Let me first elaborate on that question - I mean performance wise. As a relative newcomer to this forum it seems that there are a lot of young guys on here and the vrs is their first decently quick car. How many of you have owned quicker cars before and how do you find the fabia compares?

I previously had a 250ish bhp fiat coupe 20vt and that was crazy fast. The problem was that if you wanted to use the engine to the full you would very soon indeed be deeply into license losing territory. I owned it for 4 years which for me is a record. It was a superb car but do I miss it? Not really! I found that with todays road conditions the chances to use the performance were few and far between .For the priviledge of owing such a quick car I had to put up with mid 20s mpg and group 18 insurance (plus mods!). I find the fabia to have much more accessable performance and is actually quicker in gear at sensible speeds. Maybe I'm getting old!

I previously had a 250ish bhp fiat coupe 20vt and that was crazy fast. The problem was that if you wanted to use the engine to the full you would very soon indeed be deeply into license losing territory. I owned it for 4 years which for me is a record. It was a superb car but do I miss it? Not really! I found that with todays road conditions the chances to use the performance were few and far between .For the priviledge of owing such a quick car I had to put up with mid 20s mpg and group 18 insurance (plus mods!). I find the fabia to have much more accessable performance and is actually quicker in gear at sensible speeds. Maybe I'm getting old!

Thats spot on what you said there tbh

My Fabia vRS I got at 19 was my second car, now moved onto an MR2 Roadster at 20.... Who know's what it will be in 5 years time

I find the fabia to have much more accessable performance and is actually quicker in gear at sensible speeds.

Nail hit on the head

Good mpg and cheap to insure too

I've owned my Civic Type R for 3 years and have just ordered a vRS. I can't wait to get it!!!

Currently get around 32mpg so the vRS should see a reduction in fuel cost but looks like my servicing costs will rise with the vRS shorter service internval (12.5k miles or 12 months on the CTR) and going off what people say here the serving on the vRS is dearer too (£130 miner, £230 major on the CTR) My insurance is set to drop my a couple of hundred though. 8)

well I had a audi S3 before **** on fuel and insurance, but great on speed at 260+ with remap and, that 4wd what I do miss it but not the runing costs

Used to own a Scooby WRX 03 with 265bhp. It was a daily communter and wasn't economical enough plus I got bored of it. Also became more and more difficult to insure each year (and i'm 28 with 3 points). The Fabia lacks in a few obvious areas but is a very good acceptable allround package. Suprising quick mid range and around 50-70mph where the scooby felt lacking.

I also own a Suzuki GSXR 1000 K6 which I use for my weekend thrills - 180bhp at the crank it's mega mad:eek:

I owned a Mondeo Zetec S TDCi when the "S" kit came out for it in 2002(52).

I was pretty much the 1st person on fordmondeo.org and probably most of the UK to modify it beyond 190 bhp, comprising of a Injectors, larger FMIC, Injectors, ST220 leather interior, boot spoiler and 60mm lowering

Chris.

I had a Lotus Elise (+ diesel second car) before. "Downgraded" to vRS to save some cash, missing the convertible roof in this weather :(

Used to run a Scooby and a Disco, but change of personal circumstances meant priorities changed and I needed a cheap interim car to tide me over

Chris

well I had a audi S3 before **** on fuel and insurance, but great on speed at 260+ with remap and, that 4wd what I do miss it but not the runing costs

my octavia 4x4 estate is the same running gear(if not less efficient than your S3), roughly the same engine running maybe 30bhp less and i don't find the fuel that bad and insurance certainly isn't that bad considering what it is.

obviously when giving it death it drinks quicker than an alcoholic locked in a brewery but when drivin sensibly it isn't actually that bad on fuel

i went from a Clio 172 to a vRS. 172 is rubbish compared to the Fabia.

i went from a Clio 172 to a vRS. 172 is rubbish compared to the Fabia.

bit of a bold statement. two very different cars and the clio is very very good at what it's designed to do.

bit of a bold statement. two very different cars and the clio is very very good at what it's designed to do.

I'm losing my hair, that's a BALD statement!

Boom BooM!

oh right. Mine was designed to fall apart then.

Still got my Scooby, but "upgraded" from a Rover 420Di as a 2nd car, to have the vRS, as the Rover was far too old fashioned and dull!

As a daily driver, and for longer motorway trips, can't fault the Furby. Comfy, easy to drive, easy for overtaking too and quiet.

Performance wise - the vRS is quick, but nowhere near the Scooby. Mid-range times are a bit of a red-herring as you're in different gears for the speeds often quoted.

E.g. 50-70 in 5th - why would I do that in 5th in the Scooby when it can do it in 3rd?

They're a bit like chalk and cheese. One is loud and brash, the other quiet and understated. I don't regret buying either though.

E.g. 50-70 in 5th - why would I do that in 5th in the Scooby when it can do it in 3rd?

exactly, thats exactly what some us have tried saying lots of times but get ignored

It is also why some people in TDIs are a little surprised when a petrol car such as a scooby obliterates them, mid-range, through the gears... It doesn't take a genius to work out that when a performance car can do 0-60 in less than 6 secs it's going to be bl**dy quick going from "30-50".

It doesn't take a genius to work out that when a performance car can do 0-60 in less than 6 secs it's going to be bl**dy quick going from "30-50".

Unless it's in 5th gear, as demonstrated by Top Gear (Evo vs Fiat)

Chris

that was such a stupid test, they might aswell have tested a civic type R and floored it in 6th at 20mph and watch as it does nothing

"oh right. Mine was designed to fall apart then.":rofl: :rofl:

Cant beat the french build quality

I doubt such Evo drivers are aware of 5th gear, as they can probably get to above the legal max speed limit in their first 2 gears.

The only comparative test I've seen recently which made you think, was the Golf GTi (last shape) which was slower to 60 than a 1.4 auto Rover 25!

oh right. Mine was designed to fall apart then.

reliability isn't the greatest I admit - having said my brother owns a 172 cup and previously owned a 172 and mechanically both haven't been to the dealers once (unlike my Skoda). They do both rattle however. But they are a lot faster than a standard furby, handle better, look much better and sound better. They also have a lot of standard kit which is an option on most other cars. I only bought the Furby because I couldn't afford the insurance & my brother already has one. I am not doubting the Fabia's ability, it is however nowhere near as involving, which for me is a big + point.

2 very different cars with different ethos's. I am happy I bought the Fabia for it's economy and space, however it isn't the most involving drive and not particuarly "quick" when standard, to date i've spent £1000 turning it into an enjoyable, quick motor. Yet it still is 3.2 seconds per lap slower than my brothers a lap round brunters.

Anyway, lets not go off topic anymore, if we can continue....

HellFire, you are always so quick to defend the 172, which isnt a bad thing. Just noticed