I am the current owner of a 2002 1.4 Skoda Octavia and i am looking to get a Fabia vRS diesel in afew months, budget is 5k sterling and i was just wondering what the running costs on these are like insofar as ...

-Fuel costs

-Parts

-Servicing

-Insurance

Thanks a bunch

Fuel - realistically you should see AT LEAST 40mpg, so it's down to whatever diesel costs this week!

Parts - depends entirely where you get them from. Plenty of factors offer good prices here in the UK, but I can't comment on prices over your side of the Irish Sea.

Servicing - likewise, really. Other than cambelts (every 4 years or 60k / 72k depending on build date) there's not much that needs to be done routinely. Suspension bushes are a weak point, and your budget means there's a possibility that a new clutch or possibly even turbo may be needed so take a good look and consider paying for an inspection before you buy. Some other members and I put up our 'repairs lists' on another thread, so you might want to search for that...

Insurance - not too bad for standard cars (old Group 9 in the UK), but can shoot up if the car's modified at all.

HTH

Insurance ranges from £300 - £3000 depending on age and area etc - get a few quotes first.

Fuel is cheap ish - roughly £60 to fill it up at this current crappy price - £1.32 per litre in Kent :(

Parts cheap ish, Skoda being the cheap end of VAG.

Servicing is average, £160 for an mid/oil service near me.

Its a great car, not much else you can get for the money. Make sure the cambelt is done as that is expensive to do if missed out...

Fantastic car. Cheap to run (relatively) reliable and nippy. Best of all worlds imo.

The more time moves on, the more difficult it's going to become to source one that hasn't been modded to death, and (probably) consequently ragged to within an inch of its life.

Cam belt change and servicing history essential as has already been mentioned, as well as checking the turbo out for leaks and strange whistling noises.

Been a couple of nice looking unmolested ones for sale in here recently in the £4-5 k bracket., and no, mine is most definately NOT for sale.

Edited 17 January, 201115 yr by Mr Ree

Thanks guys, im won't be buying for 3 months or so but it's nice to do your research abit early

I have my heart set on a vRS Octavia but i don't see myself getting one w/o superhigh milage for below 5500 sterling :( So Fabia it is hehe

I am a fairly big fella 6 foot 2 and 16 stone or so, how is it inside for space ? Also the interior trim looks nice in them but the side profile looks abit well "High" to say the least and a friend who has one said it can wobble around abit, any cheap fixes for this modification wise ?

Thanks again

Edited 17 January, 201115 yr by Jimbob2002

No probs for space from one a bit shorter but a bit fatter! And lowering is commonly done. An inch or so makes a huge difference:

....I am a fairly big fella 6 foot 2 and 16 stone or so, how is it inside for space ? .....

I am about the same height and weight as you so my experience could be of use.

When I bought my Fabia I couldn't get comfortable behind the wheel because I couldn't adjust the seat far enough backwards. It was annoying as I don't take passengers in the back so their lack of leg-room wasn't a problem, and if you look at the runners on the driver's seat it seems like an easy job to move it backwards a few inches.

I couldn't get a Skoda dealer to do the modification and they kept mumbling something about "construction & use" regulations which was their excuse for not attempting it.

Salvation came in the shape of a disabled-driver conversion specialist who took 20 mins. to re-fit the driver's seat runners exactly where I wanted them, and bolted them to the floor giving me 3" extra leg-room.

It's now very comfortable to drive whereas previously it was too cramped. Result!

Otherwise, no complaints at all with dealer service who offer good value and are friendly and efficient.

Fuel consumption works out between 50 & 55 mpg while cruising on motorways at 75 mph.

My dad is 6' 7'' and he was fine when he had his, i'm 6' 3'' and no problems... although i'm only 12 stone :p

-Fuel costs - I get around 70-80miles to a tenner, with mixed driving.

-Parts - Owned mine since may and hasn't yet had a problem, touch wood, although the bodywork on the car seems to use a thiner metal than to what i've previously been use to, making small dents easy to collect, as i have found out.

-Servicing - Every 10,000-ish/or a year isn't it? Mines going in on thursday at the local

-Insurance - im 21 with no NCB, on a 10 month fast track policy paying £770