I have been offered a 54 plate fabia vrs, full skoda service history, 86K, esp xenons, sunroof, crusie. 

 

Looks in good condition, I still have to look at all the documents. The cambelt has been replaced however I am not sure of any other recent work.

 

At 86K is it likely going to cost me in the next few months? It will have a new MOT when I buy it. Is there a major service due @90K?

 

Also this is for my wife to drive daily, all a and b roads, not motorway, is this a sensible car for that type of driving?

 

All help would be appreciated, I am in the south east (canterbury) who do you guys use for work on your VRS?

What price are they asking?

sounds a good car with the optional extras

Price, and the condition of the vehicle, would decide this for me. I've only had mine a week now, but spent nearly a month looking for the right car. I found very few with the options list you have described there, but after a lot of searching I'd expect that to be £5000 - £5500.  Unless it's blue. That means its a special edition and worth another £1k.

 

Services are due every 10,000 miles and alternate between major and minor. If it had a major on time at 80k, the 90k should only be a minor. Our local Skoda garage charge around £160. The 100k service will need to be a major, to my memory that's around £230.

 

As far as condition goes, just keep the general upkeep of the car in mind. If it's got a range of scratches, dents, grubby marks, etc, walk away, it won't have been cared for and I quickly learned from the forum that a well looked after car is worth a whole heap more than a typical example..  I only found one car that sounded as good as that one, but it was grubby and had a fair bit of minor damage to the interior. Not looked after at all.

 

P.S:

One thing that might be worth checking or budgeting for is tyres. After just this first week, the road noise from the budget rubber fitted to mine by previous owner is becoming unbearable.  The VAG platform used for the mk1 Fabia seems to have a reputation for eating cheaper rear tyres, causing the inner tread to become 'sawtoothed' - an effect that reduces grip and causes huge amounts of noise.  If the car is on Vredsteins, Michelins, Goodyear, Uniroyal, etc, it might be fine, but cheaper brands might need replacing. Worth keeping in mind when looking at costs and not something I knew about when buying.

 

Best of luck!!

Edited 3 April, 201412 yr by Maieth

The price is good considering the condition of the car, It does have a light scuff on the rear, but this has been reflected in the price. What I am concerned about is pending costs due in the next 10K!?

 

I must say looking at this forum has given me alot of confidence, seems like a great community!

 

Any thoughts on the type of driving this car will put up with, the main driver has limited mechanical sympathy and is mainly on country roads. 

Price, and the condition of the vehicle, would decide this for me. I've only had mine a week now, but spent nearly a month looking for the right car. I found very few with the options list you have described there, but after a lot of searching I'd expect that to be £5000 - £5500.  Unless it's blue. That means its a special edition and worth another £1k.

 

Services are due every 10,000 miles and alternate between major and minor. If it had a major on time at 80k, the 90k should only be a minor. Our local Skoda garage charge around £160. The 100k service will need to be a major, to my memory that's around £230.

 

As far as condition goes, just keep the general upkeep of the car in mind. If it's got a range of scratches, dents, grubby marks, etc, walk away, it won't have been cared for and I quickly learned from the forum that a well looked after car is worth a whole heap more than a typical example..  I only found one car that sounded as good as that one, but it was grubby and had a fair bit of minor damage to the interior. Not looked after at all.

 

P.S:

One thing that might be worth checking or budgeting for is tyres. After just this first week, the road noise from the budget rubber fitted to mine by previous owner is becoming unbearable.  The VAG platform used for the mk1 Fabia seems to have a reputation for eating cheaper rear tyres, causing the inner tread to become 'sawtoothed' - an effect that reduces grip and causes huge amounts of noise.  If the car is on Vredsteins, Michelins, Goodyear, Uniroyal, etc, it might be fine, but cheaper brands might need replacing. Worth keeping in mind when looking at costs and not something I knew about when buying.

 

Best of luck!!

Way way way out on price a 54 plate VRS with those options should be 3 - 3.5k tops not 5k that's VRS SE money

Way way way out on price a 54 plate VRS with those options should be 3 - 3.5k tops not 5k that's VRS SE money

 

This is within the price range. Just been to look at it (seller not present) there is a scuff on the rear as already said, and the seats are vv grubby but the previouse owner had children.

 

Can the seats be cleaned easily, i will also put some seat covers in any suggestions rough costs?

where abouts is it?

Its near canterbury. Whys that?

The seats are dirt magnets but assuming they aren't ripped they tend to clean up quite well, keeping them clean however isn't that easy.

Its near canterbury. Whys that?

If someone is close to the vehicle they might be willing to go and have a look to spot any common faults.

If someone is close to the vehicle they might be willing to go and have a look to spot any common faults.

that would be great!! anyone in the canterbury area? willing to spent half hour? Just let me know.

Way way way out on price a 54 plate VRS with those options should be 3 - 3.5k tops not 5k that's VRS SE money

 

   Yeah, fair enough. I should have thought about the price for more than a few seconds. When I was looking at high spec cars, I was still looking at low mileage and cars that were mostly 56 plate on.

 

May bad.

I may ahve just bought it!!

 

had heated seats aswell, although they are filthy, i have a carpet cleaner so couple of hours and they should be all good!

 

The rear ding did put me off but, new cambelt, turbo and full skoda service made up for it. plenty of tread on tyres and brakes.

 

Now what do I need to do straight off the bat? July is the next service, minor one.

To be honest I'd do a full service so you know it's right. Get some autoglym interior shampoo from Halfords for about £7, brought mine up well although if they're really mucky get a wet vac on them

If your mam/partner had a steam mop what you use to clean floors use that on the seats, did it on mine came out like new !

Clean it up inside and out, check the usual stuff like tyre pressures, oil level, air filter, drop links/console bushes, work out when the brake fluid was last done (2 yr interval) as it's often overlooked. Then enjoy

Congrats matey. Enjoy.

I'll let the more experienced owners give advice on work to concentrate on.

if they're really mucky get a wet vac on them

I wouldn't wet vac heated seats tbh. 

I wouldn't wet vac heated seats tbh. 

 So just stick to autoglym interior shampoo? I pick it up Next week hopefully. I go away for a week next friday so the car will be sat for a week  waiting for my return!

So is wet vac a big no no then with heated seats, im guessing the electrics in the seat base could be seriously affected!?

 

Getting excited about picking it up, but also nervouse as second hand cars are a lottery! 

Edited 4 April, 201412 yr by joshcowin

Clean it up inside and out, check the usual stuff like tyre pressures, oil level, air filter, drop links/console bushes, work out when the brake fluid was last done (2 yr interval) as it's often overlooked. Then enjoy

 

Thanks for this, I am completely new to this, what is the best way to inspect the drop links and bushes? I believe the brake fluid is due in July along with a service (according to service history)

 I'm guessing the electrics in the seat base could be seriously affected!?

 

Possibly yes, enough of a possibility that I wouldn't chance it.

But it's your choice to make either way. 

Possibly yes, enough of a possibility that I wouldn't chance it.

But it's your choice to make either way.

Thanks, it makes sense tbh, will still wet vac the rear bench!