Here's my brief, budget of 4.5k sub 90k miles, cambelt done or negotiable in price, no rust, no bodged paint jobs, clean straight bodywork. Black, silver or red. Any age.

Missed out on a couple nice looking examples in the club due to timing or selling another car and I'm hunting for a decent fabia. Looked at four so far, all private owners as from experience i have found you usually come across better examples and the owner can tell you factual history about the car.

So far all of the cars I've seen have had some major issues. I went all the way to High Wycome yesterday from South Yorkshire at a great deal of cost and hassle. I asked all the questions and the seller assured me numerous times the bodywork was fine. Almost immediately I could tell it had the rear end resprayed, to the point where it was obviously the original paint and old started, bumper not lined up right and fuel filler cap not closing probably a result of a rear end shunt.

Similar stories with the other three with bumpers misaligned, paint peeling and the last one had rusty rear arches. Two red ones had what they described as minor trolly marks which turned out to be a crease the entire length of the car which had also damaged the paint.

I have just sold a mk5 04 plate golf for £2900 and none of the Fabia's were a patch on this. Sure it had a few age related scuffs but nothing I would class as actual accident damage.

Question is am I asking too much to find a clean honest fabia or is my budget too low? I'm not in a massive rush but I would rather get a new car sooner than later.

Anyone selling up?!

Budget is fine, you just need to wait for the right car to come up.

You should be looking at late registered ones for £4,500.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-07-SKODA-FABIA-VRS-TDI-PD-130-SILVER-FSH-93K-LONG-MOT-HPI-CLEAR-/221516336585?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3393670dc9

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-1-9TD-130bhp-vRS-/191127893447?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c801c35c7

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-56-SKODA-FABIA-1-9TDi-130bhp-VRS-1-FORMER-KEEPER-/251614078546?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a955e2652

 

Seem plenty about, if you avoid the overpriced cars some dealers have had up for sale for some time.

Thanks mate, I have already looked at those but it has to be a private sale and sub 90k miles. I've done the dealer thing before and basically been lied to so many times I won't do it again.... Having said that the private ones have been equally dishonest!

Second ones bumper doesn't lined up right either mate.

Thanks mate, I have already looked at those but it has to be a private sale and sub 90k miles. I've done the dealer thing before and basically been lied to so many times I won't do it again.... Having said that the private ones have been equally dishonest!

Surely a dealer is safer with warranties and you could get trading standards involved if it was ever nessecary?

Surely a dealer is safer with warranties and you could get trading standards involved if it was ever nessecary?

 

A dealer is responsible for any faults with the car that can reasonably be expected to have been thre at the time of sale.

A private seller is pretty much off the hook as soon as you drive away.

 

Therefore sometimes it's worth paying a small premium to a dealer if you want a hassle free purchase, IMO.

 

I still say there are many good Fabias out there as £4,500 is a sensible budget.

 

The problem is people that are economical with the truth because they want you to come and look at their car.

Dealers and private buyers.

I think they beieve that as you've travelled XX number of miles you'll feel obliged to buy so you have not wasted your time.

 

I'm yet to buy a used car privately that needs nothing doing to it.

People who are selling soon don't tend to invest in fixing minor things as it's lost money.

Surely a dealer is safer with warranties and you could get trading standards involved if it was ever nessecary?

Main dealer maybe but I've come to find cheap second hand car dealers in general lie about the car to get you there and then will offer a 3 month warranty that's not worth the paper it's written on. Plus you might find the garage has packed up and gone by that stage. I've had a lot of cars and have only dealt with two dealers that were any good, one a guy who sold porches for a living and the other was a bmw main dealer. I've just bought a zafira for the family and had the same thing with that, I had a bigger budget and went to a lot of dealers but again was told one thing and the car turned out to be another.

Hopefully I will drop on a club member selling there car.

Seems like your having the same problems I was when looking. If your fussy you'll soon realise alot been offered for sale are rough.. patience is key.

Missed out on a couple nice looking examples in the club...

 

I see you like pregnant women, I like them too as long as it's not mine!

Been there, done that. 

I'm on my second one now and it's a total minefield out there. Took me about 6-7 months or so to find one

edit; Also agree with whats said about dealers. The first one I bought **** its turbo out after about 2 days of ownership, so I ended up getting my money back. If that had of been a private sale, I'd have been right up poop creek. 

