Hi,

I'm looking to get a Fabia and have found this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201052376174884/

Seems like a good deal to me but having done a bit of research has been available for a while on ebay and other sites. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Other than the usual Mk1 Fabia 'nuisances', the 1.4 16v is known to have problems with bad wear on the piston rings, although if everything else checked out, you could always get an inspection done on the car to see if that's OK. Personally, I'd be dubious about the coolant being low in the photo of the engine bay. Most likely a leaky rad given the age rather than a HG issue, but the fact the seller's not even spotted that and topped it up would have me walking the other way...

To be honest, the mileage is too low for the year. This means that it has been stood for long periods and/or has done lots of very short trips. Seals tend to go once you start to use a car like this (use keeps the plastisizer effective) and there are likely to be effects of condensation in exhaust. HTH

To be honest, you get what you pay for. I have found this out the hard way with my own 60000 miles (02) plate Fabia 1.4 16v.

This vehicle has had a full Skoda service history and I thought I had got a bargain at £1200.

so far:

The ABS return pump has failed (£250ish for the part alone)

The steering angle sensor has failed and been replaced along with the earth strap.

Front+rears discs and pads replaced (with a stripped caliper sliding bolt that needed helicoiling........ remember full skoda history here!!!!)

During the service I found that the sump bolt had been threaded and overtightened on the soft metal sump casing (again requiring a helicoil and retap to cure the oil leak (interestingly the previous owner said she never could work why she had to top up the oil and had had the car reinspected for the cause, to no avail).

An new CV boot is required (strange to see that the replacement part is a plastic not rubber one)

Today I fitted new control arm bushes (with the uprated Cupra ones) The previous standard ones were produced in 2007 and had been fitted incorrectly (again presumably by the main dealer).

The engine stutters at very light throttle, oh and requires the cambelt and tensioners to be replaced.

The engine light comes on daily so the EGR valve will need to be removed and cleaned or replaced.

I removed and cleaned out the crankcase breather systems and the condensation build up was very excessive. The oil filler cap stills has a build up of mayo on it.

The leaking coolant i've recently spotted is from the coolant fan temperature switch seal, so that'll need replacing soon.

The dashboard creaks like a bu**er, but at least it gives me an excuse to drink a bottle of wine for the cork, so it can be cured :-)

Does anybody actually own cassettes anymore.............in fact can you even buy them? goodness knows why Skoda still fitted a Radio/tape player in 2002!

The good news for me is that the automotive college that I work for now want to buy it off me when the tax runs out, so that the third year students can practice diagnosing electrical faults on it !!!!

Other than that lot, its a very reliable car lol.