I'm still in the Market for a vRS but for my budget of <£5k most cars are 80k + miles. The car I'm replacing is a vaxhaul omega 1999 with 86k miles! I know diesel cars tend to do slot of miles but would you think about buying a car with 80k + on the clock?

I'm looking to do 9-10k a year in this car So not huge miles but i still don't like the big 100k coming! Lol. How do the fabias feel with high miles? Do they feel tight still or would one that's done 40k feel alot better?

Any help would be great!

I'd assess it on a vehicle by vehicle basis. I've seen one that look barely run in at 90-odd thousand - interior, bodywork etc. The engine itself is more than capable.

But then I've seen some pretty shabby ones at 50-odd thousand as well!

So to answer the question - yes, I would buy one at that sort of mileage - providing it represented good value and had been looked after.

I was looking through pistonheads earlier and there is a few vrs's with over 100k on the clock one of which has 144k !

If serviced at the right times then they will go on forever, I think I've read vrs's reaching 200k no problem.

A high milage car wouldn't be my first choice but if there is full documented service history then I wouldn't be put off.

I would just reiterate what has been said above. If serviced properly and looked after they will run forever. Engine parts can fail with eventual wear and tear i.e. say turbo at 200k, etc!!! Plus you will always have to replace consumables after a time i.e. brakes, pads, etc....

My car has currently done over 80k but my current engine has only done just over 60k. Current engine has had cambelt changed twice in last 3 years ana all ......well......it's better to be safe than sorry.

Mine is on almost 100K now - with no issues - other than the clutch needing changed. As long as its well serviced and its general condition doesnt show the car to have been thrashed for every mile. Plus cars that have high motorway miles have less stress than cars with low mileage that has been driven around the town all its life.

It'll depend on what you plan to do with the car as well, if you're upgrading most of the main components like the Turbo then mileage shouldn't be a barrier, if not I'd want something with less on the clock.

ive always been put off by high mileage cars/bikes, but i think it depends on the manufacturer/how they are built. Ive seen loads of fabia's with 80k+ miles so they must be good for it and they are vag group so they are decent quality. For your budget of £5k or less i think you will be looking at 70/80k miles and more, when i was looking before xmas £5k cars were all high mileage, which is why i saved a bit more for a car with less miles. If you look after it and service it, as said above it should be reliable, and the parts dont seem to be too expensive as they seem to be used on a range of cars.

I bought mine at 111,000 ish, motorway miles, fsh etc. It's now done 150,000, runs like a dream. There's lots of bits needing to be done along the way, but nothing iv not been expecting tbh.

Matt

Got my Vrs in early January, an 04 in black with 133K on the clock, £3000. Had to go 200miles each way to collect though!

Must say that I'm impressed, I've wanted one since a friend bought one of the first batch to come to UK so maybe I'm biased but I was very pleasantly surprised with the cars condition.

I won't pretend it's perfect, but everything works, the whole thing feels solid (the uprated suspension perhaps a bit too solid :-)

fast enough for the real world and very easy on fuel for the performance, practical too!

I'm very pleased so far, and for the price, cracking good value.

Goffy

Just looked, £5,500 there's a silver one on auto trader, 71,000 miles, fsh, cambelt done, 2007. Deffo worth hunting about for a decent one with the plans you have for it.

Matt

I would say that if looked after , serviced regullaly , then they could go on for a long long time

My little Fabia had 204k miles on the clock , that was mapped

I let her warm up before going mad with the right foot , and also let her cool down when I pulled up

you tend to find cars that have done 4 miles to work , 4 miles on the way back , or very low miles have more wear etc. than an engine that has done long motorway miles

Good luck in your search

Take your time and pick a good one , and I am sure , like me , you will find one that will look after you

Sarah

Number of owners is more important than mileage (assuming it has FSH). The VRS is a bit of a 'niche' car, most people love them, so if it's been punted to a fair few owners, chances are high it's a lemon. 80K on a diesel is nothing. The weakest points on PD units, are camshafts and hydraulic tappets, especially if the oil used for services hasn't been to VW 505.01 spec. The injectors are cam driven via a rocker assembly, due to available cam lobe spacing, this means the valve cams are narrower than usual.

Timing belts must be done every 60K or four years.

Moggy thanks for the reply. I see what you mean about the multiple owners. I'll keep my eyes on autotrader/pistonheads and see what comes up.

Round the clock mileage, reading now 0000000 miles. LOL

I'd be much more worried about the undercarriage - suspension and steering - than the engine. I had £1000 of work done to mine between 50k and 64k - hence I sold it! The present one's on 26k

I know what you mean. The engine would last if it's been service well. What sort of undercarriage problems are common?

Do the fabias suffer from rust any where? Or do you mean problems withthe steering racks, bushings etc?

New rack - £600, new bushes - £200, new gaitors - £200

I bought mine at 111,000 ish, motorway miles, fsh etc. It's now done 150,000, runs like a dream. There's lots of bits needing to be done along the way, but nothing iv not been expecting tbh.

Matt

I bought mine 0n 64k, now done 101k - all motorway with the odd track day thrown in. Its serviced on time if not earlier and is well loved, excusing the stone chips it feels no different to the first day I drove it other than has a few more beans and stops a bit quicker.

Only major problem I've had was a blocked diesel injector but managed to get one from a breakers. As people have said it all depends on the owners and service history.

Good luck.

Agree with the general sentiments on here. When I bought mine in Oct. '09 I had no intention of buying one that was five years old and silver - wanted an '06 red one; however, the previous owner had had it for four years (he commuted up and down the A75 Euro route between Stranraer and Dumfries in it)and it had a full service history from day one by the original dealer (Dean of Dumfries) so it seemed too good to pass up. Touch wood, mine hasn't given me any bother apart from the standard issue leaky rear doors.

Was thinking of changing later on this year but now thinking towards keeping it until it rolls over and dies - it does everything I need a car to do - cheap to run, plentiful parts (reasonably priced into the bargain), compact size (as I'm compact as well ) and very comfortable. Not the fastest or best handling car by a long way but neither of those are issues for me.

New rack - £600, new bushes - £200, new gaitors - £200

Would these prices paid include parts and labour ??

Steering rack with labour is pricey. Garage labour approx 4 hours @ £40.00 per hour, at my local independent.

Rear console bushes 2 x £9.00 each. No labour just a DIY job.

Gaiters inside and outside set, near-side OR the off-side £ 15.00. No labour just a DIY job.

Last time I looked at prices, Ibizas were rather cheaper to buy...

To be fair mine has just over 100,000 but it was owned by a family of VAG enthusiast and purchased from an audi specialist whom I sold my quattro to hasn't skipped a beat, very reliable

New rack - £600, new bushes - £200, new gaitors - £200

Would these prices paid include parts and labour ??

Steering rack with labour is pricey. Garage labour approx 4 hours @ £40.00 per hour, at my local independent.

Rear console bushes 2 x £9.00 each. No labour just a DIY job.

Gaiters inside and outside set, near-side OR the off-side £ 15.00. No labour just a DIY job.

Fine if you have the abilities and the facilities to do it but I have to rely on the dealers - and the steering rack went suddenly 100 miles from home in any case rendering the car virtually undrivable. Even then the Skoda dealer in Oswestry fitted a non-Skoda part to reduce the cost! Apart from Subaru (really expensive brakes) I've not had such large costs on a car for a long time...

Edited 21 February, 201115 yr by DRJ