Hi forumites. I'm brand spanking new to this forum so first I'd like to say 'Hi'! After driving a few hot-hatches at the weekend I've made my decision to buy a Fabia vRS as it was the best of the bunch. I plan to take another one out for a spin at the weekend and hopefully put in a successful offer if all goes well, but first I'd like to ask a few questions and hopefully someone can help me.

I'm quite the music fanatic, and am hoping to plug my iPod into the factory-fitted car stereo. I know Skoda offer an iPod connector that can be retrofitted so I was hoping there is someone here who has had this installed. If so can you tell me where the cable/connector sticks out (stereo, glovebox, storage compartment under the stereo)? It'd be ideal if it came out of the storage compartment below the stereo, but I figure they'd have to drill a hole to accomplish this, so hopefully someone can tell me.

Also with regards the stereo, I didn't get a good chance to listen to it yet (will make sure I do at the weekend) but how do you rate the factory fitted one? I've heard a few stories about them "eating CDs" so is an after-market stereo purchase a necessity and if so is it quite easy to remove the factory deck and replace?

I LOVED the car I took out for a spin on Saturday, which was a silver '06, but I've seen a black '07 at a good price so think I might be going for that one. Apart from the light colour seats which are a bit off-putting (though I've heard Skoda can replace with black leather), there wasn't really anything else I could fault with the car so hopefully I'll become a Skoda owner very soon.

I may as well also ask if anyone has converted to Skoda's leather seat replacements and how they compare to the standard seats? I found the factory seats very comfortable, so are the leather ones exactly the same shape only in leather, or are they different?

Thanks in advance for your help. Apologies for the lengthy first message, but as you'll probably guess I'd like to get some answers before I part with the readies.

Don't know too much about the iPod connector, but a few people on here will be able to help.

In regards to the stereo, some people think it ain't up to much, personally I think it is OK, plus it keeps the standard look in the car.

Finally, for the seats - don't get Skoda to replace them. DO a search for Seat Surgeons. Loads of example designs on here, plus nearly half the price of the Skoda option.

Welcome to Briskoda mate.

I've got no quibbles over the cd player, only thing I find is sometimes it jumps going over cobbles, which I will live with it as I only go over the cobbles once a week anyhow.

I presume you have the white seats with black trim, I also have these and am about to put seat covers on over the winter period to keep them looking clean, from what I read in car mags the seats are easy to clean.

David

Welcome to Briskoda :wavey:

As above re. the stereo, it's fine for me, and I like the extra security that a stock HU brings. Mine went through a phase of eating CDs, but a bit of persistence with the 'eject' button always got the offending disc out eventually!

And a second on Seat Surgeons - haven't used them myself, but they seem to do exactly the same job as the official Skoda kit, but for less money! Although the stock seats clean up pretty easily TBH - the only nuisance I find is with watermarks if it rains and water drips on the seats...

The watermarks are a pain in the backside for me, notice it if I'm a passenger, hence why I have the back seat covered with a travel rug and the front seats getting covered soon.

David

Welcome to the forum mate.

The seats aren't hard to clean and even easier if you get them treated so any dirt you get on them can be wiped off without leaving a mark.

The HU isn't too bad but mine has got fed up with the radio before and started playing the CD on it's own accord!

Other than that it's a great car and you've made the right decision to get one. Well done you!

The ipod connector would be fitted in your glove box if fitted by Skoda so is a little user un-friendly... I went for a dension kit instead, which is exactly the same bit of kit, except it has a cradle in which you slot the ipod. I attached mine to the left hand blank next to the stereo so if I ever take the cradle out I only need to replace a £2 bit of plastic trim. Much easier to use it mounted on the dash and you can retain the ipod controls so you don't need to cycle through playlists via the stereo (slow and useless!).

Cheers for all the welcomes and answers! This seems like a great forum full of useful information and friendly folk, I'm really looking forward to the imminent vRS purchase.

