Thing is i still wouldn't pay 16k for a vRS.  Its a fantastic car for £14k but its the price which makes it fantastic.

 

 

This is something I don't get... Because for that to be valid there either has to be: 1) A similar or better car at 16k (Up until the end of 2012 I can't seem to find any, assuming that we are looking for no less than the vRS's performance/ gearbox/ space/ running cost scores) or 2) You have a budget of exactly 14K to spend. I mean what where the alternatives that you didn't go for at the time?  And obviously I'm not taking used cars in consideration as this is a whole different story.

The Fabia is in isolation a great little car and compared to the Polo in particular is good value. I just happen to think the vRS isnt the sweet spot of the range.

I ran one for 18 months and there was alot to like about it. It was cheap, well equipped and the engine was cracking; for a small car it had a silly amount of straight line go and whilst the DSG wasnt particularly intelligent in drive when really hammering it on the paddles it could be alot of fun.

Problems I found were that the ride wasnt great, it rolled alot, the steering had literally no feedback and the standard brakes faded horrendously under use. IMO it sure went like a hot hatch but otherwise it just wasnt one, handling wise there are better handling warm hatches out there with nothing like the performance. A real shame it has such a competent drive chain and a chassis that isnt so. Its not a bad car it just didnt drive as well as it went.

For me the better bet is the 1.2 TSi Monte. Another cracking small capacity turbo engine with enough grunt to make for a warm hatch quick car with roughly the same chassis capabilities of the vRS, but not too much power to really overwhelm it.

Its a shame because with bigger front brakes and a bit more chassis work it could have been superb. I personally wouldnt miss it.....particularly if its now well on the wrong side of 15k.

Please list cars that are similar quick, cheap, OK residuals cause I am still stuck for a replacement......................

 

1............................

2............................

The Fabia is in isolation a great little car and compared to the Polo in particular is good value. I just happen to think the vRS isnt the sweet spot of the range.

I ran one for 18 months and there was alot to like about it. It was cheap, well equipped and the engine was cracking; for a small car it had a silly amount of straight line go and whilst the DSG wasnt particularly intelligent in drive when really hammering it on the paddles it could be alot of fun.

Problems I found were that the ride wasnt great, it rolled alot, the steering had literally no feedback and the standard brakes faded horrendously under use. IMO it sure went like a hot hatch but otherwise it just wasnt one, handling wise there are better handling warm hatches out there with nothing like the performance. A real shame it has such a competent drive chain and a chassis that isnt so. Its not a bad car it just didnt drive as well as it went.

For me the better bet is the 1.2 TSi Monte. Another cracking small capacity turbo engine with enough grunt to make for a warm hatch quick car with roughly the same chassis capabilities of the vRS, but not too much power to really overwhelm it.

Its a shame because with bigger front brakes and a bit more chassis work it could have been superb. I personally wouldnt miss it.....particularly if its now well on the wrong side of 15k.

 

The biggest part of the necessary chassis work is done with less than 500 gbp. You would be amazed how much more speed they can carry in corners with a few simple upgrades. Now the brakes I wouldn't say I've ever found to be an issue for road-use.

 

But I can't really see how the Monte would be a better bet than the vRS for someone who wants at least some decent performance. It's not as much cheaper as the (large) performance drop suggests and you would still have to deal with the same crashy ride everyday but for nothing. At least every time I get this in the vRS I know an open road is more or less near me and I will shoot away soon... Plus you don't need to hit 132 mph to feel the bodyroll at every corner, it's pretty present at even low-speed corners. If there is one overpriced Fabia version for me it clearly is the Monte. Nearly 2K more for being a standard Fabia with a bicolored paintjob is shocking...

