I have the pitiful 1.4 75BHP Automatic Faiba saloon. If you go to the reviews section under this car you will see my problems with it.

Skoda Quote 17.3 secs 0-60 and a top speed of 103, Iv'e never known an Automotive Group to underrestimate the performance figures of the car, but could it go a little faster than that?

What can I do to make it faster, and why such rediculous fuel and emissions figures (Drinks petrol and farts at about the same as a 2.0 Fabia!)

Any Ideas on the seriousley raised rear suspension?

p.s What is a cars top speed, sounds silly but what will happen at 103mph, rev limiter, just doesent go any fater? I am very new to performance but I sure know how to drive like an A^&&! Hole!

You wont reach the rev limiter in top, what will happen is the car will runout of puff long before you get anywhere near. unless of course you are going down hill

Eibach lowering kit might cure your raised rear end, if you pardon the expression, but there is little that can be done with the engine.

I don't know how it maxes out at 103... I'm assuming it approaches the redline and just loses puff? Mine has an electronic limiter that just stops the car revving at its alotted top speed of 115mph. This can be overcome with tweaking, but I'm not sure the 75hp auto can be too. :confused:

Bit of a vague response, but I've never thought the auto box was suitable for a fabia, unless it had a decent powerful engine under it.

Ive got a combi version and find it ok. True the TDi smokes it silly, but lets be honest 1.4v 75bhp and auto is NEVER going to be anything other than a simple run around. The car is fitted with a single combined lever for the accelator and brake and I love yanking this hard and reving it to the max before it changes up. Having said that it was this car that did Perth in Scotland to Scrabster (by John o Groats) in approx 3.5 hours in the wee small hours which is 225 miles of single carriage through the highlands ( It actually left Luton at 1815 and was in Scabster by 0400 the following morning non-stop). So it can be pushed but it needs to be coxed, optimax was used for this trip and minmal use of kick down! Service it well and keep a very close on all tyre pressures to keep the rolling resistance to a minimum.

I see that alot of fabias on this forum are chipped, can this thing have an ecu upgrade? Plus I wanted to know what a lock up clutch is? THe manual sais it does it in 3rd and 4th gear to reduce fuel consumption. Any Ideas why this thing drinks so much fuel and releases so many emmisions.

Plus I wanted to know what a lock up clutch is? THe manual sais it does it in 3rd and 4th gear to reduce fuel consumption.

Once the car is up to cruising speed, the torque converter is just acting as a fluid coupling. This is inefficient because there is inevitably some slippage between the impeller (input) and turbine (output), which heats up the transmission fluid unnecessarily and wastes power.

The lock-up clutch is used to eliminate the slippage and reduce the power wastage; as the name suggests it "locks" the impeller and turbine together within the torque converter, just like an ordinary clutch. It can't completely eliminate losses, the impeller and turbine are still stirring the transmission fluid around within the housing, but it does make a difference. As a by-product, the lock-up clutch can provide engine braking during deceleration.

why such rediculous fuel and emissions figures...I am very new to performance but I sure know how to drive like an A^&&! Hole!

I'm guessing the latter comment explains any poor fuel economy you've experienced!

Try reducing your speed by 10% and not flooring the throttle, you'd be surprised at how much less fuel it uses.

AFAIK, the 1.4MPi engine isn't a new unit in terms of design, so won't be as efficient as more modern engines. Also, if most of your motoring is done in non-urban areas (motorways and A-roads), it will generally be less efficent than a larger engine as it will be revving higher for the equivalent speed.

Rob.

i used to own a 1.4 mpi manual and the fuel consumption was worse than my current 1.6 octy :eek:

To robmawer, I don't think you got my meaning. I don't get poor fuel consumption because of my driving, it's the engine or the transmission. Take alook at these official skoda figures, then ull see what Im on about.

1.4 16v 75bhp (A)

Engine

CC 1390

Max Power hp [kw]/rpm 75 [55] /5000

Max Torque lb.ft[Nm]/rpm 93 [126] /3800

Performance

Max Speed mph [km/h] 103 [166]

Acceleration 0-62 mph 17.3

Fuel Consumption mpg [1/100km]

Urban** 27.2 [10.4]

Extra Urban** 47.1 [6]

Combined** 37.2 [7.6]

CO2 Emissions g/km** 182

1.4 5spd 100bhp

Engine

CC 1390

Max Power hp [kw]/rpm 100 [74] /6000

Max Torque lb.ft[Nm]/rpm 93 [126] /4400

Performance

Max Speed mph [km/h] 115 [185]

Acceleration 0-62 mph 11.6

Fuel Consumption mpg [1/100km]

Urban** 31.4 [9]

Extra Urban** 52.3 [5.4]

Combined** 42.2 [6.7]

CO2 Emissions g/km** 161

Faster and drinks less fuel, and it's the same F'kin engine, but just tuned to 100bhp. Is it the transmission that hinders the performance, if so why?

Way off topic: do you actually have a series 5?

Yes I used to have a Psion Series 5, the old version (Not MX), then a HP Jornada 548 for a few years, water damaged and just a few weeks ago I bought a new Viewsonic V35 PPC, much better than Psion model I used to have. I guess I have allways used it as a email, logon name e.t.c It would be a hassle to change, going back to the car?

OK then, your car. The auto 'box will certainly have done you no favours. Torque converters generate heat, heat is not motion, power is wasted. Add to which you probably have fewer ratios than the equivilent manual and I think you can see why your economy / acceleration stats are not favourable.

