Previous owner dust and grime makes me feel icky.

 

 

Haha, I'm very OCD like that. I even removed my centre console to get the crumbs and stuff out when I bought my car

Edited 27 March, 201412 yr by TMB

I bought mine at c80k with FSSH etc. Suspension bushes turned out to be knackered shortly after and at c90k the turbo went pop. Worth replacing the bushes with Cupra ones if/when they go as they don't perish in the same way as the factory ones and don't cost any more so it's a nice 'mod' to do.  Also be sure to check that the rear doors are not leaking from the bottom as it's a common fault.

 

The wheels also go porus/corrode, so watch for loosing air from the tyres. I had to get a refurb on one for £60 as it would literally go flat within 24hrs so defo worth the refurb you are getting and make sure they do the whole wheel and pay attention to bead area.

 

I have also resisted the temptation to go anywhere near any 'mapping' on the 1.9 130 as from what I've heard without other upgrades it will just kill the clutch/turbo/your soul. Fair enough as long as you accept the other upgrades required as it can be turned into quite a weapon.

 

If you're coming from a car that handles very well (Mini,Peugeot 306) watch out for understeer, it's very nose-heavy. I sometimes forget to adjust my driving style (moronic) when going from the 182/205 to the Fabia. Enjoy the torque that will annoy 118d drivers and constant 48MPG even when you drive it like a rental.

 

Ross Tech1e is your man for retrofit cruise etc.

 

Excellent. 

Door seals have been done, so that's one worry sorted, and yes, the wheels are already bubbling up unpleasantly in a few areas, so that's become a bit more urgent that it would have been if I was just getting them recoloured. 

Suspension bushes sound like they are worth considering, perhaps within the year. 

As for remapping - it's extremely tempting, particularly considering the improved returns on fuel economy, but I think I should spend some time getting to grips with the stock car first. At 80bhp in an 850kg car, my mini is definitely 'nippy', but could never be considered powerful, and while the Pug's 1.6 makes motorway acceleration and cruising pretty easy, it's just not in the same league, so the jump to the vRS is going to be big enough that I shouldn't need a remap to put a smile on my face for quite a while.  Insurance will expire in August, so perhaps that's the time to revisit the idea and look at what other upgrades would be needed to make the extra power reliable.

 

thanks for the advice and for mentioning Tech1e

Haha, I'm very OCD like that. I even removed my centre console to get the crumbs and stuff out when I bought my car

 

That's going a little further than I might, but still understandable. I can't believe that people will often just buy a second hand car and start driving it! Even on my £900 Pug I got an interior valet done straight away.

I've watched people do a lot worse than eat in a car. Sneezers, coughers and dandruffy types are all pretty bad, but then you get the nail biters, nose pickers, and ear prospectors *shudder*.  I'm too polite to raise further suspicions, but there have to be worse habits around too...

It's lunchtime, I need to stop thinking about this or I won't be able to eat.

Edited 27 March, 201412 yr by Maieth

No worries. 3rd gear is always hilarious the mid-range is incredible in the Fabia and powertrain it makes an awesome daily. Just a shame there is no decent noise and I find that when you go to have fun in Wales etc the power delivery just doesn't work as well as a performance NA petrol when you want to thrash it. TURBOOOOOOO....oh..flat spot. Still, instant access to loads of torque is just a different kind of fun. I did consider selling it earlier in the year but actually for what it's used for (partners 60 mile daily commute) not much can tick all the boxes - Bit left field, compact, economical and farking quick.

 

Maybe I'm getting old now but I wish they had made a L&K version like the Octy with David Dickinson spec leather, the same powertrain, and better (softer) suspension for a daily hack. Would be like a mini sleeper GT car (bit like Alfa GT JTD) as I think it works better as that than a 'hot hatch'. No-one would have bought it mind, suspect faux rally pedigree is better for marketing.

 

You also have to tell everyone that it's the best car ever made and basically is a VW Phaeton underneath. Keep quiet about some of the shoddy build bits. Tell everyone you get 9000mpg while doing 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. This is how we aim to keep the residuals so high for an old Skoda hatchback. 

Got one!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403112416216/sort/default/usedcars/radius/30/price-to/5000/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/1/keywords/vrs/maximum-mileage/up_to_90000_miles/postcode/b988rj?logcode=p

This only came up for sale yesterday I think.

