Hi guys.

I'm looking at buying a 2000 (W) Skoda Fabia, one owner, fsh.

Is there anything I should look out for when buying? Do they have any common traits?

Thanks

16v or 8v engine? 16v's have disks at the back, easy give away.

If it's a 16v, watch out for the piston rings failing (high oil consumption/blue smoke out exhaust (although mine only smoked sometimes)).

Other than that, general Fabia faults - leaky rear doors, failed console bushes - about it really.

I'll try and edit this better later if noone else replies as I'm at uni atm.

If its the 1.4mpi 8v which it most likely is, go through the cooling system with a fine tooth comb. I have had untold trouble with mine as i didnt know about the common faults. Check the thermostat, coolant temp sensor and rad fan are in working order. Signs that the thermostat or coolant temp sensor are gone would be the gauge sitting at 1/4 way instead of half even after driving for a quite a while, the guage should sit halfway after a few miles of driving iif these are working properly. Check that the fan comes after the car heats up when the car is idle. Dont find out the hard way like i did with the car overheating in traffic.