Hi all,

I am getting a bit fed up with the fabia at the mo. I am finding it really slow and unresponsive to drive. I know it takes a good few miles for it to loosen up but how many exactly!

My clio 172 was rubbish until about 6k then it flew. A few people have told me the PD130 usually takes over about 10k until its fully run in. I am hoping this is right as mine seems really slow. A few people i know have the new Golf 140bhp diesel and they said theres wasn't all that much good until 15k odd either.

I really like the rest of the car and don't want to go and change it and miss out on using it when its all run in and as good as everyone says it is.

Is it just me or do these oil burners really take that long until you get optimum performance.

Thanks

how slow is slow , your slow could be another mans quick , seriously it should be well loosened up by the mileage you've done , mine had 3k on it when i got it and it flew , and my dads felt quicker than mine from new . dont forget you've come from a pretty quick hot hatch to a low revving diesel , which is only really a warm hatch at the end of the day

I'd agree with ric, it all depends on what kind of performance you were expecting? A VRS also requires a very different driving style to a Clio 172 (and has a completely different power delivery). I'd have said that after 8,000 miles the performance is unlikely to improve significantly more (so long as you've given it some stick)?

How efficient is the car? Is it burning any oil?

First service did seem to make a difference, yes. I've since done a few more miles though (47k approaching rapidly).

Hot days like at the moment = heatsoak = lack of performance

Worth considering a PD160 intake/green filter (noting void warranty ) and possibly a remap at some stage, it will transform the car performance wise.

The Clio is a totally different car, and feels more urgent then the vRS would.

Stick with it though, or perhaps see if you can get a drive in/with someone who's got one that's been run in

the hot days are making a massive difference to mine... felt really slow in the 34C outside temps we had yesterday, then took G/F to work in the cool misty air this morning, and though I'd got into a different bloody car!! It absolutly flew in comparison to the heat-soaked afternoon yesterday....

*saves up for a FMIC......

the hot days are making a massive difference to mine... felt really slow in the 34C outside temps we had yesterday' date=' then took G/F to work in the cool misty air this morning, and though I'd got into a different bloody car!! It absolutly flew in comparison to the heat-soaked afternoon yesterday....

*saves up for a FMIC......[/quote']

mine seemed to go OK yesterday in the heat of the afternoon , floored it down the motorway , went pretty quick , this might go some way to proving that the pikey mods are working:thumbup:

I have moved from Clio 172 (not the cup) and my vRS felt quick from new so i think you should take it back to the dealer or at least get another local owner off here to take it for a spin.

Much cooler this morning. Mine feels like its pulling much stronger (8K miles) I suspect its the hot weather that is affecting yours

I have also come from a 172 to a vRS and I have never thought that my vRS feels slow in comparison to the 172. In fact, it "feels" quicker (although we all know it isnt ... dont we?). Anyway, it also needs to be driven differently to the 172, but i'm sure you know that. I rarely drive my vRS over 3.5k revs. I usually hold it around the 2k rev mark and then accelarate to get that torque kick thingee, whereas with the 172 i used to hold at about 3.5k revs before accelarating to get that va va voom, or whatever its called. I think i used to change gear at about 6.5k revs in the 172. So vRS is powerful between just under 2k and 3.5k revs and 172 between just under 4k revs and 6.5k revs. Does any of that make any sense? I doubt it.

I have moved from Clio 172 (not the cup) and my vRS felt quick from new so i think you should take it back to the dealer or at least get another local owner off here to take it for a spin.

Dealer may think you a little strange if you take it back and declare "I don't think it feels very fast":thumbup:

Aye, as mentioned above different people all have a different understanding of the word fast etc.

It is always averaging over 50mpg so perhaps its my own fault for driving it to carefully when i should be giving it some stick. Perhaps the 8k on the clock were too easy miles and now its time to boot it a bit more and loosen it up.

I would confess perhaps my driving style in a diesel may not be spot on as i have been used to petrol hot hatches, but i know there is now point in really revving it over 3.5k and generally try and keep them in the region o 2k - 3.5k most ofthe tme for max torque.

No dout the warm weather isn't doing it any favours either. Perhaps i should take it for a spin in the middle of the night when its a bit cooler and see what happens.

Its what started it all off was my dads passat 130 estate seemed to have more kick than the skoda which is half the size with the same engine. I am sure all will be ok and if not i will just get it re-mapped with the pd160 intake. All is not lost i am sure.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will get back when i have taking it for a spin when it cools down a bit.

Before remap etc I'd make sure it's mechanically OK - perhaps there genuinely is something wrong. Running 2k-3.5k it should feel massively quicker than the Clio and you shouldn't be getting 50mpg revving it that high either.

See if there's anyone with a standard car near you who'd be willing to take you for a run to make sure it's performing normally. If it's just as quick (or slow as the case may be) as everyone else's then you know it's just a mental thing, if it's noticable slower then get it fixed before invalidating the warranty

Edit: Mine doesn't feel massively slower even with the hot weather, and it still shows a clean pair of heels to most things

Ours has done 13,000.Feels/drives exactly the same as when we picked it up from new.

Fabia VRS Vs. a pair of Octavia Elegance.

http://www.philgooch.com/video/incar.wmv

Lots of clean heals there, Phil

Chris

Steve, i think you are right really.

It may be the car or it may just be me. So i think having a go in another vrs is the first step.

I don't actually know anyone with one i am afraid. I am in Sittingbourne In kent. If anyone could spare a few minutes to help me out it would be appreciated. Obviously i wouldn't expect this for nothing though. There is of course a drink in it for anyone who wants to help.

What mpg does everyone else get normally then. I took a slow drive upto edinburgh the other week and it was averaging 59.9 by the time i arrived at the hotel. usually i get around 52mpg on normal use. I think i am just driving it too slow!!!

I would like to get to the bottom of this though. If it is the car then i need it sorted as i think i am missing out of a large part of the "vrs experience"!

If you're getting nearly 60MPG on a run and 52 everyday I'd suggest you need to wear a heavier shoe on your right foot

1 - thrash it a bit for a few days - car ECUs adjust to driving style by altering fueling parameters / timing etc.

2 - try disconnecting the MAF and seeing if the performance increases (fuel economy will drop - but it will let you know if there is an issue). common + easily fixed.

3 - use decent derv - Asda best is not the same stuff as Shell.

4 - try the pd 160 intake and filter - cheap, effective and easily reversable + invisible mods.

5 - try a remap, or even just trial - transforms the car - Customcode and others are now switchable so need not effect warrenty if your sly. a mapped FVRS feels fast for a hatch in pretty much anyones book.

If you're getting nearly 60MPG on a run and 52 everyday I'd suggest you need to wear a heavier shoe on your right foot

I'm with this man - when I go for a spirited drive my mpg drops below 40mpg. On country roads i get something like 38mpg and if i;m having to stop start all the time it can drop as low as 32/33mpg.

Normal cruising will result in the figures that you're getting. Give it some stick!