2004 Skoda Fabia vRS review from UK and Ireland

No faults.

Fun to drive, 55 mpg and £6.5k for a minter that's only just had its first MOT. If you're not one of those sad badge snob people, it's about as good as cars get.

Not a traffic light dragster, but the instant wallop on tap puts a hundred yards between you and any following traffic before other drivers have chance to downshift and follow. In gear punch is in the league of a standard Cosworth or Subaru, but being a diesel it obviously won't rev and therefore ultimately accelerate as quickly. Floor it at 2,000 RPM though, and most day to day traffic goes backwards very quickly.

Makes most cars you drive afterwards feel frustratingly flat and gutless!

Handling is acceptable - typical VAG overlight steering and overservoed brakes, but what do you want for the money? It's not a Porsche. The VW PD engine is also sounding very agricultural by common rail standards, but its punch is something else.

Build quality is more than up to VW standards with perfect panel alignment, deep, lustrous paint and a lovely taut feel to all the controls and switchgear. It has to be said that the dash plastics look a little cheaper, but it's a solid little car overall that feels 10x better built than a Clio or 206. Comfy too, with good seats and a natural driving position, and excellent motorway ability thanks to the tall 6th and copious torque.

Dislikes are really minor gripes. I don't like the non-linear speedo calibration which sees the increments below 90 mph given bigger spacing than those over 90 mph. This means smaller needle movements for bigger speed increases around the ban territory. The car will sail past 100 mph so effortlessly in top that you have to be a little careful. I've found myself at nearly 110 instead of what I thought was high 90's a few times.

And I'm not sure about the cheesy green brake calipers.

I'm now thinking about getting it remapped. 185 bhp for £450 is very tempting, and would turn this into a genuinely quick car by any standards.

Buy one. They're fabulous!