morning all,

i got back this week after twenty months away to find find my, now three year old, fabia vrs a little the worse for wear. having left it with my partner when i went away she promptly went back to using her ford ka three weeks later cos' she was a 'bit scared'(!). subsequently, she garaged the vrs and went back to her cumudgeonly ka.

so, im back and i have a car with flat tyres that has missed two services and, currently, does nothing when i turn the key. so, new battery and tyres ordered and service booked. not that im trying to scare myself but are there any potential pitfalls that i might not be aware of in my mechanic ignorance? ive budgeted £1500 to get everything shipshape and running again...any help?

Welcome to Briskoda

As long as nothing has chewed through anything, then with a fresh battery you should be ok!

Hello

Hiya.

It's an odd one, but the advice applies to any car, not just Furbie 1s.

New battery probably not needed, just a jump start, and a long run.

You might need new tyres. Inflate them and look for cracking where they've gone flat. If you see cracks on one replace all 4.

Service - you might get away with an inspection/oil service and brake fluid change, but make the cambelt change on time and not mileage.

Brakes - be aware that the discs may be rusty, even if the car's been garaged.

Hello and welcome back

Hello and welcome :wavey:

where have you been for 20 months?

welcome back

I think the key to long term storage is to take the weight off the wheels, then the tyres would be fine.

If you knew you'd be away for 20 months, did you not consider selling it and buying one on your return? In the long run that might have saved some depreciation cost.

hello there,

thanks for all your welcomes and advice.

ive just got back from 20 months in the Central African Republic working for an aid agency, i wont bore anyone with my spiel but it was a fascinating and enlightening experience. i left on the assurance that my partner (who stayed in Inverness) would be running the car in my absence. as i said though, she got a bit scared 'when she put her foot down'(!) and decided to garage it. its not like i didnt know what she was doing (she told me via email) and i couldnt really dream of selling in abstentia having owned it from new and being a little bit sentimental! :rotz:

i find out tomoro what the score is (im going to try and jump it) and then get MOT and tax sorted, il let you all know how it goes!

thanks again,

r.

Welcome back.

just a quick update on the day's events. jumped the car this morning but it wouldnt hold charge in the battery so hoiked it out and popped in a new one. straight on with some new eagle f1s (one rim was on the ground and scored the tyre coming out of the garage) and then straight to the MOT. First time pass, flying colours, slightly rusted discs but think thats from sitting for so long. furby was almost as happy as me to go for a good long run to wear back in....amazing. just washed/waxed and looks like a dream without all that gunk!:orb_not_w

in short, BACK!

Happy days

welcome back, you got any before and after pictures?