Edited 13 September, 201312 yr by newbie69

This is something I don't get... Because for that to be valid there either has to be: 1) A similar or better car at 16k (Up until the end of 2012 I can't seem to find any, assuming that we are looking for no less than the vRS's performance/ gearbox/ space/ running cost scores) or 2) You have a budget of exactly 14K to spend. I mean what where the alternatives that you didn't go for at the time?  And obviously I'm not taking used cars in consideration as this is a whole different story.

 

I never went out to buy the car tbh, i happened to see one in the dealership when driving past, took it for a drive and thought it might make a new challenge to turn a mediocre car into something much more competent, so on a whim I bought it.  It wasnt because it as because it was quick or handled well because it didnt do either.  It did after i had fiddled with everything though.  Aim achieved, now time for something new and of better quality out of the box.

 

FWIW, im looking at an Focus ST as its replacement.  Technically its used but with less than 4k on the clock and for £18k its a bargain.  

 

As for replacements at that have the same gearbox, thats an issue as not all have semi auto gearboxes available.

 

But for fun hot hatches with more performance and much better chassis you could have a Fiesta ST, Corsa VXR, and Clio RS.  All cost more to buy typically by around £1k before any deals are struck but ultimately you are getting better brakes, better chassis, more power, better seats, more fun, better looking etc which make up for the extra money.  All the Fabia has over them is oodles of space.  That for me is the Fabia's true trump card.

 

Having driven the new Fiesta ST i would happily pay the extra money for one over a Fabia vRS.  Id wager the large majority of people who have driven both would say the same.

I, like a lot of Fabia owners love my Monte but the vRS was never on my radar.

That's not to say I don't like it, it just never looked special enough.

The new Mk3 Fabia looks more upmarket and that's probably what Skoda want so a Hot Hatch probably doesn't fit in.

If you look at the new Rapid Fastback, especially the one with the contrasting black roof and rear hatch, it looks more sporty than the normal Rapid and even Skoda have said they have brought it out to target younger buyers.

This might be where a hot version might come from, a Rapid Fastback vRS, now that would be an interesting proposition.

Bigger than the Fabia but none of the old man/taxi looks of the normal Rapid which would appeal to a wider market therefore more sales and more profit.

Interesting times ahead for Skoda, lets hope they don't make any mistakes or dodgy decisions and keep on making cracking cars that undercut their VW/AUDI cousins using the same parts and engines

I never went out to buy the car tbh, i happened to see one in the dealership when driving past, took it for a drive and thought it might make a new challenge to turn a mediocre car into something much more competent, so on a whim I bought it.  It wasnt because it as because it was quick or handled well because it didnt do either.  It did after i had fiddled with everything though.  Aim achieved, now time for something new and of better quality out of the box.

 

FWIW, im looking at an Focus ST as its replacement.  Technically its used but with less than 4k on the clock and for £18k its a bargain.  

 

As for replacements at that have the same gearbox, thats an issue as not all have semi auto gearboxes available.

 

But for fun hot hatches with more performance and much better chassis you could have a Fiesta ST, Corsa VXR, and Clio RS.  All cost more to buy typically by around £1k before any deals are struck but ultimately you are getting better brakes, better chassis, more power, better seats, more fun, better looking etc which make up for the extra money.  All the Fabia has over them is oodles of space.  That for me is the Fabia's true trump card.

 

Having driven the new Fiesta ST i would happily pay the extra money for one over a Fabia vRS.  Id wager the large majority of people who have driven both would say the same.

 

Corsas and Clios are certainly better set-up but they do just that, happy track-days which was the reason I never looked seriously at them. Have you ever heard how loud the engine is being heard in a Clio RS200? Not to speak about the ride comfort (comfort is actually an exaggeration!) in both of them... Usable space? we just move on so, as an all-rounder the vRS is way better from both of them. Never had a first-hand experience with the Fiesta but it doesn't look as hardcore as those. That means we had to wait for the end of 2013 to maybe find a nice alternative, which pretty much confirms the claims that all things considered, the vRS was (maybe still is depending on different country prices) best bang for buck.

