I have a 1998 Skoda felicia 1.3 MPI from new and still runs very well with nearly 1,000 miles on clock.

 

If I should wish to buy a Fabia second hand (I am 77)  so I am on a very limited budget not looking for speed just easy to service and cheap to run. I only do some 3,000 miles a year.

 

I have listed my requirements 

1 Petrol engine must run on E10

2 Maybe power steering

3 sun roof if poss

4 colour red or dark red

5 windup windows. If poss.

 

What year and what model your thoughts Thanks.

Edited 13 November, 20214 yr by mikefelicia

1. Any Fabia with a petrol engine.

2. Standard on all Fabias.

3. Rare, but possible.

4. Corrida Red or Flamenco Red, maybe even Cayenne Orange?

5. Most Classic models, unless specced with 'lectric windows and central locking.

 

I'd suggest looking at a late model Fabia Classic, most come with air conditioning from standard even with manual windows. The post-facelift models also have dual airbags as standard. 1.2 12v is good as long as you look after it. The 1.4 MPI engine can be found in earlier Fabias pre-MY2004, you may even get a Silverline for not too much money.

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108196419026

 

This isn't red, but it's a 1.2 12v (don't get a 6v model) Classic with manual mirrors but keeps some nice things such as electric windows, central locking, and air conditioning, which was standard for most, if not all, post-2004 Fabias due to special offers.

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110188617756

 

This is the same shade of red as mine, but in Classic spec with manual windows etc. You'll have air con, but it doesn't mean you have to use it.

 

You'll have to define limited budget however and I'll search for something for you.

 

 

Edited 13 November, 20214 yr by AnnoyingPentium
Found something to add.

Thanks for your reply very kind of you to go to the trouble. When I am ready to buy I will post as to my budget.

 

Just had a look at the red one you put a link to £1,200 looks so nice will speak to her indoors.

Edited 14 November, 20214 yr by mikefelicia

14 minutes ago, mikefelicia said:

Thanks for your reply very kind of you to go to the trouble. When I am ready to buy I will post as to my budget.

 

Absolutely not a problem. I'm usually skulking about AutoTrader anyway.

@mikefelicia here's another Flamenco Red one, an Ambiente (post-FL Comfort) so it has some nice gizmos, such as; heated mirrors (brilliant when it's cold), electric windows, front foglights, CD player (good ICE system for an OEM configuration in my opinion), better interior light, and probably some things I've missed. It's much like mine except it has no alloy wheels, but mine didn't start on alloys either.

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111039195471

Why change now, if your 1998 Skoda Felicia 1.3 MPI is still going well why replace it when second hand prices are still silly high because of Covid new car supply problems.

 

The newer the car the less it will like your low annual mileage, you'd certainly want to stay away from new diesels and any model with start/stop.

 

At 15 years of age for a s/h car I'd only look at Toyotas and Hondas, all cars need some servicing but those two generally need a lot less repairs (if any), getting them without electric windows might be more difficult.

 

The Skoda Dealers are much more like VW car dealers now than they used to decades back.

 

Good luck.

 

6 minutes ago, nta16 said:

The newer the car the less it will like your low annual mileage, you'd certainly want to stay away from new diesels and any model with start/stop.

 

Not a problem for the cars that Mike was looking at. No Mk1s have DPFs or start/stop. 

 

Trying to get a Toyota of that age without electric windows would be difficult. You'd have to get a Starlet or bug-eye Corolla but all of those will be similar ages to the Felicia he has already.

 

The Fabia is a good choice as such, especially the 64hp petrol, it's a little slower than a Felicia but the tax is cheaper, MPGs will improve (although less of a priority if doing short trips) and depending on age and spec it'll be a pretty simple car... at least in comparison to a Mk2 or Mk3.

 

Hope this helps either of you.

Edited 21 January, 20224 yr by AnnoyingPentium

Just widening the scope, the car doesn't have to be the same type and starting budgets aren't always end budgets.

 

Not everyone is lucky enough to get a well looked after example and generally the Toyotas and Hondas stand up better but that's a generalisation and other models may have some shining examples to buy, but possibly statistically less likely.   The purchase price is just one element of the overall running costs but there's also the hassle of service, maintenance and repairs.

