I test drove the Fabia vRS today and was rather disappointed.

I'll be crucified for saying this but it's just my opinion.

I've been wanting one for over a year now and am looking to buy in June. I got 40minutes with a black magic vRS to myself today from my local dealer.

The engine is great - it almost caught me out the first time I put my foot down in second. I knew it wouldn't be stunning off the mark but it really pulls in gear.

However the rest I was disappointed with.

It seemed to handle pretty well but the brakes didn't seem to have any feel to them and the steering seemed too light.

My main gripe is with the interior. :thumbdwn: The cloth on the seats is of poor quality and I can see why so many are having problems with this. Not only that but I thought the seats were poor anyway, very little support lumbar support and the sides didn't hold me like I expected. I thought they were a bad attempt at sport seats.

The dash was so uninspiring and the plastics and switchgear looked cheap. I felt Skoda could have done so much more to this car but they were working to a budget. It wasn't a patch on my Mk1 Octavia.

I parked it on the road outside my house and looked out of the window - the car just failed to inspire.

So, I'm afraid it's the Fiesta ST for me then. It does have its minus points - more expensive to run and insure, £1000 more, not as quick in gear - but it felt more like a driver's car and looks great inside and out.

By the way, the wife agrees with me!

Sorry:(

Nice post really, and some of it I think I'm inclined to agree with.

However, I think the brakes are perfectly powerful but do lack feel (312mm upgrade ).

I find the seats fantastically supportive, have no problem with the cloth (really like the colour). I'm quite big and I suffered in the 182 I test drove, the seats were just to narrow. They do lack in lumbar support though, which is a shame.

As for the interior, I love it. The plastics are of a great quality, and the simple layout is pleasing too. I think the overall feel of the switchgear and look of the dash if far superior to the Mk1 Octavia, and every other car in the fabias class.

As for looks, I love everthing about the way it looks, except it is too high as standard. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Enjoy the ST. Cracking little car, but not for me, thanks.

Sorry:(

Dont be Sorry, Its your opinion and at the end of the day you aint gonna buy something that you arnt totally into, Its good you are honest about it and I have to agree that the seats are pretty poor, Cant really comment on the cloth as I have had leather from brand new but the lumbar support does lack, so much so that I am now using one of thoes lumbar supports from my desk chair due to a rugby injury that left me needing support.

The interior, I can see what you are getting at, but based on the polo platform I am not much more exited by the VW effort, but neither of them would make you drop your Jaw.

The brakes, always a bugbear of the fabia, but i do recall when picking mine up brand new they were as sharp as a tack.

Steering I agree with too, I have become used to it now so dont notice but I remember thinking it was quite light initially, I cant recall but Im sure the assistance could be changed via VAGCOM.

Overall I think the Fabia RS is the esscence of VFM but like I said before, No point shelling out for something you wouldnt be happy with.

Hope you get on better with the ford

I agree that the stock handling and brakes could be better and the fiesta ST is probably more of a drivers car - my wifes 1.4 fiesta is more fun round the bends!

But I have to say I think the fab vrs seats are absolutely fantastic and the second best thing about the car after the engine. Though I agree the dash is on the dull side.

My seats have done 37k and look and feel brand new so wear has not been a problem for me.

But not eveyones feels the same and I'm sure the fiesta is also a good buy too.

Hey ho, not everyone can like the car

Good post I enjoyed reading it, enjoy the ST and feel free to stick around here

I must say, the interior is one of the most important things about a car - its where you spend all your time after all.

My next car will be something with a more "driver focussed" dash, where it makes you feel in the cockpit, kinda thing. I love the A4 dash.

hmmmm it was skoda's break through and the fabia is now 6years old.....you cant really complain as the new one will be out next spring quality wise its pritty solid- the fiesta has now gone all girly :( looks all frilly lol skoda biased maybe but i still think the fabia is a very good effort and it doesnt look dated yet either. thats my oppinion good luck with the st

The Fabia VRS is a great car, but it sure ain't perfect (if I'm honest the interior is some what stuck in the 1990's)...... If I'd had an extra couple of grand avilable when I got my VRS then maybe I wouldn't have even been aware of this site. Hope you enjoy the ST, sounds like a cracking little car from the reviews I've read.

Good post I enjoyed reading it

Me too

Switch gear doesnt feel as good as the Octavia 1? Most of them are the same parts.

I also agree with some of the things you say you don't like. I had back ache after doing about 200 miles the day I picked up my vrs, that's never happened in Mr P's car because of the lumber support. The dash is boring but I'm used to it now.

The brakes? well I'm still trying to not put them under to much pressure at the moment, but yes, I don't find them enough to be able to stop the car at the speed it can go

As for looking out of the window at it and not feeling inspired? That's never happened to me yet

Switchgear is almost totally the same as the Mk1 Octy as Ross has pointed out. Having spent 3 and half years with a Mk1 Octy, comparisons of the plastics and dash layout being superrior in the Fabia just isn't the case. Sorry to disagree with you Tom, but I find the dash plastic in the Furby is hard and appears "low-rent" rather than the "padded soft touch" material of the Octy.

A lot can be done to the Fabia to transform it into quite a stonking motor though (leather seats, xenons, remaps and i/c's to take it into daft figures......)