 

Now that you mention it, I am curious why the Focus seems to be struggling with it's lap times compared to close competitors with even worse hp/ton ratios. I've read 2 different reviews where it's been the slowest in the near 250hp stable and in one case it was slower (only by a tenth of a second but still) than a Golf GTI. Reviewer said it was down to its gearbox (Golf had DSG) but I am not that sure. He also mentioned the new XDS+ seemed to be working even better than our XDS. Of course with a tuning freak like you, any possible "issues" will be adressed I suppose! 

Edited 13 September, 201312 yr by newbie69

In a Clio RS 200 Turbo can choose the engine noise you want. That is Inside the car.

You can choose many things, and from previous experience of electrics in french cars, i think i would stick with ones like the simplest and least to go wrong.  (i still own a X Reg Citroen i bought new, and its fine, but i will not be getting a RS 200T no matter how cheap they get down to.)

 

It would be good of anyone to go out a drive one,

because it is not any faster than a standard vRS,

and a Stage 1 mapped vRS is faster, & with some suspension mods it is going to feel pretty much the same in the handling.

 

george

The biggest part of the necessary chassis work is done with less than 500 gbp. You would be amazed how much more speed they can carry in corners with a few simple upgrades. Now the brakes I wouldn't say I've ever found to be an issue for road-use.

But I can't really see how the Monte would be a better bet than the vRS for someone who wants at least some decent performance. It's not as much cheaper as the (large) performance drop suggests and you would still have to deal with the same crashy ride everyday but for nothing. At least every time I get this in the vRS I know an open road is more or less near me and I will shoot away soon... Plus you don't need to hit 132 mph to feel the bodyroll at every corner, it's pretty present at even low-speed corners. If there is one overpriced Fabia version for me it clearly is the Monte. Nearly 2K more for being a standard Fabia with a bicolored paintjob is shocking...

you could actually argue it the other way. The Monte (and any other sport suspended Fabia) share exactly the same suspension configuration as the vRS, the 1.2 TSi also has exactly the same 288mm front brakes...so what it doesnt have rear discs they do hardly any of the braking anyway. Shame chassis and braking talent with less power to corrupt it.

Its still a 105hp small car with the torque output that wouldnt have shamed a 2.0 family hatch not so long ago. 0-62 in less than 10 seconds and nearly 120mph is also probably quite enough performance for a car its size.......also I am certain a 1.2 TSi Monte is considerably cheaper than a vRS.

sure you can fart around with the suspension on a vRS but in most cases that'd void the warranty and give you a car that rides even worse than it does as standard (not as bad as a sports suspended MK4 Golf but not far off the mark). The brakes are also absolutely pox for a 177hp car. It begs the question if Skoda did the job properly its 500 quid you shouldnt have to spend on the car to make it drive better.

I expect people to bag out a Fabia (v)RS on a non-Skoda forum, but here is a bit surprising...

 

132kw (or 180 BHP), 0-100km under 7sec, available for around $27k Oz on-road in real world prices. It's probably only beaten by the Fiesta ST in bang for buck at present, as Ford Australia has priced this aggressively ($25,990 + on roads). If it came with a powershift (DCT) transmission I would have been buying one.

 

Complaining about the Fabia lacking handling/bling etc is fine, but if it made up for its supposed shortcomings, then it would cost more! And, let's face it, if it cost more then someone would be complaining about that. There is nothing wrong with wanting something a little more harder-edged like the Fiesta ST, but that doesn't mean there isn't a market for something roomy, reasonably comfortable, reasonably quick and reasonably well priced.

 

When I was looking for a new car the only alternative was the Polo GTI, and I couldn't justify the extra $5k in real world pricing for a little extra cabin bling and a semi-premium ****-factor badge.

you could actually argue it the other way. The Monte (and any other sport suspended Fabia) share exactly the same suspension configuration as the vRS, the 1.2 TSi also has exactly the same 288mm front brakes...so what it doesnt have rear discs they do hardly any of the braking anyway. Shame chassis and braking talent with less power to corrupt it.

