Just returned to the forum after 10 years away. First car was a purple R reg Felicia bought for £350. An almost electrics free car that you could fix at a scrappy,still can't beat the buzz of completing first self repair job, taking the door apart to fix the window regulator for £10. 

 

Anyway, I return after acquiring a lovely one owner 04 plate 1.2 Fabia . 25k miles on the clock religiously taken by previous elderly owner to Skoda dealer every 6 months.

 

So far so good. The very definition of a solidly built motor.

 

But 35 mpg? Seems a little low, given I take it easy.

 

Oddly, (may be related?) the heater chucks out really really hot air, when turned to hot.  

 

Already search threads for how to improve fuel economy- is general thinking first stop, temp sensor?

 

Anything else I should be thinking of looking at, maybe given age?

Edited 17 November, 201411 yr by fredder

welcome back!

 

25k miles jeez thats low haha! I would give her a good drive mate it probably hasnt been driven over 40 lol

Which 1.2 engine, 6-valve, 54bhp, or 12-valve, 64bhp? Either way, you should expect better than 40mpg average if all is well.

 

At such low mileage for age, it may have suffered from doing very short journeys, mostly. Catalytic converter may be sooted up, for example. Some longer journeys at brisk pace may help to clear things out a bit.

 

Temp sensor is a cheap and easy thing to change,  but does the gauge get to mid-point within a mile or two and stay there, rock solid? If so I'd imagine it (and the thermostat) is OK.

 

Console bushes will probably be original, and therefore either broken or about to break given the rubber's age. You can inspect by parking with full lock on the steering each way and viewing from behind each front wheel. You're looking for the vertical rubber webs breaking away from the central part with the hexagonal hole through it. 

It's the humble 6v 54bhp engine.

Looked out for the temp gauge today after reading about it last night, upto temp in 2 miles and no movement

Cheers for the head's up on the console bushes.