Car for sale: Skoda Fabia Mk1 Estate. 1.9 Sdi. 'Comfort'. 2003. 68,000 miles. FSH + more.

Skoda Fabia Mk1 1.9 Sdi Estate ‘Comfort’. 2003. 68,000 miles.

£1350

Just two owners. I’ve owned the car for just over 3 years. Outstanding condition. Impressive maintenance/service history. MOT expires 31st January 2022

Ice cold air con!

Two keys.

No DPF as standard!

Location.

Scottish Highlands nr Aviemore (midway between Perth and Inverness). Just off the A9 and convenient for the main line railway.

The ‘slug’, the ‘snail’, the ‘cockroach’…it has many nicknames all reflecting the modest performance of its 63hp non-turbo diesel engine. But it’s not the whole story! Once moving it keeps up with motorway, dual carriageway and ‘A’ road traffic just fine. Overtaking takes a bit of planning though, best to just sit back and go with the flow. Oddly enough it’s a very relaxing car to drive.

On the upside, come the apocalypse this is the car/engine combo that will rise out of the ashes and just keep going on and on and on. It’s an utterly bulletproof and un-burstable engine. Economical, too: I struggle to get less than 65mpg irrespective of what sort of driving I’m doing. 70mpg+ is possible if lightly laden and using a considerate right foot.

Selling because I need a car that will tow and that isn’t something the Sdi will do.

The car is in really great condition. Bodywork, trim, engine and running gear are all top notch. The pictures are an accurate reflection of the car’s condition. It has a brilliant, complete and fully documented service history with all the receipts. I even have the purchase receipt from when the car was bought new from the supplying Skoda dealer. I’ve been really careful with the bodywork and the car shows little or no rust. All the wheel arch liners were taken out and the arches pressure washed, dried and then protected with wax spray, including the notorious ‘pockets’ at the bottom rear of the front arches. Good tyre condition on all 4 wheels.

I've done the routine oil and filter changes (x4 since 43k miles) myself with more involved mechanical work carried out by my local garage. Prior to 43k miles the car had 14 oil, filter and various other fluid changes – all documented.

Some of the other maintenance work in my ownership:-

43k miles – timing belt, tensioner, water pump and poly belt. Brake fluid.

47k miles – new driver’s door lock mechanism

49k miles – injection pump timing checked and adjusted.

55k miles – new rear dampers (Sachs), top mounts, dust sleeve and rubber buffer

56k miles – new front brake discs (ATE) and pads. New reversing switch fitted on gearbox. New F/N/S wheel bearing.

65k miles – F/O/S wheel bearing, F/N/S suspension arm, wheel alignment checked & adjusted. New rear brake cylinders, shoes and fitting kit.

68k miles – new rear wiper motor (Valeo)

I have a Word document I can email you detailing ALL the servicing and maintenance the car has had since it was new in 2003. Let me know.

Minor issues:

1.       The steering light very occasionally illuminates on the dashboard, usually in cold weather after the car has stood unused for a while. I think this is a battery condition issue. Switching off the engine and restarting the car extinguishes the warning light.       The previous owner fitted a cheap battery just before I bought the car which may be coming to end of its useful life. It starts the car OK though. Because of this issue I keep the car hooked up to a CTEK battery conditioner when it’s not in use.

2.       Some very minor surface rust at the front end of the sill on the driver’s side – just visible in one of the photos.

3.       3 or 4 paint chips on the bonnet but only in the clearcoat. Some very minor tiny scuffs in the clearcoat elsewhere but you’d have to look very carefully indeed to find them!

In general, the car has been very well looked after and the price reflects this.

The car is on a SORN which means test drives are a problem but you’re welcome to drive it up and down the cul de sac road outside our house.

Questions welcome and viewing strongly recommended!