2005 Skoda Fabia vRS from UK and Ireland - Comments

We have now had the car for one month and just done 1000 miles this car drives better than expected and has had no faults, performance is good, but mpg is not as good as stated by car mags etc as we have only been getting approx 40 mpg (but not if you drive hard, had it down to 29 mpg) all in all though an excellent buy (especially if you go to autofinders.co.uk you could save upto 1300 gbp)

How is the vrs a hot hatch??

Its pathetically slow 0-60 in 10.4 sec 0-100 34.6sec.

Looks very dull, can't handle, sounds like a tractor... the list goes on. its barely a warm hatch. Get real! All you have is a slow runabout which even a Basic saxo would give a run for its money!

YOU who posts the figures there - those are incorrect figures!

Stop posting crap information!

The manfs. 0-60 time is 9.5 seconds, and several mags, have recorded 0-60's well into the low 8's, with Auto Express actually recording 8.2 (i think) seconds BEFORE they had theirs chipped to 160bhp. (check the mag if you don't believe me)

The 10.4 seconds you mention might be the tdi (100bhp) but it's definitely not the vRS (130bhp).

The vRS is DEFINITELY faster than a Saxo VTR.

If anyone is talking CRAP its YOU!

Skoda claims 9.6 sec actually, to 60mph. But a few mags including autocar have tested the vrs and got 0-60 in about 10 odd sec and 0-100mph in 33 or 34 sec. NO HOT HATCH! It might have 130bhp, but it weighs 1315kg and only has 99bhp per ton. SAXO VTR has slightly higher power to weight ratio and is FASTER + handles better! SO as I said BEFORE LITTLE BOY, your car is BARELY a warm hatch. Just accept the facts, all you drive is a runabout, and no one with a sporty car will bother to race you, because your car is just to slow and laughable!

P.S O.A.P car for the old!

I haven't commented on this review until now. Anybody with common sense doesn't race on public roads as it doesn't prove anything apart from stupidity and complete disregard for others. To the commenter who continually keeps slagging off the VRS, perhaps you'd like to share with the rest of us which car you own as its obvious you know best. As for the patronising comments to the other commenter ie "little boy", its hardly a good argument is it? Its also clear you have a great dislike of diesel cars, especially Skodas which is fine as its your opinion. You can tell me its slow, you can tell me it sounds like a tractor (I agree it does, especially on start up, but you tend not to notice it when it warms up and your on the move) you can tell me its not a hot hatch (I happen to agree with the "its no hot hatch" comment) you can also tell me it's an oap's car and that it handles badly (I've owned several french cars and I agree its not as good, but its not that bad either). I've also had random people come ask me about the car and more positive comments than any other I've owned. I've certainly not been laughed at, although I've had the usual "yes, but it's a Skoda" comments from some work colleagues, but you expect that with those who favour image over anything else. I hate all this 0-60 rubbish, but as your so obsessed with performance figures and facts I managed to dig out the Autocar figures from the test dated 12/10/04 for your reference as follows: 0-60 7.2 seconds (Autocar quote "Skoda claims a 0-62 time of 9.6sec, but we managed consistent times of 8.2sec and one incredible, but genuine, non-wind-assisted run of 7.2sec"). A few more figures from the same article: 0-100mph 23.8secs, 30-70mph (through the gears) 7.6secs. The figures you quote are similar to those in the back pages of Autocar for the test on the 1.4 16v on 09/02/00. Why everybody is so obsessed with 0-60 times is beyond me, what do you want to do? race to the next set of traffic lights? What does that prove? What appealed to me with this car is its real world performance, value for money and mpg. Its not perfect, but then tell me a car that is? You can continually slag it off all you like, but its clear there are a vast number of owners on this site and other sites who are more than happy with it. Whatever you say you'll not change their minds or mine.

I think he owns an old clapped out V.W.- probably "hotted up", so that he can, at least, keep up with a granny on a scooter. In your own words, sonny, "except" the facts!

