Fabia RS reviewed in Irish Times

quad_red · 26-01-2011 10:56am #1

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 · 26-01-2011 11:04am

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 · 26-01-2011 11:12am

Looks nice in the right guise imo

Anan1 · 26-01-2011 11:42am

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 · 26-01-2011 11:42am

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

Alanstrainor · 26-01-2011 11:44am

Confab wrote: »

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

+1, i'd take one!

Henry Ford III · 26-01-2011 11:45am

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

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

Leonard Hofstadter · 26-01-2011 12:27pm

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 · 26-01-2011 12:43pm

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 · 26-01-2011 12:50pm

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 · 26-01-2011 12:52pm

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 · 26-01-2011 12:55pm

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;)

26-01-2011 12:59pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:05pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:05pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:07pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:08pm

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?

26-01-2011 1:09pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:11pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:13pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:14pm

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

26-01-2011 1:16pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:17pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:23pm

Brochure of the new Fabia RS here

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

Cionád · 26-01-2011 1:33pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:35pm

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

Fizman · 26-01-2011 1:37pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:37pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:38pm

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

Anan1 · 26-01-2011 1:45pm

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 · 26-01-2011 1:54pm

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?

Fabia RS reviewed in Irish Times

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