Hi everyone,

As you will notice in my signature I currently own a 94 Favorit GLXIe 1.3 Estate, which has been great, but the miles are adding on and last MOT it needed quite a bit of welding, so I presume the rot has set in.

My sister has a 02 Fabia Blackline hatchback 1.4 mpi 8v (which apparently is an updated version of the engine in my current car). Plan would be to take mine in for scrappage against a new car for my sister then I could buy her Fabia.

The Fabia only has the service stamps for the first 3 years to keep the warranty. Has approx 40k miles on the clock. Leccy sunroof, but manual windows and locks.

She's had it 3-4 years, but unfortunately hasn't had it regularly serviced. She did change the oil herself once but left the old filter on. When running the engine with the coolant cap off eventually the fan cuts in and the level in the header tank fills up very quickly and overflows - not too sure what's wrong there but hopefully an easy fix like the thermostat (although it doesn't overheat or anything). There's evidence of "mayonnaise" under the oil filler cap, which returned after cleaning off - no evidence of oil in the coolant though. Could be lack of oil changes and short journeys, although I'm painfully aware this particular engine is prone to headgasket failure. Body wise the main visible problem is a vertical crease in the tailgate, but it isn't too bad.

Main issue of concern is water ingress into the rear passenger side footwell. The pollen filter is dry suggesting it isn't getting in due to the plenum chamber being blocked, and the bottom of the door cards are dry suggesting it isn't the door ancillaries carrier leaking. Apparently it has done this for quite a while.

I think she's hoping I would pay approx £1,300 :S Does this sound worth going for?

Thanks in advance.

Edited 7 January, 201016 yr by anewman

I think this could be a gamble , unless youre sure you can fix any problems yourself , the Blackline is a Classic spec car with a sunroof , thats it , so it should really be priced as a Classic. £1300 for a car with 40K on it doesnt sound too bad , assuming the head gasket isnt away (had my 1,4MPI for over 4 years and never had a problem with that) Ive had the passenger footwell leak , but it was the plenum blockage/pollen filter leak. What is the general condition of the car body wise and interior? Good? If so , might be worth a punt??

The mayo on the oil filter cap as I have found is just due to the rubber seal on the cap getting old and allowing to mix with the moisture in the air.. a new one shouldn't cost more than a £5er.. happened to mine and was worried initially, but once got a new one its been no more mayo..

Two things spring to mind here.

1. If you're trading in your old Favorit in under scrappage the new car will have to be registered in your name.
   
2. Your sister will be benefitting from a £2k discount on the new car courtesy of scrapping your car - I think she's got a nerve to ask you to pay anything for her Fabia, espeically given that it sounds unloved and poorly maintained
   

Your sister will be benefitting from a £2k discount on the new car courtesy of scrapping your car - I think she's got a nerve to ask you to pay anything for her Fabia, espeically given that it sounds unloved and poorly maintained

It's a shame it hasn't been kept too well, but I suppose sadly there are many more such car owners out there and I could probably end up with a worse shed for more money. Will never understand those who see servicing as an avoidable unnecessary expense. If I start caring for it maybe it will be okay :S