After being the proud owner of a Fabia vRS for a month, with one day of it actually being drivable, I'm looking at other options. 

I'll probably be looking at the 1.6 petrol R design, but totally open to suggestion on other engines. If anybody has experience or can shed some knowledge on them, I'd love to hear it. 



 

i had one, was the 1.6hdi version

 

very nice to drive, smooth and well refined although i did feel detatched from the driving experience

i had one, was the 1.6hdi version

 

very nice to drive, smooth and well refined although i did feel detached from the driving experience

Sounds very much like a Volvo haha. 

Is that was made you get rid? Would you ever have another?

I read they are weak in the electrics department, did you have any bother? 

Do not get the 1.6 petrol it is not big enough to power a car that heavy and will be very thirsty and feel decidedly underpowered and is very disappointing to drive, hence it got dropped from the range. The Diesel 1.6 is fine though. I had a 2.0 Diesel SE for 4 years (PSA Engine) lots of go. The standard basic stereo is absolutely rubbish, make sure that the one you get has a stereo that you are happy with as changing the stereo on a C30 is more trouble than it's worth.

Do not get the 1.6 petrol it is not big enough to power a car that heavy and will be very thirsty and feel decidedly underpowered and is very disappointing to drive, hence it got dropped from the range. The Diesel 1.6 is fine though. I had a 2.0 Diesel SE for 4 years (PSA Engine) lots of go. The standard basic stereo is absolutely rubbish, make sure that the one you get has a stereo that you are happy with as changing the stereo on a C30 is more trouble than it's worth.

What about the 1.8 with 125bhp, same situation? 

Trying to stay away from diesels with a DPF if I can

Not driven the 1.8 in a C30 but I have in a Ford Focus and it's quite nippy, a definite improvement over the 1.6.

Dad has the 1.6 drive version with bendy lights and a few other bits. Very well built and OK but a bit sluggish.

My best mate has a white 2.0 petrol r design lux with nav and all sorts. I think a better engine but low 30s consumption. Both drive really well and the r designs look ace!!

Ford focus with the practicality taken away. Doesn't drive with as much excitement as coupe shape would suggest. Engines seem to be lagging behind and are dated now. Cheap second hand buy.

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Be sure you are happy with the driving position. As I remember it is the same as the S40/V50 and has no rest for your left foot when not operating the clutch. There is also very little room to move your left foot off the clutch pedal and it means lifting your foot off and tucking it under the pedal. You may be ok with it but I found it far too uncomfortable on long journeys. Just check you can live with the driving position.

Forgot to add that the on the pre-facelift models 2.0D and 1.6D didn't have a DPF as standard (it was an optional extra at the time) The D5 and DrivE did: they used AdBlue liquid for the DPFs. Along with the facelift all the engines changed.