Buying a used Fabia - please advise!

[goodwin]

Hello!

I am about to buy a used Fabia from a dealer, (my first Skoda ) and wondered if anyone could help with a few of my queries/concerns..

It's a 2002 1.4 8V Classic, only done 27k, price is £2,995. Is this a good deal? It has a FSH and appears to be in perfect condition.

I have read copious amounts on t'internet over the last few days..... i know people mainly comment on negative things but there appear to be quite a lot of issues with this particular model. Just wondered if anyone has had a 1.4 for years with little or no problems??:confused:

Also, is this the model with a cam belt or a chain?

Any other things i should look out for?

[Martin|G|Allen]

Hi Goodwin

Sounds like an OK deal, it's deffo the top end though as it's a Classic, I paid roughly 2.7k for a 2000(X) Reg 1.4 MPI in 2006 with 40k on the clock. It was immaculate with FSH like the one you are looking at.

Like I said earlier, i've owned mine since 2006 and have had no issues whatsoever with it, apart from the temperature sensor, which is really easy to fix, thanks to ap0gee's guide (do a search for temp sensor).

My only bugbear with the car is it's MPG, it will struggle to do 38MPG, which is mainly due to the fact that the Fabia is a heavy lump and the engine is a rebored Felicia 1.3MPI.... ancient technology! But the engine is really torquey and I like it... and it is a cam CHAIN driven engine, so no costly belts to replace every three years.

The issues you've read about are likely to be the early ones like mine, where there were some head gasket issues. Skoda would have put the fixes in the newer models like the one you are looking at.

Things to look out for:

• Make sure the temperature needle settles in the middle of guage after a short distance - if it doesn't get the dealer/seller to give you money off or fix it as this is likely to be a temp sensor issue
  
• Check the front tyres... particulary the inside edge.. mine really wore the inside edge until recently when it was diagnosed with worn bushes
  

I'm sure others will have some pearls of wisdom for you.

I hope you make the purchase and join the gang

Martin

[Martin|G|Allen]

Also consider the tax bracket this car is going to be in. I think as the 1.4MPI is not the most efficient engine you'd end up paying ~£165 a year... something to check

Martin

[goodwin]

Cheers Martin - you have put my mind at ease with a few things...the MPG is a bit annoying as i'm doing 50 miles a day to and from work but at least most of it is flat motorway. Yeah the tax is £170 with the 1.4....ah well, £50 a year more than what i'm paying now isnt too bad for a step up in class!

Does the 1.4 have a trip computer as standard?

[Martin|G|Allen]

Yes, there's a trip counter as standard, see my Avatar (picture below my username to the top left of the post) with 95.5 miles showing in the trip section. I do 50 miles each day too, but depressingly for me, most of it is A/B road mix with 4% dual carriageway... so you'd probably do better than me if you stick to the slow lane and slipstream the lorries ;-)

There's another owner of an early (2000) 1.4MPI on here from up Carlisle way I think, I've forgotten his username, but he's sure to put your mind at ease too.

Martin

[fabia1400]

Hi,

I have a Fabia 1400 16v comfort.Paid 2k on an X plate one lady owner from new with 70k on the clock.

Angle sensors can go,leaking back doors,suspension bushes,window regulators

I've owned mine 2 weeks and the ABS pump has packed up already!Not a happy chap.It needs to be revved hard to get it to go and it's not the most economical car i've owned either.

Nice comfortable car and solid.But make sure it's been serviced regular.

[colkai]

Sounds like a good deal to me, I paid more than that for my 2001 1.4MPI, which had done just about 28K. A lot depends on what sort of 2nd hand warranty your dealer will give.

Things to watch for, make sure the Air Con works, make sure the front bushes aren't knocking. Check your PAS is ok, if your headlights are flickering when you get it, could need a new sensor.

Make sure your doors don't leak, plus a few other 'gotchas'.

Mine ended up going through all of those and it's cost me more than I expected. That said, I do like the little thing and i'm overall happy with it.

If your dealer agrees to a warranty period of 3 to six months, then you should be fine, though with the door leak thing, most folks seem to get better results doing the fix, (if needed), themselves, I know I did.

The only things the car has ever let me down on is sensors, be it temp, pas or otherwise. When you look at the list of "known faults", it's off-putting, but really, at that price, I'd be happy to get the car and spend on sensors if needed, which, when all is said and done, they may not be.

[ap0gee1978]

My wife has a 1.4 Comfy and it's had the coolant temp sensor and air con evaporator sensor problems (see my technical guides! ) The powersteering's intermittently heavy, but this could be due to a minor fluid leak rather than anything more sinister (irritatingly, the tank's under the battery! ) But other than those things already mentioned, the only other thing that springs to mind is the head gaskets on early 1.4 MPIs were a bit dodgy, and were replaced under warranty. That should have been picked up by now on the one you're looking at, though. And it is a chain/pushrod design, so doesn't have a belt that needs replacing regularly. The chain can get worn in 30k or less if the car's not looked after, but it shouldn't snap, and will only need replacing if it gets so noisy that you can't bear the racket!

HTH

[micmason123]

If you can afford it, I would go for a diesel.

You will be getting better miles per gallon.

And should have a fair bit more power.

The one good thing about having such an "old design" of engine means its going to be easy to work on, and parts will be relativly cheap.

Fabias' are great cars, and I hope you enjoy what ever model you go for.

[goodwin]

Thanks everyone, your info has been very helpful...

I would prefer a diesel but there's nothing in my area for a good price/mileage.

