I'm planning on running the Fabia VRS I currently have for as long as possible, ie until it starts to cost me a lot of money.

I was looking to ask some questions...

Obviously consumables such as oil filters, tyres etc will always need replacing, I have no problem with this as generally they're quite cheap. But I was wondering:

a) With old cars, rust seems to be a common problem with MOT failures. Obviously with modern cars this is less of a problem, but are there any points on the car which are likely to rust? If so, what steps can I take to help prevent this from happening?

I've heard that these PD engines are very, very durable and should manage 100,000 miles with no problems (in fact I'd consider that low milage for a modern car now...). True?

Generally, at my current rate of 30,000 miles per year, assuming that I keep the car for 5 years, the car will have done 189,000 miles. Will I have a heap on my hands then, or will it still be in one shape?

a) Yup - Perhaps if you can lift the car in the air, give the underside a good coating of underseal - I did much of mine as i'm keeping it for ever and ever

Yup. But maintain it well - regular oil changes, and respect the warming up and cooling down (turbo spinning down) periods.

The only rust worry I've noticed so far on mine in 3 years and 58k is the leading edge of the roof where it meets the top of the screen, which seems to get chipped as badly as the bonnet. I don't think it'll affect the MOT, but it could lead to leaks into the passenger compartment... :( Mine had better last to at least 120k, as I won't have saved up for its replacement until then!

Kiss of death, anyone?!

I'm planning to keep mine for 4 more years at least, its a 2005 on 30K just now. So probably to over 100K at least. I know of a few people who have PD130 Audis with 150K+ miles on them so mechanically I think they should be OK. I haven't any rust issues (yet) and mine lives outside. I have noticed the rear inside getting wet so I'll be re-sealing the door (using the £0 method here a few days ago ) and then pulling up the carpets for a good look around and dry out in warmer weather or when I'm off on a long journey with the heater on.

In all the Diesels I've had servicing seems to be the key. I usually do an oil change every 5-6K miles at most, more often if I'm only doing short journeys. May seem excessive but my 120K Pug 205 DTurbo was a hell of a lot quieter than my friends new company 306 a few years ago.

I think you realise that it will be worth very little by then however assuming you bought it new £12k it will be costing you £1900p.a. in depreciation assuming £0 residual value.

Things you may have to change = Clutch, Shocks, ball joints, exhaust (though it will only be a 7 year old car by then so should be still like new (I know my 10-11 year old fiat exhaust is like new) dics you may be onto your 3rd set on towards the end of your second set, cambelt well you'll be onto your 3rd belt by then, thermostat maybe but only replace if it fails.

Really just look at how many taxi drivers have their superbs & octavia 130tdi's at 300k.... however these cars are not remapped they are vanilla so keep it that way then you'll be fine. DOnt be a Ch&v

Provided you service it when the service warning mesage comes up you should be fine + super long life castrol/mobil 1 oil now do not need changing for 30,000 so changing @5k is too mcuh IMHO and ecologically unfriendly when it should last at least 5-6k more at the bare minimum.

Edited 4 November, 200817 yr by DGW
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I think you realise that it will be worth very little by then however assuming you bought it new £12k it will be costing you £1900p.a. in depreciation assuming £0 residual value.

Things you may have to change = Clutch, Shocks, ball joints, exhaust (though it will only be a 7 year old car by then so should be still like new (I know my 10-11 year old fiat exhaust is like new) dics you may be onto your 3rd set on towards the end of your second set, cambelt well you'll be onto your 3rd belt by then, thermostat maybe but only replace if it fails.

Really just look at how many taxi drivers have their superbs & octavia 130tdi's at 300k.... however these cars are not remapped they are vanilla so keep it that way then you'll be fine. DOnt be a Ch&v

I bought it for £7,500 a month ago.

I was going to keep my engine completely standard, the only modifications I will ever make will be to the interior (little ones such as adding the storage drawer, which I've already done...)

The engine should go on fine, but there are lots of common annoying little things which will go wrong on the (or any!) car such as sensors, etc. All depends if you can live with it or want it to be all fully working

Chris

I'm hoping to keep mine for when my son starts to drive - he's 6 now!

Diesels last for ever if you care for them right and the car is pretty simple mechanically, compared to say a BMW...

Bas

should be ok, as long as you look after it

very simple car, very strong engine and gearbox.