Its still a 105hp small car with the torque output that wouldnt have shamed a 2.0 family hatch not so long ago. 0-62 in less than 10 seconds and nearly 120mph is also probably quite enough performance for a car its size.......also I am certain a 1.2 TSi Monte is considerably cheaper than a vRS.

sure you can fart around with the suspension on a vRS but in most cases that'd void the warranty and give you a car that rides even worse than it does as standard (not as bad as a sports suspended MK4 Golf but not far off the mark). The brakes are also absolutely pox for a 177hp car. It begs the question if Skoda did the job properly its 500 quid you shouldnt have to spend on the car to make it drive better.

 

Considerably cheaper? How do you do your math?

 

Standard Fabia with 1.2 TSI 105 PS + DSG  = £12635

Monte Carlo 1.2 TSI 105 PS (manual) = £14330

vRS 1.4 180 PS  + DSG = £17150

 

So, going from a vRS to a Monte, you get a mere 16% discount for a 40% (!) weaker car, No DSG, and no vRS bodykit, essentially exactly the same as a standard Fabia but with black roof and wheels, on top of which (standard fabia) you pay £1695 more! Well... that's an interesting way to define good prices...

 

That aside, If the Monte performance is enough for you that's fine although 5-10 year old family hatches wouldn't be my first thought of comparison equivalents. And most importantly the debate wasn't whether the Monte is a generally slow or fast car, that's subjective anyway, but rather its value for money ratio compared to a vRS where I think the numbers speak for themselves. 

 

Lastly, real-life performance between the two is nowhere near close. Surely the Monte hits 120 mph but after how much time? You said you had a vRS, have you also had a Monte? Because if you have, you'll most certainly know it takes twice as much time to do a 50-70mph for an overtake. With that small price difference I would have expected something a lot more close to be honest.

 

Oh and the typical suspension mods for the vRS (springs/arbs) have been working out just fine for everyone, no warranty issues whatsoever and we would have heard of something here if the opposite was the case that's for sure. As I've been down that road, I can assure you they only make the car handle 10 times better and can't be recommended enough in my opinion, both Eibachs and H&Rs do a great job so not an issue there at all.

Edited 14 September, 201312 yr by newbie69

I expect people to bag out a Fabia (v)RS on a non-Skoda forum, but here is a bit surprising...

 

 

 

Not really mate, liking Skodas seems to be becoming a bit taboo on this forum.

Not really mate, liking Skodas seems to be becoming a bit taboo on this forum.

personally it think its quite refreshing not having a herd wearing their rosé tinted specs continuously but maybe that's just me.

I'm reading this thinking I don't understand it really but from a slightly different perspective... To me it's not about how you can make your hot hatch corner a few mph faster by spending £500 or what's quicker in the straights even... It's all about the grin factor, about the communication through the car of what's going on at the wheels and aon the road surface. The Fabia VRS never did it for as I've said but that's the reason why. I had a VRS for a week followed by a 1.2TSi for six days. I'll let you guess which I actually preferred. To me, some cars are greater than the sum of their parts, the VRS wasn't one of them. Very few cars actually make me want to jump in and go for a drive when I don't really need to go anywhere, that's the sign of a decent hot hatch IMO and currently the only one that fulfils that for me is the Fiesta ST. And I'd never say that the VRS didn't offer good value for money (when it was vat free).

The vRS is a cracking little car and was/is still great value for money especially when you look at the engine a gearbox combo but there are better drivers car out there now.

Newbie69, you say the Monte doesn't come with the vRS body kit. What body kit, it only had a more sporty looking front and rear bumper.

The Monte is the only Fabia available with a true standard body kit!

If you look at the Fiesta ST, the Pug 208 GTI and the Clio RS, they all look special compared to the rest of their respective ranges, the Fabia vRS never really did in my opinion.