As for chipping, this won't really help. Petrol ECU remapping is really only effective on a turbocharged engine. The "upgraded" ECU is able to tell the fuel injectors to add more fuel *and* the turbo to increase the air pressure (so that there is enough O2 to oxidise the fuel). Oh and the ECU also changes ignition timing, angle, and phases of the moon (or something similar - the details pass me by).

However, if you'd asked me for help repairing a Psion Organiser II, LZ64 circa 1986 I could have been more use

Im a little tired of this car now and want to look for something better. I could afford a vRS but practicality, elegance and size spring to mind. Skoda sent me a leaflet saying the Superb 2.0 Cattle Class model was going for 10995 or summit like that, Do they do the 2.0 with auto, what engines do they offer the autobox on.

Another question about the current car, I recently found out that my car was owned by Skoda Before I had it. When bought it only had 3,000 miles on the clock, and was registered in dover. Why would Skoda Want my car, and well.... did they thrash it before I did. I liked to think of it as a virgin car before I putt my foot to the floor for the first time! but could someone else driven it like an asshole, especiall if it was given a a Company car.

Lots of the low mileage 2nd hand cars come from Skoda UK. I can't tell you what they do to them, though, except that a lot of head office bods get them and then move them on very quickly. I expect it just ups the volumes.

And get a jabba'd 4x4. I'm not biased.

Im finally going to take the plunge and get a superb maybe, I could go for a brand new 2.0 Classic for a shade of 11,000 but I'd prefer to get the 1.8T or something bigger, and want to go for maybe a comfort or elegance. However Im a little stuck. From what Iv'e seen Skoda Only offer 2 tiptronic models, I don't mind going for a tipo either, id feel like I was dribing a ferrari or a Smart car! *Smacks hand over mouth and cringes*

Just wanted to know what engines the tipos come on, I have a suspition it's only a pair of V6's though.

Call me stupid...but why if your Fab is drinking juice rather keenly do you want to go petrol with a Superb?

Surely if consumption is an issue you need to considering the pd130 in any of its trim options, it has reasonable performance, is chipable and consumption wise is the best of the bunch(all round).

Five-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic is available on the 2.8 30V/193hp V6 and the 2.5 TDI/155hp V6 engines. Three modes of automatic shifting are available (economy, comfort, or sport). The Tiptronic mode allows for manual shifting.

Look, a 2.5 V6 Diesel !! well i never did !

.....Superb 2.0 Cattle Class.....

Cattle Class??? :shocked:

Well, I've got an Octavia 1.8T with the bog-standard 4-speed VAG automatic transmission. It's not the smoothest auto around, but it's not bad - and the performance (even in standard tune) was reasonable. Now it's been Jabba'd it's better than reasonable

If you want a larger car than the Fabia, with reasonable performance and not too much of a thirst for petrol (currently 27.5 MPG on trip computer #2, stop/start, short trips, and a heavy right foot), you could do a lot worse than a 1.8T auto Octavia...

To Kentish, Fuel economy certainly isn't an issue (I used to drive an old 4.0 BUICK years ago). The reason I was talking about fuel consumption was just the comparision between the Manual and Auto Box, I could run a 2.8V6 Petrol superb, but it's also the insurance and tax on a 2.8 so I do want something smaller. The 2.5V6 probably isn't that bad in terms of emmisions and fuel economy, and Its a fabulous option but....

Don't kill me Fabia vRS owners but I am a bit of a dieselphobe. I used to own a 1.9D felicia and sold it before 3,000 miles, I hated it. I realise that Diesel engines have come a long long way since my R-reg Felly, but a diesel auto, very rare offering if you ask me. A few questions though, Will I really notice this thing is a diesel (Will it sound like a tractor). Yet again, Fabia vRS owners may diagree but alot much all diesels are slower 0-60 and flat out, the vRS is a nice exception, but If diesel units generate more BHP and torque then why don't they go as fast flat out or from 0-60. If you think this diesels good (I will take 1 for a test drive)

then I think it's a good offering.

Going back to the first few posts...

My last car was a manual 1.4 16v Golf. My mums car is an automatic 1.4 16v Lupo. I expected the Lupo to fly but the (rather nice) engine is totally strangled by the auto box.

Dont judge the current Fab vRS diesel (pd130) by your previous Felicia 1.9d, which was also a VW engine, 1.9 normally aspirated.

The performance difference is enormous. As for noise, well yes it will be noisier at tickover, but at speed you will not notice any difference. What you will notice is its ability to take off at near any speed in any gear like its been shot in the ****. 0-60 can be a marker, but also consider the 30-50 and 50-70 markers and you will soon see the strong points of this engine.

I have the same engine in my Superb and yes it is swift and smooth, but a test drive in the Fab vRS had me grinning from ear to ear.

Try it then judge it, but dont judge the engine by previous versions.

Im now vey tempted to go for a used 2.5 Tipo Diesel then, BUT can any of u guys tell me roughly how much a used 2.5V6 Tipo comfort cost. From what ive heard about diesels, I don't care about mileage.

I went to take a test drive and Forward motors (Sundown park)was empty, of all cars and staff. I phoned VAG in Miltot keynes and they have gone broke, I have to go all the way to amphtill now. Iv'e descided now I want a 1.8T preferably a comfort, any prices folks

Try Merrits in Aylesbury too if you're that local to Bucks.