I'm with you on this one, PG - I know exactly how you feel. You and I changed cars about the same time last year, from one we loved to one we didn't (A4 2.5 TDI and Mercedes B200 CDi in my case). It didn't make economic sense to change after only 17 months but if you enjoy driving it grates every day if you're driving something that's no fun, especially if you do 20,000 miles a year.
I so nearly had an Octavia but as I've said on another thread the Golf estate comes in SE trim with the 2.0 TDI engine for the same price as the equivalent Octavia and should hold its value a bit better. Both are great to drive, but I went for the Golf and I'm happy again. Finance isn't the only consideration - buying a car is much more personal to you than buying a house or flat, and there's nothing wrong in the heart having at least part of the 'say' in the decision..
So yes - go for it - but maybe heart and head needn't be opposed this time. I'd be fairly sure that the new vRS WILL be as good as the old - and there's a chance that they may put the 2.0 TDI in it. Here's an idea - go and get a test drive in an ordinary new-shape Fabia with the 1.9 TDI - same engine as you have in the Golf isn't it? and see how you like it. You'll then be able to imagine realistically what a new vRS would be like. If you don't like what you see, then you can go for the old shape. Either way if you enjoy driving the Fabia it won't seem like a 'lesser car'. Believe me, the Golf is so much better all-round than the Mercedes, lesser it ain't.
One more thought - personally I'm very happy without climate control - manual A/C is just as effective, you can control it better yourself and you avoid all the hissing as you start up. Rear parking sensors are worth it though, and some of the other toys may be on the options list.
Good luck -and above all have fun!
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Keep the Golf. After the new car wowness fades with the Fabia you will be back exactly where you are now. It can be hard to love something like a Golf but a Fabia does nothing any differently which would make you feel differently long term. Plus it's also a replaced, discontinued model as well (They dont do a new VRS).
Either:
a) Accept the fact that diesel hatchbacks are not loveable cars
b) Get rid of the Golf and get something that IS loveable, not another diesel VAGback.
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poor old Gunther! unloved and unwanted, we know Polo was a hard act to follow, and obviously Gunther tried his best. but obviously has failed, you will be miserable with him from now on - thinking of what could have been, pass him on to someone who will love him for the carp he is and have your cake and eat it! ;-)
Billy
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OK PG, time to get my revenge. If you remember correctly it was due to your initial decision making process thread that I ended up going out to get my vrS!!
Firstly, can you get a new one on lease? Reason I am asking is that IIRC there were only a 1000 (?) new Ltd Editions and I would have thought they would have all been snapped up by now. Over on the Briskoda site, tons of information on these including I think a list of who owns what number (if they have registered on the site)
You don't need me to tell you anything about the car that you don't know already, except probably what its like to live with.
Its brilliant, fantastic, exhilirating, economical, subtle, fast , in fact I would say I quite like it!
Re your query, it does have electric heated mirrors although there is no folding option.
The LE looks fantastic in that blue colour and my one criticism of the car is the light coloured seats, but the LE has black leather so no problems there.
Living with the car is great, most days I now drive my Seat, but when I get into the Fabia its great. Steering is noticeably heavier from the Seat, don?t know if Gunter has light or heavy steering so you may notice a difference there.
Dashboard is basic as you describe, heater switches and electric window switches are a bit dated but you don?t get this car to look at the dashboard. I get mid 40s economy averaged and that includes SWMBO doing a lot of stop/start journeys.
Performance, that is why you want it? Great in any gear but like many diesels, it?s the way it pulls effortlessly through the gears. You can even floor it in 6th at 60 mph and feel the surge!
Of course there are all sorts of modifications you can make to it but I daresay with it being a lease car then you won?t be going down that road. The only mod I have done is fitting an AUX cable to the stereo to plug into my mp3 player, I know you went down a similar road with your ipod? Personally, I prefer the unmodded look and am quite happy with the performance of the engine.
I am really struggling to come up with a negative here with regards to living with the car, I have had mine for a year and a half now and as I say the only issue I can think of is the seats. It will obviously be smaller than the Golf, more Polo size.
The final decision as they say, is yours! But without putting a spanner in the works, sometimes when you lust after something for so long, and then finally get it, there may be an air of disappointment! I think this will happen when SWMBO finally gets her Beetle. She has collected model Beetles since she was 8, has always wanted one but I can?t help but think that it won?t live up to her expectations! Especially since she wants to trade the vrS in for it!!!!
Before you do anything, check that there are LE Fabias available!
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2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS
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I'm sorry to chime in with a negative, but I had a Fabia VRS for a year, before I bought my ill-fated Mondeo TDCI. I am aware that many people rave about the Fabia, but in longer term ownership I got tired of it. It has plenty of power in a 'diesel way', but I thought it was a bit of a one-club golfer in that respect. The ride is firm and jiggly on secondary roads. And you are always aware that nearly all of the weight is over the front wheels. It probably feels great if you have graduated up from less powerful small hatches but if you want driving enjoyment there are far better cars. Let's not pretend that the Fabia is a head-turner either, its an average-looking small hatch.
