2005 Skoda Fabia vRS from Croatia - Comments

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!

Yes, ABS on a bumpy road is death, that is its biggest drawback

Turbodiesels are never as fast as they feel. If they were, nobody would buy petrol cars.

It's me again (the author =) ).

I had to make a little trip around the country in the last two days, traveled a bit over 600km.

Anyway, I calculated the fuel consumption not by the board computer, but by filling it up to the fullest at the gas station. 100% of very active city driving, 8.5l/100km! And it could go lower!

On the other hand, open road (measured on 310km), 5.6l! And I didn't spare it, no-one was in front of me =)

Highway consumption is 6.7l (measured on ~270km), mostly driving around 140-150.

Also had more fun with a lot more powerful cars =) ) )

Will keep you updated since my radio antenna is dead, can't catch anything anymore, and the car is shaking while driving fast. Will see what the dealer has to say.

Got the radio fixed!

The new adapter I bought was obviously faulty.

Skoda's adapter was a direct one (doesn't have a cord) and the radio picks up even the weakest stations!

This pleasure cost me a full 1.5 Eur =)

I have a bit of oil consumption, found out that 1 liter of 5W-40 full synthetic costs ~15 Eur!

I got the car chip-tuned to 164hp. Pulls very hard; the gears are too short, first four are shot in no time.

A bit more smoke.

The powerband is now shorter than before, the pump is felt up to 3800rpm when the power runs out quickly... Too bad since at stock 131hp I revved it regularly to 4500rpm, response and power was more linear.

Anyway, in one word, the the car is *BRUTAL*.

Just to update the status of the car.

Now at 33500km.

I've had the "silent blocks" replaced with the ones from the Ibiza Cupra at 27500km. The car's steering response was massively improved, I just couldn't believe the difference! Steering was extremely sharp until 1000km ago...

I was driving on the highway, around 150km/h, the car started shaking... More, then more and more... Until something suddenly CRACKED from under the bonnet and the car started loosing direction. At first I thought I have a flat tyre, but all of them are fine... Now the car was pulling to the side, shook aggressively above 120km/h and the steering was "butter-a-like".

The car's steering is no more precise, I have a feeling like something that is holding the steering wheel firm to the suspension is broken.

I was at my official dealer and they did a "suspension adjustment", that thing they do with lasers to center the wheels. Which got rid of the pulling to the side, but shaking was still there, I got that fixed with new & balanced tyres, but the unresponsive steering is not fixed.

Unfortunately, the car behaves 100% normal the way it is so I don't really have any arguments for the warranty and don't know what to do, I only know the steering was a dream, before that something cracked from under the hood.

Other than that I had a pierced hose (the one coming from the EGR), seems like a design flaw since the hose is constantly rubbing against a sharp bolt. I got a new one under warranty, but it was still getting rubbed so I intervened and stick a sponge to that part of the hose.

I've changed the disc/pads/brake fluid. It was in very poor condition, I'm assigning that to my poor driving habits (lots of uphill/downhill racing).

I've burnt two pairs of tyres (the stock ones), now I'm on Dunlop Sport MAXXs instead of the stock Continentals SportContact2s, and I can't judge the performance because of the steering problem mentioned above (although I think the Contis are much better).

The fuel consumption is astonishing again, now at 7.5l/100km in city.

Oil consumption is pretty fair, in 6000km at 7/10 lines on the dipstick. I guess that's 0.3l of oil consumed.

I'm very satisfied with the car all in all!

P.S. I raced a Fabia 1.9TDI 100hp with a custom remap, it BEAT my 131hp + remap to 164hp (156 measured)! I couldn't believe it, it just has more acceleration... Judging from the black-blue-white smoke coming from the exhaust, it's heavily re-mapped and the durability is compromised...

Okay, a little update again.

There was a knocking sound coming from the suspension when turning the wheel left-right. It was pretty loud, that was the steering rack and it was changed under warranty.

But still, the wobbly-wobbly turning isn't solved, I'm scheduled for another service in a few days... The warranty is just about out.

And the clutch is bothering me, seems like the flywheel is busted so there is no smooth and linear delivery of power when depressing the clutch pedal, but rather like a sluggish and harsh delivery... That is not covered under warranty because of my remap, but the "tuner house" gave me a written warranty in case if this happens, they take over whatever is damaged by the remap... Pretty nice I guess, I'm scheduled for them tomorrow, will update ASAP if anything is solved.

Ah, no help from the official dealer, the only thing important to them is that the car is in one piece, only if something is broken down seriously then they pull the warranty (eg. if your car stops and you cant move). So none of my problems are solved and I'm being fed up with the car :- (

- the mushy steering is probably a busted torsion bar in the power-steering pump

- the mushy clutch is a busted flywheel

And just the other day, while the I was staying still in traffic the clutch didn't want to disengage!!! The car was in gear, with the clutch pressed all the way down, but the car wanted to move and the engine rpm lowered, you can only move the gear knob to neutral with excessive force!

- that is probably a busted clutch cylinder.

Heh, three problems, none solved under warranty because of their policy mentioned above.

All of the things are very expensive to replace except the clutch cylinder which should be around 50€.

Will consider selling the car.

P.S. I removed the remap and went to the stock one, the car is now a dream, NO SMOKE, not one little bit of smoke, absolutely amazing. and the power is not THAT very different, it still has the grunt. I will also consider if I'll ever put it back (at least if there would be no smoke).

P.P.S. if anyone else would try the car as it is now, they would tell me I'm mad and delusional because the car runs perfectly. That is actually very good if I plan to sell it :-) but the truth is that the whole car somehow became unscrewed, like everything went loose :-/

Get an independent mechanic to find out what is wrong with your clutch and steering - while the dealer might try to tell you that what you are experiencing is not covered under warranty, chances are it is. After you have a report from the mechanic take it to the dealer and tell them you want it fixed under warranty. I don't know too much about the mechanics of cars, but a crack from under the bonnet could be an engine mount or a suspension bushing somewhere.

I have just bought a Skoda Fabia 1.4 IPM, this car I am told is an eight valve. My concern is an erratic tick over, the car doesn't seem to idle properly when stood. The dealer where I bought the car says it is a characteristic of the eight valve, and they are all the same. Has anybody had the same problem or should I seek a second opinion.

Ask on briskoda.net - a bunch of very helpful Skoda enthusiasts.

Again a little update on the car. Now at ~43500km:

- front left wheel bearing was busted, I got that replaced under warranty (a spare part warranty, the factory warranty expired)

- that aluminum hose at the back of the engine (between the engine and the chassis) is broken, actually it's support beam, so now it's hanging in the air instead of being fixed. Does not impact performance or anything, just nasty to look at.

- I got a "tenth" opinion for the mushy steering; the mechanic got INTO the car, ducked under the steering wheel, grabbed the shaft that goes from the steering wheel to the steering rack and guess what... *KLING* *KLING*... so that's probably what's broken, and what HAS been broken when I was at the dealers when under warranty, but THEY overlooked it... I'll try to get that under warranty when I grab some time.

All in all, the car is OK, and I'm very pleased with it.

p.s. for the 1.4MPI owner, yes it's pretty common for those engines to be rough while idle.