Time for a change, Fabia vrs or Octy vrs??

IDSims · 28-10-2004, 12:44

First time posting on here, by the way very good website.

I currently own a Leon Cupra and have mainly been resident on cupra.net but have decided that it is time for a change. My Leon is a fantastic bit of kit but i have some very minor problems that have tainted my experience. The main culprit being very soft paint (only got to look at it and it chips).

Any how, i am seriously interested in the Oct vrd and the fabia vrs, both totaly different cars.

I don't really need all the space that the leon and octy give me as 90% of time it is just me in the car however when i go on holiday i do need a boot.

My heart says the octy and my brain says the fabia. I like the look of both but could i live with a diesel?? I have test drove both and the fabia didn't feel as quick, but 40-50mpg???

Can the fabia be as quick as the octy and leon??

**mannyo** · 28-10-2004, 12:50

Fabia can be upgraded fairly easily to 180BHP. Thing is with diesel is to learn how to drive it, dont wait for max revs before changing gear because you will be well outside peak power output. Driving within the power band will yield good results.

IDSims · 28-10-2004, 12:57

I guessed that might be the case in that i wasn't used to a diesel. I think at the moment it is a battle between head and heart. Heart says octy as it can be chipped to 220 ish bhp and has a nicer sound to it. I think i will need another test drive.

**mannyo** · 28-10-2004, 13:01

Buying a car and being torn between 2 different types can be difficult, test drives and more test drives. In the end I suppose it depends wether you want the economy of the diesel or the space of the octy. Its quiet a big decision and one thats best got right 1st time round.

***Neo_VR*** · 28-10-2004, 13:24

Theres not that much difference in the performance between the two cars... std or chipped! youll be knocking on the door of 100+ before the octy starts to pull away.. a fabia can stick to a octy on country roads too due to the masses of torque

Chavyboy · 28-10-2004, 13:30

Funny I had a choice between the Occy and Furby and I went down the furby route because I wanted to try a diesel. I love the engine and the car and am very happy I bought it now.

matchmaker · 28-10-2004, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chavyboy

Funny I had a choice between the Occy and Furby and I went down the furby route because I wanted to try a diesel. I love the engine and the car and am very happy I bought it now.

My choice of an Octy was dictated purely because my teenage sons are both growing rapidly and we need the room

Also when the Matchmaker clan set off on our annual holiday to County Kerry

we need *lots* of boot space

Also in a mad moment I promised my younger son that I'd buy him a dog next year

If it weren't for the above, the choice would have been very difficult

SilveRS · 28-10-2004, 13:37

The way fuel prices are going now it's got to be diesel all the way.
I just had a new Octavia curtsey car, 105pd and it was very good. In traffic it was a little rough but on the move it was fine.

john@thompsons · 28-10-2004, 14:05

I would go for the Diesel, because the 50mpg thing lastes forever, and you soon get used to changing gear earlier as opposed to revving it up all the way!

Hell, it is good fun feeling the huge rush of torque from a good TD even though it only lasts to 4000rpm, because it does the same in the next gear too!

The exhileration of revving something like a Honda Type R up to 8500 is good though, but becomes a little wearing for even the most unsympathetic petrol heads, especially if the car involved is NOT a company owned one!

This is only a personal opinion, and I do like Petrol engines for ultimate refinement, but the growing sales of Diesel powered cars says something, and while Diesels have improved a lot over the last five years, Petrol cars have not kept up in the development stakes to the same degree.

Whaddya think?

regards, JT

William · 28-10-2004, 14:10

Not to put a damper on things but the Skoda paint is also very soft. I have owned 4 Skoda's and every one of them marks if you so much as look at it, so I assume it is a VAG thing. I used to be able to put my Ford, even my Lada through an ordinary car wash with out fear, no way I would do that with any of the Skodas, not since I eneded up with swirl marks all over my first Felicia within days of buying it. Second Felicia I bought I paid extra for metallic as the dealer said it was harder when I complained about the quality of the solid paint on my first car. The metallic in some ways was even worse. Still for me the value and mechanical reliability out weighed the crap paint finish and I have stayed loyal to the brand.