Then having to then spend another few quid to make it handle better when you've bought one seems to me that the vRS was a half baked idea of a hot hatch by Skoda or VW anyway, whoever makes the decisions.

Lets all just enjoy the Fabia vRS as it is/was, it'll always have a cult following in the true tradition.

I'm sure Skoda will bring out a smaller vRS to sit alongside the Octavia, just not a Fabia, maybe the new Rapid Fastback.

Considerably cheaper? How do you do your math?

Standard Fabia with 1.2 TSI 105 PS + DSG = £12635

Monte Carlo 1.2 TSI 105 PS (manual) = £14330

vRS 1.4 180 PS + DSG = £17150

So, going from a vRS to a Monte, you get a mere 16% discount for a 40% (!) weaker car, No DSG, and no vRS bodykit, essentially exactly the same as a standard Fabia but with black roof and wheels, on top of which (standard fabia) you pay £1695 more! Well... that's an interesting way to define good prices...

That aside, If the Monte performance is enough for you that's fine although 5-10 year old family hatches wouldn't be my first thought of comparison equivalents. And most importantly the debate wasn't whether the Monte is a generally slow or fast car, that's subjective anyway, but rather its value for money ratio compared to a vRS where I think the numbers speak for themselves.

Lastly, real-life performance between the two is nowhere near close. Surely the Monte hits 120 mph but after how much time? You said you had a vRS, have you also had a Monte? Because if you have, you'll most certainly know it takes twice as much time to do a 50-70mph for an overtake. With that small price difference I would have expected something a lot more close to be honest.

Oh and the typical suspension mods for the vRS (springs/arbs) have been working out just fine for everyone, no warranty issues whatsoever and we would have heard of something here if the opposite was the case that's for sure. As I've been down that road, I can assure you they only make the car handle 10 times better and can't be recommended enough in my opinion, both Eibachs and H&Rs do a great job so not an issue there at all.

1. The vRS is nearly 3k more, 3k is 3k and quite alot of money in my book.

2. The Fabia vRS shouldnt be a 17k car no matter which way you look at it. They only sold in the numbers they did because they were a bit of a performance bargain on the VAT deal.

3. Never said the Monte was a competitor, rather its basically a vRS without the styling and the twincharger engine. Less power, less chassis corruption and less stress on the brakes......whilst its nothing like as fast it probably drives better as standard as a consequence.

Main point I have been trying to make is that the vRS talent really only surrounds its drivechain, otherwise its not particularly hot. Its not like im prodding fun at the car for the sake of it, I owned one for 18 months and thats my independent view on the car, dont expect everyone to share it, its a forum and thats quite the point.

Does speak volumes though....the majority seem to be going to the lengths of changing springs, installing arbs.....its evident the car needs these mods in order to drive as well as it goes.

There are a number of cara now that drive better, better performing or not.

swift sport

fiesta zetec s mountune

fiesta st

clio rs (ugly and french carp but will drive better)

Corsa vxr nurburgring (not my cup of tea but more power and a proper diff, press rave about them too....and they are cheap nearly new)

Closer to home the Ibiza Cupra, Polo GTi and even the A1 are better drivers cars though granted they are generally either more expensive or less practical, still better though.

The point is that that was the Engine & Gearbox released in 2009 in the Seat and June 2010 for the vRS.

There was no competitor with the pace, economy and available price, 5 door & automatic.

 

There was no Monte Carlo, but there were other Fabia MK2's

Still no Automatic Monte Carlo yet.

 

In the Seat Ibiza Cupra 2013 VAG will give you £300 worth of brakes (fit better brakes not fit the standard, cheap to them)

if you pay them £1000 for them.

They also do a better interior to some people mind and different suspension, & you pay a couple of thousand to get that.

 

I have standard suspension on a vRS now and that suits me, for where i drive.