The crunch came when I drove a friends Toyota MR2 one weekend, it highlighted to me how a real sportscar should feel, so well balanced with a lively petrol engine that made flicking up and down the gearbox on the twisty stuff a real pleasure.
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Tough call, I reckon the new one will be a big step forward over the old one (the Octavia2 is miles better than Octavia1) but the run out vRS has lots going for it. I had one for a year and 30,000 miles and loved it. I agree with all the positives - the aircon worked well and I never missed climate, for me the best bit was it was a really good car on my brisk motorway runs - smooth, stable and quite relaxing - forget the lumpy diesel noise as at anything over 50 mph it is road noise that takes over. Things I'd change were the brakes - worked ok but not confidence inspiring when pushing on IMO, the cheap stereo and I should have gone for electric rear windows. Dr-Duffy is spot on about the heavy engine and the handling isn't sports car sharp but it hangs on forever and is utterly predictable, slow in, boot it on the way out and if the nose begins to run wide, back off, lots of fun and safe for the average driver.
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Driven these and fail to see the attraction. Yes, there is lots of torque there, but what else? Very front heavy little car and the handling has been totally neutered (to make it idiot proof, I guess). Feels like 101 other small cars but with better acceleration. I think a lot of younger drivers have been bought up totally on small FWD hatches and like (or are only familiar with) this type of set-up.
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Very front heavy little car
...which I suppose is the price one pays for effectively sticking a Passat engine in a Polo...
As some on here may dimly may recall I used to own the SEAT version (then called TDI 130 Sport), bought new in '02 not long after the Mk3 Ibiza came out. Quite ridiculous (for me, anyway) acceleration in a straight line but nasty torque steer and the suspension was simply not able for it. Brakes were OK though.
In fairness I understand that the later FR models featured the suspension mods that the Sport should have had to start with, but to be perfectly honest my Mondeo has better handling, which is a dreadful indictment really.
One thing I will say for it was that it was extremely good at doing very long motorway trips on extremely modest quantities of diesel.
PG, the only way you'll know if this is the right move would be to wangle a 24h test drive (if Skoda dealers offer such things) and do your usual running around, and see what you think.
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PG, if you can afford it go with your heart!
My philosophy is life is too short, you cant take it with you, so spend it before the goverment or kids get it (they dont need it).
Edited by Old Navy on 01/11/2007 at 19:27
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Had this rather enthusiastic reply from Skoda when I emailed about the new vRS. I guess it proves that one is on the way. Hmmm... I'll see if I can persuade the other half to come with me to the nearest Skoda dealer at the weekend (it's his fault anyway for having such a powerful Passat and making me jealous!)
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Thank you for your email.
I was delighted to learn of your interest in the New Skoda Fabia vRS. I can advise that the launch is planned for 2008 although an actual launch date has not yet been confirmed.
I would recommend that you keep in contact with your local Skoda retailer who will be happy to keep you informed. For your convenience, please find their contact details as follows: < snip >
Thank you for taking the time to contact us.
< snip >
Customer Service Specialist
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Such a powerful Passat? He has a W8? Do tell us more!
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I would imagine you'll have to forget about this because they won't be making the old shape Fabia anymore and therefore impossible to get any model let alone vRS LE. Unless they're in stock somewhere. And the limited editions are likely to be snapped up by now anyway.
If you have to wait 10 months to get out of the lease when it becomes cheaper then the new one might be available soon after that.
Our leasing company generally only gets new factory orders - they don't take stock from a dealer that's already built. My Mazda6 was an exception because they've stopped making them I think. Well the lead time was months for a factory order. So even if there were some sitting a field you might find the lease company would not let you have one.
In fact the lease company for resale reasons will probably not take on an end of life model.
Edit: Just had a quick look at the Leaseplan list for IBM - we used to use Leaseplan. Only Fabia models listed are the new ones, i.e. Fabia 1, 2 and 3.
Edited by rtj70 on 02/11/2007 at 18:24
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>Such a powerful Passat? He has a W8? Do tell us more!
Ha..he wishes! Powerful in comparison to my Golf, I meant.
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My advice is to have Gunther chipped. Then it will go like the Passat.
If you go from a VW to a Skoda people might think that you are an inverted snob!!
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I've just read on another post that your golf is the 1.9TD version so only about 105BHP. In which case definately ditch it.
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Its actual output is around the 120bhp/280nm torque and these PD engines tend to tune well, if possible within the contract.
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to be perfectly honest my Mondeo has better handling which is a dreadful indictment really.
Not really. I'm learning as I start cautiously driving other cars in preparation for changing mine that even with six figure miles and some definite bagginess starting to creep in, the Mondy is still a tauter and more "feelsome" car than most affordable cars coming out of factories today.
As for the vRS, I can see Aprilia's point, but that torque just made me giggle. I don't think I've ever driven anything that goes so damn hard with so little effort. Point and squirt-wise, I can count on one hand the number of quicker cars I've ever driven. What other twelve grand (new) car can wallop you back in the seat like that, never mind do so while being easy to insure, utterly reliable, and capable of returning a genuine 55 mpg driven with a bit of care?
OK handling is only average, but I've driven a lot worse, and again when purchase and running costs are factored in, these shortcomings are pretty easy to overlook.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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