias, totally different class of cars with absolutely nothing in common bar being Skoda, having engne, 4 wheels and a steering wheel .

To say that it handles crap is a simple admission of driver 's inability to handle the car and extract it's potential.

To say brakes are no good and it needs bigger discs tells me you do not understand how brakes work - bigger not always means better . I only find braking wanting when I try to stop my vRS from 130+mph to 0mph and only because tyres cannot handle the braking torque OEM brakes are able to apply.

As an example please watch Lewis Hamilton driving a reasonably priced car (whatever that rust bucket was at the time) on Top Gear show. A master-class of car handling. Conversely if you (or any of us) were sat in modern F1's cockpit the only conclusion you could be left with would be that the car is complete crap, no grip, no suspension, no brakes. If you don't believe me have a look at Richard Hammond making a teet royale out of himself trying to drive one in 2008 I think it was, Renault F1 Team wasn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to perform a character assassination on you because you dared to criticise vRS

All that irked me here was you claiming to be objective. No can do gov...

Everybody has an opinion and are free to express it. Whether you like a car or not is a very personal opinion born from your personal experiences and mirrored in your expectations - totally subjective thing.

Im not the first person on here Jabo to criticise its suspension or brakes; also insinuating the problems are down to me not knowing how to drive a car properly is very unfair; id never claim to be the worlds best driver but id like to think in my 15 years behind the wheel; the early years spent driving (frankly carp, underpowered and unsafe) cars to to their limits without novelties such as ABS, Airbags, ESP and XDS and the like without incident and lots of other things since leaves me well enough informed to criticise the Fabias dynamic shortcomings.

Its a good value for money car no doubt but as ive said all along its my opinion only but other than the engine and gearbox the car is quite dynamicly weak; neutered largely by the fact the cars based on an older platform than the Polo and Ibiza and also that they probably had orders from VAG not to make it better to drive than either.

In any case the OP said they regretted getting rid of mine, I think its quite apt and relevant to post on here that all in all whilst I miss bits of it im not really sorry to see it go at all.......people on here do seem to get upset as soon as anything negative is said about the Fabia vRS....seemingly a car that can do no wrong in some peoples eyes.

Anyway I think weve probably digressed enough......actually im considering signing out of here for the very last time as there doesnt seem to be anything like a good debate on here any more; seems to be the case of speak positively about the related car or get moaned at for slating it when you offer up something thats not a glowing report.

Im not the first person on here Jabo to criticise its suspension or brakes; also insinuating the problems are down to me not knowing how to drive a car properly is very unfair; id never claim to be the worlds best driver but id like to think in my 15 years behind the wheel; the early years spent driving (frankly carp, underpowered and unsafe) cars to to their limits without novelties such as ABS, Airbags, ESP and XDS and the like without incident and lots of other things since leaves me well enough informed to criticise the Fabias dynamic shortcomings.

Its a good value for money car no doubt but as ive said all along its my opinion only but other than the engine and gearbox the car is quite dynamicly weak; neutered largely by the fact the cars based on an older platform than the Polo and Ibiza and also that they probably had orders from VAG not to make it better to drive than either.

In any case the OP said they regretted getting rid of mine, I think its quite apt and relevant to post on here that all in all whilst I miss bits of it im not really sorry to see it go at all.......people on here do seem to get upset as soon as anything negative is said about the Fabia vRS....seemingly a car that can do no wrong in some peoples eyes.

Anyway I think weve probably digressed enough......actually im considering signing out of here for the very last time as there doesnt seem to be anything like a good debate on here any more; seems to be the case of speak positively about the related car or get moaned at for slating it when you offer up something thats not a glowing report.

No need to disappear - I think it's rich that someone so self-opinionated as your accuser should deign to criticise someone else for having an opinion

Let him wallow in Fabia vRS envy, and enjoy your Octavia

I like the fabia vrs (have bought another), but would have gone for an Octavia in a heart beat but its just too big for my needs.