Back in January a workmate decided to sell his 2003 Fabia Estate due to it developing a clutch problem resulting in no drive. He originally offered me it for £250, but after a couple of weeks this dropped to £125 as he wanted it off his drive. He only lived a couple of miles away, so I took my brother in law, and a tow rope, and set off in my Skoda Favorit Pick Up to tow it home. Cash was handed over, and I became the new owner. 

 

 

My original plan was to fix the clutch problem, and use it as a daily driver, due the MoT being due a few weeks later on my Pick Up, and it needing quite a bit of work. 

 

At first we thought it might have been a clutch slave cylinder fault as the seals had gone in it, so 1 was ordered from the local motor factors and fitted. We also fitted a clutch master cylinder at the same time, but the problem still remained, so I ordered a clutch kit, and over 3 days, I removed the gearbox, found the problem to be a collapsed/non existant release bearing, so I fitted the clutch kit, a job I hadn't done for a few years. Once everything was refitted, the engine started, 1st gear selected, and a quick drive and everything was fine. A couple of days later, the car was insured, taxed and on the road. 

 

I then started looking on Ebay for Fabia bits. I had always liked the look of the GT front spoiler, but couldn't find 1, apart from brand new, and I couldn't justify the cost of almost £190 for that, so I posted a wanted ad on 1 of the Fabia Facebook Groups. A couple of days later, a chap said he had 1 on a bumper in his shed, that I could have, complete for £100, so I asked for some photos. In the meantime I carried on looking through Ebay to see what else I could find, which resulted in me buying a rear roof spoiler, brand new for £19.99 including delivery. Payment was made and a couple of days later the roof spoiler arrived. I unpacked it and went outside to trial fit it. 

 

 

I still have to get around to painting it and fitting it. 

 

In the mean time I was still awaiting photos of the GT Spoiler/bumper on Facebook, so a comment was left to remind the chap about said photos. 

 

I continued looking through Ebay for other items, before moving on to other Facebook pages, where on 1 of the local car sales groups, I came across a set of alloy wheels, at a reasonable price, so a few messages were exchanged, a price agreed, and a trip to Scunthorpe arranged to collect. A couple of days later, I fitted the wheels, which are 16" 5 spoke VOTEX, also known as VW 'Rave', which I believe were a dealer option on Mk3 Golfs. 

 

 

I then started looking through the Briskoda Classifieds and came across an ad for some Seat Ibiza FR seats, realised I was friends on Facebook with the seller, sent a message via Facebook, and a few days later, another trip to Scunthorpe was made, and a set of FREE seats were collected. I cant understand why nobody bought them when they were for sale at £100, but they were even better now they were free. The following weekend these were fitted, and transformed the interior of the car. 

 

 

The following weekend, I had planned, with a friend, to head up to Cumbria, to watch the Malcolm Wilson Rally. Whilst up there, I got a Facebook message from the chap with the GT Spoiler/bumper. He had finally got around to getting it out of his shed. Upon inspection, he said it had got some damage, but if I still wanted it, I could have it for FREE, as long as I also took a vRS rear bumper and vRS back box as well, but they had to be collected the same weekend. As I was up in Cumbria, I said I would message him later to make arrangements. After the rally, I travelled down to Swallownest, near Sheffield, dropped my mate off, and messaged the chap with the spoiler for his address. I received this straight back, realised I was only 10 minutes away from him, so arranged to collect it whilst in the area. 

 

The following day, I decided to trial fit it to see how it looked. 

 

 

I was impressed with the look of it that I left it on for a week, before buying a can of spray paint, and painting it. 

 

 

 

It's not perfect, but it looks ok, and this is basically where I am up to right now with the car, in less than 2 months of ownership, and all in, I have spent less than £300 so far, including the purchase price of the car. 

 

Next on the agenda, is either some lowering springs, or coilovers, some roof bars, and a removable towbar, so if anyone has any of these items cheap, or FREE, please let me know. 

Edited 3 April, 20179 yr by RapidRapid

Looking good mate, cant beat some good freebies saved yourself a lot of money with the GT lip aswell. Always wanted one of them when i had my Fabia but could never find one  

 

Very tempted to get another Fabia for a second car as well. 

 

There's a set of AP coilovers on Shpock for £80.00 i think? Not sure if they're still available tho.

 

Keep it up mate, will look forward to seeing more updates. 

What have you done with the VRS rear bumper?

I see this around Gainsborough quiet often. 

 

It looks very different to those last pictures

 

How is the paint match with stone grey from a rattle can?

I ask as my Octavia is the same colour and has some bits that need doing. 

That’s looking great

On 14/06/2018 at 11:08, softscoop said:

I see this around Gainsborough quiet often. 

 

It looks very different to those last pictures

 

How is the paint match with stone grey from a rattle can?

I ask as my Octavia is the same colour and has some bits that need doing. 

I had forgot I had posted this on here. Yes, a few things have changed since the last photos. It has had a set of purple vRS alloys on it, these have now been replaced with a set of 16" 5 spokes from a Roomster. I have also changed the door cards, so they now almost match the seats. I still have to get the rear spoiler painted and fitted. I also have a set of lowering springs and roof bars to fit. The stone grey from the rattle can isn't far off considering it was mixed at Motosave. A friend of mine has offered to repaint the GT spoiler, and the rear spoiler for me, so I'm hoping to get them done soon.