Fabia vrs mileage

[Thomson]

Looking to buy a Fabia vrs in the future just keeping a eye on and learning the market and looking out for mileage history price etc.

What mileage would people buy on?

How much does the mileage factor on your decision to buy one?

what's people's thoughts?

[Skoda_Saint]

Not a great deal as long as it's been serviced correctly, parts replaced when due and most of all oil replaced regularly.

[Jrjg]

Would buy one with 130k on it, I think that would be my maximum. But only because my budget wouldn't be tight. (Without sounding big headed).

However I don't think an extreme low miler is worth the huge premium they seem to sell for. Whatever low mileage it has, it is still a 9+ year old car.

JRJG

[wja96]

What exactly is the attraction of low mileage cars?

These cars are basically bangers now. £1000 will get you a good one if you take your time looking.

Bottom line is always buy on condition, not mileage and save a chunk of your budget for repairs. At this age, irrespective of mileage, I'd budget for a full service, turbo, cambelt and clutch unless the seller can prove they've been changed recently.

Bear in mind that at this end of the market you're buying someone's old car. It might have been loved and cherished but it's just as likely it's been abused and not serviced and they're selling it because it needs something expensive doing to it to pass an MOT.

[XLBaconDoubleCheese]

Condition and history is the key to getting a decent example. 

[seanw]

I bough mine at 130k almost 4 nears ago with no service history whatsoever. Touching 200k now and the only fault was a head gasket which I knew would have to be done the day I looked at it. Drove it for about 8 months before doing it..

[AdamOP94]

I've got 2260 spec on 185k miles.

[numptie-boy]

Mileage never puts me off if the car is right. In fact a lot of high milers seem to go better!

[shlobber]

i find, sometimes with  buying a lower mileage car,it can just start to be going through it's "mid life crisis". purchased my 2003 vrs with 110,000 miles on it.had to change clutch/flywheel,front suspension,brakes,steering rack,and other odds & ends.it's now at 152,000 and if i knew then what i know now,i would definately buy my car with the latter mileage!

[vRSAnt]

Equally it could have been needing those things at half that mileage, there is no warranty with low(er) mileage alone despite what people might think.

I don't think I'd buy any one else car at this age ( maybe not even my own !)

But I'd sooner buy my own car from me, than anyone elses. That's not likely to ever be realistic lol.

 

As for impact this milage delusion has on values;

I certainly don't believe they should command a massive premium either ( no matter how collectable people think the car is) with a slight exception maybe for SE but then at the end of the day isn't that only a UK limited model with difference being blue paint and leather seats with a limited seat number ?

 

With the standard cars dropping to be as low as £2k or lower, that doesn't particular make the SE that particularly valuable, it can't be worth 2x

I'd keep one because I liked it / wanted one (very worthwhile) but not on value alone and would not expect a massive windfall at trade in time, unfortunately ( common sense on car values prevail I think ).

 

The only exception I can see in retaining some greater degree of original value is one that's been hermetically sealed with fluids drained and unused but doubt there will be too many like that I'd pay no more than £4k on ANY fabia mk1, in fact I'd be aiming for more like £2k, mileage irrelevant.

[Thomson]

Good to hear everybody else's thoughts.

I notice that good ones are around 3k plus. But 2k would get me a decent well looked after example.

Mileage I see seems to be around 100k. To 130k so history does seem really important. Not looking to spend over 2k on one as it's just goin to be used to work and back. But not wanting a cheap one that's going to be a nightmare.

[vRSAnt]

Aim for one owner (like mine!) or less owners, maybe more mature owner ( like me!) and bulging Skoda wallet (like mine!). Shows attentiveness and concern to the car.

 

Now you just need to find someone like that selling. I contemplated it once and changed my mind - not worth it ! Worth more to me. So there's the problem, who really wants to sell their good old car ! Not me mate I'm realistic they just aren't worth that much ! I paid the full £12k new for mine 10 yrs ago, whats £2k its nothing.

 

Also maybe good idea to avoid modifications, doesn't always make the car better, certainly doesn't add value, can stress and reduce lifespan of other unmodified original components in some cases. ( assuming you want a good daily runner rather than a Porsche killer / track car lol )

 

In my case I only did lowering, not remap as BLT has been okay, but even lowering I can be honest in saying its clear the car definitely gets a harsher attack on all its suspension components that standard. (that will be steering, bearings, everything relately suspension related).

 

Try and get a bargain standard one.

Edited 26 October, 2016 by vRSAnt

[wja96]

I had a look n the "for sale" forum on here and there are three honestly advertised cars on here at the moment for £1100, £1350 and £1750. They've all got over 100,000 miles on. They all need work. But you know that up front. There is also a 2004 car on 73,000 miles for £4000 and a 56 plate on 46,000 for £5000. The one at £5000 has horrible swirly paintwork at the back but it's low mileage. The one at £4000 appears to need the cambelt doing.

The one at £1100 looks fine but the ad admits it needs £450 worth of work to fix the issues.

A lot of people (including the £5000 car seller) seem to join just to sell their "premium" vRS to Briskoda members. I just hope no-one gets sucked in by 46,000 miles....

[FUBAR]

Saw a 32000 mile 55 plate sell for £2650 earlier in the year at a government disposal auction. A trader bought it and advertised it for £3995 and neglected to mention it was an ex police car and it's 32K miles was a closed site skid pan vehicle lol. 

[Yaris]

Bought an 07 LE with 70k on it, rust on boot and sills, accident damage behind front bumper. Sold.

Bought an 04 with 80k, undiagnosed nasty noises from engine under boost, general loose feeling in transmission, accident damage in front n/s suspension, sold

Own a 54 with 132k, pulls like a trooper, no accident damage, no rust, great to drive