Hello everyone,

My old Octavia 1999 model is ready for the scrapheap next week (crack in engine block, losing power with puffs of blue smoke coming out of the back, electrics playing up and no heating!)so I need another Skoda but I have a few questions for you experts.

Which would be better to buy: 2003 Fabia 1.9 TDI Comfort Estate has done 67,000 miles, FSH at £2995 or 2003 Octavia 1.9 TDI Elegance Estate which has done 97,000 miles with FSH at £2995?

It will be used for commuting (250 miles a week), transporting DIY stuff/materials and occasionally logs. I am not interested having a high performance car, I just want something reliable, comfortable to drive, and not too expensive to repair.

I used to have a Felicia 1.3 estate, is the Fabia similar to drive?

What are the common faults to look for during a test drive? (non technical please as I don't know much about engines)

Thanks in advance.

Njr26

Not driven either one but IMO...

The Octy might drive better/handle better. Octy has the better interior. Comfort is fairly basic.

For me it would depend on when the cambelt was last done, tyre tread depth, general feel of how well the car is.

J.

The cambelt on the Fabia was done at 48,000 miles and the cambelt on the Octavia will be done now if I buy it.

Thank you for your help.

For me it would depend on when the cambelt was last done, tyre tread depth, general feel of how well the car is.

J.

Having driven both types, the octavia will be a more comfortable commute but not as manouvrable as the fabia. There is an enormous amount of room in the octavia. The fabia is a totally different drive to the felicia, the strange steering has disappeared completely. The octavia will certainly cost you more for the insurance, not least because of the elegance spec. I liked both, plenty of poke when required. Personally I would go for the octavia, if the condition is the same as the fabia, due to the FSH.