Things i would consider that may fail

Turbo 1k to fix

egr valve fails and starts to leak £100 for bits

front suspension components are very weak, mine eats drop links and console bushes. parts cheap labour not

clutch and dmf about 1k to fix

drive shafts have about a 130k lifespan so expect to change them at £120 a side for parts

wheel bearings are prone to failure at £60 a corner for parts

If you drive steady and repect the car, most of the above will never fail.

Bar the turbo which may get clogged and sticky vains from not "cleaning" it

The obivous you had already stated, if a set of tyres lasts 20k say then by 190k you will have chewed through 8 sets, and at £300 pound a set thats 2400 in tyres alone :eek:

____

john

I plan to run mine into the ground, or at least til they stop selling diesel and we're all running around in electric powered hovercars.

I'm doing 16k a year, and it's on 55k now... so.. 167k in 7 years?

parts cheap labour not

Not a problem - we repaired the console bushes and drop links on my previous two fabias ourselves, no problem... ended up making our own tool for the console bushes.

Not a problem - we repaired the console bushes and drop links on my previous two fabias ourselves, no problem... ended up making our own tool for the console bushes.

Same position as me then

I made a tool also, the fabia is quite a straight forward car to work on. everything is logical and parts are easily obtainable.

Its only when you start going into the electronic control systems that it gets a little complicated..... but i have vag com for that

Good thread - we intend to run ours for another 5 years at least, and will be getting them serviced and checked regularly.

I know its not a PD TDI

But i owned a 306 HDI and had it upto 141k miles and it had been remapped most of its days and it was a brilliant car, i would believe the PD130 TDI should last as long without problems. Oil changes are the most important on diesels, every 8k miles after 100k miles and it will never go wrong

When 'cleaning' the turbo is mentioned, do you mean giving the car a decent thrashing from time to time?

I drive ever so gently but I don't want a turbo failing due to boredom.

Cheers.

When 'cleaning' the turbo is mentioned, do you mean giving the car a decent thrashing from time to time?

I drive ever so gently but I don't want a turbo failing due to boredom.

Cheers.

In a fashion yes,

The turbos on these cars have variable vains, if the turbo never gets to full working boost the vains will stick due to build up of soot.

Best thing i find is to find a nice motorway slip road, and with a fully warm engine and in third gear accelarate slowly building the revs up to just before red line then release.

I do this everyday, but i suggest once a week is enough

I plan to run mine into the ground, or at least til they stop selling diesel and we're all running around in electric powered hovercars.

I'm doing 16k a year, and it's on 55k now... so.. 167k in 7 years?

My 55reg is on 31k now and will be on 167k in 2.5 years I`m hoping itll take the mileage as the mileage will be done so quick.

I`ts just paying out for the "annual" service every couple of months i`m not looking forward to

I've had one of these 6 speeds split open to fit a diff. They are built like a brick "brown stuff"house. I doubt the gears will ever break - possibly the master/slave cylinder might.

I like the "EGR" maintenance cost. Nice easy way to avoid any future EGR faults - remove it entirely.

I doubt the gears will ever break...

You've not heard me trying to find fifth then...

You've not heard me trying to find fifth then...

Maybe I should say they don't break without serious abuse? :P

You've not heard me trying to find fifth then...

2nd's my gear of shame.

I'm planning to keep mine running until at least 4 years time. Wedding, mortage deposit, SWMBO's wardrobe fund and everything else will pretty much rule out a new(ish) car until then :(

Then again the Furby isn't a bad car so I'll enjoy those four years.

Good point made above - the "Italian tune-up" is important.

I remember a US TDI post where the guy went though 2 turbos before starting to thrash it once a week.

He opened up the third one to clean it and found it very clean unlike the previous two which were coked up before failing...

The logic is that the higher temps burn off carbon deposits and help the turbo live longer.

I guess Jason's last turbo must have been absolutely spotless.....

2nd's my gear of shame.

Me too! Now I've put a Dragon box on, it'll pull strongly right up to the red line, so it gets its 'Italian tune-up' every time it's driven.

Bit OT, but I do worry how long it's going to be before the old fella next door starts getting warning lights on the dash of his new Golf GT PD170 - he drives it sooooo gently and only into town, so I'm having a bet with myself whether it'll be the turbo or the DPF that goes first. I really do think the dealer should have pointed him towards the petrol version (although the 1.4 twincharger is a bit of a dog, admittedly...)