Hi everyone

My mum has just bought a very low mileage 62 plate Fabia Estate SE 1.2, which we are collecting from the dealer in the morning. I've checked over the car, all looks good. Service history is also spot on.

However, it is our first Fabia and only our 2nd Skoda (the other being my Rapid Spaceback, which I only bought 3.5 months ago) so we are both on a learning curve with regard to the quirks and needs of both cars.

With regards to the Fabia, are there any recommendations for things to check for, things to keep an eye on, any servicing tips (anything that needs addressing ahead of the recommended service intervals etc), stuff like that?

All tips, advice and recommendations gratefully received.

Cheers

Chris

If low mileage what sort of servicing has it had,

Was it on Variable & changed to Fixed and serviced at 1 year, and again now before you get it.?  

Pollen filter is due to be changed at 2 years.

Back wheels might need taken off to see that they do come off easy, and paint up the rear drums.

 

Nothing major needs doing really, just annual servicing & Maintenance.

The HTP is quite a bulletproof engine to be honest. Its simple, not stressed and should (fingers crossed) give many fault free miles.

Shouldnt use much oil (mine used none now its run in).

Mine returns 45-50mpg depending on length of trip, speed and my mood.

The 62 plate should have the higher ratios that the later HTP's have. So 50mpg on the motorway is achievable at 70mph, running at 3k rpm.

Its surprisingly capable for a small petrol IMO.

Is it an 86bhp TSI (4 cylinder, turbo, direct injected) or a 70bhp HTP (3 cylinder, naturally aspirated, indirect injection)?

Look at the boot sticker..

Big difference in performance and economy, the TSI is much better in both departments, especially in estate form.

Is it an 86bhp TSI (4 cylinder, turbo, direct injected) or a 70bhp HTP (3 cylinder, naturally aspirated, indirect injection)?

Look at the boot sticker..

Big difference in performance and economy, the TSI is much better in both departments, especially in estate form.

Its a HTP. The title says so.

Better in economy and performance maybe. But the simplicity and lack of stress should show long term on the n/a HTP IMO. should last longer im hoping

No mention of HTP in the title. Htp engine is 70 bhp, so I wondet if the 68 is a typo.

69 bhp / 70 ps / 51.5 kw is it not?

Edited 20 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

The car in question has the 1.2, 3 cylinder non-turbo engine. Paperwork from dealership states 68hp, so that's what I wrote.

I reckon use and enjoy it.  Good peace of mind buying from a dealer.  My mum bought a 1.6 "3" fabia a couple of years ago and nothing has been needed apart from just the usual servicing and the dealer have informed her when it needed doing each time.

Htp engine is ok for pottering round town, but will struggle to pull an estate around at speed, especially if loaded, when its fuel economy will also be quite poor.

Provided you are sensible with oil changes, its a bomb proof easy maintenance engine. Dont be tempted to go beyond a year between oil changes even if its low mileage as the valve guides can wear leading to expensive problems.

Dead simple to do your own oil/filter changes on this engine, takes but a few minutes and costs me around £15 using Mann filter and full synthetic oil. Dealers will rob you for £130+ to do the same.

Edited 20 January, 201511 yr by xman

If low mileage what sort of servicing has it had,

Was it on Variable & changed to Fixed and serviced at 1 year, and again now before you get it.?  

Pollen filter is due to be changed at 2 years.

Back wheels might need taken off to see that they do come off easy, and paint up the rear drums.

Nothing major needs doing really, just annual servicing & Maintenance.

  

Its a pretty decent example - one previous owner, two services - both main dealer and both done bang on the annual anniversary of first registration. Mileage on both occasions was well below servicing threshold - the car has had a gentle life it seems (something that the internal and external condition also suggests). It also already has mudflaps and sill trims fitted, suggesting the previous owner actually cared for it. The boot looks like it has never had an item placed in it. The boot hoop is still in its plastic bag, has never been used. Same with the spare wheel and tools. Factory Bridgestones all around and in the boot, all with plenty of tread.

