i see you guys were talking about 1.4 8v and 1.4 16v. 8v seems better than 16v since it doesn't have over-heating problem. i have a 1.2 12v azq, comparing it with 1.4 16v and what do you guys think?

 

After 60,000 the 1.2 is unreliable IMO unless you spend some money on it.

Timing chains seem to be a ticking time bomb and valve guides are wearing away like no tomorrow.

dont know why it posted twice. please remove the other one. sorry.

After 60,000 the 1.2 is unreliable IMO unless you spend some money on it.

Timing chains seem to be a ticking time bomb and valve guides are wearing away like no tomorr

that really worries me. normally how much it cost to change the chain? or i should get rid of my 1.2 12v before that bomb explodes 

My 1.4 mpi 8v has over 113.000miles and it's still kicking.

Edited 4 August, 201510 yr by Alexandru

My 1.4 mpi 8v has over 113.000miles and it's still kicking.

seems i did a wrong investment in  my 1.2 12v then. should pick up another 1.4 8v while it's also cheaper that moment. :(

Edited 4 August, 201510 yr by crazybeeliuzhe

On the other hand, our 1.2 12v is still going fine at 135000 miles.
I looked at a site called "howmanyleft" the other day; and almost all (>96%) of the Mk1 Fabia.1.2 12v Ambiente models ever registered in the UK are still on the road.
Find that site and look up for other models for real stats.

I've checked that. Really interesting ! There are still alive only 50% of the Comfort 1.4 8v ones. It's a 15 years old car, maybe some of them just wanted something else. 

On the other hand, our 1.2 12v is still going fine at 135000 miles.

I looked at a site called "howmanyleft" the other day; and almost all of the Mk1 Fabia.1.2 12v Ambiente models ever registered in the UK are still on the road.

Find that site and look up for other models for real stats.

But have you done maintenance work to yours such as the chain or valve guides?

I've checked that. Really interesting ! There are still alive only 50% of the Comfort 1.4 8v ones. It's a 15 years old car, maybe some of them just wanted something else. 

Yeah, you have to bear in mind the age of the model in question, some must just get scrapped due to lack of residual value. If owners 'just wanted something else' those cars wouldn't necessarily disappear off the list, just be under different ownership.

 

But have you done maintenance work to yours such as the chain or valve guides?

New EGR valve the only significant single expense since we acquired at about 96000.  No record in the service records of any major work, but reasonable chance that the dealer who sold it to us may have 'lost' any such info, I guess. I do have a spare cylinder head available, that I acquired cheaply, but it sits in its box unused so far.

 

What I didn't consider much when suggesting the "howmanyleft" stats is that they don't tell you anything as useful as how many of those still on the road have had big repair bills for e.g. cylinder heads.

I guess at this time, when the oldest Ambiente models are about 10 years old, residual values versus such big bills would lead to scrappage. Dunno.

I doubt those models have been dumped due to repair expenses. Of course, they do not have ABS, traction control or any other gadgets some other higher rated mk 1 Fabias do have, so safety might be a point as well. Mine has only two front airbags, no side or rear ones. I estimate a major engine repair in about 5 years if I will still be keeping it. I had a compression test done about two weekes ago, the gauge showed about 14 on each cylinder. The transmission components are pretty ok-ish, gearbox is as good as new, driveshafts are the OEM ones, never had to be replaced, I'm not sure about the clutch though. The steering and suspension components seem to be solid(we have 1000mbps internet connection at home for less than £8/month, but we do have bumpy roads - ~40% unpaved or badly damaged roads).

Edited 4 August, 201510 yr by Alexandru