This sounds weird, but i have driven lots of fast cars, had some very quick beemers and so on, so when i bought this sensible runaround i actually remember thinking " oh it's only 180bhp least i won't be caught speeding"  On paper it sounds slow, 180bhp is nothing in todays cars.

 

But i genuinely am still impressed by it's ingear pace.  Earlier on today i pulled out of a slip road on to a two laned Motorway, van in front was being a **** and when i looked in the mirror it was rammed with cars.  so the gap i had to get from slip road to outside lane was shall we say tight.  But i booted it in 3rd and i was out past the van and back into lane 1 before i knew it.  I'm not sure whether it's the gearbox and low ratios that does it but it really does not feel like a 180bhp car sometimes.  Sure it gets breathless over 120 but how often do you ever do that, real world performance these things fly for what they are.  The torque feels equal to something like my old Cupra Tdi ibiza just with more revs int he way it's so instant.  at least this one one't break driveshafts...lol

 

so am i going mad or have others thought this too.

 

 

 

 

I have a vrs cthe from new and I am still surprised how quick it is.(this ticks all the boxes for me).

It is a quick little car, no denying it!

 

IMO what makes it is the supercharger to eliminate the lag and then the fantastic DSG box, lightening changes and keeping the revs in the power band.

 

Without either it would still be quick, just not as quick!

It doesn't give you time to have second thoughts. If you put your foot down your already half way past the car and then thinking was that wise.

It's a great car. I have had a few hot hatches now, in order

Citroën c2 vts 130bhp

Clio sport 172

Clio sport 182

Mini Cooper s works (supercharged)

Alfa mito veloce 150bhp

Corsa VXR remapped to 230bhp

Now the vrs! To me, it has the most usable power of the collection and as such covers ground a to b very quickly. My vxr world have destroyed the vrs off the lights but on a long county road, I would rather be in the vrs!

off the lights in a VXR, not sure really as i always think thats the Fab's party piece.  My brother had a Corsa VXR Arctic which was Regaled to 250bhp and that never felt as quick off the lights as the Skoda and he says his VRS is quicker off the lights than the old Corsa was.

off the lights in a VXR, not sure really as i always think thats the Fab's party piece.  My brother had a Corsa VXR Arctic which was Regaled to 250bhp and that never felt as quick off the lights as the Skoda and he says his VRS is quicker off the lights than the old Corsa was.

 

 

I was just about to say the same.

 

Straight off the lights the VRS's party trick is to shoot off and pull away from cars with more power. Once the higher powered manual cars get their siht together, they catch up and pull away.......

0-40 time is probably quite impressive if you actually look at it. compared to a car that can do a lot quicker 0-60.  So again real world scenario's.  As long as you leave the traction off of course, because if you don't you sit there nutting the windscreen looking an idiot.

Yep i have to agree! These r great accelerating wee cars the gearbox just makes it sooo easy

No arguing that 0-40, 0-60, as well as in-gear accelearations up to 80mph are most impressive. With that been said, doesn't anybody else find that the initial pulling away from stand-still in "everyday" conditions (no traffic light racing mode, just a quick start) is sometimes slower than other much less powerful cars? Probably something to do with how the DSG sets off I think, of course if you keep your foot down, it will catch up by 2nd gear but I am only talking about that very small period of time.

I can beat my daughters brand new Focus ST from a standing start, up to about 60 mph with ease. She soon catches me up from 60mph , & down windy lanes I stand no chance. 

 

It certainly punches way above its weight & never fails to amaze me. I think this is the longest I have kept a car (nearly 2 years), & the problem is when its due for change at 3 years old (when warranty expires & MOT is due), what do I replace it with? I am hooked on the DSG gear box, but what I really like is the look on other drivers faces. The Fabia looks so innocent but has a bite that most cars (even 2 litre or above) can only dream of.

Reading other peoples experiences eg oil burning, engine failure etc really puts me off keeping it once the warranty has expired, but like I said, what else matches is?

 

Its the best bang per buck I've ever had.

No arguing that 0-40, 0-60, as well as in-gear accelearations up to 80mph are most impressive. With that been said, doesn't anybody else find that the initial pulling away from stand-still in "everyday" conditions (no traffic light racing mode, just a quick start) is sometimes slower than other much less powerful cars? Probably something to do with how the DSG sets off I think, of course if you keep your foot down, it will catch up by 2nd gear but I am only talking about that very small period of time.

 

I used to find that it would be a little hesitant when pootling/normal driving.

 

Mash your foot into the bulkhead and it just sets off. Anything in between can be a little hesitant. I just drove around it by getting on the throttle a little earlier than needed to pre-empt the 'lag'

O-30, 0-60 even at 6.5-7 seconds is nothing special.

 

But the 50-80, and even like 40-110 plus is rather special if you check out our times in the real world,

and the Paper Figures of some other cars.

 

Obviously as we are told it is not a Hot Hatch, just warm and linear etc etc.