 

I'd keep the Felicia going longer, 100,000 is nothing and if only 3,000 miles a year are to be added, although if the lower mileage is city driving it will be more wearing and the tin worm on the body may beat any mechanicals.

 

15 minutes ago, nta16 said:

Just widening the scope, the car doesn't have to be the same type and starting budgets aren't always end budgets.

 

Not everyone is lucky enough to get a well looked after example and generally the Toyotas and Hondas stand up better but that's a generalisation and other models may have some shining examples to buy, but possibly statistically less likely.   The purchase price is just one element of the overall running costs but there's also the hassle of service, maintenance and repairs.

 

Very true. I was going to buy a Toyota Yaris originally (a 2007) but most examples in my part of the world have corroded brake pipes, which was also an issue for our 2010 Auris. I then looked at a Clio but that was a bit of a lemon. The Fabia seemed like the shining example in comparison. It's definitely all down to local s/h car markets in all honesty.

 

17 minutes ago, nta16 said:

I'd keep the Felicia going longer, 100,000 is nothing and if only 3,000 miles a year are to be added, although if the lower mileage is city driving it will be more wearing and the tin worm on the body may beat any mechanicals.

 

Very true. In regards to the infamous tin worm, jacking points and arches. Agreed on the mileage thing, that wee car will lap it up for the foreseeable.

Yaris was in my thoughts, I thought the Starlet finished decades back - but then I not sure how I posted here as the thread was 2 months old!

 

My wife once had a Corsa as a courtesy car and she'll tell anyone that listens how gutless it was, struggled with the hills, luckily she only had it one day and they never made the mistake of offering it again.  A mate had a 1.2 Corsa for a while and said the 2.0 diesel Jag X-type that replaced it got more mpg around town.

 

The OP would be old enough to remember the cars with 250cc engines or less, once you're rolling you don't need much horsepower to propel two or even four people along in a car, just that modern cars are so heavy they need the power to pull their own weight before the load in the car.

 

There's no point trying to put just electric engines in the lardy cars we have now - whoop thread drift alert!!  🥴

 

8 minutes ago, nta16 said:

I thought the Starlet finished decades back

 

Finished in 1999 before the arrival of the Yaris, I believe. So would basically just be going like for like against a Felicia.

 

8 minutes ago, nta16 said:

My wife once had a Corsa as a courtesy car and she'll tell anyone that listens how gutless it was, struggled with the hills, luckily she only had it one day and they never made the mistake of offering it again.  A mate had a 1.2 Corsa for a while and said the 2.0 diesel Jag X-type that replaced it got more mpg around town.

 

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than own a Corsa, however if they float someone's boat then I don't mind. Most of the ones of a certain age suffer with rotting subframes etc, at least in this part of the world. Honestly out of all the cars I could have had, it was a choice between a slightly ropey Clio, a 9N VW Polo Match, and the Fabia at the end up. The Fabia represented good value based on mileage and condition only.

 

As you'll know, internet car forums very rarely have threads to say "Oh look how good my car is running right now! Nothing to report!", they're usually for problems, and if like yourself and I, you're a member, you see a lot of these problems. Which, in turn, may warp our perceptions on these cars ever so slightly.

 

Alright, that's enough psychological stuff for now.

 

The OP wanted a Fabia, and based on his experiences with the Felicia, it only seems natural to progress to the Fabia.

 

Just my two smackeroonies on that one. 

Edited 21 January, 20224 yr by AnnoyingPentium

All cars have problems some makes and models a lot more than others, some owners are blind to it for various reasons, often resale values for the likes of BMW, Merc and some Italian stuff owners.

 

I think you have a fair point that I'm probably biased by what I see - but also my wife's car has needed two front dampers which surprised me and talk of wheel bearings has me thinking I might be hearing things when I'm probably not.  Replacing the front brakes already was a bit disappointing but that might be more from previous use of the car before my wife bought it.  But the engine bay does make all sorts of strange noises which I think are the computers taking over and messing around.

 

I think I balance out some of the blind loyalty to marques and models, I can like a make and model but still recognise its faults, I've mostly had British, well English, cars so I think I've literally paid (over and over and . . . ) to express my views on at least them and it sets the bar quite low for other makes and marques. 😁