Just thought I'd make the complimentary welcome post! Don't own a Skoda yet, although seriously looking into a Fabia/Octavia vRS..hoping I can learn lots on here! Have to admit I still have my qualms about the badge but the more I read about/see the vRS's the more I want one!

Biggest and best advice I can let you have is, GO AND DRIVE THE FABIA VRS and then you will make your mind up. You should book a car for the DAY, not just go out with the sales guy, use the car for a while. You will have to insure it for the time you have it and it's well, well worth it.

I can't comment on the Octavia as I am about to get my Fabia vRS.

The Octy is superb, just too big for what I need and it will not do 60mpg.

think of insurance as well. Octy is about group 16 and the Fabia is group 9

If in doubt and money isn't really the question, test them both. I have driven lots of makes in the past, NEVER EVER would I have seen myself driving a Skoda. A DIESEL SKODA as well. These cars have excellent write up's for a reason. They are TOP NOTCH. See for yourself.