Hi All,

 

I've got an '05 plate Fabia VRS and for the last three or four years it's been costing me ~£1000 a year in repairs/service/MoT etc. This time around it's been Air con and radiator repairs that have hit the purse strings the most. Is this par for the course?

 

I'm probably not the most easy going of drivers, but I'm not a boy racer by any means. I guess what I want to ask everyone is, how much do you find yourself spending on maintenance each year? Is my experience unusual, or is it just a fact of like with a well-loved almost 10 year old vehicle?

 

I've lived in London the last two years, and Reading before that so prices are also going to need to be taken into consideration.

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Pete

I think you've just had a bit of bad luck. It also depends if you do the work your self or get a garage to do it. Personally I try and do it myself with the help of my father.

Mine is 7 years old and the radiator & air con condenser have just been replaced - hopefully that'll be it for a while.

I always do interim services myself to help the costs.

I guess we all get the wear and tear items especially as the cars get older : bushes, discs,pads, tyres etc etc- I would complete regular checks rather than wait for an annual once over when the mot is due, hopefully any required repairs can be staggered to help the budget.    

Don't own the Vrs but the PD100, agree with wilsonian, doing what you can obviously saves you hundred's if not thousands!

 

For example, just replaced a wheel bearing, paid £32 for the bearing on the hub (not bearing kit) from GSF, track rod end while I was there (£12) and new pinch bolts from Soda (£5).

 

Local VAG specialist's wanted £190, which I thought was competitive. But just paying a one man band garage £10 to press the new bearing in saved £130!

 

Minus 2 to 2 1/2 hours of my time!

I've properly spent just over £1000 on repairs and servicing in over 5 years of owning mine, service it ever 6-8k. Cars on 110k now, I've put on 50k of them and I got my vRS when I was 19 so I drive it like an idiot for a few years! Calmed down now.

Had a recent brake fluid change by skoda, £50 ish, get a general health check and my rear brake discs needed changing and pads, skoda price £199 priced brake discs and pads £55 TPS had to buy rewind tool £12 plus found out caliper carrier was knackered £60 odd, 4 hrs of my time, job done, worth having a go.

I seem to have spent a fortune recently, but then again I do a lot of miles. But I'm happy to pay it because out of the 5 or so cars I've had in my 7.5 years of driving I'm in love with this Fabia 

Thanks for the input folks... I guess I have been a bit unlucky. I suppose also prices seem much higher than they used to due to inflation and wage crunch in recent years. Sigh :/

 

This time though it's really taking the biscuit though, so now this has become a rant thread  The car has been at the garage for 3 whole days already, and looking like it will be there another one or two. So far I'm looking at:

 

A/C Condenser

Radiator,

CV Gaitor,

Head light casing,

ESC Diagnostics,

Replacement Alternator

 

All of which, with labour and VAT is coming in around £1,300. Man that's a lot of overtime I'll be trying to do :/

Oh and when they fitted the Condenser they then realised I need a new compressor as well. But sod that, will buy second hand and find a mate to do it!!