Would you but a VRS with no service history ?

One i have seen has 84k on a 04, 12 months mot and seems ok

Also what mileage does the cam belt need changing as there seems to be various answers for this ?

Price reflects the lack of history so its quite cheap

Cambelt 4years or 60k I think

Cambelt and water pump 4 years or 60,000 seems to be the most common answer. Service history depends on your mechanical knowledge. If you know nothing about cars then it gives you a comfort zone. Personally I take more notice of the actual car and talking to the owner. If they obviously know what they are tslking about and come across as not bulls****ers then that is more useful to me.

I asked the owner if the cam belt had been changed and he said that it hadn't and that it didn't need to be, hence the question about that.

Car appears to be in good condition so I may well give it a viewing.

Anything I should look for aside from the usual checks ? VRS specific things ?

Leaky doors, work anti roll bar bushes, worn console bushes.

Would you but a VRS with no service history ?

One i have seen has 84k on a 04, 12 months mot and seems ok

Also what mileage does the cam belt need changing as there seems to be various answers for this ?

Price reflects the lack of history so its quite cheap

Since you've spoken with the owner what has he said about the service history - has he NEVER had it serviced? Or has he only had it a short time? If so why's he selling? Most people should be able to give at least something in evidence even if it's been self-serviced.

Cambelt change is 4y/60k if you follow Skoda UK's advice or 4y/75k if you follow Skoda's own advice. Thus it should now have been changed TWICE.

What about brake fluid - needs changing every two years. If that hasn't been done either then you may need a brake rebuild (says he who neglected that exercise on his motorbike and needed a replacement caliper!)

Unless the price is REALLY low and unless you REALLY like the car I'd suggest there are plenty about to choose from.

It's a buyers market, loads of choice. I think I'd look elsewhere personally.

It's available for £2200 so pretty cheap, I only communicated via text so only have a few details.

Need to sell my car before I buy one anyway so will have a look then.

Well that's certainly an attractive price....

EDIT - just checked on Autotrader - 208 cars coming up on a Fabia vRS search (i.e. including Mark 2's) and apart from a Cat D one there's nothing cheaper than £2,395

Edited 25 November, 201213 yr by DRJ

Worth doing a HPI check on it then

Well that's certainly an attractive price....

EDIT - just checked on Autotrader - 208 cars coming up on a Fabia vRS search (i.e. including Mark 2's) and apart from a Cat D one there's nothing cheaper than £2,395

Its up for £2600 (-;

I paid 2300 for mine 04 plate fully history 86k timing belt and water pump done. Someone had keyed one side lightly

i bough mine with no service history and it was hidden in the hidey hole in the glove box ! every receipt ever received !

If you go forward with the absence of SH you really need to know what you're looking at! As with most things buyer beware

HPI check.. If member of AA or RAC, can ask them to preform vehicle check/inspection...

Also, if you know the supplying garage, it's possible to ask them for any history they may have.

J.

It's a private seller, I asked and he said that its been serviced every year but didn't need the cam belt doing.

I mentioned that it should have been changed at 60k (current mileage is 84), his answer was that it had never been changed and didn't need to be changed because it was a private sale not a trade sale ?????????

Think I will be giving it a miss pmsl

if a key servicing item has been missed, who knows if its ever been serviced properly at all.

if a key servicing item has been missed, who knows if its ever been serviced properly at all.

Exactly this!

Private sale not a trade sale haha, what a load of bull

The one car I bought with service history actually was the one with the biggest problems. Service history will not stop things going wrong. After the warranty runs out things like aircon etc will only have been fixed if the owner had the money. It should mean that the engine isn't worn though and the brakes are safe.

If you can check the car and know what to look for it's not to important. However you should expect things to not work and base the buying price to include cost of repairs and things like getting the cam belt done.

A good tip I heard is to look at the state of the owner house and garage. Gives you an idea of how much money and effort might have been lavished on the car. I look at the make of tyres, cheapo ones perhaps being an indicator that the other parts replaced might be skimped on as well!