We've had the VRS for just over a week now and Mrs T is over the moon with it. She particularly likes the cruise control, bluetooth/phone and ipod connectivity and control, and just how easy it is to drive through the centre of Lincoln on her daily commute. She's not so keen on the sat nav which doesn't seem to be working properly, but the car is going back to the garage on Friday for the heated seat recall so they will have a look at the sat nav then.

 

I gave the car it's first week once over this morning; drove it around gently till it had warmed through then parked up and checked the tyre pressures and then the oil. Oil was towards the bottom end of the B area so I topped it up,  I then took it for another drive, my first opportunity to enjoy the car. A few things I noticed - jeez it goes well; the mid-range grunt is phenomenal! I drove for a short period at a cruise controlled 45mph and the fuel computer was showing 55-60mpg; hugely impressive. What I found less impressive was the road noise that I put down to the tyres. The tyres are Falken FK452s, not my choice but the car came with an almost new full set, so it looks like we are stuck with them for a while, but I will get better/quieter tyres when it's time to change.  A quick look at Camskill Tyres website rates the Falkens as Fuel Efficiency G, wet grip E and noise class 3; so a pretty rubbish tyre! That would also explain why I managed to get the traction control to intervene on a dry road! 

 

Overall, a great looking car that does everything we want it to do very well. Very happy with our choice (so far!).

Falken 452 do give a lot of road noise....and they are obselete,replaced by 453's.

However, you may find that the front tyres struggle for grip if you boot it hard from a standstill whatever tyres are fitted.

Hi,seems like your happy with it,I've had mine for 2 weeks now and absolutely love it,have the same problem with my falken tyres mine are the 912( something like that ) .

Fuel is about the only downside for me as I'm used to driving a diesel, mine doesn't have the sat nav option but I rarely use it so don't see it as a downside to be honest.

Apart from a slight hesitation on idle when cold which skoda are looking into I'm over the moon with mine

It's a fairly noisy car whatever tyres are on it unfortunately.

Falken 452 do give a lot of road noise....and they are obselete,replaced by 453's.

However, you may find that the front tyres struggle for grip if you boot it hard from a standstill whatever tyres are fitted.

Wasn't from standstill - 3rd gear! I don't boot any of my cars from standstill, always get them rolling first.

It's a fairly noisy car whatever tyres are on it unfortunately.

Mrs T's previous car was a Ford Ka Mk 1 - I was expecting the Fabia to be better and, apart from the tyre noise, it seems to be - although I won't be sure until I change the tyres. 

I also removed the dealer's tax disc holder and rear window sticker, and replaced them with a neat VRS magnetic tax disc holder and a Briskoda.net sticker.

I take it yours is a de-stickered S2000 apart from the roof and lower Valence?

I take it yours is a de-stickered S2000 apart from the roof and lower Valence?

Yes it is; roof stickers are off as well leaving the white roof.  No idea why they left the front valance, but Mrs T likes that!

Wasn't from standstill - 3rd gear! I don't boot any of my cars from standstill, always get them rolling first.

Re-reading your post again you had the traction control light flashing in third gear,which is fairly normal.

You never have to exit a junction quickly from a standstill to get into the traffic flow ? Wheelspin is easy to get under these conditions,as it is with most fwd cars with a bit of power.

The wider the tyre the more road noise,a KA has fairly skinny tyres.

Road noise is difficult to eliminate,my Lexus is fairly quiet in all things but that.

Re-reading your post again you had the traction control light flashing in third gear,which is fairly normal.

You never have to exit a junction quickly from a standstill to get into the traffic flow ? Wheelspin is easy to get under these conditions,as it is with most fwd cars with a bit of power.

The wider the tyre the more road noise,a KA has fairly skinny tyres.

Road noise is difficult to eliminate,my Lexus is fairly quiet in all things but that.

 

I've never had wheelspin in a car in 3rd before! But I've never had a car quite like the Fabia before! 

Ref junctions, I find it more effective to squeeze the accelerator in a gentle, progressive manner; you still get out quickly but without spinning the wheels.

The Mondeo is far more refined, even with 235 tyres, but I reckon I can reduce the noise in the Fabia quite a bit with a better tyre choice.

It's a fairly noisy car whatever tyres are on it unfortunately.

Science Fact!

If you are wanting to "press on" may I suggest you turn off the traction control? that way you just have the XDS diff controlling the wheelspin, I find it much more effective that way.... you certainly cant make progress on a track with traction control on!