Hi folks, hope to be trading in the Felicia for a 1.4 51 Fabia sometime in the next week. Don't know exactly which 1.4 engine but the dealers advert says all electrics, aircon, 16k miles, etc, so should be good.

I have heard that some engines had push rod cams (?) or something like that which are best avoided, but I wondered if any of you could suggest the obvious things I should look for when doing the test drive or poking about under the bonnet. I know the things that Felicias do (like leaking around the windscreen.....grrrr) but have no experience of Fabias.

Thanks in anticipation!!

SR

I think the consensus is to avoid the 1.4-8v and get the 1.4-16v 100bhp. As far as things to check for, make sure the air con pumps out ice cold air on the lowest setting. Other than that, just check the car drives ok, tyres are all wearing evenly, and all the other usual car checks

Chris

Thanks for the tip about the 8 valve version. As for the air con, I think even the non A/C versions would pump out ice cold air today!!!! But I will certainly check this out.

If it is an 8 valve (and I have a sneaky feeling it will be) is this likely to be less reliable than the 16V or just not as powerful/refined.

Thanks again,

SR

The 8v is still a good little motor. Its basically in principal the same design as the 1.3 Felicia engine (ohv) have a few problems with thermostats falling apart but apart from that pretty good. They aint as fast as the 1.4 16V but generally well looked after. Has now been replaced by the 1.2 6v and 12v three cylinder engine.

I've had both the 8v and 16v and I can say the 8v spent fewer days at the dealer.

I seem to recall reading that while the headline power figure was abut 50% higher the torque figure was fairly similar for the two engines.

I did once ferry a government agency official in the 8v and he certainly had no complaints.

That sounds like the green car at Perrys Citreon?

I went and took a look as it was described as being a 1.4 16v with metalic paint . . . . turned out it was the 8v version with solid paint . . . . I did point out the errors in their advert!

Ignore the fact that they have 'reduced' the car to

Just remembered . . if it is the Green car at Perrys Citreon I took it for a test drive (even though I already knew I wasn't going to buy it as it wasn't the 16v model) - I had noticed the coolant was below minimum and sure enough it 'beeped' and flashed up a warning as soon as I drove off . . . not a good sign really !

No its not at Perrys - where are they based?

Barnsley . . . if your interested.