skodanorman

Welcome. Nice choice of car. What's your location? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Good afternoon. I haven't responded to this thread yet as I feel a bit useless, being able to offer no particular advice. I would just like to say that it sounds to me like you did everything you possible could and a whole lot more than many others would have. You are understandably having a wide array of thoughts in the aftermath but again appear to be tackling this in a positive and honourable way. I'm pleased you've spoken to a professional and I hope they are able to find you the answers you're looking for. If there is anything I can ever do then let me know. Although not local, I'm not a million miles away either, and do like the sound of a walk out up the hills sometime. All the best. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Buy a classic. Often cheaper insurance and it doesn't need to be quick to be fun to drive. See a rear engined Skoda as an example of low powered cars that are great fun to drive. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Optimistically an air filter and full exhaust system will make a difference. But the cost vs power gain is a pretty poor ratio. Like I say they can make 100+bhp but not without custom ECU, throttle bodies, 4 branch manifolds, hi-light cams, etc. As said a 1.4 16v or 1.9tdi is a better place to start for a fast Fabia. Nothing wrong with the 8v mind, proper Skoda engine. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

I could be wrong but I'm fairly certain that there is little to be achieved from chipping the 8v. The engine comes from the 60s originally and was used extensively in motorsport over time. That said if you want to modify it as you find it in your Fabia then you'll need to go with a programmable ECU like Megasquirt with throttle bodies. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Perhaps not what you're thinking but I picked up a Felicia recently for £500 with no rust, a years MOT and only 42,000 miles. It doesn't use much fuel and works like clockwork. For proper budget motoring you can't do no wrong. There are lots of wonderful big old cars for sale at silly low prices because people are put off by running costs. £2000 doesn't buy you much of a "respected" car (a Volvo or BMW for example) so I think I'd throw caution to the wind and bag myself a big old Jaguar or something like a 740i. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Very nice! But 34mpg from a diesel?? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

This means, my car with a rental car, say from Enterprise; but the hire car in question must be a Rapid or Octavia III? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

She doesn't post online but my partner drives a Skoda every day and is just as mad about them as me! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Best colour Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Never seen that before. Remember the game well though! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Before now I've had none running cars transported across the country for repairs. I use Shiply to organise it and I've always been pleasantly surprised at how reasonable it has been. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Are you on commission? :-P How much further have you got with the car since October? I know you say it still doesn't work "right" but I was wondering what you've done? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Dacia had some lights on the roof too. The seats in the VW looked very nice and despite the tomfoolery (which I did enjoy) I also liked to see how well the Haldex coped. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Nice! Good choice too, the proper drivers choice of vRS Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Mental. What sort of people would do that? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Very easy to remove and not too heavy to get in and out of the boot of other cars.

In theory you could remove the engine and then put it in your boot and take it to someone (like Daverapid) for a rebuild. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Felicia's rock! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Sorry chaps, been away from computer. BossFox definately has that one in the bag! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Pictures of Clio required.

Several cars appear to not even have a handbrake applied. Chains would have been better than straps in the first place and the ship could have hove to during the bad weather.

Wow. What an insult to seafaring. To think, if that is how they secure their deck cargoes, then what will it be like down the holds? This begs so many questions and I hope that the ship was brought to the attention of the authorities and a thorough inspection carried out subsequently to check the competence of those onboard. Those seas aren't even that rough - truly shocking. That said, if you're buying a car in Japan and having it shipped to Russia (or anywhere really) then it pays to use a reputable company and either put the car in a container or a proper Ro/Ro vessel; at the very least it'll have less exposure to the elements. That video though, unbelievable.

I use Halfords a fair bit mainly due to the convenience (Sunday opening when you need to replace that lost bolt is a saviour) but their prices are sometimes ridiculous.