In 1997 my nan needed a new car on a tight budget. She ended up with a 3 year old 1994 Felicia 1.3 LXi with low mileage from a Skoda dealer. Its been 100% reliable, with the only worked needed, was when I fitted a PAS kit supplied by a Skoda parts specialist as it was getting too heavy for her.

Now she wants to spend no more than £3000 on a new car. She likes the Clio, but £3000 gets a basic Phase2 2000 model, and theres not many to choose from. I also question the relibility of a 8 year old Renault.

I looked at the Fabia, and found that a dealer supplied 2001 model is well within the price range.

Is there anything I need to look out for? (i've seen the common issues with cam belts, PAS and water leaks). There is a 1.4 16v Comfort on a 2001Y for £2,995 in Lincoln. Has A/C which was a 'must have' for her.

I know she can get a private one for alot less, but she is 87, lives in Suffolk, and the nearest shops are 8miles away, so piece of mind is more important than saving £700 by buying private.

Sounds OK although £3k seems steep for a Y plate even with A/C

But if the cars immaculate, and I mean immaculate it prob is worth the investment depenmding upon how long she wants to keep it.

Well, doing a national search, £3k is the cheapst Fabia at any dealer, although some are 2000 models, so i assumed it was a reasonable price, especially if i can knock a few hundred £'s off.

This will be her last car, so it'll be kept for as long as she drives.

It looks immacualte in pics, but you cant really tell until you have seen it in person.

Get a cast iron warranty from them.

The HQ ones from Vauxhall are supposed to be good ones.

Try and get them to agree to you returning the car within 30 days if you are dissatisfied with it.

Yeah, I did notice that they only offer a full 12 month warrenty on cars that are less than 6 yrs old, and 60k miles, otherwise its 3 months. However, I fully plan to get that increased within the price.

So, next question, should I try to part-ex her current Felicia? I know its worth next to nothing... but how much? 1994, about 70k miles. PAS, but not much else. Interior excellent, but red bodywork fadded in places.

Piston rings is the biggy to look out for.

Provided its in good condition you could prob get a really good price say prob £500 with full tax and MOT.

Otherwise expect around £300 from a private sale

Some on Ebay are priced well and others seem expensive.

I'd avoid part ex really, but it depends.

94? would put it on an M?

Out of interest, although she doesn't do the mileage, whats the reliability like on the 1.9 SDi versions? I maybe the better option anyway, and it often spends its time going back and forth to friends, less than 1 mile away... Diesels seem to cope better with that punishment.

Ps, I know they are slow, but she is 87!!

Yes, its an M-Reg... as I say, its not in bad condition, just faded a little. Its also got PAS which wasn't available until 1997, but I retro fitted it about 5 years ago, and made it a whole lot nicer to drive.

if you got some pics that might generate some interest on here.

The 1.9 SDI is a firm taxi fave in the Octy clocking 200k+

and then you have the TDI's

The SDI's or the MPI are a good bet

Are you sure the Felicia isn't a 1995, as they didnt go on sale here until May 1995?

Are you sure the Felicia isn't a 1995, as they didnt go on sale here until May 1995?

You're probably right.... I automatically think of M-reg cars as being 1994, but its most likely a mid 1995... oops.

The main thing to worry you with the 16V AUA or AUB engine is the piston ring problem - some are fine but others have needed full engine rebuilds. The SDi is bulletproof as far as I can remember there have been no engine specific problems with this model , just the usual fabia foibles of PAS sensor , water leaks , flap motor in heater etc - its got a lot more to go wrong with it than the good old Felly! Good on your Nan for still driving at 87 though , I hope Im still able to - if I'm even around then that is!

Thanks Duncan,

I guess when you live in the middle of nowhere, it forces you to keep driving. She does however still drive from Suffolk to Hertfordshire (about 60miles), every so often to see friends, she just doesn't like driving at night.

How can you tell if a 16v is in need of a rebuild at this stage? I would have thought that most 5-7 year old cars with 30 - 60k on the clock would have either been fixed, or dodged the issue.... or?

I gotta say, having looked around on here for a while I am getting more and more worried about what Fabia to get my nan.... 8v's with head gasket issues, many 16v's with Piston ring issues, and 1.2's with timing belt and coil pack issues!!

There is a 2003 1.4 16v Elegance with 35k for £3,650.... but could it prove to be a nightmare?

That leaves the Diesels, which she's not over keen on.

I first joined this forum in 2002 when i had a Leon TDi 110 with upsolute chip, I did 90k miles in 3 years and only suffered a MAF sensor at 80k miles.....

how noisy are the SDi & TDi models compared to say, an Octy TDi? I've found a 2002 TDi Elegance with 79k on the clock, private sale, for £3,495ono... its about the cheapest TDi on the market.

Failing that, is there an engine code/number, where the 1.4's got better? Her budget has been stretched to £3500 to give me the chance to find a newer/better model, but that £500 doesn't seem to make much difference on what you can get.

Ive got the 1.4 8V , its an early car , V reg and never had a problem with the head gasket in 3 years , I think the problems will/should have been done under warranty on most of those cars by now - mine starts on the button and uses no oil between services.

87 years old?

Treat her,get her a vRS.........

Well, I took a drive to a Skoda dealer in Walthamstow this afternoon, they have an 02-reg SDi Comfort with 41k miles.

Considering I drove there in the wifes 330d, I was impressed at the refinement and power of the SDi... no where near TDi standards in terms of power, but refinement was as good as i remember my old Leon TDi being.

£4k asking price was a bit steep even with 12 mths warranty/roadside assist, and they wouldn't move on price, it had been smoked in too, and had a few little scratches... couldn't grumble with the 53mpg on the short, stop start test drive though.

vRS?? Well, having driven the Fabia, I will be looking for a ropey (poss Cat C) TDi 100 for my next race car... my Rover 200 has blown one too many engines... and my mechanic is ex-Audi, so a TDi seems the perfect Qcar.

It seems to be a lottery whether or not you have problems with the 1.4 16v engines. The AUA and AUB do seem to have a reputation for eating piston rings and recently there seem to have been a few posts on here from people suffering the same or similar issues with the later BBY and BBZs too. Perhaps the SDi is a better option?

Hi All,

Well, after looking at a few low mileage Fabia's (SDI and TDi) at Skoda dealers, and a ropey one at a dodgy dealer (Infact, all drove the same - very well), I managed to find a really nice one at a little garage near Sandy on the A1.

Its a 2005 54-reg TDi Elegance with Cruise Control, park sensors, the lot. Its one owner (company owned), has full Skoda history to February, and is totally mint.... infact, its only down side is a small dent on the drivers side front wing, and a few stone chips on the bonnet..... then again, it has done 114,000 miles in 3 years!!

Even the wheels are spotless, and totally clear on any scuffs or brake dust stains

Best bit, I got it for £3800, which compared to others I looked at, it outstanding value.... It not only drives better than the low mileage ones, but was better spec, and in some cases had better service history.

There is an 04 plate 1.4 TDi at a dealer in Rislip at the moment for £3995 with 90k miles on the clock, and when i enquired about history i was told it has only had 2 services, on at 28k and the next at 72k, and never had the cambelt done!!

Anyway, heres a couple of pics of my nans new wheels, collecting it tonight. They are better quality viewed in full screen, IE seems to reduce them on smaler screens

http://www.the2turners.co.uk/c2c/images/images/Fabia_front.jpg

http://www.the2turners.co.uk/c2c/images/images/Fabia_rear.jpg

http://www.the2turners.co.uk/c2c/images/images/Fabia_inside_front.jpg