The HTP is quite a bulletproof engine to be honest. Its simple, not stressed and should (fingers crossed) give many fault free miles.

Shouldnt use much oil (mine used none now its run in).

Mine returns 45-50mpg depending on length of trip, speed and my mood.

The 62 plate should have the higher ratios that the later HTP's have. So 50mpg on the motorway is achievable at 70mph, running at 3k rpm.

Its surprisingly capable for a small petrol IMO.

This is all great to hear - it should do a perfect job for my Mum. It is replacing her 14 year old Peugeot 206 which has finally tipped into 'not economically viable to repair' - it needed a new gearbox and clutch (and some other bits), we decided it was better to throw that money into a deposit on a new car for her instead of paying to keep a Pug that has seen much better days on the road.

It won't doo much motorway driving. Mum is retired now so it's mostly for pootling around and the odd longer journey.

I reckon use and enjoy it.  Good peace of mind buying from a dealer.  My mum bought a 1.6 "3" fabia a couple of years ago and nothing has been needed apart from just the usual servicing and the dealer have informed her when it needed doing each time.

Great stuff - thanks. This is exactly what I was hoping people would feed back about the car.

Htp engine is ok for pottering round town, bit will struggle to pull an estate around at speed, especially if loaded, when its economy will be poor.

Provided you are sensible with oil changes, its a bomb proof easy maintenance engine. Dont be tempted to go beyond a year between oil changes even if its low mileage as the valve guides will wear leading to running problems.

Yeah, it will never be loaded down - the most it'll ever carry is some grass cuttings to the tip and the odd shopping accident back home from Costco. And it won't be thrashing up and down the motorways, local driving the vast majority of the time.

It won't want for servicing and quality parts - same with my own car (and I will be paying to maintain both). Having had my last car die due to turbo failure caused in part by clogged up oil lines, I am well aware of the damage that cheap and/or the wrong oil can do - so only the best and regular oil changes using the correct oils. It'll get the same 6-monthly extra oil changes in between annual services that my car now gets.

The service history does giveme confidence that the previous owner hasn't over extended servicing either, so we should have a good base to work from.

Picked up the Fabia - all present and correct I'm pleased to say. I'll get some pics up later this week.

I like my fabia 1.2Htp its really nippy around town and on motorways it's not excessively bad, this is considering I've come from a 1.6 focus, it has more than enough power for around town and can get a move on if you wanna rev it, fuel economy obviously varies depending on this :P.

 

In general, comfort isn't bad at all, may be worth retrofitting an armrest if your model doesn't come with one, and as Oli mentioned, the gearing may be different to my 08 model and may do much better on the motorway, also wish I had cruise control, buy hey, can't complain lol.

 

On a slightly off-topic note, I like the whooshy turbo-ish sound it makes lol, was concerned about it initially but seems to be normal.

I like my fabia 1.2Htp its really nippy around town and on motorways it's not excessively bad, this is considering I've come from a 1.6 focus, it has more than enough power for around town and can get a move on if you wanna rev it, fuel economy obviously varies depending on this :P.

In general, comfort isn't bad at all, may be worth retrofitting an armrest if your model doesn't come with one, and as Oli mentioned, the gearing may be different to my 08 model and may do much better on the motorway, also wish I had cruise control, buy hey, can't complain lol.

On a slightly off-topic note, I like the whooshy turbo-ish sound it makes lol, was concerned about it initially but seems to be normal.

You can retrofit cruise control mate.

And the whining sound is the balancer shaft i think, cos its a 3 cylinder. The revision changed this, mine doesnt whine like my mums 05 64bhp does.

You can retrofit cruise control mate.

And the whining sound is the balancer shaft i think, cos its a 3 cylinder. The revision changed this, mine doesnt whine like my mums 05 64bhp does.

