Hi nice people. My car is a a Fabia vRS and i've owned it since 2008. It's the best car i've ever owned and certainly the most reliable. My wife has driven it a couple of times and doesn't like the power/ She currently owns a Fiesta 1.25L style which is now 10 years old and only done 38K. She uses it for work and nothing more than that. We are considering buying a new (used) car for her. I suggested another Diesel vRS but she's not keen on the idea as she says its too powerful and would rather have something that is a bit quicker than her current fiesta (its 74BHP, 0-60 about 13 seconds I think).

The problem we're faced with is that we do not have a big budget. In fact it is a maximum of £5000. Our decision to buy her a new car has been somewhat hastened by an unfortunate mishap with the Fiesta involving a brick wall.

The car she's after can either be 3 or 5 door.  I'm not sure whether petrol or diesel is better in terms of reliability? I've always believed that petrol cars' engines do not last as long as diesels.

 

Anyway we've looked at a few options: Toyota Yarris 1.33L,Polo, Suzuki swift and of course the  Fabia (not sure what model to go for)

Can anyone give us some advice please on what might be best in terms of reliability, but more power than what she currently has and good economy? Any particular Fabia (excluding the mk1 vRS) which might be a good bet?

I steadfastly refuse to look at Fords because of previous bad experiences with them (I used to own two Ford Escorts many years ago)

 

Unfortunately i'm not very clued up on the current cars. As i've owned mine for nearly 10 years I have never looked at buying another until now. I hope I posted this in the right forum.

 

thank you.

Have you thought about the mk2 fabia sport 105pd?

i find it quite powerful when needed and i average 58ish mpg on a weekly basis.

How far is her commute to/from work?

2 hours ago, Wino said:

How far is her commute to/from work?

Hi

it is not far. In total about 15 miles round trip

2 hours ago, Alexh4551 said:

Have you thought about the mk2 fabia sport 105pd?

i find it quite powerful when needed and i average 58ish mpg on a weekly basis.

 

is this the one ?

http://www.parkers.co.uk/skoda/fabia/hatchback-2007/12-tsi-(105bhp)-se-5d/specs/

 

are petrol cars as reliable as diesels? i mean i'm a bit worried they can't last 80k-100k without problems?

All engines can be reliable if serviced properly with the correct fluids and regularly maintained. I bought a petrol 1988 volvo 760 turbo for an engine donor it had full service history and 144k miles on the clock. It ran silky smooth and even the original turbo (garret t3) has no play in the shaft it blew no smoke and pulled very well. 

 

My first car was when I lived in New Zealand and it was a 1986 volvo 360 with a 2.0 N/A petrol it had done over half a million kilometres and was very reliable.

 

My dad has a petrol 1996 saab and that has done 200k miles and runs beautifully still.

 

You can have an engine on its last legs after 50k miles if not maintained properly.

Edited 27 May, 20179 yr by retro
Stupid auto correct

47 minutes ago, T1rbo said:

 

is this the one ?

http://www.parkers.co.uk/skoda/fabia/hatchback-2007/12-tsi-(105bhp)-se-5d/specs/

 

are petrol cars as reliable as diesels? i mean i'm a bit worried they can't last 80k-100k without problems?

Nope. I was referring to the 1.9 pd Diesel engine. 

Hi, 

as previously stated most ' modern ' cars are fine as long as they are regularly serviced, you say wife's car 38 k but how long has she owned it but at 80miles per week she'll only be doing 5-6 k per year, hardly must have diesel mileage especially if car has dpf 

my wife runs a mk1 1.9 tdi ( no dpf !! ) and loves it hopes to keep it for another 10 years !! IMO these are the best made Fabias bit like the earlier mk1 Octavia they were built to induce buyers into the ' new ' VW budget badge, like your wife's Fiesta there will be low mileage examples out there ( 100k on these engines 1.9tdi with FSH is just 'run-in ' it's a bit like a down powered version of your Vrs especially in elegance trim )

 

you may find a Citygo in your price range, seems to well thought of on these forums no experience other that what I've read though 

 

4 hours ago, T1rbo said:

 

I steadfastly refuse to look at Fords because of previous bad experiences with them (I used to own two Ford Escorts many years ago)

 

 

I had an Escort Mk6 1600 Zetec for ten years and I loved it - great to drive and beautiful smooth engine. Was pretty damn reliable too. It was miles better than my Fabia to drive.

The 1.9 PD100 is by far the most reliable Fabia, it's less powerful than the VRS and more economical, get her a nice low mileage, FSH, Elegance spec. and you'll both be happy ever after.

47 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

The 1.9 PD100 is by far the most reliable Fabia, it's less powerful than the VRS and more economical, get her a nice low mileage, FSH, Elegance spec. and you'll both be happy ever after.

 

Basically what I said !!

They are out there maybe not on every street corner but they are available, essentially unless I'm sadly mistaken these are the same engines as in all those old mk1 Octavia mini cabs which have been know to pass 3, 4 even 500000 miles just make sure it's got explicit history of oil changes ( ours has done 64k never missed a beat only had tyres wiper blades brakes discs and pads in 10 years and averages as near as damn it 60 mpg, supper little car ) well worth travelling length of the country to view a good one I don't think you'd be disappointed 

29 minutes ago, davidwhite said:

Basically what I said !!

 

Is it, have a biscuit then. 

Thanks a lot all of you

 

Is this the sort of thing?

http://bit.ly/2r92voQ

That's a Mark 2, this is the Mark 1 forum, I think Mark 2's are ugly, go and check it out on the Mark 2 forum, they'll know better.

On 5/27/2017 at 11:51, TMB said:

 

I had an Escort Mk6 1600 Zetec for ten years and I loved it - great to drive and beautiful smooth engine. Was pretty damn reliable too. It was miles better than my Fabia to drive.

 

I've had two Focus 1600 Zetecs and they were both brilliant (I crashed the first) - reliable, easy to work on, stupidly cheap parts and nice to drive. 

 

Moved onto a Mk1 Fabia at the moment as it was the best car I could find for £500 - it's been great so far! 

2 hours ago, badgerdisco said:

 

I've had two Focus 1600 Zetecs and they were both brilliant (I crashed the first) - reliable, easy to work on, stupidly cheap parts and nice to drive. 

 

Moved onto a Mk1 Fabia at the moment as it was the best car I could find for £500 - it's been great so far! 

 

Yeah I always liked Fords. Nearly bought a Fiesta instead of the Fabia but wanted something a little different. Also, the Fabia has a lot more room inside