Well written opinions and a good read.

I find my fabia seats to be very comfortable, but I guess it comes down to what shape of person you are.

I liked the look of the fiesta too when I was having a nose, but when running my hand over the headlights I was startled by what can only be described as some sort of Lumpy Erection sticking out of the top. The mind boggles what this is for as the focus didnt have them. that was enough to put me off buying it.

I was startled by what can only be described as some sort of Lumpy Erection sticking out of the top.

:eek: :rubchin: :naughty:

It's got good points and bad points but the good come out tops.

It's a funky chunky monkey of a car and we love ours (seats out of the fabia sport are more sensible though)

Up for

Ford Fiesta ST !! Ok. My thoughts:

1. Ford bulid quality issues. My sister's Fiesta Zetec (53 Reg) was appalling. Bits kept dropping off it and Ford were not interested

2. Group 13 Insurance V Group 9 for the vRS

3. 48% retained value after 3 years V 51% for the vRS

4. Petrol - Much less MPG

5. In my experience, Skoda dealers are better in terms of Customer Service. I've tried them all over the years

6. 'Boy Racer/Max Power' image not for me!!

Plus points for Ford:

1. Sportier drive

2. Cheaper servicing costs

3. ?

4.?

5.?

The ford fiesta ST is a cracking car, imo it looks great, and although i wouldnt buy one with the stripes, I even think the stripes look good!

I also think that fords build quality over the past 4 years has been very good.

Im sure you will enjoy the ST, I considered buying one when they first came out and can see why you would want one. Nice big wheels, great sports seats, and sound good too even as standard. They really look the part imo. Enjoy the car when you get it!

Couldn't own a car named after a porno mag! Sorry!

I am suprised that no one has mentioned that the fabia steering is electronicly assisted and its feel can be adjusted by your dealer, it can be me made less light if thats what you want. There was a thread on here a year or so back, I cant find it at the moment.

Good comments though, I thought the same about the dash plastic feel. I had 2 as courtesy cars when my old octy was being serviced, and although pleasent to be in, the dash looked like a case of "could have been done better". That said though, the new model will most likely see a more classy interior.

I am suprised that no one has mentioned that the fabia steering is electronicly assisted and its feel can be adjusted by your dealer, it can be me made less light if thats what you want. .

I take it I'm on your Ignore list

Steering I agree with too' date=' I have become used to it now so dont notice but I remember thinking it was quite light initially, I cant recall but Im sure the assistance could be changed via VAGCOM.

.[/quote']

How did I miss that, I am sure I read the whole thread.

I loved my test drive in the fezza ST it is such a pocket rocket. The Furby didn't do owt for me so my cash is going to Ford Plus I can get one with climate and other gubbins for £11.5K

interesting comments.

i have just recently sold my 82k 220bhp octavia vrs and had it replaced by a (company car) 54plate fabia vrs with 23k on it. have had it since jan and have put 7k on it already.

i do like the seats in the fab, they are considerably more supportive than the tavia ones tho' no more comfortable on long drives. the build quality on the fab seems to be lower than the tavia which seems to have developed more squeaks and rattles in the short time i've had it than the tavia did in the 63k i owned it. the dash in the fab is quite dull. fab engine is cracking, bags of grunt everywhere, but without the top end of the tavia (not really surprising!). i think the fab handles reasonably well but the front gives up way too easy coz of the big lump up front but it does grip well.

overall i like the fab alot but would rather have the octavia back (with my boss paying the fuel bill!!)

enjoy the fester!

I loved my test drive in the fezza ST it is such a pocket rocket. The Furby didn't do owt for me so my cash is going to Ford Plus I can get one with climate and other gubbins for £11.5K

monkeychild, whereabouts are you getting yours from?

I have looked on the internet, drive the deal quoted me 12.5k with alot of extras specified. However, I'm a bit restricted as I really want to trade in my old Ka, it's getting to the stage whereas if I sold it privately there are quite a few things that someone would spot that need attention.

Thanks everyone for the interesting comments to my original post.

The seats in the Fabia definitely aren't a patch on my Octavia Elegance with lumbar support. Also the only switchgear that I saw as common with my Octavia were the column stalks. The rest seemed very cheap compared to my Octy.

I realise that the ST will cost more to insure and run but I'm only doing about 7,000 a year as it's a second car. As I said at the beginning, the interior's a place I found to be very comfortable and inspiring.

Keep the posts coming!

Ford Fiesta ST !! Ok. My thoughts:

1. Ford bulid quality issues. My sister's Fiesta Zetec (53 Reg) was appalling. Bits kept dropping off it and Ford were not interested

2. Group 13 Insurance V Group 9 for the vRS

3. 48% retained value after 3 years V 51% for the vRS

4. Petrol - Much less MPG

5. In my experience' date=' Skoda dealers are better in terms of Customer Service. I've tried them all over the years

6. 'Boy Racer/Max Power' image not for me!!

Plus points for Ford:

1. Sportier drive

2. Cheaper servicing costs

3. ?

4.?

5.?[/quote']

I think you have kind of missed the point. I think TDI is after a sports hatchback. The Fabia didn't cut it for him, simple as.

TDI - nice post. Good luck with the Fiesta, they are cracking little cars.