Hello , I know ive posted alot in this forum recently , mainly because I am looking at buying a 1.4 skoda mpi , but i want something that is going to last me well

just a quick post to see what mileage people brought there cars on , what miles they are on now , and what problems along the way ?

thanks

Im sure as you seen on my last post, i bought mine at 97k and it now on exactly 108455. Purchased Feb 2010 and still going strong to this day.

Mine's quite low mileage, so can't give you any reassurance there. Most of the problems you'll find out about with a good read of this forum. Thermostats tend to break internally (cost about £45 from a dealer). Headgasket failure is not unknown, either because of an inadequate gasket fitted to the earliest models, or bolts not torques up enough during manufacture.

The cars to look at are the Favorit and Felicia 1.3. These previous Skoda models have pretty much the same engine. Some of these have reached 150k miles with no issues.

With high mileage, the problem you will be most likely to have is the timing chain will have stretched.

If you're going to drive long distances and do quite a lot of miles, I would suggest the 1.9 sdi may be a better choice for your needs.

Edited 16 February, 201313 yr by anewman

yeh i saw that , thanks , i just want to buy the best fabia i can , but atm i seem to be a bit put off by mileage lol

I would put more weight on apparent condition and care given (a service history helps here), than what the clock says. After all, it takes 5 minutes (if that) to plug a computer in and change the mileage on the dash to what you like. I would say it works in your benefit too. If people are put off by high mileage and this brings the price down, then all the better for your bank balance.

On high mileage examples, by high mileage I'm guessing 100k plus, just watch out for a rattling/clattering noise on the front left of the engine as you face it, where the alternator is. This is where the timing chain is located. It's not a big issue but is something that would ideally need replacing. The engine shaking and rocking back and forth on the mounts while running at idle is a bit disconcerting, but is normal for this engine.

Just paid £200 for my insurance for the year on mine, cheapest it's ever been.

Edited 16 February, 201313 yr by anewman

Bought mine Oct 2011 at a shade under 86K.

Now at 96K

Had a "full service" shortly after I bought it and an oil change last October.

Used mainly for local running and has been very reliable (touch wood) with no major MOT or other expenses to date although I expect the exhaust system is now on borrowed time and I have got to get an idling/excessive fuel consumption problem sorted in the near future which hopefully won't cost too much to fix.

Its a 2000 year 8v, Bought back in August/Sept (cant remember exactly) with a shade under 39k. FSH and condition to match the low milage - pretty much mint! - now on around 44,500 miles. Only problem we've had was as mentioned, thermostat. Not too expensive, and takes 5 minutes to fit!

Wife's is now on around 101,000 and rising steadily.

Dud the head gasket last year (no problems since) probably caused by the disintegrating thermostat housing.

Had the usual consumables (brakes, etc.) but nothing unexpected in the 4 years she has owned it (its an '03 plate). Last years MOT had an advisory for corrosion on rear exhaust box - that was all.

Will look at the timing chain later this year, but no indications that anything is wrong with it.

Very reliable cars (in my opinion) that are easy to run & maintain. If just a 'little' underpowered...

Hi edd1.0, in the right hands this engine can clock up a fair few miles with relatively few problems. Ours is 02 plate & is currently on around 86k. As already said don't get too hung up on mileage but look more for service history & works related receipts etc. We've had nothing major during around 3.5 years of ownership & next week she's going in for a 20k service & ARB bushes. Corrosion wise no issues to date & just wish I could say the same of my Felly!

Good luck with your search

Miles aren't what you want to worry about, my car (Y reg) had 21k on the clock in Feb last year, it now has 40k on as of today. The work I've done is largely unrelated to mileage but age. I tend to do any work myself (apart from wheel bearings as from doing them myself they are a pita without a press) so the parts cost is included next to the items I've done and the labour cost where it's been paid. Remember this is a 13 year old car and I'm known to be quite picky about the mechanical condition of my cars. I picked it up aware it needed work to bring it up to my personal standard and it was going from doing 2k a year to 2k a month (I have a bike as well so that mileage was split this year) so expected most of the items listed. Now they're done most will last for quite some time/distance.

BFC flush £6 'specialist' informed me they had never changed it.

Oil/air filters, 4 x plugs £25 (had oil already).

Cabin/fuel filter £20

Aux belt £8 (cracked)

4 genuine bleed nipples (don't ask) £22.73

Angle sensor £101.99 after rebate.

Touch up paint £9.99

Tyres (2x Michelin energy savers) £112.77 fitted/balanced/nitrogen inflation.

Powerflex console bushes £47.90

Wishbones, drop links, ball joints £50.30 (drop links needed, the rest were easy to fit while doing the console bushes).

Gearbox oil & drive shaft seals £43.84 (seal had a slight weep on it).

Rocker cover gasket & caps £3.72.

Wheel bearing £35 (fitted foc in leu of a favour).

Bosch front wiper blades £12

Thermostat & Housing £42.99

4 x rims and tyres inc trims £21 (only wanted the rims for winter use).

Wheel bearing £29, £60 fitting.

Oil service £35 (3ft of snow was enough to put me off doing it myself).

