Does anyone know if such a thing exists??!! We're currently trying to sell our Sillverline and the first place everyone seems to go is What Car which highlights it susceptibility to overheat.

"'1.4 8v susceptible to overheating and coolant leaks which can wreck engine'"

We've had the car 2 years and had no problems, it's been serviced regularly and no one has mentioned that this might be a problem. Yet all our prospective buyers seem to trust What Car..... At the moment it seems like we'll have to give the car away cos no one wants to buy it!

ive heard they have major gasket trouble, and my wife's own version keeps getting that yellowy mayonase stuff under the oil cap which is a bit worrying as the car has full service history and only 20k miles on the clock. never had troubles with actual leaks thou, water level seems to stay constant

Mayo under the oil filler is very little to worry about, especially if as you say it is low mileage.

The fault with the Fabia head gaskets is quite common on earlier cars, they require a modded type of gasket, or re torquing of the head bolts. The simplest way of telling if the head gasket is weeping is you will get a slow build up of oil in the coolant header tank. This will eventually stick to the two prongs of the level sensor and when cold will tell you the level is low even if it is fine (three beeps and the coolant light flashing).

Modded gaskets have a tab that sticks out of the right hand side of the head as you look at the car with 'Temac' written on it.

I was going to say "try www.honestjohn.co.uk - under car-by-car breakdown".

However after reading it, I think it will scare even more people away !

My wife had the 1.4 8v.Thrashed by me for three years to within an inch of its life.Jane not so harsh with it but certainly didnt baby it!

Problems? none. 20 pence fuse for the wipers only.Nowt wrong with the engine.

Even got more than 50% of its original value on trade in.Thats mercedes standard depreciation!

don't know about reviews, but it certainly is pretty good its my first car since I passed my driving test and it does nice wheel spins but anyway, my mums had it since 2000 and its been working fine since.

On skoda cars you MUST always use G12 (red in colour) antifreeze.

This will stop the head gasket problems.

It wont stop head gasket problems on he Fabia as there is a know fault with the gasket itself.

But it is essential that G12+ is used (G12 is now obsolete) and is pinky purple in colour.

I had one of the first ones in 2000 and had loads of problems. The following had to be replaced over a year but in the end I got sick and sold the car.

Head gasket

Water pump

Steering rack

Leaking windscreen, twice.

Power steering fault, electrical.

ECU fault.

It just seemed to be this model but it put me off fabias until I bought the VRS this year. However I know people with later model 1.4 8 valves who have had no problems whatsoever so it may just have been teething problems.

I have had a 1.4 8v Blackline Furby since new on an 02 plate and (touch formika) have had no problems except a replacement anti roll bar bush A top little car that SWMBO now drives.