Hi All,

Got an 06 plate Fabia 1.9 TDi with 91k on the clock. Do about 20,000 miles per year (commuting mainly). Car hasn't missed a beat in the last few years and I'm quite happy to keep it for a few more years. But I can't help wondering whether I should change it before it starts to give me any trouble. Equally it is not worth that much and I could just run it until the wheels fall off (well preferably just before the wheels fall off). I'd get another Fabia, new shape, either a 1.9 or 1.6 TDi with low-ish miles IF I was going to change.

Any of you wise owls have an opinion? How likely is it that my car is about to suffer a terrible mid life crisis?

I've owned my red Fabia VRS for 5 years and tripled is mileage in that time from 40k to now just shy of 130k

It has never missed a beat, never spent a day off the road and required nothing more than the normal consumables at the normal intervals.

It's proved that good we bought another the black Fabia with 40k on it back in March.

Last week that car destroyed it's turbo just after passing over 48k.

A perfect demonstration that every car is different and you never know what you're going to get.

You may change to a newer car and THAT car has troublesome teens (to carry on your mid life crisis analogy) and costs you loads in repairs.

I err on the side of "better the devil you know" and would only consider changing the car if i wanted the new car rather than if i wanted to try and avoid potential bills on my existing car

Hi All,

Got an 06 plate Fabia 1.9 TDi with 91k on the clock. Do about 20,000 miles per year (commuting mainly). Car hasn't missed a beat in the last few years and I'm quite happy to keep it for a few more years. But I can't help wondering whether I should change it before it starts to give me any trouble. Equally it is not worth that much and I could just run it until the wheels fall off (well preferably just before the wheels fall off). I'd get another Fabia, new shape, either a 1.9 or 1.6 TDi with low-ish miles IF I was going to change.

Any of you wise owls have an opinion? How likely is it that my car is about to suffer a terrible mid life crisis?

If it aint't broke...

I do 30k a year, and as long as well serviced, these cars go on and on...

Sounds like you got a good 'un already

As above, you could get rid and replace it with a newer car with more issues. It's not unreasonable for a clutch to go at some point or a turbo, they're not that expensive so worth doing, certainly cheaper than replacing the car so if you have a reliable car and it's worth bugger all to you then why would you get rid of it? People still have this idea that cars self destruct at 100k when the truth is they don't, look how many taxi's have 2-3x that on them and a lot more more.

It's like the new car buyers who swap cars that do 40mpg on petrol for diesels because the mpg is better, thing is the fuel is more expensive as is the servicing/belt changes so they save £20 per thousand miles but do bugger all mileage so they end up paying more overall yet preach the mpg figures at every opportunity. Realistically all they do is shift the cost from each fill up to larger hits and that's without the depreciation they realize on selling the car or the steeper depreciation on the newer one.

So no, unless you have money to burn or actually need a different type of vehicle then keep what you have if it's reliable, pay for reasonable repairs and enjoy the savings of running it till it's no longer viable to maintain.

I feel like I've had a lot of niggles on my current 130K PD100 1.9 TDI. To be fair, nothing has been expensive and most of the faults are well documented on here.

I've had a lot of electrical sensors go over the last 15-20K. Coolant, ABS, AC, Steering Angle, Recirc, Heated Seat control unit, Blower resistor (there are possibly more). Engine is phenomenal but suspension is wearing now, drop links, ARB bushes, top mounts. I've considered getting something a bit newer but I know the car inside out and like I say, nothing is actually that expensive to sort *touch wood*

I still enjoy the car and if I bought a lower mileage VRS, would probably hit the same problems down the road so I'd say keep it unless it's worth enough to trade in.

Suspension on a 130k car isn't unreasonable, it's also cheap and most of it is easy/quick to do.

The rest (although annoying) is all part of owning a car. This year i've done the thermostat, temp sensor, a full service and minor service, angle sensor, two lots of drop links, console bushes, wishbones, ball joints, a wheel bearing. I've been rewarded with a drive shaft seal and gearbox fluid to do.

I think if the car is running well keep it going, it's not going to suddenly start going wrong. When things do start to fail then sell it, simple!

Depends how flush you are feeling, not worth doing for economic reasons. However if you want a new car then why not.

I'm in the same boat and fortunate in that I don't have to consider chucking my car in with the process, although also I'm not looking at brand new cars.

This is cos like you I'm getting to a point of concern over day to day reliability as I almost hit 100K....but from the sounds of it that isn't anything to be concerned with ?

( A little concerned with the possible need to change clutch and turbo in the near future but that is all and not bad for 6 yrs / 100K with no other major bills). There are other minor bits like the condensation, the carpet starting to fray at the clutch side, etc

I'm just thinking would it be extravagant to own 3 skodas ? lol, it would mean I'd have my 06 VRS, 09 HTP (wifes) and (the one I'm looking to attain) an 11 Octy Elegance 1.8 (the old petrol vrs spec). (for proper summer fun I have a 140hp 0-60 in 3 secs sportsbike)

The worst part I imagine would be the insurance as despite all the ads there isn't really any good combo insurance is there.

Hello, i also drive approx 20'000. a year. I have a 2001,1.9tdi estate. It has 159'000. miles on the clock and gives very little trouble. I am sure it is worth very little.

When it was MOT'd and Serviced the Mechanic (independent one man band) said it was solid and should give me a few more years of use yet.

Having said that i am now thinking of getting either a Roomster or Octavia. Would prefer to get a Fabia TDI VRS, but have two kids and feel the boot will not be big enough ; )

My point is (but got to it very slowly). If your car has only 91'000. and you look after it well, then there is no reason why it should not go well until at least 200'000. plus miles with out costing you a fortune !

Good luck on what ever you decide.

Hugh does it have to be a diesel.

I don't do the miles so much now, and I reckon the 1.8 petrol makes quite a bit of sense as you haven't so much value to buy (or lose) on the car, and the tax whilst higher isn't as bad as the petrol oct vrs. Its also bloody quick ! (its the old vrs spec engine before they went to 2.0T)

dominorising - it is up to you what engine you would like. I myself do higher mileage and also like the feel of the diesel. If you only do short journeys,then supposed petrol is better for you.

I would very much like a TDi VRS as i would love the midrange power, not quiet sure if big enough for the family !

Wife, two kids and a weeks shopping fit in easily, i've owned a Octavia 2 and a Golf/Leon and the space difference is minimal in all area's apart from the boot, on the Fabia even that's fine for most things.

Avalon - Very true most weekly stuff fabia is ok. Some times with biles it is a little more difficult ( ok with Fabia Estate), also enjoy going camping, so that is why i am thinking of either an Octavia or Roomster. But for jst my please and most of the time a Fabia TDI vRS would be great !!!

Don't forget you have roof rack option also

The mk1 fabia has proper roof rails and on mine I've gone for Thule and a Halfrauds top box (250L). Quite quick to fit too.

We've gone away in mine and I could even get a 8ft surfboard next to it and it made storage at least as good as having an Octavia so doesn't mean you have to be limited so you can have the best of both worlds.

If it was 4 adults I would say Octy, but if only kids the Fabia should be fine and if you are optimal with space (no junk in the boot unlike me) then you could get a good amount of shopping bags as well. You can get a Fabia vRS mk1 estate ?

Though if you are doing it a lot then the Octy will probably make more sense.

I'm looking at an Octy but actually wondering if I will cope with the size. I had a 820 Sterling once and that was a fair big bus and its not as easy to get into spots as the little hatchback.