Fabia RS reviewed in Irish Times

quad_red

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2011/0126/1224288311634.html

All this sounds, looks and feels good. Start it up and there is a satisfying burble. It is snarly and mischievous in the way that a car like this ought to be.

Find a gap or escape the confines of the city and you can pull on the paddles and the double-clutch gearbox has already lined up the correct gear. It is ultra responsive and once you have tried this gearbox you will be converted.

This car feels fast.

This is a practical car that won’t cost the earth to run, is well equipped, blistering fun when you want it to be, and anything but boring. And it costs €16,095 less than a Golf GTi with DSG.

We have one bit of advice about the Fabia RS: form an orderly queue.

Which all sounds fantastic. Great performance, quality and awesome value.

But... but.... LOOK AT IT! It's dire looking :eek: Skoda have everything else down. Performance, quality - why can't they hire someone decent in terms of aesthetics?!?! I'd consider myself badge neutral and have seriously considered the Octavia - but it's not the badge that would put me off it's the look of it. And the Fabia is the same.



EDIT: Apparently the above isn't actually the VRS version. See below for VRS (not much different for me tbh!)

[IMG][/img]http://www.blogofcar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2011-Skoda-Fabia-RS.jpg

thirtythirty

Skoda's, mechanically, are excellent, but they need to give the boot (hold for joke about massive) to their tweed jacket, monacle wearing, pipe smoking lead designer.

All their cars have that ugly mustache and dated bonnet line which I think completely ruins them. The sides and back aren't much better - could have been taken straight off a massive standard airfix template.

Cionád

Looks nice in the right guise imo

Anan1

spottyelephant wrote: »

Skoda's, mechanically, are excellent, but they need to give the boot (hold for joke about massive) to their tweed jacket, monacle wearing, pipe smoking lead designer.

Looking bland is actually a major plus for owners who intend to use the available performance on public roads.

Mr Benevolent

Feck that, I want one. 180hp DSG? Yeehaw!

Alanstrainor

Confab wrote: »

Feck that, I want one. 180hp DSG? Yeehaw!

+1, i'd take one!

Henry Ford III

Boot isn't big enough. Octavia fans will be livid.

p.s. That twincharged engine has been known to be troublesome too.

Leonard Hofstadter

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Boot isn't big enough. Octavia fans will be livid.

p.s. That twincharged engine has been known to be troublesome too.

Indeed it is, and VW are replacing it with a larger capacity engine that only has a turbocharger. They're talking about replacing it with a 1.6 turbo producing up to 180 bhp.

The lower output 122 bhp engine will continue, as that does not have a surpercharger, which the more powerful 1.4 TSI's have.

Hal1

I always liked the fabia, but the older shaped one in particular. The new one would probably grow on me and I'm sure with that turbo it wouldn't take too long:p. It just reminds me of a mini in a way:o.

tweedledee

Totally wicked charriot, I drove a green one,dosn't look as bad???????? It goes like ****e of a stick, its very, VERY quick. Scary if U dont know what u are doing. Am gona wait till they sort out the new engine, but even today its a bargain for what you get. The looks of the car might put off a few joyriders until they notice the RS badge.

squod

quad_red wrote: »

.

It's ugly as sin. I know skodas are meant to be great value n'all. But couldn't they have spent a teeny bit on a car designer?

EPM

squod wrote: »

It's ugly as sin. I know skodas are meant to be great value n'all. But couldn't they have spent a teeny bit on a car designer?

That's a CGI though. A good few subtle differences between that and the real thing. Looks like most of the supermini crop to be honest.

That green Fabia vRS looks very well;)

quad_red

quad_red wrote: »

I'd consider myself badge neutral and have seriously considered the Octavia - but it's not the badge that would put me off it's the look of it. And the Fabia is the same.

Octavia and Fabia are both fairly rotten looking alright. Still, careful colour section makes a big difference.

listermint

Id have to agree OP, ive no problem on the badges. They really really really need to improve on the design stakes and they would grab very much a larger market share.

It defies understanding.

fletch

Replacing my current '04 Fabia vRS with an '11 Fabia vRS in Rallye Green...can't wait for it to arrive. And it doesn't look anything like the picture the OP posted.

Joe 90

captainspeed wrote: »

Indeed it is, and VW are replacing it with a larger capacity engine that only has a turbocharger. They're talking about replacing it with a 1.6 turbo producing up to 180 bhp.

The lower output 122 bhp engine will continue, as that does not have a surpercharger, which the more powerful 1.4 TSI's have.

Better still why not the 1.6 with a supercharger? Or even better a 2 litre NA?
Oh I forgot, the emissions police:)

Mr Benevolent

fletch wrote: »

Replacing my current '04 Fabia vRS with an '11 Fabia vRS in Rallye Green...can't wait for it to arrive. And it doesn't look anything like the picture the OP posted.

