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Looking at Skoda Fabia VRS, Alternative?

Old Apr 20, 2011 | 03:12 PM
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Default Looking at Skoda Fabia VRS, Alternative?

Prob looking like i have to, out of sanity get a Diesel pig due to the obvious Subaru ownership perils of now. I always said id put up with it until it gets close to 1.50 pl which it almost is. Im sick as hell. But it really is getting crazy. I do close to 400 miles in it a week so its a killer. It's old as hell and ragged so its still kind of cheap. You also have to figure in the love factor.

Anyways i have had a blast in a Fabia VRS, got to say i was more than impressed with it. Did feel heavy going into corners and its night and day with the Scoob(even an old bucket like mine). But needs must and all that.

I can pick up a decent VRS for £4-5k and they are pretty cheap to map with big improvement. Does anyone have any other alternatives for me?.
I like the TDi Golfs but they are expensive and very much in demand. The Octavia is too big, BMW 1 series td is meant to be good but i hate the brand.
Im not loaded so cant really keep the Scoob without using it and spendng more cash i dont have. Its the last thing i want to do, i have had her for 7 years. But im not rich anough to run her

Last edited by Dee33223; Apr 20, 2011 at 03:14 PM.
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 03:38 PM
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Ever thought of getting a super mini as a second car. Your insurance will usually drop because of this plus you get the mileage of a super cheap car.

It's not performance like the VRS but it means you get to keep the scoob and use the lil car as the commuter.
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 04:03 PM
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i'd rather get a bus than drive a skoda, so bus pass perhaps as an alternative.....
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by alloy
i'd rather get a bus than drive a skoda, so bus pass perhaps as an alternative.....
Snob

I still prefer a Skoda over a bus, at least you know the seats are probably clean.
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Coffin Dodger
Snob

I still prefer a Skoda over a bus, at least you know the seats are probably clean.
Safety in numbers though, at least on the bus you can blend in with the public, in the Skoda your shame is concentrated!!
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 04:26 PM
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I'd look at something cheap but good to drive like a mk1 Focus - excellent handling, cheap to run. Or a Fiesta.

The vRS is good but has pretty average handing unless you mod it fairly extensively.
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 04:30 PM
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Get the VRS, Cracking car and like said, £300 gets you a re-map to about 180bhp. (Just watch the clutch though................)
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 04:41 PM
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Some good advice there along with the pretty old hat Skoda bashing sigh!... Cmon guys they make some good cars. A powerfull tdi Skoda will wipe a big grin off your face in a sub 300bhp Scoob rolling. They are damn quick the Vrs models.
I dont really care what i look like in a car im far too old now. But i very much do care i like driving it. I did feel with the VRS it was ditching into corners but thought i was taking bad from being in the Scoob. Matteeboy i appreciate your advice there. Maybe look at other things. I sickened myself of Fords years back and still dont trust em.

Supermini is a good idea but not much that really makes it worth shelling out for. The VRs will do around the 50mpg mark but a supermini that i may like will be around 40. My Scoob does 24 and costs me sod all. It needs to be a good bit higher to warrant shelling out a few grand. Add to that i dont want to get rid of the Scoob at all. I was liking the MR2 and posted about it. But rwd in winter where i live is a no no.

Keep ideas coming though thanku!
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 09:37 PM
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Fabia vRS brilliant.Yes,slightly nose heavy but so what!! Great fun great insurance great mpg....no alternatives I can suggest I'm afraid!

Didn't know people did skoda jokes any more!
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Old Apr 20, 2011 | 11:31 PM
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Ok take the Toyota Aygo into consideration as a second car.

61-68 mpg
£20 a year to tax
£4k to buy
Save £££ on your insurance
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 12:08 AM
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Love my octavia VRS TDI just needs a re map now
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 07:04 AM
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I ran an octavia 1.8 diesel L&K for 6years 80k miles from new and was a fantastic car and averaged 55mpg mixed driving with 60 mpg on a steady motor way run
Compared to the wrxd 46-47 which i replaced the octavia for and my classic turbo which still gives me 25mpg it was cheap motoring

The fabia VRS old style was on of the best cars I ever drove as a courtesy car once
Power was fantastic and I would imagince similar mpg too
It's a small car but ok for a couple ,looks good to
Check out bri skoda website for opinions

But for 400 miles a week I would go the octavia diesel route as it is a bigger car and more motorway comfort

