Hello, this is my first post on this fabulous forum,

I am buying a 2nd hand 2001/2002 Fabia as my first car.

I am most interested in a 1.4.

Being a relative novice, I don't want to get shafted by a dodgy dealer.

What is the easiest way to tell the difference between the Classic, Comfort and Elegance models? Can it be done from a few photos or will I need to see the cars inside and out?

Also, how can I tell the difference between the 68bhp model and the 101bhp model? Do I need to look at the engine/books?

Any help will be much appreciated.

classic - no side mouldings and black plastic manual mirrors

Comfort - trip computer, tinted windows, electric mirrors, side mouldings, and fog lights and slightly nicer wheel trims

the 68 bhp is the mpi i beleive an old 8v unit.

and the 16v's will be badged:) in red for the 100bhp models.

Mk1 Furby's usually have the model type on the front wing badge. 1.4 68 bhp units are 1.4 MPI on rear badge. Check the V5 document at the dealer to check the model is correct. 1.4 MPI's will cost you £170 in road tax, have you considered the 1.2 htp?better mpg and £120 road tax.

The 16v`s come with rear disc brakes and the 8v`s have drum brakes

As has been said , it is usually quite easy to determin the comfort from the classic because of the mirrors (body coloured=comfort , black=classic)

The elegance cane with black or the bamboo interior too

I always found the rear brakes the best way to determin 16v or 8v

Sarah

If you're buying a car always inspect it inside and out if you can that way if nothing works as it should you can use that to haggle on

LYK you forgot elegance models which have the alloys, heated seats, some have 4x elec windows some have just 2 and plusher interior trim.

Avoid being shafted in general not just a dodgy dealer

Make a note of the car/cars you want to buy.

An RAC vehicle check is £5 or £10 for 3. You need the Reg no and the chassis number

The easiest way to tell one Fabia from another is looking at it yourself and prob taking a friend who knows their stuff like a mechanic.

Can't add to any of above excellent advice but welcome to the site and hope you get fixed up. You'll love the Fabia.

vRS = Driver will have spots and be wearing a baseball cap fitted backwards

Elegance = Driver will be sporting a Cravat and will have a pipe in his mouth and slippers in the boot.

:sofahide:

vRS = Driver will have spots and be wearing a baseball cap fitted backwards

Elegance = Driver will be sporting a Cravat and will have a pipe in his mouth and slippers in the boot.

:sofahide:

:rofl:

The 16v`s come with rear disc brakes and the 8v`s have drum brakes

As has been said , it is usually quite easy to determin the comfort from the classic because of the mirrors (body coloured=comfort , black=classic)

The elegance cane with black or the bamboo interior too

I always found the rear brakes the best way to determin 16v or 8v

Sarah

If you're struggling to see the rear brakes ('cos of wheel trims or whatever), and the boot's been debadged so you can't tell that way, you can check the engine cover, which will have MPi on it for the 8v:

(ignore the arrows - the pic's from something else) If the owner's gone to the lengths of removing that, too, then the different ways that the valves ore controlled on the 8v and the 16v will mean that there won't be a plastic cambelt cover on the left-hand side of the engine, like this:

(again, ignore the yellow oval, but note the lack of plastic cam cover...)

HTH

If you're struggling to see the rear brakes ('cos of wheel trims or whatever), and the boot's been debadged so you can't tell that way, you can check the engine cover, which will have MPi on it for the 8v:

(ignore the arrows - the pic's from something else) If the owner's gone to the lengths of removing that, too, then the different ways that the valves ore controlled on the 8v and the 16v will mean that there won't be a plastic cambelt cover on the left-hand side of the engine, like this:

(again, ignore the yellow oval, but note the lack of plastic cam cover...)

HTH

This is the interior of my 05 1.4 16v sport

Nice pictures and explanations.

Of course you could avoid the 1.4 confusion of the Fabias and buy a Felicia instead

Then you only have the 1.3 54/64BHP versions 1.9D and the 1.6 Petrols to worry about.

I would recommend going to examine any cars you plan to buy.

