I've had my lovely Fabia vRS from new, it's 8 years old and I've done 115k miles.

Half of me thinks I should think of changing it, as it has a few niggles and the other half thinks, well I've looked after it and it's still a very good car.

What would you do:

8 years old

115K on the clock

Needs new bushings

The front passenger lock never works first thing in the morning

The rear screen wash has become detached (yet again!)

The condensation is really annoying (and I'll have to soon defrost in and outside soon)

The aircon compressor is knackered

5K or so from a new timing belt

Stick or twist, considering I've got maybe £600 or so to find quite soon + there might be other nasties lurking in the not too distant (never had a new clutch, turbo, gearbox etc (it has been a very reliable car!)

Personally, I would get all the issues fixed before selling anyway, so I'd address them all first then see where your at.

Twist mate. Definitely. I've recently had a 9 yr-old Fabia 1.9 TDi with 120k which needed the following:

1) New anti-roll bar bushes on both side of the front ARB

2) New timing belt, tensioners and water pump

3) New alternator belt

4) New brake caliper at rear

5) Full set of discs and pads

6) Brake fluid change

plus a few other things. She'll still need the rear door carriers resealed, but I can do that myself when the Spring comes.

Fair play, it was all stuff that needed doing but all in it was 10hrs labour (£500) plus parts (£500) plus VAT = just shy of £1300.

But if you can't afford to contribute any more towards a new motor (like me) then you don't have a lot of choice. I paid the money in the hope that with all that work done all she'll need is tyres and oil changes for a few years and perhaps a new exhaust. Fingers crossed I don't get stung by anything else.

Good luck with the decision.

Condensation will be leaking carriers or the rear screen wash. get both fixed before it starts getting really chilly!

Sorry to appear dim, but wot are 'rear door carriers'

Sorry to appear dim, but wot are 'rear door carriers'

Check your rear doors at the bottom on the inside. Are they wet? If not, is the carpet wet in the rear footwells? If so, you need to reseal the inside of the door carrier. See

I find myself in the same situation. Stick and change. I would have had mine 8 years in may and its the longest I've had a car (just shows how good it is).

Door carriers have been leaking again after being re-sealed by the dealership 3 years ago. Clutch is getting to the stage where it needs to be done. Next year cambelt needs doing all in all I'm looking at possibly £1500 to be forking out within the next 12 months. Added to the fact I only do 7 miles each way to and from work it seems the time to possibly change is getting closer.

Plus at the moment mk1 fabia vRS's seem to be holding their price. Though I was just offered by fiat £1200 as p/x neddless to say I've not returned the dealers call!

It does not cost to check what is about and how much it will cost to change.

If I change it will be to along the lines of a fabia GL2 or possible 1.2tsi (if I stick with Skoda).

I'd be more swayed towards a new car if you have funds to realistically allow you to do it

If you are thinking of changing to a MK2 vRS I would deffo test drive one first.

Nice car but it lacks the puch in the midrange that was the old vRS's strong point.

If it was me, I would probably spend the money getting your car up to scratch.

Just my biased opinion though. I love the MK1

If you are thinking of changing to a MK2 vRS I would deffo test drive one first.

Nice car but it lacks the puch in the midrange that was the old vRS's strong point.

If it was me, I would probably spend the money getting your car up to scratch.

Just my biased opinion though. I love the MK1

Doesn't feel as punchy, but they are far far quicker in reality.

The DSG plays a big part in this I suspect.

Nice car but it lacks the puch in the midrange that was the old vRS's strong point.

Plant Right foot on floor and hold, Punch Mode

Plant right foot on floor and hold in "S" mode, super Punch mode

Plant Right Foot on Floor and hold after dropping a couple of gears with the left paddle, whilst in "S" mode, Hyper Super Mode

Sorted.

Reach into pocket to get hankie to stem blood from nose bleed

Sell it to the Wheeler Dealers of the Discovery Channel... They're looking for motors with niggles to buy atm.

Sell it to the Wheeler Dealers of the Discovery Channel... They're looking for motors with niggles to buy atm.

Live that show lol

Plant Right foot on floor and hold, Punch Mode

Plant right foot on floor and hold in "S" mode, super Punch mode

Plant Right Foot on Floor and hold after dropping a couple of gears with the left paddle, whilst in "S" mode, Hyper Super Mode

Sorted.

Reach into pocket to get hankie to stem blood from nose bleed

fair enough!

I was intrigued about the mk2 so looked into it.

They do 0-100 in about 18 seconds (on speedo) which is really not that impressive at all.

I know the mk1 does 40-100 in 10 seconds using just 4th.

It's not going to take 8 seconds to do 40 so the mk1 is clearly the faster car regardless of a fancy gearbox.

I was intrigued about the mk2 so looked into it.

They do 0-100 in about 18 seconds (on speedo) which is really not that impressive at all.

I know the mk1 does 40-100 in 10 seconds using just 4th.

It's not going to take 8 seconds to do 40 so the mk1 is clearly the faster car regardless of a fancy gearbox.

Have you actually been in one?

Have you actually been in one?

I was wondering the same.