Did you get anything off the list price?

fletch

fletch wrote: »

Replacing my current '04 Fabia vRS with an '11 Fabia vRS in Rallye Green...can't wait for it to arrive. And it doesn't look anything like the picture the OP posted.

No? Strange, is the pic the OP put up not a current Fabia?

Zubeneschamali

squod wrote: »

It's ugly as sin.

My theory (which is mine) is that VW only let them make cars which are cheaper, better-built and better equipped than the equivalent VW as long as they make them ugly.

There has to be some reason for folks to buy a Passat instead of a Superb, a Golf instead of an Octavia, or in this case, paying 20% extra for a Polo GTi instead of a Fabia VRs.

fletch

Confab wrote: »

Did you get anything off the list price?

Yes... Bought mine off Paul in Annesley Williams and he did me a great deal.

RoverJames wrote: »

No? Strange, is the pic the OP put up not a current Fabia?

It is yes but not the vRS. Drop into Annesley Williams, they've a silver one on demo with a black roof and dark chrome alloys, it looks a lot different to a standard Fabia!

tweedledee

Agree 100% with Zube,the big boss must insist they look awful.But the Fabia vRS destroys both the Golf and the rubbish Polo in most aspects except looks.:D

fletch

fletch wrote: »

Yes...
It is yes but not the vRS. Drop into Annesley Williams, they've a silver one on demo with a black roof and dark chrome alloys, it looks a lot different to a standard Fabia

I actually won't drop into Annesley Williams, cheers though

the two yokes below look an awful lot similar to me
(similarly rotten looking)

quad_red wrote: »

Cionád wrote: »

Fizman

tweedledee wrote: »

Agree 100% with Zube,the big boss must insist they look awful.But the Fabia vRS destroys both the Golf and the rubbish Polo in most aspects except looks.:D

Are you comparing the VRS to a standard Golf or a Golf GTI? I'd struggle to come up with examples of where it destroys the GTI in most aspects tbh (except price obviously).

Henry Ford III

Brochure of the new Fabia RS here

It's a quite high sided car, so will always struggle to look "sporty".

Cionád

Looks are subjective in any case. Some people like MG ZTs, others like vRS Fabias.

I like both

The Fabia looks better than the Polo GTI in my opinion. In any case you cant see what it looks like from the inside.

Theboinkmaster

Absolutely disgusting looking car. I don't care that it's good value - it's pig ugly.

Fizman

Cionád wrote: »

Looks are subjective in any case. Some people like MG ZTs, others like vRS Fabias.

I like both

The Fabia looks better than the Polo GTI in my opinion. In any case you cant see what it looks like from the inside.

I certainly can't agree with you here (granted it is just your opinion and mine ). I think the new Polo is a lovely looking thing, the GTI even more so. Much sportier look too.

listermint

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

My theory (which is mine) is that VW only let them make cars which are cheaper, better-built and better equipped than the equivalent VW as long as they make them ugly.

There has to be some reason for folks to buy a Passat instead of a Superb, a Golf instead of an Octavia, or in this case, paying 20% extra for a Polo GTi instead of a Fabia VRs.

Agreed, i think that is more than likely the case.

tweedledee

The Golf is much better but very,very expensive.I was talking bout the Polo.Cheers.;)

Anan1

listermint wrote: »

Agreed, i think that is more than likely the case.

So basically the posers subsidize the enthusiasts? I can live with that.:)

listermint

Anan1 wrote: »

So basically the posers subsidize the enthusiasts? I can live with that.:)

Have to disagree there, if a cars pig ugly its pig ugly. Theres plenty of fantastically maintaned and equally spec'd modified cars out there which you of course might think are as ugly as jap sin. But does this make it an enthusiasts car even if it looks like sh**e ?

I dont think so, poor design is poor design, I think what you were trying to say is badge snobbery rather than design snobbery?

So it's like going out with a lovely girl, who is rotten looking but she doesn't mind going to cheap restaurants, where as her best friend is also lovely but is much better looking and will only go to expensive restaurants :pac:

Or you could try and hook up with one of their mothers for no strings attached fun and save a fortune on restaurants (ie buy an 02 Octavia vRS) :cool:

Ardennes1944

i was tempted to buy an older fabia vrs and just looked up the insurance for one there. 1800 with axa....then looked up what it would be for my current 1.4 astra and its 2300....how does that work!?

Deutschlandfürimmer7

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

i was tempted to buy an older fabia vrs and just looked up the insurance for one there. 1800 with axa....then looked up what it would be for my current 1.4 astra and its 2300....how does that work!?