***ncarring*** · 28-10-2004, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by john@thompsons

The exhilaration of revving something like a Honda Type R up to 8500 is good though, but becomes a little wearing for even the most unsympathetic petrol heads, especially if the car involved is NOT a company owned one!

If 8500rpm is where the power band is, then it'd be more unsympathetic to make it struggle in a higher gear and lower revs. The engine's designed to be used that way.

KentStu · 28-10-2004, 14:32

Sounds like the Fabia is the right choice for you given that you don't need the boot other than when going on holiday. Looks like the only thing holding you back is the fact that its a diesel .... know the feeling but im sure you'll get used to it after a while and the Fabia's engine is reasonably refined once going (bit clattery at idle) and does have some decent oomph even if delivered in a different way from petrol motors. Would also agree with William that Skoda paint isn't the most hard wearing

Anyway, sensible arguments out of the way ... get an Octy as we don't want any more of those pesky rollerskates belching smoke out at the rest of the population

john@thompsons · 28-10-2004, 16:19

If 8500rpm is where the power band is, then it'd be more unsympathetic to make it struggle in a higher gear and lower revs. The engine's designed to be used that way

They drive like silk at normal revs actually! They just go a helluva lot better at 6-8000 due to the porting and Vavavavoom valve.
I have owned even higher revving big bikes and they sound great at 13,000rpm, but don't last as long when driven like this habitually!

The end result is porobably the same as using a lot of Turbo I suppose!?

Regards, JT

MisterGT · 28-10-2004, 21:18

I too was torn between the Octy and the Furby, in the end the wife put her foot down and so I have an Octy (mainly because of the boot size ! ) If it had been purely my choice I would probably have chosen the Furby due to the cheaper running costs (tax insurance, fuel etc) . Dont get me wrong though, I still love the Octy.

Octygone · 28-10-2004, 22:27

Why not try the engine of the Fabia in an octavia? have to admit in won't have Vrs on it but the 1.9tdi pd 130 is the same engine in both cars and it does go quite well... top speed about 130mph, so they say, 50 mpg and a large boot as well.

IDSims · 28-10-2004, 23:51

My dilema is that i am still yongish (25) and there is just me and the gf, no kids. I love the power of the Leon and the octy but can't help thinking that i have a lot of car that isn't used (i.e a bit big when its just me most of the time). There have been a few things on the leon i didn't like i.e the ride is very crashy and a couple of other points that have put a dampner on the car. This why i started to look at the Octy again (ws torn between it and the leon when i got it). I then also looked at the Furby as it is smaller and chaper to run.

What is boot space like on the furby. I have looked and it dosen't look that much smaller than the Leon. I was wondering if you can get enough in it for a holiday with out having to put anything on display.

WrightyRS · 28-10-2004, 23:55

"What is boot space like on the furby. I have looked and it dosen't look that much smaller than the Leon. I was wondering if you can get enough in it for a holiday with out having to put anything on display".

will depend on how much stuff your GF takes with her!!!!

Lummox · 28-10-2004, 23:55

Boot space...

Plenty for what I need

MonkeyHanger · 28-10-2004, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross Clarke

Boot space...

Plenty for what I need

Think Skoda need to do something about that 'orrible big box on the left..

