I looking to buy an early Fabia for my Girlfriend.Is this a good choice?! I'm looking for a reliable runabout to get her to work etc. Neither of us know anything about cars, so any advice would be appreciated! There's quite a few about some with high mileage.Is this an issue if it's got a service history?!

Thanks!

I looking to buy an early Fabia for my Girlfriend.Is this a good choice?! I'm looking for a reliable runabout to get her to work etc. Neither of us know anything about cars, so any advice would be appreciated! There's quite a few about some with high mileage.Is this an issue if it's got a service history?!

Thanks!

Very good little cars, provided it's been well maintained mileage wouldn't worry me, going for a TDI or petrol?

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Probably a petrol engine as it would be mostly used for short trips to work etc.Are any of the engines better than others?

SDI is sluggish but stunningly efficient, reliable and can do mental miles

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Probably a petrol engine as it would be mostly used for short trips to work etc.Are any of the engines better than others?

 

Even though I have one myself, I'd stay away from the 8 valve MPI petrol engine. They are pretty reliable but very slow. The engine design dates back to the 1960s.

I've got a 1.4 16v petrol fabia and that's a great little car! Highly recommend

Even though I have one myself, I'd stay away from the 8 valve MPI petrol engine. They are pretty reliable but very slow. The engine design dates back to the 1960s.

 

i have to agree with TMB its a very sluggish car, but mine has been extremely reliable in the 3-4 years ive owned it  

+ 1 for 1.4 8v ; if I'd change it, I'd only go with the 1.4 diesel version. IMHO, it's the perfect engine for this car...above 1.9sdi as performance, and cheaper to run and maintain (including taxes, insurance etc).

I had the VRS back in 2004. Great car with 52mpg, however if it is only for short distance motoring, I would strongly consider a petrol.

Vrs isnt too bad for short distances, my miles are mostly short distance, and i give it a short blast on the motorway every month or two, had it over a year now and not missed a beat.

We have now brought a 52 plate Fabia 1.4 with @83000 miles on the clock.Its very clean with a few age related dings and dents! As I've already mentioned I know nothing about cars, so we purchased it after a brief test drive and a quick look over.It came with 6 months warranty and they taxed it for 6 months.

The first thing we have noticed is the temperature gauge seems to have a mind of its own! It comes on and off or not on at all.More worryingly the engine management light has come on.Ive had this before (on a different car) and was told it was Lambda sensor.Could it be this again?!

Do I need to be worried?! I phoned the garage and they said if it was serious it would have gone into limp mode and when we are passing bring it in and they will check it out.

Any advice as usual would be appreciated!

We have now brought a 52 plate Fabia 1.4 with @83000 miles on the clock.Its very clean with a few age related dings and dents! As I've already mentioned I know nothing about cars, so we purchased it after a brief test drive and a quick look over.It came with 6 months warranty and they taxed it for 6 months.

The first thing we have noticed is the temperature gauge seems to have a mind of its own! It comes on and off or not on at all.More worryingly the engine management light has come on.Ive had this before (on a different car) and was told it was Lambda sensor.Could it be this again?!

Do I need to be worried?! I phoned the garage and they said if it was serious it would have gone into limp mode and when we are passing bring it in and they will check it out.

Any advice as usual would be appreciated!

 

It needs a new ECT sensor, VERY common on VAG group cars over a certain age, probably why the CEL is on as well.

Popped into a local Tyre garage on the way Home to get the tracking/tyres looked at.Ive had the front wishbone bushes replaced and a tie rod with play in it replaced by a local VW/Skoda indie garage.I went to the tyre place because the car wanders a bit and the steering feels not right.

So the tyre 'mechanic' takes the car off and a short time later calls me over to look at a few 'problems ' he's spotted! In his opinion the bushes are not in far enough (did my garage have the right tool?!) and they are not lined up properly with a mark on the car?! He's also spotted a bolt that's been packed out with a washer(tie rod bolt?!).Something not right there mate! Rounded the thread mate, I've done hundreds of these and somethings not right!

It sounded to me and I admit I know nothing about the workings of cars like blatant fishing for work! Along the lines of come back and we will do it properly! I said thanks very much, paid nothing and left.....

I trust the guy at the indie but he did say they had done the tracking but even I can see it's only been adjusted on the n/s as the o/s is seized and has not been touched.Am a little confused.Not for the first time!

If you could post a pic of the console bushes we could tell you if they're fitted properly or not.

Dig out the warranty on the car and take it back to where you've purchased it.. that would be my first port of call.

Alternatively - find a decent local independent and get them to give the once over! You know what your dealing with then!

Agree with the above, pick out the warranty paperwork and get it checked over now by a garage you trust, the place may have been looking for work but what if they were genuine and the car is dangerous ! Do you want to find out when you have to apply the brake at 80mph due to an accident ahead ...... really. The lives of your family and yourself (and others) should really be worth more.

 

My Mk1 is a 2006 and we have owned it from virtually new, its mint, we spare no expense on it as it carries what is most precious to me..... ME.

i have a 2004 1.2 htp and it's one of the best cars i have owned, and my first skoda. has been a reliable little runabout, and am slowly starting to sort the odd little 'job' out here and there.

hope you get many miles of trouble free motoring  :clap: