Hi everyone! I’m new here, so this is my first post! I hope this is the right area for it (I have posted in the specific fabia mk1 forum and new car forum as I didn’t know what was best!). I’d like some advice about buying a used fabia. 

This will be my first car as I’m a student going on my placement year. I’ve recently been considering a mk1 Skoda fabia, as I have seen some for sale locally to me with low miles (40k-60k) and within my budget of £1000-£2500(max). Most are ages 2001-2003 (and I’ve rather set my hopes on a bright yellow one!) I was wondering whether this would be a good investment as they are getting on nearly 20years old! (Or whether it would cost too much to keep it running?)

I will be driving around 10,000-15,000 miles per year and have been considering the 1.4 petrol model as I will be doing some longer motorway drives (4+ hours) to go home / see friends maybe twice or so a month. I’ll also be doing a lot of country roads and some town driving too. So my main questions are: 

1. I was wondering if owners found the 1.4 to be ok on the motorway? Doesn’t need to be amazing I just want to be able to overtake lorries and use sliproads without having to worry about the car being underpowered! 
2. Is this car relatively reliable? And what would realistic maintenance costs at this age be like? Hoping for something that won’t break the bank. 
3. What should I look out for/check when buying or test driving? 
4. I don’t know a lot about cars currently but I’d really like to learn more about car repairs and restoration. Would it be possible to carry out some simple repairs on a fabia or is it too mechanically complicated for novices like me?

 

I’d be really grateful for any advice! 

Many thanks in advance!
Alice 

The 1.4 16V is very reliable and with 100BHP is more than capable of holding it's own at speed as well as being economical when driven carefully.

There are two 1.4 models, the 16 valve and the 8 valve. The 8 valve, which I have, dates back to at least the 1960s and was used in the rear-engined Skodas. VW did some modifications to the engine such as hydraulic valve lifters and increasing the capacity. They are torquey but pretty slow overall. Having said that mine holds its own on the motorway quite well once you get used to it. I would advise to go for the 16 valve though.

12 hours ago, AK555 said:

Is this car relatively reliable?

 

The MK1 is now old and, like any old car, they need constant fettling to keep on top of issues. If they have been looked after they can be decent.

 

Common issues that I can think of at the moment are...

 

interior water leaks

faulty central locking

faulty electric windows

broken suspension springs (common with a lot of modern cars).

suspension console bushes

power steering issues

steering rack boots failing with age

CV boots failing with age

assorted electrical issues

alternator wire breakage

rust making an appearance

 

 

 

Edited 20 February, 20215 yr by TMB

The two areas where you can relax are that the 16V drive train is reliable and the bodyshell doesn't rust, otherwise age related reliability issues are common to any twenty year old car and the Fabia is more reliable than most since other makes have rust issues and engine reliability problems as well.

On 20/02/2021 at 12:30, TMB said:

There are two 1.4 models, the 16 valve and the 8 valve. The 8 valve, which I have, dates back to at least the 1960s and was used in the rear-engined Skodas. VW did some modifications to the engine such as hydraulic valve lifters and increasing the capacity. They are torquey but pretty slow overall. Having said that mine holds its own on the motorway quite well once you get used to it. I would advise to go for the 16 valve though.

Thanks everyone for all the replies!

 

The models I have seen for sale with low miles that I’ve been interested in seem to be the 8 valve 1.4 with 68bhp. I will have a look also for some 16 valve options, although it’s good to hear it is ok on the motorway. 
 

also, is there anything I should look out for when buying/test driving? This will be my first time buying a car so I’m not entirely sure what to look for. For example, when timing belt or water pump replacements should be made?