Hi guys, wouldnt normally post in here but looking at getting my girlfriend a new (cheap) car to replace her falling apart saxo.

I was looking at anything Polo/ibiza/fabia and was wondering if the above 1.4/1.9 engines are any good. Looking at performance figures that look astonishingly slow which is a bit worrying.

I've seen a fabia for £999 with FSH fitted with the 1.9SDI with 180,000 odd miles on the clock. How often should the cambelt be changed onthe SDI? Is there anything else i should be aware of?

If anyone has any opinions on 2000-ish punto diesels those would be appreciated

Cheers!

the 1.9 sdi engine is bullet proof if been serviced properly, i think the timing belt is every 4 years or 60,000 miles but dont hold me to that

There's a sticky on here somewhere on cambelts . Oil used should have been to VW 505.01 spec,and changed at 10K. Personally ,I'd not go less than 75BHP in a Fabia ,and seem to remember that the SDI is only 65. Forget Polo - it's only an overpriced Fabia.If the 1.4MPI engine is the same as in the earlier Felicia , it's a nice little engine ,but the one I was lent for a month or two ,was definately thirstier than my little 1.4 TDI, but I see an awful lot of R reg Fellicias about ,and most seem to be 1.4MPI.

Thanks, ive kinda miscounted felicias because i've heard they arent particularly safe.

We are quite strapped for what to choose as the budget is £1000 TOPS!

i was worreid about the low power of the SDI but im curious as to how it works being a diesel and whether it has enough low down torque to overcome that shortcoming.

An SDI is never going to be quick (TDI's are a lot better but you have the headache of a turbo going and poorer economy) the 1.9 engine is very reliable if looked after properly and capable of very high miles *BUT* at 180k you're going to have bills sooner or later irrespective of how well it's been maintained (though probably i'd be thinking running gear/box/clutch etc rather than an engine rebuild etc. it's a very economical engine though. Cam belt interval above is correct afaik.

The 1.4mpi isn't what i'd call quick either, it's chain driven so no belt to worry about and although early ones had an issue with HGF the revised HG (look for a T on the right front corner) apparently fixed the problem along with the bolts being torqued correctly. Thermostat's tend to go on the 1.4mpi and it's not the most economical of engines but it's easy to work on and cheap to maintain and i'm averaging 40mpg. A full service is every 10k and the cost to do it yourself under £40.

In general Fabia's have a weak point when it comes to power steering, some are cheap fixes such as an iffy earth, low PAS fluid etc. - wait till you see where the res is, it's then easy to understand why it's not checked by some garages. Others are more expensive eg angle sensor is £98, new pump/rack = £££. Also bushes seem to perish and while inexpensive to buy and easy to fit to a few hours for a DIYer (less if you can get it up on ramps).

interesting stuff avalon thanks! The car is certainly not going to be driven hard so as long as the suspension etc all work okay im not to bothered about them being not as spritely as new. Im going to check the service history carefully...I've heard of octavias with the SDI doing hundreds of thosuands of miles on the same gearbox engine combo. Are they not the same?

edit: with regards to powersteering. Is it the normal checks of turnign it left and right whilst stationary and listening out for any whines and engine rpm changes?

No.

TDI's are a lot better but you have the headache of a turbo going and poorer economy)

I recently hired a 2L Insignia, to do a trip that I used to do in the Furby. Now this was a 2010 plate, six years ,and a lot of miles younger than Furball . Ecomomy a bit better than Furby. Possibly die to fact that on motorways, Furby's best economy speed is about 60/65 . I love the look on Fiesta drivers faces ,when the turbo kicks in and it's bye bye Fiesta. Most of them are spotted yoofs, who see an old bloke as someone to take the P with .

Economy -on the long run,based on memory of prices etc, about 45 MPG.Even today ,I get approx 50 round town,and I 'm one of the speeding grandads .

Our SDI is a brill little car.

Easy to drive, sufficient torque to pull away in third if

like the other half you can't tell the difference between that and first :p

(only when she first got it, she was a new driver then too)

Great economy, good comfort, decent spec, excellent reliability.

Cheap insurance and tax as well!! No turbo or dmf to fail either.

However, not the fastest but happy to sit at 80 on the motorway

and still return high 60's mpg wise.

Bit rough on startup when it's very cold (like more or less any diesel engine)

and subsequently slow to warm up.

Some think they are a bit noisy although I'm happy with the way mine sounds

to be honest.

If maintained properly the engine would probably outlast the car.

Read about one on here recently for sale with 450k on the clock.

Nearly half a million miles now that's something special!!

All the other usual probs, leaky doors, bushes, washerpipes are normal

fabia issues and would apply whatever engine variant you chose.

I suppose my main concerns now are -

What mileage should the clutch have been done at?

Cambelt - within last 60k or 4 years. Less is better

Power steering...seems to be a thing on small cars from my research!

I know the clutch on my tdi octy was done at around 80k miles, but it was a business users car up till that point so probably ragged something rotten!

She phoned her insurer today and will actually get a rebate if she changes to this car of around £50 which is nice.

We had our clutch changed at 100k.

All in supplied and fitted an LUK clutch for £280.

We've also had console bushes done a year ago due to MOT fail.

supplied fitted and wheels aligned for £150

And finally we had the cambelt and waterpump done a few weeks ago

all in cost for that was £390 supplied and fitted. Just because it was due.

Oh and it's had two front tyres.

We've had the car since 2008 and spent less than a grand on it

since buying it. Breaking it down to less than £250 a year maintenance

budget. That's pretty good really when you consider the bushes tyres and clutch

are consumables and the cambelt is a regular service interval item.

I've had the vRS for a year less and have spent probably 5 times that

amount on it although to be fair a lot of that is modding.

excellent - more great information thanks!