Hello Sharkrider,
Looking fwd to some severe cornering

, see how it compares to the VRS, the only putting me off changing is the name FIAT...btw its the 1.9
well, I'm ip to 3,800 miles in 4 weeks, and no faults... loosening up nicely, last weekends brisky BBQ meet was a good test to see how the GP holds up to the vRS's... it's loosened up nicely now, is about level on acceleration, easily outhandles yashicamats's (Rob's) octy II (sports suspention and 18's), and better brakes.... having the angel remap on Sunday, so then I'll have the speed to go with the handling... (can't wait for then next cat'n'fiddle meet!)
enjoy your test drive, remember, if it's low miles, it may feel a little slow... don't let that put you off, it doesn't have the big surge between 2 and 4k like the vRS, it is a more progressive engine, but try some a-road overtaking, and you'll be happy with the mid range grunt...
I also had reservations comming from skoda to fiat, after all, the reputations are on opposite ends of the JD power surveys! however the new panda did very well, and the GP seem set to follow suit... only common problems I've come accross on here are door locks/mechanisms being faulty, and poorer than expected fuel economy.(note: in the 80k I did in the vRS, I had a new gearbox, and new EGR valve on warranty, and new control arm bushes that I had to pay for!) My reliability in the fiat has been faultless so far, (we'll have to see how it handles 100k in two years!) but my fuel economy is in the low 40's whereas it would be the high forties in the skoda, but then again, my insurance has dropped by £130, so kinda evens it out!
report back on your impressions from the test drive.
Shark.