When we think of the Austrian car-makers Skoda our mind automatically jumps to the Superb, a sort of upper middle class vehicle. But, not much hype or fan-fare follows their lower models like the Fabia. The topic for discussion here is the “Skoda Fabia vRS”, Skoda’s latest attempt at introducing a rally car on the roads.
Let’s start off with the most important part of the vehicle, the engine. This particular engine has been used in everything from the Golf to the A6 and is, to be fair, far better than anything else it has ever produced in this class. The 1.9 liter, 4 cylinder, OHC, turbo charged diesel engine might not be the fastest car around but it sure does try really hard.
130 bhp at 4000 rpm doesn’t sound like much, but keep the car between 1500 and 2700 rpm and you feel the full effect of the 310 nM of torque under the hood. It does 0-60 mph in approximately 9.6 seconds. Quite normal for this class of vehicle but the crucial pick up from 50 to 75 mph can be achieved in around 10 seconds in 5th gear which sounds very contenting when you think of the vehicle class. It tops out at a maximum speed of 127 mph which isn’t very fast, but, it is good for its class. This car can easily complete 40 mpg, but, hit the motorway and you will be touching 60 miles to the gallon. The steering wheel (a three spoke sports steering wheel) gives terrific feedback and the performance of the car is far superior to any other ones in its class. The vRS moves on 16 inch aluminium alloy wheels through which you can spot green brake calipers.
When it comes to looks, the Fabia, has very little on offer whether it is on the inside or the outside. Skoda’s chief designer, Thomas Ingenlath was in charge of designing the vRS and he has done a decent job in raising the bar for its down-market siblings. The front has been equipped with a pleasant front bumper, encasing the usual mesh-vent between two fog lamps. Around the back, you will find a deeper bumper with a chromed tail pipe which is a little off-centre, a boot spoiler and some discreet badging. This all sounds real nice, but, it is not even close to the stunningly fashionable World Rally Car.
The interiors have the same feeling as most of the cars from the Volkswagen group. The switch gear (made of aluminium) is well laid out and the dials are clear and easily readable. The seats (monogrammed RS grey and black fabric sports seats) are actually, very comfortable and move in every possible way which makes finding a comfortable position relatively easy. A couple of vRS logos on the dials complete the look.
Skoda has gone all out when it comes to specking the vRS. ABS, MSR and ASR all help with the handling while ESP can be added at an extra cost. On the comfort and safety front, air-conditioner, electric front windows, single-slot CD player, alarm, remote central locking and driver and passenger airbags all come as standard.
Now that everything has been discussed let’s come down to the price. At £12000 it is far better priced than any of its rivals and it has a good re-sale value as well.
All-in-all, this car is good without being great. It is very reliable, economical too and it can still turn heads. Really. .
One of the most common problems on the VAG 1.9tdi engine (both 90bhp and 110bhp) is the loss or hesitancy of power between 2000 and 3500rpm.
The cause for this can be one of a number of issues; however there is a few that are the most common causes.
1. Engine Control Unit (ECU) – Basically the VAG group acknowledges that there is a fault with the ECU on this engine and would normally advise you upgrade to the latest version. Be aware that this is a very expensive upgrade at somewhere around £600.
2. Turbo control valve – The 110 engine has a control valve on the turbo. This is a known fault and can be rectified by stripping it down and lubricating. This is normally a job for your main dealer and is a fault that should show up on sophisticated dealer diagnostics software. Be aware that if the problem recurs after this rectification, then you will probably need a new turbo.
3. MAF sensor – This is the airflow meter, it is located in the plastic air box pipe that leads from the air box to the engine and is secured by two screws. Sometimes these devices become clogged and or electrically malfunction. It is best to buy a new one rather than source a second hand item.
4. Turbo pipe – There is a small vacuum pipe that leads from the turbo to the ECU (it is about a foot long and looks similar to that of a bicycle pump valve). This pipe is known for splitting or leaking at the ends. Check that the pipe has no splits and that the ends are air tight by using small jubilee clips.
5. Vacuum pipes – Located on the bulkhead in front of the passenger seat is a connector block that has numerous pipes going to it. Check that all these pipes are in good order and connected properly. Replace them accordingly where necessary.
6. Fuel filter – These can become easily clogged by contaminants in the diesel. Replace the fuel filter with a new one that has been soaked in diesel treatment such as Redex etc. The engine may take quite a bit of starting after this process, but once started it will help to clear the fuel system. It is also a good idea to add some of the treatment to your fuel tank at the same time.
