Test drove a Fabia vRS (TDI 130)
20 October 2003, 10:45 AM
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I went over to my local dealer today (Witham in Surrey) for a test drive.
I had spoken to a salesperson during the week (Adam) who was very friendly and professional. Told me to just pop in on Saturday with my driving license and a test drive can be arranged.
Turned up today, met Adam who was friendly and professional in personal as well!
We went to look at the demo Fabia vRS (in red) and we chatted about the features, specifications, availability, etc.
Adam took some details, turned the car around and we were ready for a test drive!
The first thing to strike me was the reponsiveness of the brakes! They are much better than the Ford Ka and the Pug 306 that I have regular access to!!
I drove it out onto the nearby dual carriageway, just to experience the torque (which I have to say was a bit of a shock at first.) Once you get use to the torque and changing up much sooner than in a petrol car, it was very easy to drive it progessively! The gear changes were short, yet complient! The gearing is very good, although I didn't get a chance to use 6th gear!!!
During the drive something odd happened! My fiancee complained about motion sickness! I told her not to be stupid as she has never complained about it before!
I pull into a local supermarket and we switch places. She drives back to Witham and I have to say I have never complained of it..... But I got mild motion sickness!!!
We explained to Adam, who wasn't surprised with our comments as his wife has the same sensation with the Octavia vRS estate (although not the hatchback)!!! Although she was fine with the Fabia!!
I can give a glowing report about the dealer and the customer service!! I can give the car a big thumbs up!! I can sing the praises of the car and everything about it!!
We love the car, it has the right features, it's in the right price range, etc, etc..... but we can't buy a car that is going to make us feel sick!!!!
Is there anything that can be done??? Has anyone else experienced this???
Some reasons have been suggested:
1) The vibrations of the engine is causing our stomachs to feel sickly!
2) The on/off delivery of the torque is churning the stomach!
3) The smell of the interior is turning our stomachs!!
I had spoken to a salesperson during the week (Adam) who was very friendly and professional. Told me to just pop in on Saturday with my driving license and a test drive can be arranged.
Turned up today, met Adam who was friendly and professional in personal as well!
We went to look at the demo Fabia vRS (in red) and we chatted about the features, specifications, availability, etc.
Adam took some details, turned the car around and we were ready for a test drive!
The first thing to strike me was the reponsiveness of the brakes! They are much better than the Ford Ka and the Pug 306 that I have regular access to!!
I drove it out onto the nearby dual carriageway, just to experience the torque (which I have to say was a bit of a shock at first.) Once you get use to the torque and changing up much sooner than in a petrol car, it was very easy to drive it progessively! The gear changes were short, yet complient! The gearing is very good, although I didn't get a chance to use 6th gear!!!
During the drive something odd happened! My fiancee complained about motion sickness! I told her not to be stupid as she has never complained about it before!
I pull into a local supermarket and we switch places. She drives back to Witham and I have to say I have never complained of it..... But I got mild motion sickness!!!
We explained to Adam, who wasn't surprised with our comments as his wife has the same sensation with the Octavia vRS estate (although not the hatchback)!!! Although she was fine with the Fabia!!
I can give a glowing report about the dealer and the customer service!! I can give the car a big thumbs up!! I can sing the praises of the car and everything about it!!
We love the car, it has the right features, it's in the right price range, etc, etc..... but we can't buy a car that is going to make us feel sick!!!!
Is there anything that can be done??? Has anyone else experienced this???
Some reasons have been suggested:
1) The vibrations of the engine is causing our stomachs to feel sickly!
2) The on/off delivery of the torque is churning the stomach!
3) The smell of the interior is turning our stomachs!!
20 October 2003, 10:58 AM
#2
Hi Andy
I had an ordinary fabia a few months ago and my fiancee was fine in that but get's sick in just about any other car (but maybe that's just my driving
) The Fabia I had was a 1.4 16 valve and that went well enough and was lots of fun. Sounds odd though 
I want an Octavia Vrs next so I hope this isn't the case 
Paul
I had an ordinary fabia a few months ago and my fiancee was fine in that but get's sick in just about any other car (but maybe that's just my driving
) The Fabia I had was a 1.4 16 valve and that went well enough and was lots of fun. Sounds odd though I want an Octavia Vrs next so I hope this isn't the case Paul
20 October 2003, 11:19 AM
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Oi PumaBoy! No! I gather you have done a small number of miles in a RS as a passenger without any problems, even on track, so you should be OK with one.
Strange one that Andy, don't know what could have caused it. Mind you some cars do have strange effects on people. I once had an Audi 100 2.8 Q estate with an autobox, only car that made me feel car sick when actually driving it
Strange one that Andy, don't know what could have caused it. Mind you some cars do have strange effects on people. I once had an Audi 100 2.8 Q estate with an autobox, only car that made me feel car sick when actually driving it
20 October 2003, 12:26 PM
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Paul,
Don't worry the Octavia vRS has the petrol 1.8T engine. I've passengered in one of those, so I'm not worried about that, but it 's too big for what we need right now!
The Fabia vRS has the 130 bhp TDI engine, that said I've been in an Octavia (estate and hatchback), Passat and Golf with the TDI engine with no ill effects!!
