philnanks

I'd recommend the vRS estate too! Only picked mine up a week ago & it's a CTHE model, late 2012. I probably wouldn't have risked buying a CAVE engine because of what I read on this forum. Appreciate there are good ones out there though. Drove it back from Scotland to Cornwall last week & used it around town since then. No oil usage at all but early days yet, & the engine is incredible for a 1.4!! I'm certainly not disappointed & don't regret it.

George, its not a problem....Im really pleased with the car overall. It was the salesman I was miffed at for not describing it as accurately as I would have liked. Its always a risk travelling to buy a car unseen. The manager made me laugh when he kept insisting the car was mint......obviously his and my expectations of "mint" are worlds apart!

Yes it is! From Scotland to her new home in Cornwall!! :sun: Left AC at 1045am and with a couple of stops arrived home at 930pm....long old drive....550+ miles but the Vrs went like a dream....she had a pretty good work out too!! Would've averaged more than the indicated 37mpg had I not had a heavy right foot in places! Cant believe its only a 1.4!!! A little disappointed with Arnold Clark salesman.....after specifically asking him to go over the car & let me know every mark/dent/scratch worth mentioning, I wasn't happy to find 2 big stone chips on the bonnet, a scratch in one of the rear passengers windows, 3 scuffed alloys (I was aware of 2), and stone chips on the roof and rear c pillar. Apart from the 2 alloys none of this was pointed out and I wasn't pleased. The salesman I dealt with was on holiday so I spoke with the manager and expressed my disappointment. My beef was that all I wanted was a completely honest description of the car, and all of the above could have been spotted by my partially sighted gran. It wouldn't have put me off buying the car but I also didn't want any surprises when I arrived. I wanted more off the car and I wasn't going to walk away if I didn't get it, but he would only allow another £50 saying that they've already reduced it by £600 from their asking price. So anyway, I accepted and a quick test drive later I was on my way. Overall really pleased with the car, just got a bit more to do than expected to get the bodywork back to the standard I like! Thanks to everyone here (especially George for having a look at the car for me) for the advice..... Ill get some pics up once Ive given her a good wash and wax!

George, you're a star! Great piece of mind knowing it's a good 'un travelling so far! Had an email from the salesman confirming you've had a look, made me laugh....his words describing you "he certainly is an enthusiast!" Can't wait till next Monday now! Thanks again....Phil

Great.... Thanks Geoff!

George...thanks for the help and advice. Deposit put down on the car on Saturday, flights and travelodge booked! :clap: Collecting the car on Monday 19th October so if you do manage to have a once round it for me before then, Id be grateful! Luckily I spotted on the agreement invoice that AC were going to charg me £25 for fuel (which the salesman never told me about beforehand)....rang them and said Ill put my own fuel in and to remove the charge! Never seen this done before....at least not without asking first!!

Thanks George....will bear that in mind. 2 schools of thought for collection dates at mo... either 18th or 25th Oct. The 18th I'm at the NEC so considering flying from Birmingham to Glasgow & letting the other half drive home by herself. The 25th would mean flying up from Exeter to Glasgow, which is still a 100 mile drive from my home to Exeter to start with....so the 18th is looking favourite at the moment. Only thing I don't understand is the flight from Birmingham to Glasgow is £20 more?! Still not a bad price at £69.

I agree Id rather buy local and believe me Id rather not travel one end of the country to the other, but there aren't any blue Fabia VRS estates with this mileage and history currently for sale anywhere else. Also you'd be amazed how much we get ripped off with higher car prices down here! Im sure dealers rely on the fact that most people won't travel out of the county! Full skoda warranty will be honoured at any dealer anyway.

Thanks Shark...... love the Lakes!!

I quite agree having seen the reviews on them....I don't think Ive ever seen so many negative reviews for 1 company!! Ive done all the research I can on the car & except for physically looking at it, it sounds a good 'un....Im hoping that George or a couple others might be able to run their eye over it before I fly up to pick it up end of the month! Def don't think Id buy a new one or rely on their servicing/MOT'ing/warranty though!!

Thanks guys for the offers to have a look at the car....really appreciate.....as I said earlier "what a great forum!!" The car is definitely at Linwood Citroen as the guy I spoke with went out to look at it.....if anyone gets chance to see it, that would be great....its a blooming long way for me! As its stands with what Ive found out today Ill be confirming the sale tomorrow with a holding deposit but Im not gonna be able to collect for 3 weeks.....hopefully someone would be kind enough to check it out for me....esp for the repaired passenger wing/colour match etc.

Finally..... Skoda CS still couldn't tell me but I found out the selling dealer was Ingrams in Ayr. Really helpful service chap told me it is a CTHE and he knows the car. It had a bodyshop repair to the front passenger wing last September, but other than that its a good car. GoneoffSKion1....if theres any chance you could have a look over the car for me, especially now I know its been in the bodyshop Id appreciate it! Think Ive got everything I need to know now.......thanks for everyones help!! :clap:

Thats really good advice and help.....thanks! Gives me a few more questions to ask tomorrow. Good tip about the Skoda warranty too which I would definitely do for piece of mind. Don't think the AC warranty would be in the same league from what Ive read!! Was quoted £350 ish for it I think? Will give Skoda CS another ring to bottom out whether CAVE or CTHE. Thanks again all!!

From what they've told me on the phone it doesn't look like the cars been recalled for anything or had anything done to it i.e. service campaigns etc. They definitely couldn't tell me which engine was in it as in CAVE or CTHE? Thats all I really need to find out now. I read on here that the CTHE engine was from Sep 2012 so Im hoping this one should have it?? It was serviced twice in the Skoda network (2013 & 2014) but nothing since then. Im sure the salesman at AC told me its just been serviced this month at a skoda dealer but will check that again tomorrow.

Thanks, had a look and yeah its a HB....was after the estate and always liked the blue. Not easy to find either with the spec & mileage/history like the Scottish one.