Just like to introduce myself, i'm currently driving a 2003 Audi a4 1.8T convertible, and due to an expanding family i'm afraid it has to go. Been looking at various marques that will meet my needs, which has lead me to the Fabia vRS, plenty of poke, 5 doors, space for the new buggy and cheap on the fuel!

I'm looking to spend around £6,000 for the new car, and just want some quick advice on this model. I understand servicing is every 10,000 or 1 year for Oil, and every other year a major service, plugs, air filters etc? Are there any major jobs which should have been done by a certain amount of miles, timing belts, water pumps etc?

I'm just after some general points on what to watch out for when i start the quest to find my new car. Should i be afraid of looked after higher milage cars?

Your advice is appreciated.

Welcome along!

I would say check to see if a buggy actually does go in the boot - I'm pretty sure i've read a few posts from people saying their Fabia has to go cos of an expanding family rather than the other way around!

Have a browse through the Fabia section as most regular questions are answered there - stuff like leaky rear doors, stuttering engines on later models etc

Cambelt and water pump need changing at 60k and is a fair bill.

High mileage isn't too much of a problem - load of cars here are well past 100k - but be wary of remapped cars on high mileage as an extended period of increased work on a clutch could mean it'll need rpelacing shortly (any slip would highlight this) although the same could be true of an aggressively mapped low mileage example.

That said i know cars pushing 130k with 100k of those inclduing a remap and the clutch is fine.

I would say check to see if a buggy actually does go in the boot - I'm pretty sure i've read a few posts from people saying their Fabia has to go cos of an expanding family rather than the other way around!

Well it's cartainly be bigger than my current cars boot! :-)

But it would be geat to confirm if the boot is big enough for a buggy, would hate to come home with a new car and for the bairns buggy not to fit, the girlfriend would be well impressed!

I think it will?

Any way you can take the buggy with you when you go for a test drive to see if it fits?

Any way you can take the buggy with you when you go for a test drive to see if it fits?

She's not due until September, and i'm getting rid of the convertible over the next couple of months to try and get some extra cash for it before the summer arrives! If we ever do get a summer! :-)

Had the A4 for 2 years, and probabaly only had the roof down about 10 times, total waste of money!

ouch, what a pain with the car but I guess living up north has those issues. When are you planning on buying the buggy? We got ours before 3 months, I know thats early but we spotted a really nice one on ebay near us so glad we did it as we saved a fortune

We have a bugaboo for our impending little un (July) and I haven't tried that in the car yet. It fits in my wifes Jazz and dismantles quite small so hopefully the fabia will be ok. The seat fits which is a plus point. I am glad that the fabia has ISO fix as I feel much happier as the seat doesn't move

The cambelt is supposed to be changed every 4 years or 75k miles, or so that's what the stealers say. I'm unsure about the water pump, but it sounds like I'd better get that done at the next service!

Watch out for leaky rear doors, although the chances are that the Fabia will have them unless they've been fixed! The way to check for this is to push down the carpets in the back footwells and feel for dampness, check all the seals around the door trim, and check under rear carpets for mould. I wouldn't be too put off by this as it is a cheap and easy fix. I've been attempting to sort mine recently, and it's only cost me about £10, although that doesn't include fuel costs to get me to places! Plently of guides to help you with that, and I'm sure someone in your area would be willing to help if necessary.

If you check the trip 2 computer then that may give some indication of how the car has been driven, and what sort of journeys (I assume the trip computer would be the same on the Audi?).

Think we got that Bezzy

Pretty sure small buggy will go in the boot