Close to buying a Fabia vrs mk 1 but need to use it for work 3 times a week which is only 2 miles each way, love the car & I think they will be a future  classic but do not want to ruin it.

Any advice or should I just get a cheap petrol runabout. Cheers Simon !

On 31/03/2020 at 18:47, sstapley said:

Close to buying a Fabia vrs mk 1 but need to use it for work 3 times a week which is only 2 miles each way, love the car & I think they will be a future  classic but do not want to ruin it.

Any advice or should I just get a cheap petrol runabout. Cheers Simon !

No DPF to clog up on short journeys, but mine takes 4 miles to warm up in cold weather (4C) and possibly 2miles in plus 20C temp.

The oil will never get to temp. though.

Over that distance I would jog or invest in a push bike.

 

If a car is a must I think a petrol would be a good solution. Plus, generally less maintenance costs than a diesel. I drove a small engine Toyota yaris from 1999 and although underpowered 1l it always warmed up quick and delivered 52mpg with less variation on short journeys than a bigger engine car. 

Just didn't have the kerb appeal of a vrs...

 

Can always do the old landrover trick of putting a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. I did this for a few months on my octavia when my thermostat was playing up. Never overheated even in the 30*C+ sumemer. Or you can get winter vent shields from ebay when they occasionally pop up. Basically clips over the front vents to resteict air flow to the radiator. 

Regular oil changes would be needed if you were only doing abort journeys.

Before engines warm up they are very inefficient. The price difference between petrol and diesel is ever increasing. A small engined petrol will be more cost efficient. If you wanted a bit of go i wouldnt rule out foing for an ibiza 1.8t. Unfortunately never had that engine in the fabia.

 

Personally for 2 miles I would walk or cycle. If you are not that energetic then electric bikes are quite easy to get hold of and you can pick up cheaper ones from around £500.

 

Go for it. Great cars ! 

1 hour ago, Munfred said:

Can always do the old landrover trick of putting a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator

I bought and fitted the superskoda front grille cover due to doing 8 mile journeys. The first outing on a cold morning the car reached 90C in 2 miles. But, there after the ECU adapted. The blind helps alot once the coolant reaches 60C . Thereafter it regularly took 3miles to warm up. 

 

Even with a car at uni I always cycled the 3 miles each way.

 

Edited 5 April, 20206 yr by bmbmdmb

Get one as a Sunday car and get a sub £1500 petrol for work.   Beware as one of my neighbours found out using his car for 3 miles each way journeys, it failed MOT on emissions.