I've never felt sick in a car before (unless it was a heavy night before!!), with the exception of getting out of a car with Moe (topCat)
Cheers
Andy
Don't worry the Octavia vRS has the petrol 1.8T engine. I've passengered in one of those, so I'm not worried about that, but it 's too big for what we need right now!
The Fabia vRS has the 130 bhp TDI engine, that said I've been in an Octavia (estate and hatchback), Passat and Golf with the TDI engine with no ill effects!!
I've never felt sick in a car before (unless it was a heavy night before!!
), with the exception of getting out of a car with Moe (topCat) Cheers
Andy
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20 October 2003, 02:27 PM
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Oi PumaBoy! No! I gather you have done a small number of miles in a RS as a passenger without any problems, even on track, so you should be OK with one
That's one of the reasons I bought the carlton so that she wouldn't feel so sick as she does in the puma.Paul
p.s who is Slightly Nippy Person?
20 October 2003, 03:05 PM
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I did read a report somewhere stating that `new car smell`
was the culprit for car sickness.....
there was even a technical name for it!
I'm buggered if I can remember what it was though.... sorry!
Plums.
20 October 2003, 07:22 PM
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Andy,
Had the same thing. I think it's due to the way you drive the TDi for the first time. You put your foot down to feel the torque then lift off etc. etc. You stomach is lurched forward and back.
Try to get a longer test drive and drive the car smoothly like you would normaly whithout "Trying it out" all the time.
I'm sure there wouldn't be any problem with an hour or so test drive if you explain the situation to the salesman.
Lee
Had the same thing. I think it's due to the way you drive the TDi for the first time. You put your foot down to feel the torque then lift off etc. etc. You stomach is lurched forward and back.
Try to get a longer test drive and drive the car smoothly like you would normaly whithout "Trying it out" all the time.
I'm sure there wouldn't be any problem with an hour or so test drive if you explain the situation to the salesman.
Lee
20 October 2003, 10:36 PM
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The Fabia vRS has the 130 bhp TDI engine which if left with the guys @ REVO for a few quid Will be around 190 BHP & 300 Lbs/Ft
That should make it more fun in your Diesel
[Edited by WRX Wannabe - 10/20/2003 10:37:38 PM]
That should make it more fun in your Diesel
[Edited by WRX Wannabe - 10/20/2003 10:37:38 PM]
20 October 2003, 10:56 PM
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Lee,
You could be right! The dealer did offer to let us take the car for an hour to see how we got on with it!
WRX Wannabe,
The lovely people of Jabbasport say from a TDI 130 they can get:
184-196bhp
300-320lbft
You could be right! The dealer did offer to let us take the car for an hour to see how we got on with it!
WRX Wannabe,
The lovely people of Jabbasport say from a TDI 130 they can get:
184-196bhp
300-320lbft
21 October 2003, 11:52 PM
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I'm reconsidering what to buy.
The Skoda would have been fine, but the Ibiza is £2k for the same car. And the Leon TDI 130 is only £1k more than that!
To be honest after test driving the Skoda, I've gone off the idea of diesel, especially with the mileage we plan. I believe it will cost us more to own and run a diesel than it would to drive a equivalent 1.8T model!
There are plenty to secondhand Leon's and Golf's with the 1.8T engine and for a lot less money than the Skoda new.
I'm also hoping to test drive a secondhand Integra Type R (DC2 - old shape) and convince my fiancee that it's the car for us!!
The Skoda would have been fine, but the Ibiza is £2k for the same car. And the Leon TDI 130 is only £1k more than that!
To be honest after test driving the Skoda, I've gone off the idea of diesel, especially with the mileage we plan. I believe it will cost us more to own and run a diesel than it would to drive a equivalent 1.8T model!
There are plenty to secondhand Leon's and Golf's with the 1.8T engine and for a lot less money than the Skoda new.
I'm also hoping to test drive a secondhand Integra Type R (DC2 - old shape) and convince my fiancee that it's the car for us!!
22 October 2003, 04:15 PM
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Chris,
Not really, but looking quickly at say a TDI 130 Golf and a 1.8T Golf, the differences are not major.
Especially as we are looking at 8,000-10,000 miles per year.
I don't think buying new is the way forward, looking at depreciation!!
If the Integra does not grab Caroline, then I guess we will probably look at the Leons (which I feel are better value when compared to the Ibiza)
Not really, but looking quickly at say a TDI 130 Golf and a 1.8T Golf, the differences are not major.
Especially as we are looking at 8,000-10,000 miles per year.
I don't think buying new is the way forward, looking at depreciation!!
If the Integra does not grab Caroline, then I guess we will probably look at the Leons (which I feel are better value when compared to the Ibiza)
22 October 2003, 06:32 PM
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Stevie,
Yep they now do the PD130 in the Ibiza, Leon, Toledo, Fabia, Octavia and Superb as well as all the VW/Audi applications.
The 4X4 TD PD130 Leon that is available in Europe is still not destined for the UK yet though.
Lee
Yep they now do the PD130 in the Ibiza, Leon, Toledo, Fabia, Octavia and Superb as well as all the VW/Audi applications.
The 4X4 TD PD130 Leon that is available in Europe is still not destined for the UK yet though.
Lee
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