Hi all,

I currently drive a scooby but am only using it for the commute to work. THB its sucks plodding along at 65-70 on the m'way still getting 20ish mpg.

I've been looking at the VRS but wanted to know - what other cars were around with half decent power and give good mpg?

Thought it best to ask here since you have already done your research before your purchases.

Cheers

anything with the same engine will be about as good on a motorway, but if you want something to chuck around on b roads too then the fabia/ibiza/golf/leon are going to better than the passat/a4/a6 etc

If you don't need anything large, or you are not overlarge yourself, I suggest a Mazda MX5.

Reasonable mpg, and terrific fun.

I suggest a Mazda MX5.

Reasonable mpg, and terrific fun.

I've heard they're good but not my cup of tea I'm affraid :P

Anyone got any other suggestions?

So far I have Fabia VRS, Ibiza TDi (which model?), golf TDi (model?)

for ibiza i'd recommend the cupra tdi (160bhp) and there's a golf tdi which comes with 170bhp think it the GT model.

both can be remapped to prob touching 200bhp

... Ibiza TDi (which model?), golf TDi (model?)

Ibiza FR (130bhp) or Ibiza Cupra (160bh)

Golf TDi 130bhp or Golf GT Tdi 150 bhp, those come with 4motion usually (over here they do)

they don't normally come with 4mottion over here but i think they can.

Or wait for the diesel Impreza: 4 wheel drive, 45mpg and 180bhp....

If youre prepared to go new look at the PUG 308 GT (diesel) Spec is very good for price.

Fiat Grande Punto 130BHP also diesel. ( ask sharkrider he has a GP )

What sort of budget do you have if we know this it might help

I can't believe nobody has suggested a diesel Octy vrs :eek:.

Similar size/practicality as a scooby, decent performance and good mpg. The petrol octy vrs economy is also pretty good, so if you were somewhat avert to diesels then it would still be a good improvement on your scooby.

I've heard they're good but not my cup of tea I'm affraid :P

You must be heterosexual then

I can't believe nobody has suggested a diesel Octy vrs :eek:.

Similar size/practicality as a scooby, decent performance and good mpg. The petrol octy vrs economy is also pretty good, so if you were somewhat avert to diesels then it would still be a good improvement on your scooby.

they are a little dull tho:D

they are a little dull tho:D

Oh yeah, what i was i thinking, dull as ditchwater.......well, in comparison to a furby anyway:rofl:

IThe petrol octy vrs economy is also pretty good, so if you were somewhat avert to diesels then it would still be a good improvement on your scooby.

I think you must have been reading the official spec sheet , or swmbo needs to exercise a lighter foot :(

Lady E is very impressed with her 1 series diesal if your budget stretches that far?

my octavia 4x4(so heavier then a vRS with shorter gears) and running a bigger turbo and about 270bhp on a long run back from scotland at about 90mph with me booting it all the time as it had only just been done and i loved it still got about 34mpg

so driving steady and you can see more, you can get an actual 32mpg+ out of one.

You must be heterosexual then

What sort of budget do you have if we know this it might help

About 9K to 9.5K tops. Not huge.

The only thing thats putting me off the Fabia VRS at the moment is what I've heard about the handling, thats why I was after some other suggestions before I organise my test drives

mine outhandled a lot of the scoobs on a recent west yorkshire imprezza owners club trackday,contrary to popular belief you can get them to handle awesomely

mine outhandled a lot of the scoobs on a recent west yorkshire imprezza owners club trackday,contrary to popular belief you can get them to handle awesomely

exactly and it only has coil overs, different anti-roll bars, poly bushes, different wheels and tyres, an LSD, strut braces, bigger brakes etc etc

exactly and it only has coil overs, different anti-roll bars, poly bushes, different wheels and tyres, an LSD, strut braces, bigger brakes etc etc

:rofl::rofl:i never said it was easy:thumbup:270bhp may be a bit much to overcome tho;)

exactly and it only has coil overs, different anti-roll bars, poly bushes, different wheels and tyres, an LSD, strut braces, bigger brakes etc etc

Hehe this is what I'm worried about, I'm up for getting the rear anti-roll bar.

But I don't want to have to spend around £800??? on improving the handling.

I guess what I'm getting at is -

is the handling as bad as the reviews say?

could it be 'fixed' with the rear ARB alone?

or do I realistically have to buy struts & springs to make it on a par with other hot hatches?

How about a Focus TDCI? Not bad little motors and they go round corners pretty well

About 9K to 9.5K tops. Not huge.

The only thing thats putting me off the Fabia VRS at the moment is what I've heard about the handling, thats why I was after some other suggestions before I organise my test drives

I drive a Fabia VRS and an Impreza P1. Previous day-to-day car was a Citroen AX GT.

Impreza corners and brakes flat, ultimately, the back end feels adjustable under provocation.

Fabia VRS, standard. Nose dives quite remarkably under heavy braking, which gives the impression you are slowing down quicker than you really are. Leans a bit in the corners, though not massively. Power-off through power-on transitions mid corner seemed to cause real problem for the stock rear suspension leading to lurching and a "WTF!" moment or two.

A rear ARB is a must have IMO, if you're going to drive enthusiastically. For all that it cures a lot of the rear suspension woes, it also helps keep the opposite front wheel down, keeps the car flatter and allows power to be fed in more quickly.

I think a re-springing is about the only thing that will cure the nose-dive under braking. Or buy one ready modded.

J.

:rofl::rofl:i never said it was easy:thumbup:270bhp may be a bit much to overcome tho;)

th'ambulance should be 270+ bhp, and it has much better brakes, much better grip and much better traction. and he aint gonna drive th'ambulance any different to how he did mavis last year...