2005 Skoda Fabia vRS review from Croatia

I've had the car for less than two weeks so nothing serious that could have gone wrong, then again...

There is some weird resonating noise coming from under the car when full throttle is applied. Maybe it's the exhaust. (Anyone?)

The antenna is probably not set up correctly since my radio can't search for stations automatically, only manually. When set, the signal is lost if I enter narrow streets or tree avenues!

When going over 120km/h I hear a *TUP* *TUP* *TUP* noise from somewhere, I doubt it's a rock between tire channels since it's been there from day one.

Got a screw in my rear left tire the very first day I had the car (now have a new tire, this one is a reserve) =)

I must say that carsurvey.org was one of the biggest decisive arguments for buying a new car. It was the vRS that had great reviews and since it was my first choice the thing was set! Got it new from the factory in under one month.

What to say about the car that hasn't been said already? It's damn faster than the SDI I test drove =)

Now seriously, it's extremely quiet for a diesel, inside you can barely hear it.

The turbo is very happy, whooshes even at 1100rpm's.

Ride setup is really something I admire, handling is GREAT while not sacrificing comfort. City driving is a breeze, don't hear or feel the potholes, no fear climbing sidewalks either.

Already had a few close calls, once I braked in the middle of a bend and the car just said "At this point most cars would meet you to that tree over there, but I won't so be careful next time" =) The car tells you exactly where its limits are!

Tires that come with the car (Continental ContiSport2) are very good, even when raining the car doesn't slip in second and third! Nice looks too.

Looks of the car... In daylight it doesn't quite show itself, but when night falls (dusk especially) and the xenon headlights fire up... Uh, it just runs through you like poison.

Now something I would like other Fabia VRS owners to comment...

I thought the car would be FASTER.

Yes, it gives punch in every gear.

Yes, it goes 160km/h in town without even knowing it.

Yes, it goes thorough city traffic like hell.

Yes, other cars just pile up in your rear view mirror.

But I expected more...

Somehow when I pass the initial punch there isn't any more brutal acceleration. The speedo and the revs go up, but no feel = (

Maybe it's due to the it's heavy weight, by the papers I got with it... 1347kg!!! Somehow I doubt it's true, more like 1247kg.

I even had a few measurements of my own.

80-120km/h in fourth the RS does in 6.8s.

My old Nexia (75hp, 990kg) did that in third in 7.5s. Not such a big difference.

The 700 eur ECU mod to 164Hp is my next upgrade, will have to wait for that though (or buy one of those Powerboxes for 300 which I don't like)...

The fuel economy isn't bright either 10l/100km in town and 6.5 open road.

Maybe that goes to the fact the car is new and the revs never drop under 2000 (I always accelerate at over 3000, don't want any outtake elemets clogging). Also, quite often I drive like I stole it =)

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, ABS on bumpy road is death! But that's not Skodas fault.

What other people have already mentioned is the "looks of other peoples faces when you pass them". That is incredibly true! I have to share this with you...

Just the other day I was cruising around town when a BMW 3xx (the old one which looks like a cube) fully tuned (alloy wheels, sports exhaust, sports suspension...) got past me doing a slalom during rush hour. I waited till the traffic cleared and then just put the pedal to the metal...

That next moment was the very reason Skoda built this car.

When the guy saw the xenon headlight in his rear view mirror, he revved his BMW to the fullest, but it was too late, I just wooshed past him.

Now, what happened next is truly amazing.

He saw it was a SKODA FABIA that took him, I was going about 120~130km/h and had to take a turn right, I slowed down. It was obvious he had to go straight because of his speed, but NO, he stopped in the middle of the road and wanted to go around me somehow, just to be first, left right, almost looked like he wanted to go over the sidewalk! But it was too late, we got to another traffic jam and I slowly stopped while he went his old way furious =) ) )

I had more similar occurrences, but none so interesting (more like giving a short honk or blink when the race is over), yet =)

If you can't buy one, definitely TRY one, you'll love it!