Lummox · 28-10-2004, 23:58

It doesnt seem to do much, someone sugested wiring might help although im sceptical myself

28-10-2004, 12:44	#1
IDSims Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Near Swindon Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Time for a change, Fabia vrs or Octy vrs?? First time posting on here, by the way very good website. I currently own a Leon Cupra and have mainly been resident on cupra.net but have decided that it is time for a change. My Leon is a fantastic bit of kit but i have some very minor problems that have tainted my experience. The main culprit being very soft paint (only got to look at it and it chips). Any how, i am seriously interested in the Oct vrd and the fabia vrs, both totaly different cars. I don't really need all the space that the leon and octy give me as 90% of time it is just me in the car however when i go on holiday i do need a boot. My heart says the octy and my brain says the fabia. I like the look of both but could i live with a diesel?? I have test drove both and the fabia didn't feel as quick, but 40-50mpg??? Can the fabia be as quick as the octy and leon??

28-10-2004, 12:50	#2
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 11,142 Thanks: 37 Thanked 309 Times in 289 Posts	Fabia can be upgraded fairly easily to 180BHP. Thing is with diesel is to learn how to drive it, dont wait for max revs before changing gear because you will be well outside peak power output. Driving within the power band will yield good results. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

28-10-2004, 13:01	#4
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 11,142 Thanks: 37 Thanked 309 Times in 289 Posts	Buying a car and being torn between 2 different types can be difficult, test drives and more test drives. In the end I suppose it depends wether you want the economy of the diesel or the space of the octy. Its quiet a big decision and one thats best got right 1st time round. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

28-10-2004, 13:24	#5
*Neo_VR* UberMod™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 12,103 Thanks: 67 Thanked 164 Times in 114 Posts	Theres not that much difference in the performance between the two cars... std or chipped! youll be knocking on the door of 100+ before the octy starts to pull away.. a fabia can stick to a octy on country roads too due to the masses of torque __________________ ColGod the UberMod VXR, Gti, ST, Type-R, vRS, Cupra, Shifty... An MPS fears not these things...

28-10-2004, 13:30	#6
Chavyboy Proud Dad Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Darkest Deepest Peterborough Posts: 3,789 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Funny I had a choice between the Occy and Furby and I went down the furby route because I wanted to try a diesel. I love the engine and the car and am very happy I bought it now. __________________ 2004 '54' Citroen Picasso 1.6 16v Desire HDI in Wicked Red 2004 '54' Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTI Energy Ex Skoda owner

28-10-2004, 12:57	#3
IDSims Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Near Swindon Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I guessed that might be the case in that i wasn't used to a diesel. I think at the moment it is a battle between head and heart. Heart says octy as it can be chipped to 220 ish bhp and has a nicer sound to it. I think i will need another test drive.

28-10-2004, 13:37	#8
SilveRS Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Manchester Posts: 633 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	The way fuel prices are going now it's got to be diesel all the way. I just had a new Octavia curtsey car, 105pd and it was very good. In traffic it was a little rough but on the move it was fine.

28-10-2004, 14:05	#9
john@thompsons Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: St Albans Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would go for the Diesel, because the 50mpg thing lastes forever, and you soon get used to changing gear earlier as opposed to revving it up all the way! Hell, it is good fun feeling the huge rush of torque from a good TD even though it only lasts to 4000rpm, because it does the same in the next gear too! The exhileration of revving something like a Honda Type R up to 8500 is good though, but becomes a little wearing for even the most unsympathetic petrol heads, especially if the car involved is NOT a company owned one! This is only a personal opinion, and I do like Petrol engines for ultimate refinement, but the growing sales of Diesel powered cars says something, and while Diesels have improved a lot over the last five years, Petrol cars have not kept up in the development stakes to the same degree. Whaddya think? regards, JT

28-10-2004, 14:10	#10
William BANNED Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 2,148 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Not to put a damper on things but the Skoda paint is also very soft. I have owned 4 Skoda's and every one of them marks if you so much as look at it, so I assume it is a VAG thing. I used to be able to put my Ford, even my Lada through an ordinary car wash with out fear, no way I would do that with any of the Skodas, not since I eneded up with swirl marks all over my first Felicia within days of buying it. Second Felicia I bought I paid extra for metallic as the dealer said it was harder when I complained about the quality of the solid paint on my first car. The metallic in some ways was even worse. Still for me the value and mechanical reliability out weighed the crap paint finish and I have stayed loyal to the brand.

