Will shortly be changing the Furby, so just had a seven-day test drive in an Octy vRS TDI. A few thoughts, which may be of interest to anyone else contemplating the change. All comments that follow should really be prefaced with ‘…compared to the Furby’.

Visually, it looked the business in Race Blue with 18” alloys (4.5K on the clock). The interior had a reasonable ambience (more up-market than the Fabia) but with signs of cost-cutting compared with other VAG products (hard plastics on the interior door handles, undamped grab handles, A-pillars not cloth-covered). Various rattles (dash, inside doors, rear luggage area) didn’t inspire. Seats looked and felt good. Less glass area than the Furby meant the overall impression was a little gloomy.

The driving experience was a surprise in that it was little, if any better than the Furby. The power was less linear and it felt no quicker. Massive off-boost lethargy below 2,000 rpm created a big flat spot when pulling away from rest. If the on-board computer is to be believed, achieving the Skoda-quoted mpg figures will take some doing. The brakes were a big disappointment, being heavily over-servoed, making smooth, even stopping a real effort to achieve. Gear change a little notchy, especially the 4th to 2nd downchange.

While grip was excellent with very little roll, handling was a real disappointment. The car felt as if the tyres were seriously over-inflated (they weren’t) and it seemed to jump from one road imperfection to the next. It just didn’t feel ‘planted’ – as if it was travelling ‘on tiptoes’ if you get my meaning. The ride quality was joltingly hard. All in all, I concluded that Eibachs and Koni FSDs will be an essential fitment from day one. Lastly, rear parking sensors are vital – when reversing, you have little idea where the rear end is without them.

I came away feeling I will probably order an Octy, mainly on interior space and value for money grounds. Hopefully Eibachs and Konis will sort out the ride and handling shortcomings. But as I climbed back into the Furby, the overall impression was what an amazing car the Fabia vRS is and, dynamically, what relatively little improvement over the Fabia the Octavia represents.

Just my personal views for what they’re worth. No doubt others will have different views…(puts on hard hat).

Nice one Phil.

The FSD combo does tighten up the ride nicely.

You're comparing a standard Octy VRs with a modded Fabia VRs though.

Your Fabia may well feel better planted and handle better (but may be compromised with a firm ride) but remember the standard the Octy VRs has been designed to provide best of both worlds, - good handling with a good ride.

I'm sure Koni FSDs and some Eibachs will sort the handling out to your liking and more aligned to your Fabia.

I think the standard handling and ride on the VRs is pretty good. I have the TFSI so don't know how that compares to the diesel which may be a bit nose heavy with the heavier engine perhaps.

Just out of interest, is your Fabia remapped?

sounds like you had a bit of a munter demo there. ive just sold our ex demo tdi vRS and it had no rattles at all. it has done 7.5k under the reign of our sales manager. this lethargy below 2,000 seems odd. our one does have it but no more than the last furby i drove. is your remapped? another sign that the demo car has had a hard life is the MPG. our one gets constantly near or exceeds the average skoda mpg, but of course it depends on how you drive of course

the brakes are a damn sight harsher than the furby, and do take some time to get used to, but again after ours were broken in properly they are very easy to brake smoothly with.

strange how the fabia being smaller than the octy has more glass area though? maybe its the plastics being darker and black a pillar bits making it appear darker?

still you managed to borrow a vRS for the week thats not bad going

Good write up; a couple of points;-

Off boost lethargy - it's all relative. For everyday motoring, you should be able to learn to moderate the throttle to give reasonable initial pull and then ease off a touch so you don't get an uncontrollable tsunami of torque. If you are pressing on (as a true briskodian should be) then just keep in the 2500 - 4000 rev range; this gives a solid punch all the way.

Suspension; yes IMHO the OEM ride is firm and jittery - Koni FSDs are the cure but you do not need to do Eibach springs as well. I've kept the OEM springs with FSDs and the handling is good.

What I have done though, is fitted a Neuspeed rear anti-roll bar (25mm vs. OEM 22mm), which has had a great effect in tightening the handling and neutralising understeer (although not to quite such a marked degree as fitting to JabbaSprot ARB to a Fabia).

Fuel consumption; I have just completed the first 10,000 miles in mine and it is only in the last 1,000 that I have noticed the engine loosen to feel more flexible and give better fuel consumption. Certainly 2-3 mpg better than the first 8,000 miles. Initially I was getting 37-39mpg; I'm now on 42-44mpg.

Remember also; being on a 'test drive' you were probably ragging it more than you would if it was your car on an everyday basis - with the commensurate effect on your fuel consumption.

If you end up buying a vRS TDI I'm sure you will enjoy it - I do with mine.

Just out of interest, is your Fabia remapped?

Thanks for the comments guys. No not re-mapped, although the PD 160 air intake does give the Furby better pull-away from rest than standard.

You're comparing a standard Octy VRs with a modded Fabia VRs though.

Your Fabia may well feel better planted and handle better (but may be compromised with a firm ride) but remember the standard the Octy VRs has been designed to provide best of both worlds, - good handling with a good ride.

I'm sure Koni FSDs and some Eibachs will sort the handling out to your liking and more aligned to your Fabia.

I think the standard handling and ride on the VRs is pretty good. I have the TFSI so don't know how that compares to the diesel which may be a bit nose heavy with the heavier engine perhaps.

Just out of interest, is your Fabia remapped?

Just to add to this, I fitted Eibach springs to my Golf V5 and that totally sorted the handling making it feel more 'planted' although it did make the ride quite firm.

I drove it again a few weeks ago (it's my brother's now) and it did feel like it handled better than my VRs in that remained more flat when cornering and changing direction (if that makes sense!).

The point I am trying to make is that if a simple change of springs on a Golf (which before was a bit of jelly) had such a positive effect to the handling I am sure the same would be true of the VRs (which is pretty good to start with). Throw in some Koni FSDs too which I suspect will ensure the ride isn't too firm and I think you'd be onto a winner!

The point I am trying to make is that if a simple change of springs on a Golf (which before was a bit of jelly) had such a positive effect to the handling I am sure the same would be true of the VRs (which is pretty good to start with). Throw in some Koni FSDs too which I suspect will ensure the ride isn't too firm and I think you'd be onto a winner!

Yep that's exactly what I intend do have done at the PDI (so the Xenons can be adjusted at the same time to allow for the lower ride height following fitting of the Eibachs).

Yep that's exactly what I intend do have done at the PDI (so the Xenons can be adjusted at the same time to allow for the lower ride height following fitting of the Eibachs).

Aren't xenons self levelling?

Aren't xenons self levelling?

Well, sort of. But they still need a basic calibration set-up to start with (see this thread):

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-octavia/xenon-leveling-help/87266/

Because Skoda messed my order up my car came with 17" alloys, without a shadow of a doubt it is one of the best handling cars I have driven.

My driving is 50/50 motorway and Inner London so I get the best, and worst, of both worlds, as long as you can stay out of the deeper potholes she's really sure footed.

I was offered 18" wheels to sweeten me up but after reading in various places about the harsh ride I stuck with the 17's, so glad I did.

Yes the ride is a bit hard, but then it is a "sports" version isn't it?

I certainly feel my car with 17" alloys is less crashy than the dealers demo with 18s.