I'm in two minds on whether to sell mine and get the Special Edition or keep it and treat it to a trip to Darkside Developments, I currently own a 2007 Fabia VRS in black, I've had it for 5 years and can't fault it. It's fast, reliable and economical but I've always had a soft spot for the SE.

I couldn't afford one at the time I purchased mine as they were a good 9/10k, 5 years later and they're still going for 7k for a low mileage one, it's remarkable how well they hold their value IMO.

Anyway, I'm on the lookout for a well looked after, clean, low to average mileage Fabia SE, MUST have full service history. There's a few knocking about on autotrader etc but I thought I'd see if anyone was thinking of selling but hadn't got round to advertising.

Here's how mine looks at the moment. do I go for an SE or keep mine?

Edited 20 January, 201511 yr by Ryan90VRS

Your 07 black one is possibly more exclusive than the SE

Possibly but mine doesn't have them lovely leather seats haha.

Buy a set of leathers instead of taking a risk on a car that you don't know and potentially cost you more money in repairs than buying new leathers would.

Personally I don't think it would be worth it, if you was coming from a lower model Fabia or another make/model I'd say it would make more sense but despite the cosmetics it is the same car mechanically underneath. 

I would just keep yours, get some leather seats and treat it to some goodies from darkside. You know where you stand with it history wise and how it is mechanically. 

 

The value of the SE's does seem to have dropped a bit lately. I've seen a few examples up for around the £5500 mark on trader. Bear in mind 'average' mileage for a 7-8 year old car is going to be 70-90k anyway and one with low mileage no doubt will be commanding a silly premium as they already hold their value very well as it is. 

Another vote for keeping yours and just buying some leathers. I love the SE but, as others have said, you could potentially be buying a nail and regretting it.

That's a good point, Matt. I'd hate to sell mine only to buy something that will give me a load of ball ache.

By keeping mine I wouldn't be eating into my savings for a house either

Save yourself a few quid and get a GTB1756 from X man and get Fabooka to do the software.

The premium you would pay for an SE with similar miles to yours will cover this.

Where are you based? A chap local to me (Shropshire) has fitted a few of these now with very impressive results...

I'm based in Yorkshire, what sort of results would I be looking at?

You'd see at least 230hp and 360lbft or so.

Save yourself a few quid and get a GTB1756 from X man and get Fabooka to do the software.

The premium you would pay for an SE with similar miles to yours will cover this.

Where are you based? A chap local to me (Shropshire) has fitted a few of these now with very impressive results...

I second this entirely, I bought a GTB1756 from Xman and got Faboka to do the software

A well known reliable car is always better than an unknown.

Out of the last two SEs I bought one did the engine within 1,000 miles and the other the turbo and clutch.

I'm sure people's reason for selling is always claimed to be genuine, but in my experience it isn't.

See a big bill coming, move the car on...

And if the local chap was Kev then he fitted mine and certainly knows his way about fitting a GTB to a fabia

Cheers for the feedback guys. So would it just be a case of getting a bigger turbo fitted and a remap to suit? Or isn't it that simple?

Take your car to seat surgeons in york and get a better than SE leather

The seat is nothing special. Doesnt even get xenons or heated seats

Agrees with everyone else. I'd keep yours as it's a known quantity and it's just as easy to get some leather made for yours. But your money your decision. GL with whatever you decide.

Decided to keep it, currently drooling at leather seats on the seat surgeons website Do we know what they're charging roughly, everyone you speak to on here says a different price.

When I've asked before it was around the £1k mark.

 

Your other option is to scout ebay for leather seats. Either original ones or aftermarket.

 

Anything from a Polo, Ibiza/Cordoba or Fabia will fit straight in. That's if you're not bothered about vRS logos.

 

Phil

If you want some nice cloth ones I have a set from a 56 plate Polo GTI 5 door.

Leather more fancy, but don't hold you in place so well.

Car has 44k on it and I want £400 for them.

They are in great condition.

 

Ideas http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/296443-alternative-fabia-interior-thread/?fromsearch=1

You'd see at least 230hp and 360lbft or so.

You won't see 230bhp with just the GTB1756 turbo and mapping, you'll need other supporting modifications to reach that figure. Front mount inter cooler and exhaust down pipe/de-cat as a minimum. 

 

To push beyond 230bhp requires a bit more work and ideally changing up to the GTB2056 or 2260 turbos as they have more headroom. Injectors are also starting to reach their limit at around 230bhp.

I'd aim for 200-220, it's noticably cheaper and far better value for money.

Plus you don't have to have one of those noisy SMFs.

Ryan you are welcome to come and have a look at/ride in mine to see what a big turbo (and few other bits) can do.

Bossfox: always had a soft spot for those GTi seats. If mine didn't have leather if be very tempted.

I might just take you up on that offer one weekend when I'm free, Dave.

Once again, thanks for all the replies, it's helped massively!