F knows, but I'd sooner drive a vRS fabia than an astra

fletch

Deutschlandfürimmer7 wrote: »

i was tempted to buy an older fabia vrs and just looked up the insurance for one there. 1800 with axa....then looked up what it would be for my current 1.4 astra and its 2300....how does that work!?

It's got a lot to do with the typical age profile that drive normal Fabia's....
Work this one out...I rang for a quote going from a 130bhp '04 Fabia vRS worth about €3-4k to a 180bhp '11 Fabia vRS worth approx €23k and my insurance is going down by €75??? (They must just be factoring in the engine size which is only 1.4)

Anan1

RoverJames wrote: »

So it's like going out with a lovely girl, who is rotten looking but she doesn't mind going to cheap restaurants, where as her best friend is also lovely but is much better looking and will only go to expensive restaurants :pac:

Can I bring the good-looking one to the expensive restauraunt in the Fabia?

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

So it's like going out with a lovely girl, who is rotten looking but she doesn't mind going to cheap restaurants, where as her best friend is also lovely but is much better looking and will only go to expensive restaurants :pac:

Or you could try and hook up with one of their mothers for no strings attached fun and save a fortune on restaurants (ie buy an 02 Octavia vRS) :cool:

Id have to go with the looker, Id be kicking myself everymorning rolling over to it. Sure its only money

Anan1

listermint wrote: »

Id have to go with the looker, Id be kicking myself everymorning rolling over to it. Sure its only money

+1000, just not with cars.;)

listermint

Anan1 wrote: »

+1000, just not with cars.;)

Agreed!

As i said im not into badges but an ugly car is an ugly car.


To put it in clearer terms, The girl can be from Tallaght, Finglas or Blanch or wherever is associated with so called working class and i wouldnt care , if she is a looker.

Equally the girl that has money from dublin 4 or sandycove wont get my attention if she has terrible lines.

I think that makes my point clearer...


as mud

Mr Benevolent

I doubt many people will buy the Fabia RS for its looks. Impressive performance, lowish tax and DSG box ticks the boxes for me, I don't care about the looks. Actually I just started a job after 18 months on the dole, I wonder...

Matt Simis

Confab wrote: »

I doubt many people will buy the Fabia RS for its looks. Impressive performance, lowish tax and DSG box ticks the boxes for me, I don't care about the looks. Actually I just started a job after 18 months on the dole, I wonder...

Sounds exactly like a Polo GTi, which VW ubiquity aside, does look better:

fletch

Matt Simis wrote: »

Sounds exactly like a Polo GTi, which VW ubiquity aside, does look better:

I might just have bought a Fabia vRS but I've no problem admitting that the Polo is a better looking car...although whether or not its worth >€5k extra I don't think so and it's not officially imported into Ireland (see my response from VW when I enquiried a couple of months ago about one)
"Unfortunately we do not sell the Polo GTI in Ireland. Due to a number of factors, the GTI version of the Polo was deemed at present; unsuitable for the Irish market. Currently there are no plans to launch the Polo GTI here or in the imitate future. Market conditions and demand are continuously monitored and sometime in the future it may be decided that the Polo GTI does have potential in the Irish market and may then be introduced"

bladebrew

is the new polo gti being sold in ireland?

i thought i had heard it wasnt even available here


question answered by fletch, cheers!

Mr Benevolent

5K extra? Feck VW so. I bet Skoda have a better warranty too.

listermint

Anyway, il take my money and buy an older sexier car.

E46 M3 for instance. job done.

Mr Benevolent

fletch wrote: »

I might just have bought a Fabia vRS but I've no problem admitting that the Polo is a better looking car...although whether or not its worth >€5k extra I don't think so

Did you get the DSG? If so, what's it like?

fletch

Confab wrote: »

Did you get the DSG? If so, what's it like?

It only comes with DSG so yes ....still awaiting delivery so can't really comment until I've put up a few miles

EPM

Had a spin in one as a passenger a couple of weeks back.

Very cool little car, rocket to go.

You getting a black roof?

fletch

EPM wrote: »

You getting a black roof?

Decided not to in the end for fear that the whole painting the roof a different colour might be a fad and make the car look very dated in a couple of years.

Atomic Pineapple

fletch wrote: »

Decided not to in the end for fear that the whole painting the roof a different colour might be a fad and make the car look very dated in a couple of years.

Forward thinking! I'd imagine you've called it right. It looks terrible with a black roof anyway.

Jalalabad

I Have 1, red with white roof and the dsg is a dream. Easy in traffic then when you get the chance open her up you can use the paddles. The fuel stats skoda give are [EMAIL="b@l****"]b**l****[/EMAIL] but then hot hatches are supposed to be good for the environment are they?:D
As for the polo 5k is conservative. Its 28500 in germany and i got my fabia new out of the box for 21300!! 7k in my pocket or a slightly better looking car with a tartan interior -:rolleyes: f*ck that!!