 

Very tidy and very well looked after overall.  Service history is good. it's been serviced every 10k miles all the way to the current 80k, mostly at skoda garages. Needs the cambelt doing so this will be a priority.  Base spec, but the price is low enough that I can budget to get cruise control fitted easily enough.  Some stone chips from motorway miles, one that will need sorting out quickly, but the scratch mentioned in the ad isn't too bad at all. Long, but not very noticeable. It ran beautifully from a cold start with no smoke.

Placed a deposit today, collecting next week.   A few more days and I'll be a proper Briskoda member, not just a freeloader

 

Thanks again for so much useful advice, particularly to Mondy, Bogwoppit and Sepulchrave for the regular feedback - it's meant I could buy with confidence and know I haven't missed anything major or obvious.  Cheers guys

Snap same colour and year as mine.

Glad you found one.

That's going a little further than I might, but still understandable. I can't believe that people will often just buy a second hand car and start driving it! Even on my £900 Pug I got an interior valet done straight away.

I've watched people do a lot worse than eat in a car. Sneezers, coughers and dandruffy types are all pretty bad, but then you get the nail biters, nose pickers, and ear prospectors *shudder*.  I'm too polite to raise further suspicions, but there have to be worse habits around too...

It's lunchtime, I need to stop thinking about this or I won't be able to eat.

 

Yeah, it's funny what you find. I found a plastic tooth flossing thing under my console. Ugh.

Yeah, it's funny what you find. I found a plastic tooth flossing thing under my console. Ugh.

that is rank

Not much beats this, there was actually stuff growing in it....

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?733924-Discusting-farm-clio/page3

Not much beats this, there was actually stuff growing in it....

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?733924-Discusting-farm-clio/page3

 Oh wow. Just having a look through that thread.  The key is horrifying!

 

 

quick quote for added humour:

 

I've been able to spend a little time on the clio over the weekend and it's certainly changed a bit!

Notable items I found in the car when cleaning

 

• 8 shotgun shells
• 2 debit cards
• Crops
• Animal Poo
• Feathers
• 4 socks
• Joint
• 3 lighters
• Condom (unused thank the lord!)

 

Edited 27 March, 201412 yr by Maieth

Not much beats this, there was actually stuff growing in it....

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?733924-Discusting-farm-clio/page3

 

Ugh, some people are pigs.

Haha, I'm very OCD like that. I even removed my centre console to get the crumbs and stuff out when I bought my car

Did this on my last car too. I had a cotton bud dipped in cleaner to get in between all the vents/creases/joins and what not lol

I had a cotton bud dipped in cleaner to get in between all the vents/creases/joins and what not lol

 

I do stuff like that. Haha

Did this on my last car too. I had a cotton bud dipped in cleaner to get in between all the vents/creases/joins and what not lol

 

I had to do this on my Clio, the inside of the Renault diamond on the steering wheel was pretty nasty and I cleaned around the gap between the gearknob top and the leather with a pin. Dred to think what was imbedded in that gunk, probably a mix of nasal mucus, skin and monster munch.

Got hold of my cash earlier than expected. Picking up the car tonight   Exciting times.

Car will need a name.  I'm thinking maybe 'Viktor' or 'Vojtech' (VOY-chek) - Czech names beginning with V for vRS.  Any better ideas?

You could call it Tony Benn out of respect (heavy smoker)

It took me a good few months of looking to find my Fabia, as i was very specific about options and exterior colour. Bearing in mind i work as a Sales manager for a big car dealership group, i ended up buying mine from a trader miles away in the Pennines. When i got there the rear footwells were like lakes and the rear brakes were shot.

 

I'd already beaten him up on price but then i got more off because of the extra faults. Going back to earlier posts, i was content to replace the rear brakes as it was cheaper than compromising on the spec, plus i got to make sure it was done perfectly!

 

Glad to hear you're enjoying your Fabia, mines proving to be fun and frugal at the moment. Agree totally about the cleaning side of it. Day two of my ownership i'd got the front seats out to dry the carpets and give the centre console a massive scrub as well.

Got hold of my cash earlier than expected. Picking up the car tonight   Exciting times.

Car will need a name.  I'm thinking maybe 'Viktor' or 'Vojtech' (VOY-chek) - Czech names beginning with V for vRS.  Any better ideas?

 

I wouldn't worry about a name for now, you'll have called it plenty of 'names' before your first year of ownership is done.

