Hi guys, im currently driving a RS Megane R26 and with the price of petrol at the minute, im thinking about changing to a Fabia VRS.

The one im looking at is 2006 with 33k on the clock for £6,995. Dont really know too much about Skodas so does this seem like a good deal?

What kind of things would i need to look out for when viewing the car?

When do the belts need changing?

How much is the tax per year?

Sorry for all the questions but just being sure im making the right choice in changing!

VRS prices have gone up lately, so a fair deal.

Not many faults. Check for damp carpets, door carriers can leak but it's an easy fix. Check front suspension for clunks and rattles, consule bushes are common, and Skoda have a new improved part. Make sure only VW 505.01 spec oil has been used at every service, very important on PD engines.

Cambelt is 60,000 miles or 4 years

I have an SE and the road tax was £110 this year, so I think you would pay £120 for an earlier car.

Build quality is good, Skoda rank 5 in customer surveys and What Car Reliability index.

Edited 29 April, 201016 yr by MoggyTech

Its coming up on 4 years old now so i'll try and get the dealer to do the belts when he is servicing it.

Thats not bad for the tax considering the engine size, i paid £129.75 for 6 months on my Megane last week!

Doesnt seem to be many faults there so all being well i should have the Furby next week!

Are console bushes expensive to replace?

I paid £250 for all the front bushes to be upgraded to cupra ones.

Matt

yeah, check the console bushes (knocking when going down pot holes etc)

get the belts done (water pump too as i believe the normal ones are prone to packing up)

servicing is key so make sure its had an annual oil change and reciepts are included.

Look for any damage repair, is all the bodywork right, have any of the body panel or door bolts got signs of being undone?

all the usual really, the bottom intercooler hose is prone to splitting so you could check that all the hoses are ok and whatnot.

Check the rear door sills aren't leaking! They are a pain in the rear

I paid £250 for all the front bushes to be upgraded to cupra ones.

Matt

are u on drugs lol y didnt you do them yourself its an easy job if you have the bush puller coould have saved you a fortune, they are a goo mod it makes he car feel more there when turning in and braking hard they are 9 quid each from seat dealer

£18 parts, £230 labour or am I missing something? How long does it take to do?

This was for various different bushes on the front, arb, console, and wishbone maybe? Cant remember, but i spoke to a few people who said it was well worth getting someone to do it, a right ballache of a job, so i was happy with it.

Matt

Back again!!!

Ended up buying a 2006 Mondeo ST TDCI. Everything was going great until i noticed one of the bulbs at the back had blew so i went to change it to find the rear light was soaked in water. Turned out the car had been hit and badly repaired so its going back to the dealer again and im on the lookout for a VRS TDI again!

The dealer has told me if i see one i like the look of, he will try and get it sorted for me.

Does anybody know where i could get a mint Fabia VRS SE or Octavia for under the 9k mark? (links appreciated)

I paid £250 for all the front bushes to be upgraded to cupra ones.

Matt