Evo this month has an article re: various manufacturers making diesel sports cars. No mention of the Fab RS but it does mention the new Astra having a 5 cylinder 170bhp diesel engine in it :eek: Are Skoda being outdone already?

One example.....?

hmmm, I guess not yet.

Looks very nice Jason but it isnt 170bhp is it? What I meant was that the Fab RS has only just been launched and at 130bhp is a little down on the Astra and 170bhp might actually tempt a lot of petrol heads to consider diesel very seriously - just think that Skoda missed a trick to a certain extent :( (although I know that Jabba will take the RS power up very nicely indeed )

Yeah - I agree 170HP sounds bloody good - the machine above should be whacking out around 150HP [a la FabiaTDI] by June 2004 - still sounds SOOOO long away. :(

However, I'm concerned a 5 cyl diesel engine will weigh quite a lot, and in an astra that could create some interesting handling issues. The power may make that question seem trivial though?

Originally posted by KentStu in this post

it does mention the new Astra having a 5 cylinder 170bhp diesel engine in it :eek: Are Skoda being outdone already?

Don't worry about power so much when you talking about diesel performance, you really need to concentrate on the torque (or potential, remapped torque).

I look back less than 3 years and my V6 TDi Quattro Audi with just under 190bhp and 285lb/ft (chipped) was pretty much up there with the market leader, the 330d. I used to regularly get into arguments on the Evo website about how good it was and most people laughed at me :(

The pace of diesel development is fantastic now as the market is so buoyant. Just as the uprated 1600bar (?) diesel in the new 530d allows 150mph and 0-60 in 6.9, BEFORE tuning !, you can expect a lot more coming through from VAG and others.

By the way, my 1.8T now feels like a diesel in the way that it delivers acceleration from low revs ... and that's a big compliment to the best diesels !

But your 1.8T continue to delivers power (exponentially) up to 6000RPM, whereas our little diesels run out of puff at 3500. :(

That isnt a problem when you consider how the diesels are geared.

By the way Jason...your Fabia looks likes in been quashed both ends with those wheels....sorry m8 just an opinion.

Andy

Originally posted by KentStu in this post

What I meant was that the Fab RS has only just been launched and at 130bhp is a little down on the Astra and 170bhp might actually tempt a lot of petrol heads to consider diesel very seriously - just think that Skoda missed a trick to a certain extent :(

Ah, but how much is the Astra?

And just how nasty is its interior?

Rob.

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

But your 1.8T continue to delivers power (exponentially) up to 6000RPM, whereas our little diesels run out of puff at 3500. :(

out of puff at 3500rpm? Jason you definitely need a remap!

Well, ya know - It goes over 4000, but there's little point. , and yes, I'm reminded about the remap needs every time I drive the thing.

Will you have the springs fitted for the meet btw?

I BLOODY HOPE SO! - that's all I can say, er shout. Should have it done though, maybe the Sub too.

Anyone check out the new 2.2 diesel engine by Honda yet? It's been hailed everywhere as the new diesel benchmark - even upsetting the 330d, according to some. :eek:

Then again, when Honda do an engine, they do it properly. (Now if that would apply to F1 too... )