Well it's finally happened... Furby is on it's way out and Octy 2 is on it's way in.

As much fun as the furby was to drive in terms of acceleration and overtaking, I feel (a personal opinion) that the handling really let her down; she rolls like a bus!

I drive a completely standard Furby VRS... no mods because I don't want to trash my warranty (I'm no boyscout by the way )

Thing I've noticed about driving a turbo diesel car is that the throttle response exiting corners is a lot different from a petrol car... takes a second to pick up which can place you in a couple of dicy positions when it's wet.

The only solution I've found is to drop a gear low than required to take the bend... therefore keeping the turbo spooled up and giving you the grunt to safely pull you through the bend on your side of the road.

Course I could have just invested in a ARB...

Opinions welcome

Rolls like a bus. Yep Wonder if some cupra dampers would help

Rear anti roll bar does reduce the roll at low speed but its still there when pressing on. Main advantage with the bar is the handling. Makes the car more neutral (still understeers when pushed beyond the limit) and more adjustable with your right foot.

Thing I've noticed about driving a turbo diesel car is that the throttle response exiting corners is a lot different from a petrol car... takes a second to pick up which can place you in a couple of dicy positions when it's wet.

That's interesting - did you find it was down to being in to high a gear (and off boost) or was it down to the drive-by-wire throttle?

Chris

/\ and not like anyone ever got caught off-boost in a petrol-engined car?

Ooooh:eek:

I didn't think of that... it could have been the "drive-by-wire" issue actually... but I'm still convinced that the delivery in a petrol engine is better.

That said... did anybody else have to adjust thier driving style when switching from a petrol to a diesel engine... I've noticed that you have to shift a lot more... and perhaps this problem just comes from me being lazy and staying in the wrong gear for a turn

i wouldnt say its the power delivery of the engine... its you being in the wrong gear :P

I take Shiftys standpoint on this.. the Octy II vRS may be a quicker car, but its nowhere near as satisfying take it by the scruff of its neck and throw it down some twisties

i wouldnt say its the power delivery of the engine... its you being in the wrong gear :P

I take Shiftys standpoint on this.. the Octy II vRS may be a quicker car, but its nowhere near as satisfying take it by the scruff of its neck and throw it down some twisties

I take it you mean the Octy handles well then :confused:

When you approach the corner, try braking before the corner and select a gear which will allow you to apply the power firmly through the corner (before you start to steer). I'd not noticed a problem with the DBW throttle, but have found that if you squeeze it rather than floor it, it responds better.

And yes, petrols are better to drive Just a shame the economy isn't very good :(

I also hope the Octy II is better to drive that the Golf MkV which is just a bit dull!

Chris

I also hope the Octy II is better to drive that the Golf MkV which is just a bit dull!

Chris

Nope.. theyre not any better :(

i wouldnt say its the power delivery of the engine... its you being in the wrong gear :P

I take Shiftys standpoint on this.. the Octy II vRS may be a quicker car, but its nowhere near as satisfying take it by the scruff of its neck and throw it down some twisties

but is it more fun in the fabia because of the sense of achievement getting back/through unharmed? brother reckons that plays a major part of the charm that is driving mavis with intent

I've done my fair share of track days and even had a crack at amateur rallying... I do know how to handle a car... I'm not a noob

I think the major problem I had with the handling on the furby was that my previous car was a civic sport... with civic handling... maybe slightly biased (me not the car).

Personally in the fabia I've taken to slowing well before the bend... selecting the gear that'll give me the most grunt in case of emergencies and then make the turn... course we are talking a standard car here

My mother's car is a Sick Brick. Comments about "Civic handling" do nothing to convince me that the poster can drive!

As for claims about "being off boost", as I said earlier, not like anyone ever got caught off boost/cam in a petrol engined car!

My mother's car is a Sick Brick. Comments about "Civic handling" do nothing to convince me that the poster can drive!

If you've got "Civic Handling" you don't NEED to know how to drive...

Don't get me wrong... my Fabia has been the best car that I've owned... you have to drive IT rather than let it drive YOU... I just prefer my cars to be tight rather than loose and floppy.

If I wasn't a wuss I'd have uprated the handling and that would have saved me 14k for a new Octy from motorpoint

If you've got "Civic Handling" you don't NEED to know how to drive...

Don't get me wrong... my Fabia has been the best car that I've owned... you have to drive IT rather than let it drive YOU... I just prefer my cars to be tight rather than loose and floppy.

If I wasn't a wuss I'd have uprated the handling and that would have saved me 14k for a new Octy from motorpoint

Ok. Just that IMO if you've got Sick Brick handling you can't drive, cos you get no messages back from the tyres to tell you if you're understeering, oversteering, wheelsliding (other than audio cues) or what. Mercifully, the car seems to be fairly neutral, and doesn't inspire sufficient confidence (at least in me) to allow you to get near its limits!

Right... got you.

For a minute there I thought you were stating I couldn't drive I'm not that bad!

Still, I see your point about the civic... and like you say, the Fabia gives you lots of hints when turning.

Maybe I just never pushed her as much as I thought I could :confused:

no problems with DBW throttle here, and mine doesn't "roll like a bus" either?

sure it rolls more than some other car's I've had, but it's hardly scary

Still, I see your point about the civic... and like you say, the Fabia gives you lots of hints when turning.

The problem I found with it was that the controls feel a bit numb and don't really inspire confidence when you start to push on..... Does the Octy II give you more feedback through the wheel?

Chris

The problem I found with it was that the controls feel a bit numb and don't really inspire confidence when you start to push on..... Does the Octy II give you more feedback through the wheel?

Chris

Tell you when I get it... whenever that may be :confused:

I wouldn't say the Furby is scary when it rolls... I just don't think it inspires much confidence, which causes people to hold back and not drive to thier full potential.

Personally I don't mind roll, what I mind is a lack of feedback. It's not like race cars, where you can soften off the anti-roll when the going gets slippery.

"Civic Handling"

I have a new 2007 civic sport and it's a total dog!

I have a new 2007 civic sport and it's a total dog!

I guess it comes down to what you're comparing it to as everything's relative!

Chris

Haven't Fuby's got a knack of ending up on their roof if you push 'em too hard?

Haven't Fuby's got a knack of ending up on their roof if you push 'em too hard?

Don't you mean if the driver exceeds his/her talent?

Chris

Cars wise I have had a few over the last coulpe of years and the best handling was the new ford focus - Lots of sideways fun!!! second best handling was a 51 reg clio dynamic - had brillient brakes and was a lot of fun. Third best was a corolla diesel- bit stodgy but solid and sure footed.

The civic understeers too much, feels slow and fat and cumbersome around slow corners, has pee-poor brakes, and lifts its front inside wheels all the time. Its just no fun to throw arround!

Sideways?! In a Focus? What were you doing in it! :eek:

Chris