Hello ladies and gents. I'm looking at buying a 2011 vrs estate with 40k on the clock. What should in look out for? I've heard oil consumption can be an issue? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Just look for the usual things for any used car; damage, service history etc. oil usage is hard to check for when viewing a car. Take the reg and call up Skoda UK and ask for details on warranty work completed. If it's had an engine change then fair enough. Hopefully any problems have been sorted. It wouldn't put me off. I have a VRS estate and absolutely love it! Mine uses some oil and is not a problem as it is within the tolerances set by VW/Skoda.

At 40k the spark plugs should have been changed and the brake fluid should have been done also. Make sure these have been done. Also make sure that the engine has received an ECU update. Hope it all works out well and welcome to Briskoda :-)

Cheers Ally. Thanks for all of that. I've heard of some nightmares with these engines but it's like anything isn't it. Keep it well maintained and it shouldn't cause any issues. Can I ask how much oil yours uses? I've heard some people are topping bio every few hundred miles?

Welcome to the forum.

 

There are more good ones than bad, but you need to find out as much as you can about the one you are buying.

 

If buying from a Skoda Dealership,

ask to see the cars Service and Warranty history on the Computer.

Any warranty work done, and has it needed an Oil Consumption test done, Breather Valve or Pipe Upgrade,  or an engine rebuild or replacement done, and work on the DSG, Clutch packs or new gearbox,

& is any of that written up in the Service book.

 

Contact Skoda UK Customers Services on Monday and check that what you told is correct.

If it has had a new engine that should not put you off.

One member went to look at a 2011 estate that was on its 3rd engine,

So i would say thats a no no.

Unless the price is right, everything needs to be on price and condition,

a 40,000 mile estate with a new engine 5,000 miles ago could be a good buy.

 

If not being bought at a Skoda Dealership,

then check the vehicles details, servicing record and warranty record with Skoda UK Customer Services just the same.

 

So basically, get a good price, and get 1 years warranty, and then buy an extended warranty when required.

 

The car should have had a 40,000 miles Inspection Service,

Brake fluid changed, New Pollen & Air Filter, & New Spark Plugs fitted.

You need to see the receipt for these.

If it needed a ECU Update that should have been done.

Check which tyres are fitted, that they match & are all in good condition.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/289790-fabia-vrs-mk2-oil-consumption-softwear-upgrade

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/294051-cave-cthe-14tsi-just-reply-please-if-you-have-had-an-engine-replaced

see post #19, and that members other posts, it pays to check things out, and be sure of the Warranty.

*Ask the dealer if the ECU has been checked to see if an Remap was done previously, 

and if the Brakes, Steering & XDS are back to the Factory Settings before they sell cars.*

(Best get them to sign a letter saying you have asked that.)

 

Lots of vRS threads if you just go back through the pages.

Great fin cars, just be sure to get a good one.

 

george

Cheers Ally. Thanks for all of that. I've heard of some nightmares with these engines but it's like anything isn't it. Keep it well maintained and it shouldn't cause any issues. Can I ask how much oil yours uses? I've heard some people are topping bio every few hundred miles?

Not a problem :-) George's post above has gone into more detail and his advice is bob on!

Mine uses around 500ml per 1500 miles. So I top up every month and a half / 2 months. It's not a problem because I know these engines do use oil and mine is within the tolerances set by VW.

I do find that the type of journeys you do affects the oil consumption. Short stop/start will use more than long distance cruising.

They are great little cars and super fun to play with.

All the best and we hope to welcome you to the fold of VRS owners :-)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

Sorry but must disagree.

 

These engines do not necessarily use oil.

Some might need a little top up between services, depends on type of use.

Many drive these cars hard, or normally and the oil used is a very small quantity between Oil & Filter Services.

 

Some use more, and the Owners Hand Book sets out where that might be, FOR ALL FABIA ENGINES.

and some are faulty and use lots.

These engines might be faulty but run for long enough.

 

The Volkswagen Audi Group, and Skoda are part of that, say,

0.5 litres per 1000 km (621 miles) is acceptable, and they say that for all or any of their engines.

