Hello guys, im in the market for a fabia VRS in the near future and could do with some buying advice. Im comfortable with the usual used car routine but im interested in any Fabia specific info such as:

Technical problems/faults common to these cars?

Any skoda recalls required?

Any particular model to avoid?

Any worth looking out for (special editions etc)?

Any general buying advice?

Im trying to ignore all the tuning you guys are doing - got to resist and keep this car standard!

Thanks in advance:)

the later ones have an engine stutter between 1500 and 1900 rpm, easily fixed, erg valve gasket orifice size change

aerials fail, usually warranty

alloys can corrode so check them

seats squeak, look for the 'creak be gone' thread

rear brakes are noisey, its an innherent fault, live with it!

front bushes wear quickly but are easily replaced aparrently

the trip comps are innaccurate on later models

look for heated seats, multichanger, cruise as options

look for yellow ones as they are rare and therefore far superior and silver ones are boring;)

the seats clean up pretty easily, teach you kids well if you have them - mine are ace! (the kids and the seats!)

dealers are not to be trusted

briskodians are to be trusted, but only at weekends

i still love the car every day after 26 months - its flippin marvellous to drive - i have pushed an S2000 accellerating and my mate who has a 540 beemer thinks its brilliant too - you can't fit this much fun into such a small but big feeling car anywhere else.

The standard torque never fails to impress, even after all this time.

GET ONE!!!

I'd say other general skoda fabia niggles are:

-Fans not working on settings 1,2,3 possibly all, possibly just the first 1 or 2. The resistor has gone and needs replacing (£33 and DIY easy)

-Air Con not running well. The evap sensor gone (£25 part, DIY or fitted at dealers inc part for around £55)

-Leakey door seals, water getting into the footwells. Many DIY sealant guides on here but many have been sorted under warrenty

To be fair, I've had a few niggles all which I've done myself through guides on here and haven't spent much money. The engines are strong, turbo failure crops up a bit on higher mileage vehicles but that's not unexpected.

To Be honest, I think the first poster has covered most things. There isn't a lot that can't be easily sorted. I don't even worry about high mileage. It's a good diesel, look for strong regular service history (ideally every 10K with oil change) and watch out for timing belt replacement which should be done every 4years or around 60K miles. I'd happily buy a VRS with 100K+ miles but knowing that I may have to replace the turbo and clutch at some point in the near future.

Me and Mrs Grr both have Fabias. My advice would be wary of too much smoke on acceleration, and any excessive squeaks and rattles in the car. Both of ours hardly make a sound unless its a deep pothole. Some I tried out seemed very "Worn" and a bit abused. I drove to sodding Norwich to look at a right old pig it turned out, when I got there. I just walked up to the car in the lot and it immediately looked unloved....Then turned round and drove home again... Just try out a few. You'll know when you've found the one you want.

I in the end I went with a black (Sooooo the best colour...) 54 plate with esp, passenger airbag off keyswitch, cruise control, side airbags, parrot bluetooth with 64k on the clock.

I paid £4800 for her. Was dead happy with that. I got her serviced immediately.... Cam belt was done a year ago, so all in the service cost £350 and front discs and pads were done and a brake fluid bleed in this price. Gotta say it... Best car I've ever had...:thumbup:

Edited 24 October, 200916 yr by grr666

Thanks for the great info everyone - exactly what i was looking for:thumbup:

What MPG do you guys average for motorway cruising?

Ignore the MPG question /\, just found a thread.

Im assuming the rear seats fold flat - would i fit my mountain bike in the boot with them down?

Is the Skoda workshop/service manual available on the web?

Thanks again

Actually you can really easily remove the seat cushions entirely to get the seat backs flat...

( Take headrests out tho...) Also this would reduce the chance of getting chain grease on the pale seat fabric.