I wouldn't worry about a name for now, you'll have called it plenty of 'names' before your first year of ownership is done.

 

 

It took me a good few months of looking to find my Fabia, as i was very specific about options and exterior colour. Bearing in mind i work as a Sales manager for a big car dealership group, i ended up buying mine from a trader miles away in the Pennines. When i got there the rear footwells were like lakes and the rear brakes were shot.

 

I'd already beaten him up on price but then i got more off because of the extra faults. Going back to earlier posts, i was content to replace the rear brakes as it was cheaper than compromising on the spec, plus i got to make sure it was done perfectly!

 

Glad to hear you're enjoying your Fabia, mines proving to be fun and frugal at the moment. Agree totally about the cleaning side of it. Day two of my ownership i'd got the front seats out to dry the carpets and give the centre console a massive scrub as well.

I had a look at a few cars that had paddling pools in the rear footwells too. You'd think at this age, they would have sorted it out by now... 

I walked away from them on the pretence that if they weren't bothered/willing to sort out the pools in the footwells they probably wouldn't care about much else. 

Door seals: Done

 

 

So the car's now on my drive.  Very easy drive back from buying it. Took it pretty easy 1) because it's a new car, 2) because SWMBO had to drive the half dead Pug back so I followed her in case it finally gave up the ghost in a fit of petulance and irony.

The car thinks it averaged 62mpg coming back. Even knocking 10 off that for exaggerated readings I'm well chuffed. Pug barely manages 30.

 

One happy Skoda owner.  Wish me luck.

Edited 28 March, 201412 yr by Maieth

Yeah the trip I have found to be rather optimistic, just like my laptop banner ads constantly telling me about lonely women in my area looking to hook up.

 

I sold my Pug 306 due to it basically dying (14yrs old) and thirst, real shame as they are great cars. It averaged 32 MPG (1.8 16v 112hp) so I sold it and now my Clio (2.0 16v 182hp) gets 36mpg average.

 

Fabia trip consistently sits around 50+ mpg but it's more like 48 after using a calculator at the fuel pumps. Combo of city driving and motorway c85mph.

 

If you sit at c70mph is and do some Stobart drafting you can get it up to 60mpg+ but I don't have National Trust membership and a metallic AA badge yet so I don't ever drive in this manner. 

Yeah the trip I have found to be rather optimistic, just like my laptop banner ads constantly telling me about lonely women in my area looking to hook up.

 

I sold my Pug 306 due to it basically dying (14yrs old) and thirst, real shame as they are great cars. It averaged 32 MPG (1.8 16v 112hp) so I sold it and now my Clio (2.0 16v 182hp) gets 36mpg average.

 

Fabia trip consistently sits around 50+ mpg but it's more like 48 after using a calculator at the fuel pumps. Combo of city driving and motorway c85mph.

 

If you sit at c70mph is and do some Stobart drafting you can get it up to 60mpg+ but I don't have National Trust membership and a metallic AA badge yet so I don't ever drive in this manner. 

 

Its readings certainly seem to be a bit hopeful. This morning I did my commute in it for the first time. 24 miles on a 50mph country road: Very smooth driving, 6th gear all the way, almost no acceleration/deceleration, then about 4 miles on a NSL dual carriageway.

By the time I hit the dual carriageway it wanted me to believe I'd averaged 74mpg!    A nice idea, but again, I'm more than happy if that's actually closer to 60 or even 50. Only filled it up once so far, but I'll keep my receipts and start recording mileage to try and get a more accurate idea of the actual economy.

Its readings certainly seem to be a bit hopeful. This morning I did my commute in it for the first time. 24 miles on a 50mph country road: Very smooth driving, 6th gear all the way, almost no acceleration/deceleration, then about 4 miles on a NSL dual carriageway.

By the time I hit the dual carriageway it wanted me to believe I'd averaged 74mpg!    A nice idea, but again, I'm more than happy if that's actually closer to 60 or even 50. Only filled it up once so far, but I'll keep my receipts and start recording mileage to try and get a more accurate idea of the actual economy

 

Yeah, cross country driving 50-60 mph it does really well. Especially if it's hilly as the extra torque means the engine is not working hard compared to an equiv petrol in same conditions. The Fabia was actually bought to replace a MK1 Focus 1.6 petrol, with man maths being used to calculate the extra MPG would pay for itself.

 

Sadly due to failures I figure I should about break even at now on the additional outlay at around 750,000 miles.