Although the loss of power can be caused by many things and finding a solution is often a process of elimination, the above are considered the most common causes and solutions.
Jason Morris is the proprietor of JAYtecnik They are specialists in ECU remaps and remapping for most petrol and diesel engined vehicles. Jason has been involved in engine tuning and remapping for a number of years and has a wealth of experience on many different vehicles.
The ‘compact’ 4 x 4 market is already a tough place for car manufacturers to compete. The Honda CR-V, Ford Kuga and Toyota Rav 4 have all successfully blended rugged 4×4 driving with the looks and driving experience that modern drivers want.
But the Skoda Yeti isn’t overshadowed by it’s more established competition. Starting at just £13,750 (GBP) for the entry level 1.2. petrol turbocharged model, the Yeti is significantly cheaper than it’s rivals. The 1.2 petrol and 1.8 petrol versions offer a smooth and refined drive… something that Skoda were no doubt keen to get right targeting this fickle market.
In it’s diesel format the top-spec Skoda Yeti is 4WD 2.0 TDI which comes with a whopping 170BHP, for this performance you’ll be looking to pay at least £21,500. However the cheaper 110 BHP engine offers an elegant drive and actually feels smoother than the 140BHP engine.
The Skoda cleverly engages it’s 4 wheel drive system automatically when the car senses that condition warrant the extra traction and manouevrability of a 4×4. In early tests this automatic switching worked effortlessly and provided a safe and comfortable drive in all conditions.
The Yeti really scores some major points over it’s rivals with a wide variety of options designed to increase the flexibility and functionality of the vehicle. The 3 rear seats fold down to increase luggage space or can be removed completely to free up room for long journeys and driving holidays.
For those that like the look of the car and it’s performance but don’t need the additional performance of a 4×4 there is also an option for 2 wheel drive. The 2 wheel drive versions also offer better fuel economy than their 4wd counterpart.
For those that need more room than a standard estate but don’t want to opt for a 4 x 4, a longstanding favourite of UK road users is the Nissan Qashai which effortlessly blends estate driving with a raised driver profile to increase visibility for drivers. The Qashqai also offers greater fuel economy and performance than a Yeti or any of the other 4×4’s listed.
RW Goldaline writes about a number of issues facing road users. She also writes regularly for tech blogs and you can view more of her work at Sony KDL a website dedicated to the leading range of LCD TVs from Sony
Skoda is in existence today due in part to the foul letter of reply sent by a German bicycle manufacturer to a customer in 1894.
Bookseller by trade, 26- year old Vaclav Klement’s bicycle was in need of repair. He sent a letter of request, written in Czech, for service to the German manufacturer of his bicycle. The letter was answered. It stated, “If you would like an answer to your inquiry, you should try writing in a language we can understand”. Consequently, this was all Vlacav Klement needed to get-the-wheels-turning. In 1895, Klement opened his own bicycle repair shop. He partnered with an established bicycle manufacturer, Vaclav Laurin, in Mlada Boleslav ( today’s Czech Republic).
In 1898, Klement and Laurin bought a motorcycle, which turned out to be a faulty design. After Laurin lost a front tooth in a minor crash while operating the motorcycle, the two men asked the advice of German ignition specialist, Robert Bosch. They then developed a different electromagnetic system. Thus, the first Slavia motorcycle made its debut in 1899.
Business was good. In 1900, with a crew of 32 employees, 150 motorcycles were built and exported to London for the Hewston firm. Klement and Laurin’s company was now established within Austria-Hungary and internationally.
The company first began building cars in 1905. Klement and Laurin’s car factory was destroyed in 1924 after a fire. They had no choice but to seek a partner. They merged with Skoda Works of Czechoslovakia. Production was then under the Skoda name.
The real breakthrough was in 1987. Skoda engineers designed a car, the Favorit model, which was considered to be comparable to western production.
Skoda became the fourth brand of the German Volkswagen Group in 1991 and became a major player in the European car market. By 2005, Skoda was selling over 30,000 cars per year in the UK. Skoda owners in UK have ranked the brand at or near the top of customer satisfaction surveys throughout the 2000s. The brand is now known for quality, reliability and design is being sold in Australia.
Skoda has enjoyed a fascinating journey since 1895 to become the Best Manufacturer in Auto Express magazine’s Driver Power Survey 2009. For further information about Skoda Australia and models such as the Skoda Octavia from the offical Skoda website.