28-10-2004, 14:32	#12
KentStu Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Canterbury, Kent Posts: 1,896 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Sounds like the Fabia is the right choice for you given that you don't need the boot other than when going on holiday. Looks like the only thing holding you back is the fact that its a diesel .... know the feeling but im sure you'll get used to it after a while and the Fabia's engine is reasonably refined once going (bit clattery at idle) and does have some decent oomph even if delivered in a different way from petrol motors. Would also agree with William that Skoda paint isn't the most hard wearing Anyway, sensible arguments out of the way ... get an Octy as we don't want any more of those pesky rollerskates belching smoke out at the rest of the population __________________ Stu Yellow Octy RS & '58 Morris Minor Tourer Owner .......... not a hairdresser

28-10-2004, 16:19	#13
john@thompsons Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: St Albans Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If 8500rpm is where the power band is, then it'd be more unsympathetic to make it struggle in a higher gear and lower revs. The engine's designed to be used that way They drive like silk at normal revs actually! They just go a helluva lot better at 6-8000 due to the porting and Vavavavoom valve. I have owned even higher revving big bikes and they sound great at 13,000rpm, but don't last as long when driven like this habitually! The end result is porobably the same as using a lot of Turbo I suppose!? Regards, JT

28-10-2004, 21:18	#14
MisterGT Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Okehampton Posts: 773 Thanks: 16 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	I too was torn between the Octy and the Furby, in the end the wife put her foot down and so I have an Octy (mainly because of the boot size ! ) If it had been purely my choice I would probably have chosen the Furby due to the cheaper running costs (tax insurance, fuel etc) . Dont get me wrong though, I still love the Octy.

28-10-2004, 22:27	#15
Octygone Old Git Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 6,700 Thanks: 182 Thanked 109 Times in 68 Posts	Best of both? Why not try the engine of the Fabia in an octavia? have to admit in won't have Vrs on it but the 1.9tdi pd 130 is the same engine in both cars and it does go quite well... top speed about 130mph, so they say, 50 mpg and a large boot as well.

28-10-2004, 23:51	#16
IDSims Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Near Swindon Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My dilema is that i am still yongish (25) and there is just me and the gf, no kids. I love the power of the Leon and the octy but can't help thinking that i have a lot of car that isn't used (i.e a bit big when its just me most of the time). There have been a few things on the leon i didn't like i.e the ride is very crashy and a couple of other points that have put a dampner on the car. This why i started to look at the Octy again (ws torn between it and the leon when i got it). I then also looked at the Furby as it is smaller and chaper to run. What is boot space like on the furby. I have looked and it dosen't look that much smaller than the Leon. I was wondering if you can get enough in it for a holiday with out having to put anything on display.

28-10-2004, 23:55	#17
WrightyRS 200 laps....... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Essex Posts: 2,380 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	"What is boot space like on the furby. I have looked and it dosen't look that much smaller than the Leon. I was wondering if you can get enough in it for a holiday with out having to put anything on display". will depend on how much stuff your GF takes with her!!!! __________________ Alex Skoda Octavia vRS Honda Integra Type R DC5(Facelift)Championship White,Red Recaros,C Pack Honda CBR600Fi

28-10-2004, 23:55	#18
Lummox U18 Automotive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,885 Thanks: 22 Thanked 667 Times in 562 Posts	Boot space... Plenty for what I need __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services Cupra Console Bushes Servicing Modifications PM for information

28-10-2004, 23:58	#20
Lummox U18 Automotive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,885 Thanks: 22 Thanked 667 Times in 562 Posts	It doesnt seem to do much, someone sugested wiring might help although im sceptical myself __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services Cupra Console Bushes Servicing Modifications PM for information Last edited by Lummox; 29-10-2004 at 00:03.

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