I only drive automatics so there is only the Other Twinchargers or the Renault with the performance, space & around the price.

The vRS is nippy enough and fun, so thats as simple as it goes really.

I have yet to find a small, medium Automatic with the overtaking speed of a vRS, without is having well over 200bhp.

&

up to the updates,it was not covered in cr4p plastic chrome,

& there are exterior Plastics with no function, just there for looks,

and cost more if even simple body work damage needs repaired..

I can not see the cars outside when inside driving it, so fugly does not matter really.

 

Where does the stuff keep coming about the Seat, Polo and A1 Twinchargers driving better, thats what choices are about.

those that drive them and think that must be driving cars that suit how they like handling

or maybe just listening to what others say.

Thats fair enough, if you have driven each of them. if just repeating what you hear, is it actually correct.

"but will drive better" re  'Clio RS 200T, well does it or does it not,? because 'Will', is hardly a judgement on it 'It Does drive bettter', would meen something if you have driven one.

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/news/another-record-tumbles

 

george

Simply i felt the vRS at the time was a great value proposition (for the 15k my estate with spec cost me) and yes bang per buck at the time nothing touched it. However dynamically it wasnt competent enough in my opinion to make the most of that peach of a 180ps drivechain.

Its even less compelling now as a car to the spec I purchased originally would list at 18.5k now which is not good value for any Fabia vRS or not.

If I had to sum up simply, state of the art drivechain, state of the ark dynamics. The real tragedy is that it really wouldnt have taken much effort on Skoda's part to make the chassis a bit more competent and make it a better car straight from the factory.

If they'd made more of a success of it, they'd have sold more units no doubt and they wouldnt be axing it now.

But thats Skoda & VAG.

 

They stuck 25kg of Weight on the back to make it heavier by 5kg than the estate,

(funnily they did not feel the nippiest Monte needed a Spare Wheel or rear Weights added, yet front rear weight on a Monte Diesel but then there was no competitor from VW or Audi to the Monte)

 

that money wasted on 25kg of Sandbagging, could have had it on different springs, but they just need the more expensive car to look faster even if by 1 mph.

The rear Springs on the Estate are actually suited to the estates extra 9" length and possible pay load when carrying more in the extra load space.

 

All the talk of better handling and dynamics.

Well nobody says is that Driver alone nipping on, or maybe 3 or 4 up nipping on, with luggage in the rear.

 

If people never looked at them or considered them then they would not have bought more of them.

& if people road tested and never bought them, then they were doing the right thing if they did not suit their needs or wants..

 

People like you did buy them, did you not road test them first, ?

& why did you buy the Expensive Skoda cheaply and not spend and buy the better cars.

 

They are not "axing it now",

well i have not heard they are no longer taking orders or building them, sales on new vRS are doing quite well on the mk2 vRS.

they are just saying they are not doing a MK3 Fabia vRS.

 

Fabia mk2's are outselling all other Skodas in the UK, and that is not actually down to the Monte Carlos, because they are not the biggest selling Fabia models in 2013.

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/news/another-record-tumbles

People seem to still like 'Much Cheapness', from Skoda.

Total number of 'Monte Carlo' Petrol & Diesel registered on the road in the UK is around 4000-4500.

VW CEO said the expected to sell 3000, & they have Produced 20,000.

Where are all the Monte Carlos they have produced are they some place around the world?

 

george

One thing that has been lost in the price argument above, compared to ALL other hot/and even most warm propositions the Fabia is far and away cheaper to run.

Good Tax

Generally better MPG

Mine was a steal to insure compared to similar performing cars with other badges.

I am a big admirer of the MK1 Fabia vRS and it has a huge following. However that same car was largely criticised on launch for - handling like a blancmange and aside from good diesel mid range torque only having lukewarm performance. At least a few new and second hand buyers bought into the MK1 for the economic reasons mentioned above and also the POTENTIAL to beef up the performance and handling. Just look at the number of project threads for the MK1.

