Hello, I'm looking at a Felicia for a daily commuter and general hack and of the few I've spotted that look suitable one is a diesel, now the others are 1.3 mpi's which I used to have so am okay with but with diesel I wasn't sure if there were any common faults I should be on the lookout for? or what the general opinion is on how well they drive etc, also I'd especially like to know if anyone knows at what mileage the cambelts should be changed? Many thanks, Joel.

The main thing is that it's a much heavier engine than the light 1.3 engine, so expect the handling to be predictably understeery. If you're not bothered about that and just want some transport they're a good old bus - I got one for my mum for £150 from eBay 3 years ago; it had been laid up for nearly 4 years (hence the price), started up easily enough, had enough poke to free up the brakes and I could have driven it home. Been trouble-free since.

I'd change the cambelt as a matter of course - the cost is minimal (I think the kit cost me about £50, IIRC) unless you have proof it's been done not long beforehand. Common faults don't seem to be that common, although the engines seem to eat glow plugs, and the electrics related to it seem to have some issues (although I've never had any, just needed to change them, which is cheap enough, just a PITA because access is difficult).

Thank you for your response but the gentleman I was purchasing the car from sold it from under me so I'm back to square one again, hope to be all skoda'd up by the end of the week though. Much thanks once again.