Taxi drivers run them as they can cover 250k+ mileages and are built to last
And parts are Very cheap. Too

Very good image skoda have now
Look at the jd power surveys they are always top
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by alloy
i'd rather get a bus than drive a skoda, so bus pass perhaps as an alternative.....
Coming from someone who spends £60,000 odd on a Nissan....
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
Coming from someone who spends £60,000 odd on a 600bhp, monster, all conquering Nissan....
Edited for accuracy
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 08:44 AM
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Sorry I thought from your comment that you were more concerned about what brand your car was rather than its performance.
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
Coming from someone who spends £60,000 odd on a Datsun....
Edited for accuracy.
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
Sorry I thought from your comment that you were more concerned about what brand your car was rather than its performance.
I was jumping on the bandwagon, the truth is i'm too young to know what a rusty Skoda is so i am talking very much without any experience in true SN style
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 08:56 AM
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How old are you then? For what its worth I would choose a GTR over a 911 all day long too.
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
How old are you then? For what its worth I would choose a GTR over a 911 all day long too.
26, test drove the 991 Turbo lovely motor but i'm not mid 40's, balding, and fearful my best years are over so they wouldn't sell me one

Datsun is great car for british roads, affordable tuning options and just generally a complete brute of a bully...ideal
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 09:16 AM
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26?? How have you been able to get a GTR? Well done.
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
26?? How have you been able to get a GTR? Well done.

We're massively digressing here but i've had it nearly two years now, my pimp hand is strong and drug trafficking and racketeering are both recession proof businesses
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 10:26 AM
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Thanks very much all for some really good advice there. Its good to get some proper comments from people that have driven the car or have some decent alternatives. Lord H i do like the Octavia but i live in the sticks so motorway cruising is not such a big deal. Id like compromise of fun on B roads pulls on boring motorway. I also joined Bri Skoda last time i flirted with the evil Diesel it's a really friendly Forum.

Will try to get out and do some car test myself. May report how i get on.
Thanks to all again nice one!
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by alloy
We're massively digressing here but i've had it nearly two years now, my pimp hand is strong and drug trafficking and racketeering are both recession proof businesses
Is that slang for good fortune?

Originally Posted by Dee33223
Thanks very much all for some really good advice there. Its good to get some proper comments from people that have driven the car or have some decent alternatives. Lord H i do like the Octavia but i live in the sticks so motorway cruising is not such a big deal. Id like compromise of fun on B roads pulls on boring motorway. I also joined Bri Skoda last time i flirted with the evil Diesel it's a really friendly Forum.

Will try to get out and do some car test myself. May report how i get on.
Thanks to all again nice one!
Your 400mile a week trip only makes sense to buy a diesel. I thought about it for a long time but I now only do short trips which end up costing diesel owners far more in breakdowns than what they save from petrol so am happy with petrol.
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 11:37 AM
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Mate of mine was on about a Seat Ibiza which has the same engine as the Fabia VRS and sports suspension etc. He reckons it's cheaper as less well known. Might be worth looking into.
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 12:01 PM
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My Wife has clocked up 110k miles since she bought hers at 30k and it's still going strong. I find it a complete hoot to drive (i do drive a soot chucking Mondeo however) and it often makes cars which are supposed to be "quick" look daft. If i could change anything, it would be the suspension. A ride height drop and less body roll really would make it a B road weapon.
Never looked at chipping it as she does 2.5k miles a month so reliability is the name of the game
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
Is that slang for good fortune?


Nope I just work hard and I'm good at what I do
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Old Apr 21, 2011 | 05:22 PM
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A mate of mine has the VRS Fabia and loves it, he had it remapped and said it really took it's toll on the clutch so put it back to standard again until he can sort a sports clutch, something to be aware of, I would still get one though
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by alloy
We're massively digressing here but i've had it nearly two years now, my pimp hand is strong and drug trafficking and racketeering are both recession proof businesses
heard you have the dress sense to match too

vRS is a very nice car, nearly brought one as a runaround but Focus number four won the day
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by alloy
Nope I just work hard and I'm good at what I do
That reminds me, I still owe you £20 for that reach around.
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by trails
heard you have the dress sense to match too

vRS is a very nice car, nearly brought one as a runaround but Focus number four won the day
oh here we go, says the man from essex, you guys being properly represented on that ITV sh1te aren't you......

Originally Posted by Jimpreza
That reminds me, I still owe you £20 for that reach around.
I'm far too selfish for that to have been me you big floozy

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