MkI Diesel Fabia VRS. 0-60 about 9 seconds.

mkII Petrol Fabia VRS, 0-60 in about 7 seconds.

Noticable difference, although the mkI is always going to win for economy.

I've said it before, but I like the character of the mkI. That's why I bought one.

The mkII is a good car, but doesn't have the raw feeling like the mkI to me. IMO mkII is better, but less fun. So I modified a mkI.

Other thing about the mkII I don't like is the stance/shape of the car. Too tall and narrow. Looks like a shopping trolly. A fast shopping trolley though.

Great as a fuel sipping estate I have to say...

Reach into pocket to get hankie to stem blood from nose bleed

And pull out wallet, time to fill with Super Unleaded again...

Yes, you can get good economy if you drive like an OAP. But if you drive like that you bought the wrong car. I averaged 18mpg less when I tried one for a day. 35mpg instead of 53.

I tend to be of the opinion the mkII Monte Carlo diesel is actually closer to the mkI VRS. Right fuel, economy and not far off the performance.

5k from timing belt, but you said 8 years, so really it should be done on that 4th anniversary since it was done first time (assume at 4 years old) not waiting another 5k miles.

Washer pipe can just pop on again. Secure it with a small cable tie to prevent happening again.

Could get one of those interior dehumidifier packs (cheap on Ebay) and leave in the car to soak up moisture. Ultimately a good long run with heat on should dry it out.

The other bits sound expensive, but will ultimately need doing. Some of it is likely to be MOT'able as well, so when is that due? It will be tough to sell an MOT failure.

The mk1 isn't that fast at all imo. I barely beat a Toyota people carrier last month up a slip road to 70, and today a new diesel civic beat me from 20-60 :(

Can't comment on the new one though but I've read its quicker than the book figures state.

The Mk1 is easily in the 7s for 0-60, even on road tarmac.

In my standard Mk1 I was running 15.3 1/4 mile times with a best 0-60 time of 6.89 (or something around there for the 60).

Thats a quick car and even with DSG the MK2 would struggle to match it, let alone murder it as posts in here are led to beleive.

For comparison on the same day my friends Golf with 210 BHP was doing high 14.9s, so not THAT much faster.

Anybody who thinks the MK1 is slow probably has a dodgy car (maybe MAF etc) or the non BLT engines are hugely slower. The BLTs put out 150 BHP pretty much all the time so they will be faster, but not enough (without an issue) to make people think it was going to be doing anything like 9 second 60 times!!!

Don't get me wrong the MK1 is not some really fast car, in the big scheme of things its pretty slow. But at the same time a MK2 is at best going to just match it.

The mk1 isn't that fast at all imo. I barely beat a Toyota people carrier last month up a slip road to 70, and today a new diesel civic beat me from 20-60 :(

Can't comment on the new one though but I've read its quicker than the book figures state.

Your car has a fault its as simple as that. Go get it checked out because your no doubt losing out on economy as well.

Anybody who thinks the MK1 is slow probably has a dodgy car (maybe MAF etc) or the non BLT engines are hugely slower. The BLTs put out 150 BHP pretty much all the time so they will be faster, but not enough (without an issue) to make people think it was going to be doing anything like 9 second 60 times!!!

Don't get me wrong the MK1 is not some really fast car, in the big scheme of things its pretty slow. But at the same time a MK2 is at best going to just match it.

Most ASZs seem to measure up around 137 - here's one example http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/longtermtests/59880/skoda_fabia_vrs.html

Having approx. 10bhp less than a BLT will not make an ASZ "hugely slower".

I loved my MKI as it felt quicker than it actually was - riding the torque through the gears was great - I'm not a 10/10 driver - the MKI vRS suited me to a tee because of the lazy delivery.

I test drove a MKII vRS last Saturday - can't really comment on the performance (not particularly fussed either - as long as I can get by slow moving traffic that's fine by me) as I was accompanied by the salesman - I was sceptical as I wasn't sure about the box (I'd never driven an auto before) but by the end of the test drive I was totally sold on the car (due to collect tomorrow - and I was one of the people that laughed at the 'clown's car' jibes ).

I even considered a Monte Carlo but the one for sale within reasonable travelling distance wasn't much cheaper than the vRS.

Edited 17 November, 201114 yr by Wee Bri

Yeah so the older engine is probably only 10 BHP down. That means to think any of the MK1s are slow there must be an issue, whatever that is.

I have seen people redline these engine like its some sort of VTEC Honda, there is a lot of time to be lost there so that could account for a few slow ones. We also know these cars are far from reliable when it comes to things like MAFs of boost leaks so there are a few more I guess.

You read about people going for a remap and being told the MAF is dodgy. If they couldnt personnaly tell something was not right then I think that says a lot.

And pull out wallet, time to fill with Super Unleaded again...

Yes, you can get good economy if you drive like an OAP.

Driven in a sensible manor but not like an OAP I can get into the Low 50mpg range

I was intrigued about the mk2 so looked into it.

They do 0-100 in about 18 seconds (on speedo) which is really not that impressive at all.

Are you pushing it or driving it?