But 1390 cc & 180 ps Minimum and 1,250 KG or so gets a shift on easily, and consistently, which is why i like them debadged 

and blowing some smoke out the exhaust so that White Van Man and TDI Travelling Representatives get a wee surprise.

 

Odd how they want to be in your back seat, and taking your place on the road and yet if you let them past they are still not happy 

and either try some hard acceleration, or just go slower than you were going when in front of them.

All childish and pathetic, but the wee Twinchargers do attract Tailgaters in my experience, 

and can get rid of them rather easily.

Edited 19 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

O-30, 0-60 even at 6.5-7 seconds is nothing special.

 

But the 50-80, and even like 40-110 plus is rather special if you check out our times in the real world,

and the Paper Figures of some other cars.

 

Obviously as we are told it is not a Hot Hatch, just warm and linear etc etc.

But 1390 cc & 180 ps Minimum and 1,250 KG or so gets a shift on easily, and consistently, which is why i like them debadged 

and blowing some smoke out the exhaust so that White Van Man and TDI Travelling Representatives get a wee surprise.

 

Odd how they want to be in your back seat, and taking your place on the road and yet if you let them past they are still not happy 

and either try some hard acceleration, or just go slower than you were going when in front of them.

All childish and pathetic, but the wee Twinchargers do attract Tailgaters in my experience, 

and can get rid of them rather easily.

 

I have got to agree with the tailgater's. Had a number of cars and I have never been flashed as many times as I have in the Fabia.  Flash Flash move out of my way....

 

I think there is something in the embedded in people’s consciousness that Skoda equals slow and boring therefor they should be sat on the inside lane or moving out of my way…

Having had a few fast cars in my time, mountune fiesta ST, focus ST, Corsa VXR (Courtenay sport stage 3), the vRS feel quick in a different way. The main benefit is the supercharger making it a clean pull through SC to TC. The VXR was a pig to get going but once it was going it was unstoppable. The power came in big lumps, not smooth like the fabia.

 

The fabia catches people out as it is a small skoda but I find people hate it if they get 'done' by a skoda and bite back by driving recklessly. They have to get in front whatever the cost.

 

Over taking in this car is a doddle and I have more confidence in it. By far one of the best cars I have owned and the TSI and DSG is a perfect combination. I will certainly be looking for this combination in my next car (but not a little while)

Edited 19 January, 201511 yr by TomR88

I dont think its because its vrs that it attracts tailgaters, i think its just fabias in general.

Probably perceived as an old persons car, ie wont rebel.

I get em quite often. I think they get quite a shock when i put it through a few corners at a much faster pace than the average pensioner. Need to keep my speed up having 70bhp. Like riding a 125 motorbike.

Funny. Very rarely get tailgaters in a van. Maybe theyre scared it might be a 6 foot 8 hairy arsed tradesman behind the wheel.

Only occasionally get em on the bike. But they dont last long. Just filter past a car or 2 or a blip of throttle n theyre never seen again. Dont have to tolerate any of it really.

Its obviously not only because they are a vRS because debadged nobody unless in the know has any idea what they are, and all they are are Skodas anyway, and it is just because its a Sunday Driver type car i would say.

 

The worst i ever had for people right up my jacksy was a iQ, and yet it could leave the majority of sales reps behind for the first few hundred meters until it was enough above the NSL.

its ridiculous off the line it beats most things, pulling onto the motorway last night in S and it pulled off from anything before i knew it the car was at 100MPH+ it scared the life out of me  as you can hardly hear the engine and it doesn't feel as fast as it actually is 

can honestly say S mode is never used, D or manual only for me.  

i always get tailgaters and it really winds me up as I'm doing the speed limit! usually people in flashy BMW's i usually slow right down then pick it right back up because of the supercharger, leaves them scratching there head 

i always get tailgaters and it really winds me up as I'm doing the speed limit! usually people in flashy BMW's i usually slow right down then pick it right back up because of the supercharger, leaves them scratching there head 

 

 

you should try it with an exhaust on, it's quite satisfying doing a nice loud pop on the upshift as you change right beside them.  They really don;t expect the boring fabia to do it.

I know mine isn't a vrs, it's a monte carlo 1.2tsi and it does feel very very quick. Sometimes i wonder if it's actually 105bhp as it does feel more powerful and nippy than that. Very good handling as well.

I know mine isn't a vrs, it's a monte carlo 1.2tsi and it does feel very very quick. Sometimes i wonder if it's actually 105bhp as it does feel more powerful and nippy than that. Very good handling as well.

 

My sister has the 1.2 tsi Monte.

 

I'm always very impressed with the grunt from it when I drive it. certainly feels like more than 105 bhp.

I don't know what it sounds like from the outside but when i'm driving it and rev it past 3000rpm it does sound impressive and does pull very well

It probably is more than 105bhp

If you google, a lot of 105bhp 1.2tsi's are actually putting out around 120bhp on a dyno