hi all,don't suppose anyone is familiar with the red fabia estate for sale on autotrader? the one with sunroof and sat nav. the dealer is based in birmingham.cant see the reg no. because the dealer has there own plates on the car.it's just that i'm interested in it,but being familiar with the dreaded oil consumption issues,i am trying to be a bit careful.it does say the timing chain has just been changed.anyway,hope someone out there  might know it,many thanks.

@shlobber

Is it this Mk2 vRS?

 

You have much to find out. 

Why the Timing Chain was done and was more work done?  'Important that changed, but only if faulty, otherwise not a Service Item with a schedule to replace'.  (Later CTHE ones do have a TPI covering them.)

 

Has the Water pump been done and the rubber 2 drive belts?  That can be more important.  You need to keep money for when it does need doing.

How many former keepers?  Is it the engine in it what left the factory with or a New or Used replacement or is it a rebuild?

Has the DSG ever had the Service Campaign '34F7'?  There should be a sticker in the spare tyre well if it has had.

 

 

Edited 19 August, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

11 hours ago, shlobber said:

hi all,don't suppose anyone is familiar with the red fabia estate for sale on autotrader? the one with sunroof and sat nav. the dealer is based in birmingham.cant see the reg no. because the dealer has there own plates on the car.it'st that i'm interested in it,but being familiar with the dreaded oil consumption issues,i am trying to be a bit careful.it does say the timing chain has just been changed.anyway,hope someone out there  might know it,many thanks.

 

If you've been searching for the combi/estate models you'll have probably noticed the rarity of them these day so they hold a slightly better value than the hatch. That sunroof is rare! I've only seen a handful of models with that extra in my time owning mine and none of them where the estate. Even with a private sale I'd expect to pay close to 4k for that as it seems a good example, again if it was a hatch version it wouldn't be over 4k private,70k is a fair mileage for the chain to be done so that's a bonus and as you said without the reg its hard to find out the history of the car. Ring/email the garage and notify them of your interest and request the reg and that way you can at least do a previous MOT history and see f its been off the road.

 

Oil consumption is your only and biggest worry IMO as its a CAVE engine. Wear and tear such as the coils and plugs you can expect to change several times in your ownership as these eat them, Water pump I wouldn't get too worried about as its less than £70 part to replace if needed down the line.

 

Cant say from the several groups mk2 fabia groups I'm on that I've seen it posted before however it does look a good example albeit the miles are higher than I would like myself,(Its been proven that these will run to 130k on the standard clutch and box if mileage isn't a worry) is it a daily driver and will you be commuting long miles? 

yes,that's the one.i would just been driving locally most of the the time.it does seem a bit of a can of worms.shame,looks quite nice.i might do what you suggest and ask for the reg no.

ok,the reg no. is ma11 utu.

14 minutes ago, shlobber said:

ok,the reg no. is ma11 utu.

It was Mot’d August then sorned, I’d imagine this was by the garage to avoid paying road tax.

 

aprt from that it’s failed 2 mot’s for Nearside headlight not going dipped and a couple of tyres.

 

There’s one concern that it had no oil in 2017, this could well be a coincidence and a lazy owner but I’d get that checked out if your going to view it. 

 

I wouldn't touch it, not only has it not been looked after, it's been actively neglected.

Forget the mileage, look for one that's been properly looked after, I'd rather have a car with a high mileage but a full history, it would cost less to buy and run as well.

Takes 5 minutes to check your oil. Anyone who lets it get that low and can't even be bothered to check it before taking it for an MOT shouldn't even be allowed to own a car in my opinion.

 

I would avoid that car on that principle alone. 

 

I wanted a combi, but never found one. Good luck!

50 minutes ago, AmusedMussel said:

Takes 5 minutes to check your oil. Anyone who lets it get that low and can't even be bothered to check it before taking it for an MOT shouldn't even be allowed to own a car in my opinion.

 

I would avoid that car on that principle alone. 

 

I wanted a combi, but never found one. Good luck!

Seems to be such a common thing nowadays for drivers not to check the oil - or anything else for that matter! Includes SWMBO of course - until something starts making a noise - or falls off!

I'm guessing it's because vehicles have got so reliable (normally) now.

Most people would be at a loss if told to do 'first parade' on their vehicle nowadays. 

I know a group that are very liable not to check the cars oil without a Low Oil or Low OIl Pressure Warning light or message.

 

Sales People at Dealerships, Management, those putting 3,000 miles in 3 months on Demonstrators / Ex Management cars.

 

Those were who had the first Mk2 Fabia vRS in the UK in 2010 that some of us here then owned.

*Many were rejected or had engine rebuilds before the end of 2010 and early 2011.  Many were good engines once the right oil and plugs were used.*

Then many had Short Units fitted, just because 'professionals' had no idea how to check oil levels and where area 'A' is on a dipstick and come to the realisation that the engines need 3.9 litres of oil and 3.6 litres is just not enough.

 

They never noticed the high oil consumption of the first cars in the UK, and never topped them up until they got a warning, then some overfilled them, 

and sold these 'Ex Management' / Demonstrators that used oil.

They then told the buyers that the high oil use was 'normal', said that a litre in 1,000 miles was 'within tolerances' or acceptable.

(0.5 litres in 621 miles is not acceptable and neither is 0.3 litres in 1,000 km / 621 miles.

 

Hence many had issues,

It was the crap 'Long Life' VW 504/507 and only 3.6 litres of oil and the fact that a car could have 1.5 litres low Engine Oil and still no Low Oil light or message.

Then you open the bonnet for 30 seconds and the light / message is out for 60 miles.

 

Vorsprung Durch Technik only VW Brand employees and Dealership staff never learn.

Edited 21 August, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

I recall an old joke from back in the days when it was usual to check the oil at least once a week - 'if, when pulling out the stick, you find no oil on it, it means that you should have pulled it last month'.