Hi guys, im looking at buying a skoda fabia vrs. What things do I need to look out for? Any common faults I should maybe check?

Any advice appreciated

thanks

Search common faults under the fabia 1 section.

Unfortunately, used vRS's are now old enough that literally EVERYTHING can give trouble. It used to be console bushes and BLT stutters, choked up EGRs and wet rear carpets but the truth is that now you have to consider almost every part of the car as a potential problem. The engines are strong, the running gear is strong, the interior is extremely well constructed however many of the parts were built to last to the end of the 3-year warranty period and no longer, so don't be suprised if things stop working.

I certainly wouldn't pay a premium for a low mileage one. The turbo and clutch are just as likely to go on an old, low mileage, car as an old, high mileage car because most of the wear and tear is in the starting of the engine and the warming up period.

They're great cars, but ultimately you're buying a 6-10 year old car and that's going to need work so budget a bit (£1000 maybe?) for remedial work on top of whatever you pay for the car itself. Then you can afford a few things to wrong and if they don't then you're quids-in for diesel over the next year.

I think that's a load of bulls**t ^

The biggest things which will cost you the most money to remedy are the turbo, cambelt and clutch/dmf.

It would be pretty obvious on a test drive if there is flywheel judder or clutch slip.

If the turbo sounds like a police siren or its pluming blue smoke out the exhaust then it is probably on its way. These KKK turbos seem to like to snap shafts and give no warning. That could happen at 50 or 150k. But you run the risk of turbo failure on any car you buy that has one.

I believe the cambelt is 4 years/40k (different people say different things, but better safe than sorry?) so most should have had two changes by now

If you turn the wheels to full lock you can probably have a decent look at the condition of the console bushes. These really aren't as expensive to fix as people make out. I was quoted £120 fitted for cupra bushes inc alignment.

Get inside and check everything works. I.e electric windows and the AC.

If your fussy and check all of these things are OK before you buy it then I really don't see why you should be budgeting £1000 for maintenance.

They are good cars and there's a reason that 80% of taxis use a 1.9tdi pd engine. What I would say is buy on condition and history rather than mileage. I went to see rotten cars with 80k and part history and paid the same for a car on 106k that was mint with a FULL history which touch wood has been great.

There's plenty about so walk away if you aren't happy

If you buy one off here it's likely to have been looked after and any of the above issues addresses anyway

Thanks for the help jim

What is your budget mate, im only from pontypool and always willing to take a decent offer on mine

Budget is around £3500 fella. Just one that takes my fancy .

Sure you dont want to spend about 500 more

Thought this might interest you.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/286651-fabia-vrs-july-2005-modified/#entry3399033

Just went to view one. Absolutely Gawjus.

Lloyd & sheena were lovely too

What a gent Oakley. Sorry I was late, women and apple maps don't mix.

Hope you enjoyed the test drive.

Feel free to check my profile and posts since I have owned it.

If mine isn't the 'one' happy hunting.

Not a problem fella. I think yours is the one. I just hope insurance is at a good price with mods declared .

I'll have a scan through your threads when im on the ipad

Lloyds is a lovely example fairplay. Well looked after and with all the correct mods to suit. You will have a cracking vrs there.

I think that's a load of bulls**t ^

The biggest things which will cost you the most money to remedy are the turbo, cambelt and clutch/dmf.

It would be pretty obvious on a test drive if there is flywheel judder or clutch slip.

If the turbo sounds like a police siren or its pluming blue smoke out the exhaust then it is probably on its way. These KKK turbos seem to like to snap shafts and give no warning. That could happen at 50 or 150k. But you run the risk of turbo failure on any car you buy that has one.

I believe the cambelt is 4 years/40k (different people say different things, but better safe than sorry?) so most should have had two changes by now

If you turn the wheels to full lock you can probably have a decent look at the condition of the console bushes. These really aren't as expensive to fix as people make out. I was quoted £120 fitted for cupra bushes inc alignment.

Get inside and check everything works. I.e electric windows and the AC.

If your fussy and check all of these things are OK before you buy it then I really don't see why you should be budgeting £1000 for maintenance.

They are good cars and there's a reason that 80% of taxis use a 1.9tdi pd engine. What I would say is buy on condition and history rather than mileage. I went to see rotten cars with 80k and part history and paid the same for a car on 106k that was mint with a FULL history which touch wood has been great.

There's plenty about so walk away if you aren't happy

If you buy one off here it's likely to have been looked after and any of the above issues addresses anyway

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. If the OP is looking to spend £3500 on a vRS it's not going to be a blue 07 plate and if, as you say, the KKK turbos give up the ghost without warning that's a lot of money to fix on something you say yourself can't be easily spotted on a test drive. If you're buying a car that's done 80,000 miles on the original clutch then you really should be thinking about getting that done. My own car is approaching 200,000 miles and now lives a fairly pampered existence but in it's 7 years of use it's had a turbo replaced on the precautionary priciple, 2 sets of Cupra console bushes, 2 sets of Springs, 2 sets of shocks (the first set was replaced under warranty by Koni), an EGR valve, 4 heater coils and 19 sets of services of various values including 2 cambelt swaps at 75,000 miles each (so it needs another one in 15,000 miles). I am extremely fussy about my cars though and I generally maintain my cars than repair them once they break. Even so, there is a problem with the lights-on warning buzzer that will cost serious money to fix at a dealer and it needs 2 front tyres. it passed it's MOT on the 12th August with no advisories or anything, but I know it will need a clutch at some point.

I stand by my original assertion that buying a car of this age, even a VERY well looked after one, you are buying a car that's been well used and you should budget something for surprises.