I went over to my local dealer today (Witham in Surrey) for a test drive.

I had spoken to a salesperson during the week (Adam) who was very friendly and professional. Told me to just pop in on Saturday with my driving license and a test drive can be arranged.

Turned up today, met Adam who was friendly and professional in personal as well!

We went to look at the demo Fabia vRS (in red) and we chatted about the features, specifications, availability, etc.

Adam took some details, turned the car around and we were ready for a test drive!

The first thing to strike me was the reponsiveness of the brakes! They are much better than the Ford Ka and the Pug 306 that I have regular access to!!

I drove it out onto the nearby dual carriageway, just to experience the torque (which I have to say was a bit of a shock at first.) Once you get use to the torque and changing up much sooner than in a petrol car, it was very easy to drive it progessively! The gear changes were short, yet complient! The gearing is very good, although I didn't get a chance to use 6th gear!!!

During the drive something odd happened! My fiancee complained about motion sickness! I told her not to be stupid as she has never complained about it before!

I pull into a local supermarket and we switch places. She drives back to Witham and I have to say I have never complained of it..... But I got mild motion sickness!!!

We explained to Adam, who wasn't surprised with our comments as his wife has the same sensation with the Octavia vRS estate (although not the hatchback)!!! Although she was fine with the Fabia!!

I can give a glowing report about the dealer and the customer service!! I can give the car a big thumbs up!! I can sing the praises of the car and everything about it!!

We love the car, it has the right features, it's in the right price range, etc, etc..... but we can't buy a car that is going to make us feel sick!!!! :eek:

Is there anything that can be done??? Has anyone else experienced this???

Cheers

Andy

dont drink and drive:D

A friend has suggested it's the vibrations from the TDi engine that is causing it!

Weird eh?

Cant report anything similar from mine - in the words of the Beach Boys.....

I'm pickin' up good vibrations

She's giving me excitations

I'm pickin' up good vibrations

(Oom bop bop good vibrations )

How did you feel about the roadholding/handling etc?

Ive driven a few Fabia's now inc the vRS no sickness,

However I did take out a 450+ bhp Audi S4 yesterday and that did make me feel a bit giddy

I'm taking delivery of my Fabia vRS hopefully in the next couple of weeks, so i'll let you know at a later stage. I've had a few test drives though before buying and i experience no sickness. Maybe it's the value for money of the car thats doing it?!!!

Maybe it's the way your driving it? Maybe your driving it hard and not realising it and becoming sick because of it. It's unusual however since the Fabia has a high back seat and as such people can see out of the window and don't experience motion sickness. Sure it wasn't that dodgy Kabab?

I might have guessed at a beige interior causing the illness , but as it was a VRS that's ruled out.

Hmmm

Originally posted by Andy Tang in this post

The first thing to strike me was the reponsiveness of the brakes! They are much better than the Ford Ka and the Pug 306 that I have regular access to!!

Andy

Hmm. thats really strange, because i think the brakes on my vRS are ****e.. its not as if they dont lack stopping ability.. its just the pedal is incredibly hard.. you really have to push it hard to get the thing to brake, ive not managed to lock the wheels up yet.. there must be something wrong.

Andy, were either of you sitting in the back when you felt carsick? I had this problem in one particular model of the older Mondeo when sitting in the back as a passenger, but was OK in the front and in other models. I would guess that it was the wrong combination (for me) of seat and suspension.

When I was driving I was fine! When my fiancee was driving she was fine!

It was sitting in the passenger seat (front) that caused the sensation!

Fair enough I did boot it, but she only started complaining when we were crusing along at 40mph!

(And no, we didn't have a heavy night out the evening before, nor had we eaten kebabs!!! )

I set the car up as I normally would, so I was sitting up right (I even altered the passenger seat so I was more upright, rather than slouching!!)

He did suggest we take the car out for longer, just to see how we got on!

The sickly feeling left after getting some fresh air! (The car had the a/c on all the time during the test drive!)

So I guess we need to try the car without the a/c on!

Also it may have been the smell of the car cleaner, that may have set us off!! So another thing to try!!!

I'm almost tempted to try another local dealer to see how we get on in a different vRS!!

Hi andy when i picked up my furby vrs id had it scotchgarded (super garded) inside&out

the smell inside was pretty strong but is a must for that colour interior!!!!!!!

ive had it 2 weeks & just got that new car smell now .........

Must say wot a top motor

If you can't wait for a trip to Jabba, you need one of these to take your mind of feeling sick

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/thread.asp?threadid=262005

I hope it's something as silly as that, as we both loved the car!!! :(

Andy , I had a test drive in a Fabia vRs whilst my car was in for service the other day , and I was very impressed with it in the short time I had in it ( lack of fuel ) . Great fun to drive once I had got used to changing gear at 4K revs , handled very nicely and seemed quicker than I thought it was going to be .

Try another one to make sure its not just a quirk of that particular car as nobody else appears to be suffering from it.

Stuart

Me and the wife have had no problems with the Furby vrs but when she got the octy vrs I managed to make her throw up after hurtling round snowdonia.

It may just be the "on \ off" nature of the instant torque? My passengers did say it was pretty sudden, feathering the clutch or being more gentle with the throttle helped a little, but it's shame you have to "hold back" in a hot hatch for passengers benefit.

If it something as silly as the on/off nature of the torque, dare I say it, I'll probably look at a petrol turbo Seat Leon/Ibiza (as the Octavia is too big!!!)

The octavia has the wonderful ability to never *feel* like a big car.

My old ZX felt just about "right" in terms of compromise, long enough wheelbase to be stable on Mways, but short enough to be nimble on back roads. I needed something bigger (family) but a lot of cars "feel" big to hustle.

Guess it's one of the advantages of a big car (octavia) based on a smaller platform (golf). Drive one and see?

I'm not the one that needs convincing!!!

My fiancee has to drive on the North Circular once a week, so the need for a nimble, sporty car is hers!!! (although I won't argue!! I love hot hatches!!!! )

It's a shame they don't make the Fabia with the 1.8T engine!!! I've had a look on the Seat website and they don't seem to make the new shap Ibiza with that engine anymore!!!

I guess I have to look at older Golfs, newish Leons or even the Octavia!!

Hmm, yes, London driving needs something small. Had a saxo VTR that I used for the London traffic, was perfect!

Are there any rumours about Skoda releasing a 1.8T Fabia???

That might be an interesting car!!! Or at least it might be when I'm finished with it!!

Andy

Whilst Ive not felt car sick in my 1200 miles, as I emailed you I feel the suspension is the Furby's weak link. Youve never been scared of modifications, so maybe you should still look at one with some simple mods.

I have to say that with the ECU remap, the Furby will take some beating. Even if they do come up with a 1.8T version. Ive had the Leon Cupra and Cupra R before, and mid range they are certainly no better. I'd even say that I'm much happier overtaking on B roads in the Furby than my old R32.

I'm still a fan of the Leon and might even get another Cupra R (remaped of course) in the near future, if the job is going ok.

Jonathan

Fabrs..

How do you find the brakes? do you find you really need to push them hard to get any decent braking force from them? im sure somethings not right with mine :(