edit: Have you driven a ST? Nose heavy like the Fabia, but less so. Not great on feedback either. Bloody harsh and noisy too. The Clio is the class leader in hatch handling. Why would anyone go for the Fiesta unless they get the priv' club discount?

I havent actually... but I am more going on others opinions about its handling. With a 2.0 litre lump up front I can see why it might end up being nose heavy.

As for the Clio, they've done some magic on this, because the handling is really truly excellent, but when you look at the engine, it practically looks too big to fit in the engine bay, so how they've managed not to make that nose heavy i just dont know.

Quite the case that there are more communicative cars out there. The steering in particular is not very easy to load to the limit in the wet. I still get the feeling that I am sort of trusting it to luck rather than feeling the loading.

I wouldn't agree with that I personally can feel with the grip is starting to fade. For a PAS car it's not that bad, you get some good feed back.

But then everyone is different

At the end of the day the fabia will never been the track car, thats not what it's for, either is it really the same as the ST or the 182 again they are different tools for a different job. Skoda "may" market it as a hot hatch but in truth it's a Grand tourer more than a GTi pocket rocket.

Which is going on the topic anyway :P

I'd go with the front strut brace then springs and dampers, if you get the suspension right you don't have to bother with the brakes.

I had the 312 kit on then took it back off again it didn't cool well under standard alloys. It's in my shed if anyone wants it.

Remember to allow for Insurance hikes that go with the different mods, the strut brace and suspension shouldn't cost to much.

I wouldn't agree with that I personally can feel with the grip is starting to fade. For a PAS car it's not that bad' date=' you get some good feed back.

But then everyone is different

At the end of the day the fabia will never been the track car, thats not what it's for, either is it really the same as the ST or the 182 again they are different tools for a different job. Skoda "may" market it as a hot hatch but in truth it's a Grand tourer more than a GTi pocket rocket.

Which is going on the topic anyway :P[/quote']

Hi Mike

The feedback through the steering in the wet is quite limited compared with a Fiesta (for example). In the dry, I find it OK (although it was a bit numb when new). There is plenty of notice through the seat of the pants as the front end grip is giving up, but the feel at the helm is minimal when the road is wet, so you dont get the warning before it gives up. Having said that, it does seem to be improving as the mileage piles on. Also depends on what you are used to.

As for comparisons with other hot hatches, am with you on that one. The Fabia is really a very effective and entertaining car in its own right. Sure a Clio 182 will murder it on a twisty B road (or in a straight line for that matter). Not so sure about the Fiesta though. I chased one being driven hard the other night and it was a bit give and take really. Where the Fabia satisfies is in its ability to eat miles of tarmac, be it twisty or straight or in between, with a relaxed but entertaining performance. I was cutting between Braintree and Maldon this evening via the twisties. At one stage I had a guy in a Clio (dont know what but not a fast one) behind me. As we came out from the 30 limit, I gave it a few (maybe 2500) revs in 4th and 5th then slotted into 6th. The car was comfortably stroking along between 50 and 75 in top without breaking into a sweat. All was quiet and relaxed inside. It was only at the next speed limited section that the Clio caught up. He came storming up behind me and it was only at this time that I realised how hard he had been trying. At the next national speed limit section, I thought I would up the ante a bit and decided the use of 4th and 5th might give him something to chase. Teased him along until he started to drop off the back. Was probably only 6/10ths when this happened. Did most of the rest of the route in 6th and only saw him again when I got to the next 30 limit.

For me, it is the Fabias ability to go very quickly without fuss that sets it apart from the rest of the crowd. A blood and thunder hot hatch is great in small doses, but if you had to spend day after day in one, or had a long day where ground covering was top priority, I just cannot think of a better alternative to the vRS. I would not go so far as to call it a grand tourer, but it certainly travels in a way that is usually the preserve of larger saloons. Thing is you still get the agility of a small hatchback. That it is economical enough for me to earn a living as a driving instructor from it is just icing on the cake. Going for firmer suspension and trying to turn it into a trackday missile is, for me, kind of missing the point or undervaluing what the car does so well. However, I reckon there is plenty of potential for storming performance and roll free cornering if you want that sort of thing. Personally, I would go the extra bucks and get the Clio 182 if that was my aim.

Chris