My 04 54 did it too, I quite like jt

I like my fabia 1.2Htp its really nippy around town and on motorways it's not excessively bad, this is considering I've come from a 1.6 focus, it has more than enough power for around town and can get a move on if you wanna rev it, fuel economy obviously varies depending on this :P.

 

In general, comfort isn't bad at all, may be worth retrofitting an armrest if your model doesn't come with one, and as Oli mentioned, the gearing may be different to my 08 model and may do much better on the motorway, also wish I had cruise control, buy hey, can't complain lol.

 

On a slightly off-topic note, I like the whooshy turbo-ish sound it makes lol, was concerned about it initially but seems to be normal.

Early days yet, but mum seems to be very happy with it still. It needs some detailing TLC, as the paintwork has a few blemishes - nothing a bit of machine polishing won't fix, but otherwise all good.

Seats are really comfy, more so than the ones in my Rapid. No armrest, but my mum won't miss it having not had one in her last car. I've got the armrest in my Rapid, it spends most of the time pushed out of the way, I find it more of an obstruction than a comfort aid.

No cruise either, but again, not essential for someone who will mostly be town driving. May explore a retrofit further down the line if it does prove to be needed.

Cheers

Chris

You can retrofit cruise control mate.

And the whining sound is the balancer shaft i think, cos its a 3 cylinder. The revision changed this, mine doesnt whine like my mums 05 64bhp does.

 

Is there a guide floating around somewhere? and what parts do I need? I've seen somewhere that people have said that it's a long process if not factory fitted/ originally an option, I have the 2 trim, so don't think it was?

 

My 04 54 did it too, I quite like jt

 

I too like this sound :p

Edited 23 January, 201511 yr by Sathit

Is there a guide floating around somewhere? and what parts do I need? I've seen somewhere that people have said that it's a long process if not factory fitted/ originally an option, I have the 2 trim, so don't think it was?

I too like this sound :p

To fit the cruise?

You cant do it yourself really. It needs tech. Not a big job i dont think but you need to know what you're doing and needs coding in with vcds too.

Costs roughly £300 depending on car year i think.

Theres a few on here that are very good and will do it for you if you're interested

To fit the cruise?

You cant do it yourself really. It needs tech. Not a big job i dont think but you need to know what you're doing and needs coding in with vcds too.

Costs roughly £300 depending on car year i think.

Theres a few on here that are very good and will do it for you if you're interested

 

Ooopfh £300's quite alot :P but may pay for itself in a couple of years on fuel economy and resale value

Ooopfh £300's quite alot :P but may pay for itself in a couple of years on fuel economy and resale value

And not getting carried away and caught speeding haha

Haha it's actually surprising how many times I've sped in the 1.2htp unintentionally

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Couple of things to note:

 

Popped into Costco today to buy some new wiper blades for the Fabia (like my Rapid, it is now using Michelin Stealth wipers). Also bought a rubber boot liner (I already had one of the Costco boot liners - I use it on the patio to rest my wheels on when deep cleaning them off the car), While not an exact fit, it works really well in the Fabia Estate - it is only 2 inches too wide and only 5 inches too shallow, so it covers the vast majority of the boot floor and doesn't look out of place. Not as good as a genuine tailored one obviously, but for a tenner you can't go wrong.

The 62 plate should have the higher ratios that the later HTP's have. So 50mpg on the motorway is achievable at 70mph, running at 3k rpm.

 

 

the gearing may be different to my 08 model and may do much better on the motorway, also wish I had cruise control, buy hey, can't complain lol.

 

 

Anyone know in what year the ratios changed? 

Anyone know in what year the ratios changed?

Around 2010 i think but cant be sure.

Youll know if its a revised engine, itll whine when revved if its pre revision, and not so much if its a later one.

The later engines are at about 3000rpm at 70mph

The earlier ones are at about 3500rpm at 70mph

It makes a surprising amount of difference IMO. Makes the difference between happily cruising at 70mph but feeling like theres too many revs after that, and happily cruising at 80mph in comfort and without feeling the engine is being pushed.