Hi folks, looking like my 2003 Fabia 1.2 is coming to the end of it's life. Only 110k on the clock, but doors won't open, sensors keep dying and bearings keep rattling. Wondered if I could get general buying advice for used cars under £1k, ideally under £500. You see a lot of great 'deals' of Px to clear on autotrader and the like - is it just a case of taking a punt, or are there genuinely good deals out there in that price bracket?

At that price - buy private, that way you can see who's been driving it.

 

Whatever your budget it, half it and keep the rest in reserve for the unexpected.

 

I'd say mk1 fabias are probably one of the best bangernomics cars about at the minute. If you want to save money on fuel, get an SDI, they're not fast, but they're bloody frugal.

Sometimes it's a case of "better the devil you know...". Might be easy fixes for your Fabia that will be cheaper than replacing it with another car that potentially has more problems.

 

If you do look for a replacement, this checklist might be helpful:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-buyers-guide/cbg_diyinspection.html

With that budget a safe bet would probably be something small and Japanese like a Micra, Civic or Yaris. I would avoid auto gearboxes and turbocharged engines at that price point.

There's a reason people px their car and for a car retailing around £500 it'll be in as good condition or worse than your current car.

As recommended above go for a private sale, you'll get more car for the money and should get a sense from speaking to the owner about the cars history and how it's been treated. A dealer flogging a px to clear will know nothing about it and just wants it off their lot.

Also don't dismiss a car which is Cat D if it was repaired a long time ago.

Also don't dismiss a car which is Cat D if it was repaired a long time ago.

 

Don't you mean if it was repaired recently? A cat D 1 year old car is going to need a lot of damage to make it a write off, but it wouldn't take much damage to write a 15 year old banger off.

Good point.

I was thinking along the lines that it's been repaired well in the past and was a good repair as it's been OK for some years rather than it happened last week and was repaired by bodgit and scarper.

Hello everyone. I too am looking to buy a Mk1 Fabia estate, as the Hyundai i20 currently is too small for our impending 'arrival' and the PCP is finishing soon. I Would like one of the later Mk1s (post 2004?) 1.9 TDis. Is there anything that I should look for when viewing this variant? Are the Polar White cars quite rare?

 

Many thanks in advance