Saying that I just went on Ebay bid on this 1 owner 74k miles and FSH Felicia and won it.

Initially was a little dissappointed when i saw the wheel arches were rusting and a month later needed new discs and pads but 2 years later I'm still driving it and am tidying the rust up.

Cheap to buy, reasonable to run and despite some friends/family saying "you drive a Skoda?" it's always proved reliable and good to drive.

A gamble that paid off but definatly made me realise how unlucky I could have been too.

Edited 8 August, 200817 yr by Captain Sisko

Thanks everyone - thats some fine information. Now to be specific - can you tell if this an elegance:

Skoda Fabia 1.4 16V ELEGANCE 101BHP (2001) - ? 3,750 - Used Cars on Carzone.ie - New & Used Cars in Ireland

When I ran it through the vehicle reg check on this insurance website (https://qquote.quoteexchange.co.uk/qinx.php?advertcode=) it said it was a comfort.

I'm not deadset on an elegance, but if its not as advertised then maybe I can get it discounted.

Thanks again.

The interior trim looks the same as my sister in laws Comfort model. In the description it states alloy wheels, they look like plastic wheel trims to me! I think the badge on the front wing says 'comfort' What does the V5 state?

Looking at the advert again, the photo's and the description don't match. It states leather upholstery and parking sensors, it looks like cloth upholstery and although it's difficult to see, but I don't see the parking sensors. The more I look at it the more I think it's a Comfort.

Yep interior is comfort

Same as mine

Sarah

That is not an Elegance unless Irish cars didnt get the elegace spec cars with alloys and diff interior.

Mk1 Furby's usually have the model type on the front wing badge. 1.4 68 bhp units are 1.4 MPI on rear badge. Check the V5 document at the dealer to check the model is correct. 1.4 MPI's will cost you £170 in road tax, have you considered the 1.2 htp?better mpg and £120 road tax.

if its an mpi before 2001 like mine it will cost £115 to tax

i can second Sarah - that interior matches my 1.4 comfort!

My search for a Fabia continues. And my confusion over models continues too. Its the 8v/16v thing. I've been told that the rear brakes are a giveaway, and that the engine cover of the 8v has MPi on it ( i don't know what the 16V engine looks like)

Of course I'm still trying to tell the difference by looking at internet ads as I can't go check out every promising car. Did they stop making the 8v at any point. I'm interested in this car, but if its an 8v I should leave it right?

Skoda Fabia 1.4 Comfort (2002) - ? 4,450 - Used Cars on Carzone.ie - New & Used Cars in Ireland

Thanks for the help.

I wil get my Fabia!

Surely someone can tell/guess if this car would have the 8v or 16v engine.

Skoda Fabia 1.4 Comfort (2002) - ? 4,450 - Used Cars on Carzone.ie - New & Used Cars in Ireland

I would assume this to be an 8v, as there is no mention of it being 16v. But that's no reason to leave it. There is an issue with head gaskets on early models, there is a modded gasket available which may have been fitted already - do a search there's loads of info. The man does say make an offer if you want to use head gasket as a bargaining tool.

Head Gasket should be ok.

Just make sure the oil isnt mixed with the water.

The 1.4 is a Skoda engine from the Felicia. This was replaced by the 1.2 6 and 12v HTP units in 2003/2004 I think

The VW 16v engine has its' own issues too.

Surely someone can tell/guess if this car would have the 8v or 16v engine.

Skoda Fabia 1.4 Comfort (2002) - ? 4,450 - Used Cars on Carzone.ie - New & Used Cars in Ireland

It looks like an 8v to me. The 1.4 16v comfort has an "ASR" (traction control) button on the centre console next the heated rear window button. Although not clear in the provided photos, I'd rather suggest that there isn't an ASR button thus suggesting the 8v. If I was buying a second hand Fabia now and wanted a petrol, I'd only ever go for the 1.2 HTP or 1.4 16v. I don't see any point to the 8v engine, it is just a hangover from the pre-VW past.

Thanks very much for the help fellas.

I'll look out for that ASR button.