Got my SE from a Skoda main dealer - probably paid £500 - £750 more than a private sale but for that I got a lot of peace of mind.

Haggled two free services, mot, warranty, years road tax, tank of fuel and have already used the warranty for a clutch, accelerator pedal and rear suspension.

7 year old cars need bits doing to them so you won't find an immaculate one needing nothing so bare that in mind - mine is pretty spotless for the age.

Edited 14 August, 201411 yr by Ad Lav

Thanks guys.... May have found one within the club if it's still for sale. I think regarding the dealer it would have to be near to me or at a main dealer but I would still rather get a private one. At least you can guage the owner and them telling you first hand rather than a dealer claiming very careful miles etc.

There's no rush for me as I have another car so I'm happy to hold out for the right one.

Could have bought mine..  But again, too late.  Shame because it's going to the dealers tomorrow :(

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/324313-2007-fabia-vrs-silver-60k-%C2%A345k/

Could have bought mine.. But again, too late. Shame because it's going to the dealers tomorrow :(

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/324313-2007-fabia-vrs-silver-60k-£45k/

Thanks mate I did have a look but the rear damage put me off.

Edited 14 August, 201411 yr by OllieH

No worries

 

Seems it put a few peeps off.  I know next time, get it sorted before sale!

 

Thanks mate I did have a look but the boot damage was too much for me to get sorted out.

Mine could well be for sale in the next week if all goes well with new car viewing on Saturday.

12 months MOT 12 months tax and just had a service and second cambelt/water pump today (Thursday)

PM me for more info if your interested

Pm sent

Possible found one, ironically after my ranting it's at a private dealer local to me. Thoughts on price? He's asking 4995, 56 plate 70k FSH. Noticed it's also got uprated bushes and a wietec rear arb. Otherwise stock. Won't budge on price but it will have a 3 month warranty, 12 months mot and 6 months tax. No options but paintwork looks very good and the seats are amazingly clean.

Did you look at this one in Tady:

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/skoda-fabia-vrs-se-limited-edition-2007-race-metallic-blue-19tdi-pd-130bhp/1075956090

 

 

You could try the wheeler dealer trick and wave £4500 under there  nose assuming its a go-er !

Did you look at this one in Tady:

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/skoda-fabia-vrs-se-limited-edition-2007-race-metallic-blue-19tdi-pd-130bhp/1075956090

 

 

You could try the wheeler dealer trick and wave £4500 under there  nose assuming its a go-er !

Thanks mate, I had not seen that one. There's a make an offer button on the site so sent him one! Not holding my breath though!

Thanks mate, I had not seen that one. There's a make an offer button on the site so sent him one! Not holding my breath though!

Oliver hello.

 

You were considering the dealer Fabia at £4995.    Hopefully the Tady vendor will look favorably at an offer of £5K?   Good luck.

Oliver hello.

 

You were considering the dealer Fabia at £4995.    Hopefully the Tady vendor will look favorably at an offer of £5K?   Good luck.

Offered 4.5k..... See what reply I get. To be honest I would rather have a lower milage standard car than a higher milage SE. It's not something I would regard as a true special edition having owned a Clio Williams back in the day. Don't get me wrong they are very nice, leather looks awesome and a great spec.

Want a Dark metallic blue with beige/tan interior, Elegance spec 1.4 16V AUB? I'm selling mine later in the year when I get the new car delivered (November). Mine I've had from new, no accidents, never seen a paint shop, all straight. BUT has some bubble rust (under paintwork) on both rear arches, & behind both front mudflaps. Also has an area 6 inch by 6 inch which was creased in & my mate tried to push back out & failed. Paint on this area is solid. 58,800ish miles. Two sets of alloys included. Still working out a price but defo under £1,500. Car has been modified..see my sig.....

Want a Dark metallic blue with beige/tan interior, Elegance spec 1.4 16V AUB? I'm selling mine later in the year when I get the new car delivered (November). Mine I've had from new, no accidents, never seen a paint shop, all straight. BUT has some bubble rust (under paintwork) on both rear arches, & behind both front mudflaps. Also has an area 6 inch by 6 inch which was creased in & my mate tried to push back out & failed. Paint on this area is solid. 58,800ish miles. Two sets of alloys included. Still working out a price but defo under £1,500. Car has been modified..see my sig.....

This colour?