Hey folks, been looking at this forum for quite a few months now, very informative!

Anyway finally got round to posting as I'll soon be in a better position to get a new car (currently 03 1.2 corsa). I do however have a few questions that maybe some of you can help me out with. Here goes.

1. Is there anyway to mount audio controls for the cd player onto the steering wheel as in most cars I've driven. I'd really miss this feature as I tend to skip through tracks more often than not and don't want to take my eyes off the road. Find it strange that it doesn't come with them as everything else is such a high spec.

2. The 2nd price of the vrs seems to be oddly high eg a 3 year old 03 model is still priced at 10k

1 Don't Know.

2. Remember that the Parkers values are probably trade in values and even their 'to buy' prices are constantly on the low side. The VRS has rock hard residuals which almost makes it not worth buying a 2nd hand one IMO. Def think you're being unrealistic by wanting that car for

Yeah the residules seem to be very high still. I would consider a new vrs for the on the road price if they threw in esp, cruise, paint and maybe air back deact. The 2 month + wait though could be a problem if I'm selling my existing car. Would a 3 year old vrs with only 10'000 miles on the clock for about

1. No

2. Residuals are higher than most on the vRS. You should get one in that price range

3. Its a £500 option. Those that have it like it. BUT IMHO its not worth the £500 extra unless you regularly go mental in it

4. I drove a tdi Cupra 160 before I settled on a Fabia. It feels as fast but not more than. The build quality is not as good and the test car rattled. Together with double the insurance group IMO I would not buy. The Honda looks a nice car. Dont know much about it, but by the time youve added a few extras its knocking on £18500 !! Its not a real comparison.

Get a Fabia. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!

Yeah the residules seem to be very high still. I would consider a new vrs for the on the road price if they threw in esp, cruise, paint and maybe air back deact. The 2 month + wait though could be a problem if I'm selling my existing car. Would a 3 year old vrs with only 10'000 miles on the clock for about

when i bought my vrs it was 6 weeks old with no options in silver and I got it for

a quick search reveals:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=SKODA&model=FABIA&variant=vrs&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=2&agerange=&postcode=ls25+7dq&miles=1500&max_records=200&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

a quick search reveals:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=SKODA&model=FABIA&variant=vrs&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=2&agerange=&postcode=ls25+7dq&miles=1500&max_records=200&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

Not too many 15k miles 05 plates for £9k on there though;)

TBH yours was something of a steal and isn't really indicative of normal prices.

Having a closer look at those prices and some of them are ridiculous!!! There's approx 20 cars on there that are all priced above what I've just paid for a new one!!!

Yes there are some high 2nd hand prices out there. After extending my search nationwide (in scotland so not much choice around) I can see a few 05's for 10k

Hey folks' date=' been looking at this forum for quite a few months now, very informative!

Anyway finally got round to posting as I'll soon be in a better position to get a new car (currently 03 1.2 corsa). I do however have a few questions that maybe some of you can help me out with. Here goes.

1. Is there anyway to mount audio controls for the cd player

2. After consulting parkers guide...

3. ESP...

4. honda civic 2.2 tdi and the seat ibiza 1.9 tdi FR...

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To add to what others have said already:

1. No, for but some aftermarket head units (Sony or Pioneer I think) come with a wired remote like a stubby stalk that is designed to be fixed to the steering column near the steering wheel. See link http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=39FT&CategorySelectedId=11238&InMerch=1

2. Go private, a year old car will have 2 years Skoda warranty remaining, subject to mileage. Parkers Guide isn't always correct, by the way. You could try and buy a Glasses Guide or CAP Black Book off of ebay for more accurate prices.

3. You'll probably be fine without it, to be honest. It is a nice 'peace of mind' option to have though, we ordered it on our vRS.

4. Can't say not having driven either, Hondas are pricey though.

TBH yours was something of a steal and isn't really indicative of normal prices.

True it was, but at the time there where similar ones around the

True it was, but at the time there where similar ones around the

Yep, If I wasn't buying new I'd buy one of the cars on here for sale, much better value than the stealerships. I mean 10,500 is internet broker price for a new one almost!

Yep, If I wasn't buying new I'd buy one of the cars on here for sale, much better value than the stealerships. I mean 10,500 is internet broker price for a new one almost!

Where did you see one that cheap? Lowest I've seen is about

Where did you see one that cheap? Lowest I've seen is about

Yep, If I wasn't buying new I'd buy one of the cars on here for sale, much better value than the stealerships. I mean 10,500 is internet broker price for a new one almost!

Yeh, same here. When I was in the process of buying my new one the dealer had a silver o4 model with about 15k on it, totally standard, and they has something like

They paid about

I saw the sheet myself mate - could have been forged though

It was for a trade in against a new one, so it could have been how they ' discounted' the new one for the buyer.

I saw the sheet myself mate - could have been forged though

That would be rather unethical. An unethical car dealership? Holy Smokes, Batman!

1. Hmm. It's not an avilable option that I'm aware of. The standard head unit has auto adjusting volume control if that helps.

2. I'll say that I paid for the extra for a new car as I wasn't happy paying 10.5k for an 18 month old with 20k on the clock.

3. Personal choice really. The traction control is good enough to catch most self induced "problems". ESP is no more necessary on the Skoda than any other car. I can't imagine that a 1.2 Corsa would have enough power to warrant needing ESP, then again it may save your bacon (as it may in the vRS).

4. The Civic is way more expensive at around 17k - it's up against the Golf GT and Octavia etc. The Ibiza FR has the same underpinnings as the Skoda. The build quality and the interior are not as good as the Skoda and the suspension is extremely stiff. I drove both and picked the Skoda whereas my best mate opted for the SEAT.

That would be rather unethical. An unethical car dealership? Holy Smokes, Batman!

Perhaps not, but I'd already shown my hand by agreeing to order a new one at a specific price and I think his point was to try and show how 'good' the residuals were by showing me how much they 'buy' cars back for.

As I said though, I wasn't born yesterday, and I'm sure that this was probably a top trade in price against a new car being sold for the full otr price etc so it all balances out really.

That 2nd hand vehicle is no longer with them though, and they didn't drop the sticker price, so I'm guessing it didn't go for a great deal less anyway.

Does go to show how much the 2nd hand vehicles go for and that, unless that extra grand really makes a difffernece, you're probably better off buying a new one.