Is the performance of the earlier vrs diesel engine likely to drop off very much with large (150 - 200k) mileage? I know older petrol engines used to lose a fair few horses as they aged, does the same apply to more modern diesel engines such as this one?

Less so I would imagine. Tolerances are pretty fine which I think will prolong steady performance over the years. I guess cams will wear out which will cause deterioration over time.

My PD130 (AWX) Passat with 130k made more bhp than any of the lower mileage PD130 Fabias at a rolling road meet. If anything they loosen up nicely! I think you'd be well over 200k before they start to deteriorate tbh.

Edited 30 September, 200817 yr by Tom_vRS

I've never driven a low mileage Fabia, but at 116k, mine still feels lively enough !

I too have an asz in the octavia, it's now upto 108,000 miles, remapped and goes really well. I can't imagine it had lost anything before I had it remapped.

Boycarps petrol Audi as done over 170,000miles and his mods include cat back exhaust and induction kit and it made 1 or 2bhp over the book figures so I don't think newer cars tend to loose much power.

Mine is on 120000 miles, still pulls well enough. I have a mate with a BLT, and his pulls on me, but then his has been rolled at 150bhp (std) so id expect so, but theres not a massive difference.