Thanks nickl0 for the info regarding the iPod connector kit. I had planned to barter this into the purchase, but if it's controlled via the factory HU and requires glovebox iPod storage, I don't think I'll bother. I suppose I could try to sort something out myself or replace the HU sometime in the future with something that has an AUX in. But now what will I barter into the price in its place? vRS cap? Jacket? I hope they've got something nice in the display case as I don't think they'll go for a set of 17" rims, ha-ha.

I really do like the comfort of the factory seats (though I only sat in them for 15 minutes) so suppose I'll stick with those and try to scotchguard them or something. Any recommendations for high-quality seat protection products? Much appreciated!

Welcome:thumbup:

I Pure Guarded mine (similar to Scotchguard) 11 months down the line they're looking not too bad! And we've a 3 year old boy. Affectionately Know as 'The Dirt-magnet'.

where do you get the likes of scotch guard or pure guarded from?

David

For Pure Guard "I Know a man";)

Homebase or Lewis's for Scotch Guard It's a bit pricey though:thumbdwn:

And if you do get some, Get 2 cans :(

Not sure where to buy such products, I just know of their existence, and the fact when we bought our Volvo my girlfriend paid the extra cost for engraving the windows and scotchguarding the sweet sweet innards.

I'm actually convinced the interior was already treated BEFORE we had bought the car, seeing as the salesman was driving it and no doubt needed to keep it neat inside, and it didn't look any different after taking delivery and I had noticed a few marks that hadn't been removed before supposed treatment.

But I've heard good things about Scotchguard protection products, and can't be a bad thing with those vRS off-white seats!

Try eBay for Scotchguard. Personally, I have just tried the LifeShine spray on my seats, guess time will tell to see how well that works.

Out of interest what other cars you test drive?

Out of interest what other cars you test drive?

Clio 197, Mazda3 Sport, Fiesta ST and older Civic Type-R. Looking around the £10,000 mark +/- £1-2000 and not particularly interested in top speed as I find acceleration more useful. Though the other cars have quicker 0-60 times quoted, they just seemed to be high revvers with no torque and little wow-factor. Loved the looks of the 197 and was a great drive, but after 4th gear it just didn't feel like it had much left for the 5th and 6th gears, and while I liked the exhaust note I think it would tire quickly during motorway driving as it was pretty loud at 60 and above.

Maybe I've just become used to driving a diesel (heaven forbid!) but none of them had the wow-factor I found while accelerating in the Fabia vRS. Just seemed more fun to drive (to me) but I'm sure many would disagree. For the price and fun factor, I think the Fabia vRS is a winner. Also love the looks and feel of the Octavia vRS, so I think one of those might be in the cards in the future. I haven't even bought a Fabia and look at me declaring brand loyalty, ha-ha.

PS. The description of your Fabia in your signature sounds intriguing Stuno1, and seeing as I may be in the market for some new alloys sometime in the future and am checking out all the photos I can on this forum, do you have any links to some photos of your sweet ride?

Hi Dave

Have my Fabia vRs advertised here for 8695, it has only done 12800 miles, here is the link

Skoda : vRs 12700 miles

Regards

Link below, was a bold decision going for these wheels and in my opinion it paid off. They are definately wheels for the younger generation! Attracts a lot of attention, not always the right type either!

I am now looking at the Mazda 3 mps aero, but if i kept this would put on v-maxx coilovers, tint the windows, alloy sump guard and jabba ARB.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/new-shoes-not-through-coice/91482/

The seats? I vaxed mine after a year and they look fine. A little grubby before. They are comfortable- I first thought they were a bit soft after my Audi, but they are actually very supportive.

I'd ditch the standard stereo. It seems to eat CDs- had one of mine for a fortnight, and it only came out after leaving the car in aiport parking for a week. The ancient pioneer I fitted instead sounds better and is easier to use.

Oh Hi by the way :-)

I Scotchguarded my seats hoping it would be ok but they still watermarked with rain and faded to a grubby grey.

Leather was inevitable. £800 or so quid later and the seats were clad in perforated black with grey stitching (inc door cards) at the Seat Surgeons. Best thing I've ever done with the car.

Trouble is, leather also needs care as it goes shiny really easily. I don't find myself cleaning the seats like before but they still need attention with some leather cleaner and feed.