I have found that whenever you research something you are going to buy on the net you will always read enough negatives to scare you off it! Remember the internet is a place people (mostly) come to criticise or seek help for problems, very rarely for praise.

If the car looks right, drives right and the whole purchase feels righ, go for it!

(Although I would test drive a VRS mate, if you can afford it it shouldn't be much more to run and will give you heaps more smiles )

Edit: Ah, I didn't see "deposit down". Ignore the above then

Genuinely.... thank you guys.

Lots of positives and really helpful info from you all. Much appreciated. Glad you think the car is pretty tidy too! I thought so.

Really dont mind having to do a few bits on it at all, replace the odd few bits that may be worn etc.

Going to start off with a few budget mods to get the ball rolling:

• Rub strips off front and rear
  
• FABIA & 1.4 MPI decals off
  
• UNdecided on removing the Skoda logo, prob just put a brand new one on the back, its gone a bit aqua! Want people to know I'm driving a Skoda!
  
• Wheels, not got a £350 - £500 budget at the mo so not sure here, second hand vRS alloys off ebay probably, no mad rush
  
• Found a roof boot spoiler (genuine Skoda part) for £54 + painting so will get that on, subtle but I think it adds loads
  
• Clear indicator repeaters all round
  
• Custom gear shifter & gaiter
  
• Will try to fit some front fogs? Are these retro fit?
  

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Is there anything else thats an easy DIY you lot know about to start off with? Will then be going onto suspension, brakes etc, more expensive and more gain type upgrades at a later date.

...and yes I will keep a modding diary or whatever you want to call it!

Edited 19 August, 200916 yr by hopester101

very clean little car that mate, do us a favour hopester get a proggresion thread going if you planning on a spot of modding, i reckon nice and smooth, slammed, and some euro wheels, am a big fan of that blue colour as well.:orb_cool:

With you on the smooth thing, seen some right cracking mods on here, back end looks lovely when its all smoothed and badgeless,

I like the colour too, seems like most of you have black or silver on here (wait for the corrections ) but I want something that stands out!

What do you mean by euro wheels by the way, sorry if I'm being thick!

^ What sort of cost is it to get the bushes replaced?

Read several comments about putting Cupra ones in. Is that from Leon or Ibiza?

be careful when taking off the bump strips on the doors as a few on here have found paint bubbling underneath!

be careful when taking off the bump strips on the doors as a few on here have found paint bubbling underneath!

Hi, yeah read that on here... guess its due to glue heat when they are orininally applied perhaps? TBH the ones on my doors are blue anyway, so for the hassle it would take to remove them I'm going to leave them on. Its just the black ones front and rear I'm going to bin!

Thanks for the advice tho, really are a helpful friendly bunch of b@stards arent ya! :P love it!

^ What sort of cost is it to get the bushes replaced?

Read several comments about putting Cupra ones in. Is that from Leon or Ibiza?

Most people on here fit Seat Cupra Console bushes and Powerflex Polyurethane ones for the rest. The Powerflex equivalent Console bush is only an insert and is liable to fall out. There is a good thread in the "Technical Guides" section with part no's and how to do it.

Hopester, another easy mod to do is to fit retro-fit aero windscreen wipers. As mentioned it would be a strange forum if nobody had any problems with their cars. You have probably then noticed that if you do have a problem, then please do a search on here first. This will save those innocent kittens. :rotz:

I hope you will enjoy the car when you get it.

I've had my vrs since new (march 06) and have never had leaky doors. In fact, my three and a half years ownership has been so trouble free, it's stopping me from moving on and going back to topless driving.

I love my car

Like you I panicked when I saw the list of potential problems - but that really is the "worst case". I've had my Fabia now for a couple of years and no problems except a blown fuse for the windscreen wipers (tried to use them when stuck to screen with ice, see sticky post!). Even an annoying dash squeak went away on its own accord.

I can definitely say given the choice of Skoda or Ford I would pick Skoda.

Regarding the leaky door seals, mine are either OK or were replaced under warranty. I forgot completely about these being a potential problem and gave the car a very long blast with the jet washer - quite a few times - and it never leaked a drop.

You're getting a car from the same stable as VW, so that should put your mind at rest

With you on the smooth thing, seen some right cracking mods on here, back end looks lovely when its all smoothed and badgeless,

I like the colour too, seems like most of you have black or silver on here (wait for the corrections ) but I want something that stands out!

What do you mean by euro wheels by the way, sorry if I'm being thick!

hey mate dont worry about it at the bottom of got few links to some european style wheels.

Schmidt Alloy Wheels / Rimstyle.com

you can occasionaly find a good second hand buy on ebay for these, not to mention there practically indestructable. Because your not in a rush really keep your eye out for a set of these beutys.

BBS Alloy Wheels - Performance Alloys.com The full range of BBS Alloy Wheels, BBS Wheels, BBS LM, BBS CH, BBS RK, BBS CH

bbs are also a popular choice for the dub/vag seen, again can pick a real steal up for these, sure a few people on the forum might have had some experince of these wheels.

Ronal Wheels huge price drop|The POTN.COM Blog

Ronal r10 turbos are wonderful wheels a good mixture of euro and even rally inspired cars opt for these puppys, sit pretty with some stretched a55 rubber :P

Arch Rolling and Banded Steels

not to mention these things starting to appear on loads of euro style cars, there also dirt cheap as well £50 a corner, not to mention with the slam and the tyre stretch they look sick.

hope this gives you some idea hops my man