Had the car 2.5 months and covered 2,000 miles so thought I would give my initial impressions so far.

My previous car was a Mk6 Golf GT TDI with DSG, so I was a bit worried about how the Fabia would compare.

It's amazing when everyone gets in the car, they just say its the same as your Golf as if they're shocked, but I think they see the badge before the car.

Love the engine, its a great mix of power and economy, I've had a Mk 5 Golf GTI and a Clio 200 before and the poor fuel economy in those put me off driving too spirited too often, but with this car I can drive how I like and the MPG is still reasonable (current average 36 mpg). It also feels much faster than the Clio, especially once that turbo is spooling. Only downside is that I just topped up 0.5l, hope this isn't too bad? Checked the oil when I collected and it was slightly overfilled.

It's amazing how different the DSG is to the one in the Golf, it seems much better and less reluctant to kick down like the 6 speed did. In the Golf it would be frustrating when you're just leaving a roundabout and put your foot down slightly, it would drop down a gear when you didn't want it too. The only issue with the 7 speed seems to be the occasional lurch when reversing out of a space and then driving forward with a lot of lock on the steering wheel.

The handling is not perfect, but it's good enough for 90% of the time plus I quite like the ride comfort, I plan on fitting Eibach's soon which will hopefully not ruin the latter. It's also noticeably less stable on the motorway than the Golf, but I don't do much of that so it's not too much of an issue, but again hope this will be sorted by the Eibach's

Still disappointed about spec'ing the "extra" buttons on the steering wheel which turn out not to be extra buttons just slightly increased functionality of the existing ones but Skoda aren't interesting in doing anything about this.

Overall, love the car, when choosing it I was looking at cars upto £30k but after test driving the Fabia I just couldn't see why I'd spend anymore it does everything I want, 5 doors, good boot, fast, reasonably economical.

Also big thank you to this forum, loads of friendly people and useful advice especially Dexter619 who saved me a fortune on the purchase price.

Rob

Glad your impressed Rob, cheers for your comparison between the cars. I always looked atW Renaultsport clios and stuff and looking higher up the market but your right.. why pay 30 grand for a Golf of similar performance when you can get 80-90% of the car for half the price!

What colour combo did you go for?

Black with silver wheels, think it looks great.

Misses has taken it out for the day though, v nervous....

nice little review, half a litre in 2k isn't bad, (although my new one has done 2k and hasn't used any, make sure you are consistant with how you check your oil, i.e same engine temps ect)

I have the eibachs, it looks much better, and body roll is vastly improved, it is harder though and you will loose some comfort... (I have bagged myself an H&R RARB which will be going on soon to further improve my track days ) but not so much comfort you will hate it, its not like I have to drive around drain covers! lol.... (well I like the eibach set up , let us know how you get on)

Good colour choice! I wouldn't mind putting some silver wheels on mine. Sometimes I think they black makes the wheels look really small to the eye. Whether thats just me lol.

As I have put on another thread,I had a Evo x fq360 before my new vrs,and in a straight line there is very little difference between them when in sport mode,and the Evo new is £39,995,so no you really dont need to spend big money for a bit of fun,and you dont get the worries or expense that you do with a flash motor,just wish I had known this four years ago,as I have had a [new shape]Civic type r,Mazda 3 mps and the Evo since I moved back from Spain four years ago.Still you live and learn,but its taken 60 years.Over and out.

As I have put on another thread,I had a Evo x fq360 before my new vrs,and in a straight line there is very little difference between them when in sport mode,and the Evo new is £39,995,so no you really dont need to spend big money for a bit of fun,and you dont get the worries or expense that you do with a flash motor,just wish I had known this four years ago,as I have had a [new shape]Civic type r,Mazda 3 mps and the Evo since I moved back from Spain four years ago.Still you live and learn,but its taken 60 years.Over and out.

Surely an Evo X is noticeably quicker!? Sport mode just rags the nuts off it so makes it sound and feel quick. I'd have thought an Evo would obliterate a VRS in a straight line.

Surely an Evo X is noticeably quicker!? Sport mode just rags the nuts off it so makes it sound and feel quick. I'd have thought an Evo would obliterate a VRS in a straight line.

I driven an evo X they are not that quick in a straight line...... in the corners of course its a different matter, its awsome, but I gave it a good drive, and thought "hmmmm, not that fast in a straight line..."

Hi,in reply to Briskodian,I remember when I had the run in period[before the 1000 mile oil change]I obviously had not planted it before then,pulling out of the garage waiting for the engine temp to get right,and I planted it,I looked at the missus and said,is that it,I said the Mazda mps was as quick if not quicker,I had p/xed my mazda plus £15000 for a car that appeared no faster.Now round bends is completely different,I dont believe there are more than five cars in the world faster round corners than an Evo.But keeping roughly within the realms of the speed limit I would say in a fairly straight line the Evo may be a car length ahead,no more.I have found that any car that does 0-60 ,7 seconds or less the difference is very little.Sharkrider is spot on,a lot of hype comes with Evo's,and thats exactly what it is,hype,glad I owned one,knowing what I know now would I do it again .No.The vrs puts a smile on my face just as much as any car I have had,for a third of the money,up to now,touch wood,one of the best cars I have had.Over and out.