Big Col's new car

[Big Col]

well for the first time in 16 years I don't own a Vauxhall, or a vehicle powered by petrol.

Picked up a 2006 Fabia vRS today.

Anybody want a cheap 148K mile, near 12 year old Astra?

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

I bet you love all that grunt and 55mpg?

[Big Col]

by grunt do you mean the nothing, nothing, nothing, boooost, scrabble, torque steer, nothing, nothing, nothing torque delivery?

I'd much rather have a torque band 5000rpm wide rather than 500.

55mpg obviously appeals to us scots

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

Thought would pull well from 1500rpm.
Even this 96 audi has vnt so little lag and starts spooling at 1200rpm.
Brothers mapped 330d has massive power from 1500 to 4500+, diesels have to be mapped!

[Astra Dan]

Give you a tenner Col?

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

Who's the Scot here? lmao

[Sten]

by grunt do you mean the nothing, nothing, nothing, boooost, scrabble, torque steer, nothing, nothing, nothing torque delivery?

I'd much rather have a torque band 5000rpm wide rather than 500.

55mpg obviously appeals to us scots

Ha.. I totally agree on both counts. I like my derv but I do miss a proper power delivery.

[Big Col]

Had a couple of hoons now in my Skoda. Mixed feelings,

It excels at 'normal' driving. The commute to work. Feels nice to drive with the punch to easily overtake the 40mph doddlers. Reasonably well screwed together plus air-con and leather seats. 55 mpg. It 'feels' nice and tight too, firm suspension, sharp brakes, nice turn in.

The problem is when you feel like a hoon on your favourite road. Obviously the narrow torque band - you are forever changing gear. The soft throttle response and the turbo lag. The suspension that was firm is now somehow too soft, the car rolls and dives about too much. Skoda have achieved this thing of having the downside of a hard ride yet none of the benefits it should give you. The scariest thing is the steering. Again at normal speeds it feels 'good', yet I found a big wet, empty roundabout to play on and when you overstepped the limit you had no communication from the steering. It just went. It was a nice progressive 4 wheel slide but no warning as you approached the limit.

Fabia vRS @ 68K miles versus Astra G SRi @ 68K miles - Astra wins everytime, except on economy.

[Brett]

modern diesels all feel like that to some degree. my everyday is an Insignia CDTi and although it pulls well it just aint as much fun as a petrol as its all over so soon and then your scrabling for another gear. Although I can hammer the nuts of it and still get 44mpg!!