AnnoyingPentium

Quicker than an SDI! 0 to 55 in 3-5 calendar months.

With the hatchback and some counting with a stopwatch, the time is closer to 13 seconds. Of course, it's still not going to take the skin off a rice pudding but still. You did ask. MPG-wise, I'm seeing anything from 38-48 or so (checked with Fuelly), I could touch 50mpg if I drove it like a nun, but day-to-day driving it's usually somewhere in the middle of those figures. Overall average over about 20k miles is 40mpg or whatever my signature says now.

Was indeed an option, but think it was dealer fit, as it came with the 'original accessories' booklet - but don't quote me on this as 100% correct. Ta.

Status update - getting this moved on the 22nd to my best mate's. Sorted.

A cracker from the other night.

Fiver off when you take out a club caird. So aye... I'm a B&Q club member and I got a free* saw...

Nearly on 84,000 miles now. Holy hell. So, where has life led me so far since my last post? Done lots of trips with friends and suchlike. Oh! And I procured myself some new alloy wheels! That Swift belongs to my friend, at the moment the plan is to get some alloys for it too. You know, to smarten it up. The alloys I went for previously came off a pre-facelift Elegance, and suit the car very well. The 15s I decided to ditch as I found them too crashy over the 14s, and these alloys feel a lot nicer. Again, the car had got rather grubby, so a wash was in order... The other night, I received a phone call from my best mate, asking if I'd like to go to B&Q to collect some wood for building a small boat (because why not... it's not for people, don't worry). So, we procured wood, asked the man in the shop if he'd cut the planks in half so they'd fit in the trailer, and were told no. Oh dear. Uhhhhh, so we bought a saw for a fiver and cut the wood ourselves in the B&Q car park... Job's a good 'un.

Haha I've got that to look forward* to Oh aye, the thread hasn't fully finished yet, as the car remains unfinished. I may still document a little, but it won't be my own car anymore, but I also won't be away from it either.

It's looking like this is going to a new home with my best mate. I'm still helping with repairs and suchlike as he learns what to do, but the car won't be mine anymore. Not the outcome I wanted, but I haven't had the time to work on it, so it's only fair it goes somewhere that it can be worked on.

Aye it's been a bit busy here. Fabia is still on the road despite being nudged into a ditch, and getting a lot done to it next week, which I'll update in my thread in due time. Hope you're well.

Looks fantastic now.

Tagged the owner of this one on your Facebook post, by the way. I've got refusal on this when it comes up for sale.

I'd sell a lung (other organs are available) for this car.

Oh yeahhhh, photographs! The car is also running Alpine speakers in the front now. Much better response than the Pioneers I had fitted previously, especially on the MS502 which can seriously drive out the power. So I've done nearly 1,000 miles with this car since it was returned to the road. Mileage is going up steadily as I'm helping out a bit with my best mate moving and other errands since his Mum passed. As a thank you for not imploding, I have given the car a wash. Even removed the "tat" from the inside somewhat so I can properly clean it before adding back all the essentials. The bodywork close up is getting really poor on the car, given my mostly fast A-road, dual-carriageway/motorway mileage it's acquired stone chips and other foibles that let the paintwork down. Think a fella I know will be breaking a fairly clean Mk1 in Flamenco Red like this one, so hoping I can get some panels to improve the state of mine somewhat. That's a job for future me, however. In the meantime I need a new boot floor as the other has warped. So going to get some of the early black boot carpeting for my car. Anyways, here's the clean-ish interior, which I'm aiming to get the black carpet for as well. Oh yeah, and my footrest, in a photo that was taken prior to washing the car. So yeah, I think that's everything. But as a "rolling project/resto" this car is doing pretty well considering I'm launching the mileage at it. In the meantime enjoy a photo from Skodafest that had come up on my Facebook courtesy of my mate Ryan.

Welcome back, oh wearied reader, to yet another instalment of absolute dribblings. On that note let us get into things. So yeah, we all know what I did to it in Wales. Since then, I have replaced the wishbone and the shock absorber, both of which were bent. The boomerang shaped track rod was subjected to much fire, much swearing, and much hammer to straighten it back out somewhat. It's straight *enough* and is no doubt participating with the console bushes in scrubbing my tyres smoother than a Harry Hill's scalp, although it looks just as straight as before (and it wasn't). However, that'll get dealt with when finances allow, as I've not got two shillings to rub together thanks to renewing insurance and other "fun" things. A new track rod is next month's problem. Along with the bushes. It'll go for both at the once. Anyways, what else have I done since then? Well it's done 380 miles since the repairs, handling it like a champion. Even showing up a Golf GTI somehow. (no Mustang Slayer here ). Fitted a footrest too, will add photographs later. And have just been driving it, and hoping it doesn't blow up. Fine an' dandy.

I have a 1.2 HTP 12v. However @TMBis an ex-1.4 MPI owner so can maybe help here.

Mine would stall as a result of frayed wiring to the pre-cat lambda probe. If that helps you at all.

I have a lot of love for this car.

Not sure. It started taking a reading a little after it settled in with the new battery.

About damn time you started your own thread hiy... Moar piccies plz...

IIRC that centre rear headrest was a £45.00 option. It's an easy enough retrofit too, if you're that way inclined. I did it with my old seats in the Fabia, and made a guide on here I'm sure.

I'd be all over this if I was able to take it on, however thanks to mine rapidly becoming a project on it's own, I'm afraid all I can offer is an obligatory 'good luck with the sale'. It'd be a shame to see such an original car to be scrapped.

That much is true. But I'm 19 and I'll probably get shafted for insurance on the 1.4 16v never mind a 1.8 20vT... can insure a 2.3T Saab for almost the same as a 2.0 MPI Fabia as well. None of this makes sense!

These are what I used. Cannot remember for the life of me where they came from, though. Drilled rivets out, and replaced them with these and self-tapping screws. No issues so far.

Looks absolutely stunning, Matt. True dedication here.