If owners think that is OK, then fine.

 

It is not normal or an average and is a silly figure to accept IMO after a car has covered its first 3,000 miles or so,

unless you do the type of driving that might cause high oil usage.

 

A litre of Full Synthetic oil required every 3 or 4 fill ups of 98 ron petrol seems ridiculous for VAG to suggest as acceptably, 

well to me it does.

Maybe only the price of an Extra Gallon of petrol and some, every 4 tanks of petrol, but that is still adding up over time.

 

george

This is turning into an oil thread. Let's stop now haha!

Lets have it as a 'No Oil used thread' then !

 

Buyer beware as with all used cars, ask lots of questions, get the true answers, check the Service record,

& if possible speak to the previous owner that traded it in or sold it.

 

Maybe,

Put the Registration Number up and someone might know the car.

Agreed :-)

Check for alloy wheel corrosion! Especially on the polished types.

Edited 23 March, 201412 yr by austenw90

The reg is DU11 LEJ. It's a one owner apparently. Quite high spec. The dealer is asking for over 11k for it over 4 yrs. I won't be doing vast amounts of long journeys but every 6-8 weeks I'll do a 300 mile round trip to wales and back. So the oil consumption probably doesn't phase me.

I work as a wheel refurbisher so the alloy corrosion isn't a problem either.

A Green one first registered 5th March 2011, so out of the Original Warranty.

 

Is it at a Skoda Dealership and an Approved Used car?

With 1 year Warranty.

(i would look at buying a 2 year warranty at the end of the 1 year.)

 

The Dark Chrome wheels might have been replaced under warranty already,

(if it is Dark Chrome, a member here had a Green Estate 11 plate with Black Gigaro.)

Did you notice the White Spider Corrosion on any of them if Dark Chrome Gigaro's fitted ?

 

Best get the low down on the Warranty Work done if any,

If it has Heated Seats do the Elements need replaced.

Yeah It's at an approved used skoda dealer in Liverpool and it's a bit of a trek so haven't yet seen it in the metal.

42,000 miles,  i think it might have been a member on here.

On Black Gigaro wheels.

 

http://alexlawrieskoda.co.uk/used-cars/778/skoda-fabia

 

EDIT,

not the one i thought, it has less miles on it.

Yeahs that's the car. Alex lawrie seem like a good dealer.

Do you think 11k is a good price for the car?

It is not £11,000 thats with Finance which is maybe OK. (its about £9,000-£9200 walking in with cash)

If it is a good car its fine.

 

You could maybe find one out of Warranty with less miles for under £9,000.

Auction or Car Trade,

That is a Total Lottery

 

But if its is a Skoda Approved Used, MOT'd, Tax, Full Serviced History,

and 12 month Warranty,

then £11,000 could be good.

A New engine if already fitted even better IMO.

 

If you like it, your maybe getting a good car.

Maybe see if a member here with one can go look first if you have a bit to travel.

 

Have fun, good cars.

Over 11k sounds a lot, do estates hold value better?

Mine is a 2012 / 62 reg which had 6500 miles on when I got it in December 2013. I paid a fraction over 11k, 11,300 I think. But maybe they knew it was a dodgy one, engine replaced since I've had it but all seems ok now. It was Skoda approved from a reputable dealership. From where I am now seems a worthless "approval".

Forget my previous comment now I've seen its 9 something k.

Estates worth a bit more.

 

Skoda Approved is not worth paying more for, 'normally' unless they check properly,

and they do not always at all Skoda Dealerships.

but it makes things easier out of the 3 year Warranty and on a Skoda Approved Used Warranty.

For a Twincharger, i would stick with Skoda Dealerships for Safety.

Unless you want to take a Risk and buy Cheap at Auction or Private.

 

But you must be sure it is checked at the Dealers,

Diagnostics and ECU update done, 

and you must ask if they checked if its been Remapped, or if they checked.

Finance gives some more Security.

It is not your car until paid up.

Thanks gonephising. I really appreciate what you've written.