For me the MK2 could benefit from a little more poke to really fulfil it's potential but it can be classed as hot 'straight out of the box' and for pocket change you can improve the handling.

Ps well said Ozfabia..........................noones bagging my Furby

List is not what you have to pay, which is back to the original points. 

Skoda/VAG have unrealistic pricing .

'sharkrider' never paid anything like £18,500 on his speced up estate just recently.

 

They built a car to a price, and then sold it at discounts and then they built many lemons and they prefer the general public would not hear of their failures.

 

george

Skoda are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment but they've obviously had their fingers burnt with the vRS.

Engine replacements and high oil consumption have cost Skoda a lot of money so they've looked at how many vRS models have been sold and thought its not worth building a MK3 as it not as cost effective as a volume seller would be.

It's not the direction they want to take with the new Fabia and it looks like they are going to use the Rapid Spaceback to woo younger and more sporty minded people to the marque where a new vRS model might work.

The vRS is not a bad car, it's just it's execution looks like it was ill conceived, a little more thought and effort from Skoda's part and it would've been a runaway success.

Anyway, RIP the Fabia vRS when it's finally retired along with the MK2 Fabia and let's see what the future holds.

I realise two years have passed, but it's amazing how some tunes have changed... http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/189151-the-top-gear-mag-vrs-review/?hl=+rash

 

Though it's fair to say the Fabia has moved down the pecking order of hot hatches now, and that's as it should be, progress and all that. That doesn't mean it's no longer a good car, just not as good as some of the competition nowadays.

 

EDIT: I was looking for some tips on repairing minor curb rash on my alloys  , hence the presence of the "rash" in the search.

Edited 14 September, 201312 yr by OzFabia

Thanks for the link to that old thread.

post #100 is interesting and a little relevant to some things being said in this post.

(Even if it is a Polo being tested and actually heavier than a vRS, but which is given better official performance by VW,

VW had to start to give the correct Unladen Weights for the Polo GTI 3 door and 5 door in 2012.)

 

Fabia mk2's are outselling all other Skodas in the UK, and that is not actually down to the Monte Carlos, because they are not the biggest selling Fabia models in 2013.

 

 

Well according to my Dealer they have been shifting loads of 1.2HTP's, the SE was available for £9k and now the Reaction is available for under £10k. Rainworth said they could have sold as many SE's as Skoda would let them have at £8995.

 

At those prices the Fabia really works, it doesn't matter about the bland plastic interior, poor dynamics, and ageing design. Buyers who want a cheap spacious run around that's reasonably cheap to run and a £9k new Fabia fits that perfectly.

 

Cheers

Lee

Simply i felt the vRS at the time was a great value proposition (for the 15k my estate with spec cost me) and yes bang per buck at the time nothing touched it. However dynamically it wasnt competent enough in my opinion to make the most of that peach of a 180ps drivechain.

Its even less compelling now as a car to the spec I purchased originally would list at 18.5k now which is not good value for any Fabia vRS or not.

If I had to sum up simply, state of the art drivechain, state of the ark dynamics. The real tragedy is that it really wouldnt have taken much effort on Skoda's part to make the chassis a bit more competent and make it a better car straight from the factory.

If they'd made more of a success of it, they'd have sold more units no doubt and they wouldnt be axing it now.

 

Pretty much my thoughts, yes you'd probably get 15% discount on that £18.5k list price but you can get 15% of at Ford, Vauxhall, BMW etc.

 

The dynamics were the deal breaker for us, the Fabia vRS is quick but that didn't translate into fun for me. I'm not sure how much Skoda could have done, the centre of gravity is high in the Fabia because of it's shape and lowering further would result in an even firmer ride and it's already crashy around town. The PQ24 chassis itself is a 14 year old design. . And without a complete redesign the electric power steering isn't going to give anymore feel.