2004 Skoda Fabia vRS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Having recently sold a Subi WRX and X Type 3.0 Sport, and replaced these with two Skodas; a Fabia vRS for the wife and an Octavia vRS for me, I can conclude the following.

The WRX was fast, but cost the earth to run. The Fabia is a great little car, can't remember when I last filled it up, not as fast as the subi, but who really cares; it's fast enough, insurance group 9, not 19.

The Octavia is by far a better car than the jag, better built, better to drive, and without the shocking transmission.

Conclusion, I do not care if a Fabia vRS is faster or slower than a vtec or anything else, all I know is that it drives well, is well built, and does not attract the silly profit that some so called prestige brands make from the brand sheep.

I've had 2 Fabia vRS's now, the first was remapped and never missed a beat, sold at 80k miles. The second is new, it'll be remapped very soon.

It's the first time ever I've felt the need to buy the same model car twice! This Skoda package is truly unsurpassed at the price (let's compare like for like cost wise please).

Performance wise, at risk of perpetuating the childish '0-60 / I beat this car' bull, the remapped Furby can and does provide many more grins than is necessary.

Mondeo V6, Clio 172, Fiesta ST150 (a fair comparison) even Cooper S, yes the tweaked Fabia can eat them all (from personal experience).

Oh, it goes like hell on the motorway - really.

I'm sure it feels very fast to you, but have you ever owned a real fast car? The fabia VRS will have a lot of torque, but that's it, it will pull a caravan very well.

Above comment. lmfao!!! That was a funny comment, totally agree with you, well said!

In response to the comment from 19th Nov 2007, when I said that my MG was as fast as the Fabia I was being kind-it weighs less and has more bhp and torque. I was actually pointing out that the vRS is a nippy car and that it was getting a lot of stick - but now I can see why.

The vRS isn't a hot hatch, it is a warm hatch. Maybe with a remap like yours is then it could be bordering on hot hatch territory. The 7 second runs 0-60 I find hard to believe, the Golf GT TDI 150 has a book figure of 8 and a half seconds and the Fabia is not going to be any faster given its slightly less power to weight ratio.

And yes diesels do feel faster than they are, I drive one, but it's true.

Seriously, I think many people should get a grip on this forum, and try to understand the point.

Fabia VRS owners are aware that an unmodified furby will not beat a CTR etc off the lights, and quite frankly most VRS owners really don't care.

I drive an Elise 111r myself, but my other half has an unmodified Fabia VRS. Brilliant little car. It's now done 50,000 miles with no problems. Overtaking is effortless, just find a gap and go. Real world performance is quite a shock initially. Yes a car like a CTR would pull away from the Fabia on a tricky a-road, but who really gives a s*!?. The point is for those of us who are not obsessed with proving how quick your car is off the lights, the Fabia is a truly excellent car.

Granted, it doesn't come close to my Elise for thrills or speed/handling, but that's not what it is there for. And I've no doubt that the VRS would pull away from most standard hot hatches in the mid-range; after all it's not easy to keep up in my Elise from 30-70, and that's with the other half driving it (on an autobahn)! Very humbling in a car that cost over twice as much new.

Oh, and as for getting 40mph in any Elise with any style of driving; it's a little unrealistic. Yet even in slow driving around town the Fabia returns 45!!!

Brilliant car.

Have just sold my WRX STi and an A6 2.7 twin turbo. I believe I am aware of what's fast; I have always owned quick cars. Clio valves, GT turbos, HF turbo.

I have just replaced my girlfriend's Fabia SDI with the vRS. I am shocked at how quick it is. I have a friend with a VX220 and from 60-110, 4th, fifth and sixth, it will keep up. THIS IS STANDARD VRS.

Yes they are quick, and I would suggest any one drove one before they comment. The 0-60 isn't all that quick compared with a Subaru, but once it's going it is fast - also stayed up with 350z - I'm sure off the mark they can be beaten, but are a lot of fun and really really upset people.

They just look like crap; no amount of washing will make it look any different!