Go here boys, download both videos from topgear and 5th gear....

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/downloads.htm

Has there ever been a better summing up than this? Spot on.

I couldn't agree more!

Go here boys' date=' download both videos from topgear and 5th gear....

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/downloads.htm

Hmm - wonder who an earth would have put those there

I don't know why everyone is still making such a big deal about this. It was no surprise to me that the Skoda won the race.

Sorry to drag this up again but ive never seen this video cant find it anywhere can anyone help?

Video - Top Gear clip : Skoda Fabia RS vrs Mini cooper

If the mini runs 9sec's to 60

That proves the fabia runs low - mid 8's

Also look at the power-weight disadvantage..Clarkson weighs around 3times more than Hammond.

Hammond got a really bad start. :P

Funny thing is, I thought the video was a bit rigged as the Mini can't have been that bad in a straight line.......till I had some kid up my jacksy the other day in one.

T'was up a motorway slip road, one where it's normal for people to try and be clever. I did the usual, booted it up to 70 and absolutely left him standing.

Once I was on the m'way he then streamed past me trying to prove a point, which was the time I noticed the Cooper badge on the back.

The Mini though clearly has the advantage round the twisties. If it wasn't for it's sheer lack of power it wouldn't have been the same story on Top Gear I'm sure.

Even in my CRX a few years back I struggled to shake off a Mini round a B road.

Proper Go karts them things.

I didnt think the fabia handled to bad..

That 1st turn must have been staged..as Clarkson went sooo wide, Hammond had loads a room up the inside.

Probably just to show the speed difference down the straight.

Good point. Clarkson's been on that track a million times. Mind you, he blamed the poor brakes for that 1st bend so Hammond could go through the inside.

It's an odd comparison though because the Mini is one of the best handling cars on the market yet has so much less power with it's asthmatic 115bhp 1.6.

It's designed for much more windy roads that that track had to offer.

But, after my trip to the Tan Hill pub in the Dales yesterday I know which car I'd rather have. The vRS made mincemeat of the hills, and coped very well with the narrow twisties. I had a huge grin on my face most of the time. The only thing that lets it down is how it copes with bumpier surfaces. It's a little crashy.

The only thing that lets it down is how it copes with bumpier surfaces. It's a little crashy.

bet its not as bad as mine over the rough stuff

It's an odd comparison though because the Mini is one of the best handling cars on the market

Too right miles better than the Fabia !

yet has so much less power with it's asthmatic 115bhp 1.6. It's designed for much more windy roads that that track had to offer.

Well actually the Mini has a better power to weight ratio (109bhp/tonne) as compared to (104bhp/tonne) so not such an unusual comparison !

source

Yeah, you wouldn't think it though the way the Fabia steams away from it.

As I quoted above, I didn't believe it until someone actually had a pop in one and was chewed up and spat out. I think bhp/ tonnne is only part of the picture. The sheer grunt difference comes into play here as they hit that straight already rolling and Clarkson simply flies off.

Too right miles better than the Fabia !

Well actually the Mini has a better power to weight ratio (109bhp/tonne) as compared to (104bhp/tonne) so not such an unusual comparison !

source

weird. according to that site compared to the Fabia vRS, the MINI Cooper is quicker 0-60, 0-100, 60-100 and does a quicker 1/4 mile. it's also generally accepted that out of the box the MINI goes round corners better - yet it's beaten around the Top Gear track by the Fabia vRS...:rubchin:

I didnt think the fabia handled to bad..

That 1st turn must have been staged..as Clarkson went sooo wide, Hammond had loads a room up the inside.

Probably just to show the speed difference down the straight.

or...the whole thing was staged, because it's an entertainment show on television..?

I doubt it was all staged.......having beaten a Cooper up a slip road who I know was trying I know for a fact they're poor in a straight line, which matches the behaviour on Top Gear. Also, 5th gear did a similar test except not with different drivers, and the vRS was still faster round a track due to more power on the straights. It's on YouTube I think that one.

or...the whole thing was staged, because it's an entertainment show on television..?

or.....the "press" Furby was remapped !

As if they'd do something like that !

i had a play at a cooper s down a local bypass a few weeks ago.

I have to say it was equally matched to my fabia. he didnt pull away and i couldnt overtake.

The standard coopers are slow in a straight line. my 1.4 tdi polo used to slay them

or.....the "press" Furby was remapped !

As if they'd do something like that !

I dont think it was a mapped one, otherwise poor richard hammond wouldnt have been able to see where he was going. I.e its not a smog monster in the video.

Not all maps result in smoke, especially if it's just a mild map.

Perish the thought that Skoda would do such a thing !

I've gone from a Cooper S to a Fabia vRS SE.

I can honestly say the vRS is quicker in practical terms. The torque still makes me grin.

The Cooper S was quick and cornered like it was on rails, but you had to rev the nuts off it to get it really shifting, and it was a dog in first gear, they got that one waaay too long legged. On open roads it shone, but then I commute down the M1 and round the north circular daily. For that sort of drive the Fabia is great, plenty of low end grunt to pull away with.

Interesting. The 1st time we've had a former CooperS owner comment perhaps?

At least favourably anyway.