The VRS is not a slow car. Dig out the episode of top gear where the Clarkson drives the VRS and Hammond drives a new mini cooper in a race. The mini is better in the corners, but in a straight line the VRS just walks away from the mini full stop. To the person who is being a d******d, go back the playing with your 1.1 with big wheels and a drainpipe for an exhaust. GET A LIFE!!!

Why are people BHP obsessed? look at the torque, more than some Porsches! And torque is more important in the real world. If I want BHP and 0-60 I'll drag my Yamaha R1 out.

LOL! About the torque being more than some Porsches... I've heard that in sixth gear at 80km/h both Porsche 911 and Fabia RS have the same acceleration, or that one is a bit faster than the other.

Anyway, a pretty silly comparison since noone in the right mind doesn't drive at 1500rpm around town while flooring the pedal =)

25th Jan. have you or haven't you driven one? well? What do you drive? I don't own a VRS, but have had the utter pleasure of driving one. People who own VRS's are realistic in their driving. Who goes round flooring the pedal here and there, trying to get max 0-60 time only god know's. And even if you did, the amount of petrol it would consume. Somebody's Daddy might own a petrol station then that's a different scenario. LOL.

The VRS seems to consistently bring a smile to most of the owners on this site, probably more than any other car on this site... Are they all wrong? They have the facts. They own one.

Having gone from an Audi A4 to a Fabia VRS I have to agree that the Fabia isn't a grandiose car nor is it a "hot hatch" but I just love the car!

I've owned it about 2 months I wouldn't change it for anything (well perhaps a that Bugatti) The only time I would be interested in the 0-60 speed is if I started moonlighting as a getaway driver.

The midrange pull of this car is where it all is.

It has all the Skoda sensibilities with all the engineering and technology of a VW and costs a lot less to buy, insure and tax.

And it's not a french rust bucket.

I drive an Impreza with Pro Drive Performance upgrades, de-cats, you get the picture. As I am driving huge miles I know that if I want to keep the Subaru I need to get something economical for the daily commute. My budget is enough to get a new vRS and had tried a few other diesels before test driving the vRS. I was completely knocked out, it's not a rocket, but it sure is spot on for my needs, nippy, frugal and fun. I'm picking mine up this week.

So, as someone who does have a nearly 300 BHP car I can say that it's way better than I ever expected and the standard set up is bang on for normal driving, better than an Impeza around town and so cheap it's astonishing.

I only wrote this because of the comments above about it being a rubbish car performance wise. It's not.

People are interested in 0-60 times etc because its part of being enthusiastic about cars, it's a benchmark at which cars are rated, 0-100 30-70 etc too. And most people do drive carefully most of the time, but the best fun blast's ARE 2 lanes 0-60 or more from the lights. I too own a prodrive scoob and its perfect for getting to the next set of lights fast and fun!

WOW! it is amazing how this car has attracted so much comment both negative and positive!

As a VRS owner for just over 2 years I have to say it has met all the challenges I set it.

Pros

FUN!,Reliable, Practical, and low cost of motoring.

Cons, Rolls a little more than I like, but a set of stiffer springs could sort that out. Interior seat colour gets dirty, but a leather upgrade has been ordered.Doesn't stand out in a crowd (could be a Pro?)

Anyway would I buy another? Yes without doubt and a number of friends / family who have driven mine have also been tempted. The days of the Skoda jokes are over.

The Seat Ibiza and Cordoba Tdi 130 are also worth considering, same engine, marginally faster because they are both lighter than the Fabia, and pretty good suspension set up, minimal body roll, but a touch firm, but many people like that.

I've owned a VRS for two months now, can't fault anything exept the start up noise which is non-existant over 30mph anyway!! Downsizing from an 54 reg Impreza WRX, I can say overall

this car has surprised me in all categories, especially the fuel economy even when driven fast gives you 40mpg.:), plus 'almost' on par with wrx performance on 95 unleaded.