I think i'm going to go for it, damn dealer won't budge on the asking price though.... i think i'm just rubbish at negotiating, he could see it in my eyes that i really wanted it!

[goodwin]

I havent bought it yet..... is the 1.4 16V any more economic than the 8V?

Am i right in thinking the 16V is a belt cam?

If i don't care about the extra power, which is the better engine?

[ap0gee1978]

I havent bought it yet..... is the 1.4 16V any more economic than the 8V?

Am i right in thinking the 16V is a belt cam?

If i don't care about the extra power, which is the better engine?

They're probably about the same, but you get 1/3 as much power from the 16v. It is belt-cam (although I'm not really sure why this scares people so much - it's not a massive bill to replace, and should only be every few years), but it needs to be revved quite hard to make decent progress. It has a bit of a reputation for bad wear on the piston rings, but I don't know if this is a bit like the 'reputation' that KKK-turbo'd vRSes have, which is really a fuss over nothing!

[goodwin]

ok an update if anyone's still reading.... I offered the asking price for the 1.4, but it had already sold!

I was gutted.

So i carried on looking.. made an offer of £3k (He was asking £3450!) on a 1.2 HTP that had done only 28k, the guy had kept renewing the warranty so its covered till January. Anyway, he accepted and today i went (with the cash), had a look, and came home with it! So I am now the proud owner of a green/blue Fabia 1.2 HTP. Better MPG, lower tax and a newer engine than the 1.4 MPI, for the same money, so im well happy.

Only thing is, its a Classic without any extras.. its has Air Con but no electric windows or central locking..... but other than that its in Tip Top condition.

Is it possible to add central locking? And any idea on price?

[Lady Elanore]

ok an update if anyone's still reading.... I offered the asking price for the 1.4, but it had already sold!

I was gutted.

So i carried on looking.. made an offer of £3k (He was asking £3450!) on a 1.2 HTP that had done only 28k, the guy had kept renewing the warranty so its covered till January. Anyway, he accepted and today i went (with the cash), had a look, and came home with it! So I am now the proud owner of a green/blue Fabia 1.2 HTP. Better MPG, lower tax and a newer engine than the 1.4 MPI, for the same money, so im well happy.

Only thing is, its a Classic without any extras.. its has Air Con but no electric windows or central locking..... but other than that its in Tip Top condition.

Is it possible to add central locking? And any idea on price?

Congratulations

[micmason123]

Congrats mate.!

You are now a true Briskodian.

Think its just expensive.

Just stick with keys.

Michael

[PAO72]

ok an update if anyone's still reading.... I offered the asking price for the 1.4, but it had already sold!

I was gutted.

So i carried on looking.. made an offer of £3k (He was asking £3450!) on a 1.2 HTP that had done only 28k, the guy had kept renewing the warranty so its covered till January. Anyway, he accepted and today i went (with the cash), had a look, and came home with it! So I am now the proud owner of a green/blue Fabia 1.2 HTP. Better MPG, lower tax and a newer engine than the 1.4 MPI, for the same money, so im well happy.

Only thing is, its a Classic without any extras.. its has Air Con but no electric windows or central locking..... but other than that its in Tip Top condition.

Is it possible to add central locking? And any idea on price?

Welcome to the Fabia clan!

The answer to your query regarding cental locking is that it is possible to have it installed. Some of the specialised car audio dealers who install car radios also install central locking. Well they used to anyway when I had my Nova Hatchback many years ago. They usually charge a set fee for each door.

Best Regards,

PAO72

[moley]

Well done Goodwin, You've got a better deal with the 1.2htp, £50 less tax and a better mpg. The wife gets 39 mpg from her 1.4 mpi, but it's £170 for the tax. Had no real problems with the Fabia except one leaking rear door (easy to fix) and the rear screen wash tube detached itself in the tailgate, again easy to fix. Apart from the annual service & MOT I have had to replace the front wipers.

[Captain Sisko]

Welscome to Club Skoda is that the 1.2 12v 64BHP?

[Lunanick]

It has a bit of a reputation for bad wear on the piston rings, but I don't know if this is a bit like the 'reputation' that KKK-turbo'd vRSes have, which is really a fuss over nothing!

I have the 1.4 16v - an 03 Comfort. 'fraid the piston ring problem is more than a myth - mine went in January (cost a £G to repair); and looking around the forum, I'm not alone - I've evidence of 17 other people with the same problem (and remember: that's just the people who bother to report the fault on here). Allegedly, the 8v engines were worse for this; but I don't know about that.

I'd have to say be careful; but with a car that's six or seven years old, you're never going to be completely free of potential problems! And it is a low mileage (although my rings went at 54k, which is not unusual either...).

[goodwin]

Welscome to Club Skoda is that the 1.2 12v 64BHP?

Its the 6v 54BHP. Not too much ooomph but it slides down the M23 nicely. I'm past caring about power and speed, I need reliability and economy.

[Captain Sisko]

Lunanick you can never be free of a potential problem even if you buy new.

For all my Skoda niggles its spent more time on the roads than a garage and mines 10 years old this year.

I know things that will need replacing on it, potentials but the unexpected you can't prepare for unless you have spares for every occassion.

You gonna be posting pics of your little Fabia then Goodwin

Now you have to ask does the piston ring issue affect the 1.416v units in later Skoda cars like the Fabia II and Roomster?

[r.carder]

Piston ring myth......My wifes 2002 1.4 16V 41,000 miles just give me a £1600 repair bill......very real

Regards

Roger.

(did include a cambelt seems it was all apart)