To put it in context remember that's 19k of use and a lot of that could have waited. The only jobs left are a coolant change, new disc's/pads when required and i'll strip/clean the drums replacing the shoes/drums if required. I have a feeling the rear cylinders may not be in great shape given the age and likely lack of attention they've historically had, but they're cheap so if the shoes need doing then the cylinders will be done to reduce the chances of popping a seal over new shoes. The back box is showing signs of age but it'll see out another MOT or two. I expect the track rods/tre's are going to need doing sooner or later but will be dealt with when required. After that I can finally get to actually doing some of the retro fit installs such as central locking and cruise control.

Bought mine in July 2012 @ 79900 miles. Got it cheap off of a neighbour that was emigrating (£100), knew it had issues with cooling (head gasket had gone and they had used radweld or something) but took a punt. Ended up changing water pump and belts, radiator, coolant and thermostat housing, fitted a new cylinder head and all gaskets and bolts, gave it a full service (oil, pollen, air & oil filters, spark plugs). Did all the work in Nov/Dec 2012 myself. Got nearly 82k on now and its running great! As stated above, its a bit gutless and not very economic, but beats cycling to work in the recent sh!te weather we've been having! Once the better weather comes I'll be back on bike! Road tax is only £130 a year too.

My 1.4 MPI has done 140,000 now. Racked up 30,000 motorway miles in the last 2 years but very little problems. Wheel bearings, console bushes, drop links, thermostat and housing. The clutch is still original and will no doubt need replacing soon but still no sign of slipping or juddering so will keep it going for as long as possible. Also had new rear brake shoes and cylinders. The timing chain is a little more noisy then it was but nothing to worry about yet. Front brake pads/discs have lasted for years and not even half worn yet! It's been a great little car.

cheers for your replies people , 140k sounds impressive, im hoping to get a well looked after one on around the 70k , so its nice to know that i should get a fair few miles out of it for the money , ive had my current car 5years now ( 1.0 12v corsa ) , but its currently on 110k and im loosing faith in it as it keeps going wrong , i definatly think it was the right choice to have my heart set on a fabia now ive just gotta wait for the right one to come along , when i get one i will definatly become a freedom member and also start a project thread , although it may not be until summer time , as i am currently a student and only work during the holidays and the odd weekends it is hard for me to work out how much money i can afford on a car. I'm also a trained mechanic so little cheap jobs don't worry me. But with my current car breaking down 3 times in the past 6months and as i work nights about 15miles away from home then it is hard to fully trust my car to get me to and from work

Keep an eye out on this bloke's stock. He used to be a Skoda main dealer until Skoda demanded posh premises. He gets trade ins from the main dealers. I've had 2 cars from him and had no trouble at all. He's very old school but is very helpful treated right. 20 miles from Kettering off the A6 after Rushden.

http://www.wjhmotors.co.uk/used-cars-in-bedfordshire

cheers peter , ive had a look now and they seem quite highly priced , does he budge on the price at all ?

Generally, yes, a bit. What you do get is a sorted motor, I haven't seen any rubbish for sale. You get what you pay for, he's got a good reputation.

Thanks , well i'm going to continue to save , so if something does come up that his selling that i can afford i will defiantly look into it im a bit sceptical about buying privately any ways

ive never even heard of that dealer before though so thanks for the heads up

mines at 132,000 Still going strong. Has needed some work. HG was still on the org one so that's been replaced, Rad needed replaced, Thermostat & Housing

Most of my work has been in other places, Strut top mounts, Springs, console bushes, ball joints and arb bushes.

most of it is not that expensive. I think I will prob be getting a newer skoda way before it dies out

Mines a Y reg Fabia Comfort 1.4MPi The mileage when bought in July 2012 was very nearly 63,000 miles I have since got it to 70,009 miles. Until about a month ago no big problems however my friendly mechanic noticed she is misfiring when ideling when hot. Her temp sensor stopped working sorted that but ideling is still not right. Oh yes and the laquer on my paintwork is peeling other than that she is brilliant. If you ignore the ideling problem she is as quiet as a mouse running.

Edited 28 May, 201313 yr by seh13

1.4mpi classic bought at 56k now at 66666 no problems other than the thermostat great car xD

bought mine at 62k im now on around 70k, my one problem was a corroded radiator which needed replacing but that was only £114 all in! my 3 problems at the min are a stiff gear change which im told will be fixed with oil change in the gearbox, i also have a very rattley timing chain and a light misfire at idle.

The light misfire is apparently 'normal' on these engines. I've tried a few things (unsuccessfully) to eradicate it on SWMBO's.

I bought this new in 2001. 296,070 miles. Its a 1.4MPI Classic. Mot has run out. Rust in sills. Wing bottoms gone. Slight rust on wheel arch from repaired accident damage. Needs camshaft sensor probably. Head gasket on way out. VW 002 gearbox has ply in differential so probably the rivets coming loose. Had a power steering leek fixed which affected the pump slightly. Washer bottle leaking. Windscreen cracked.  The  timing chain rattles as it hasn't had a new chain in over 100000 miles. The clutch is original and it doesn't use any oil. It's only ever been a workhorse to me so before it meets it's maker i thought you might be interested to see it just for a giggle. Theoretically it's repairable but realistically its scrap. PM me if you're interested.

You win this thread! 

 

@willing991 its done well in its 23 years, RIP.