I am thinking of getting my missus a 2000ish 1.4 hatch as our Primera is not very cost effective now. Question is what are they like on the motorway? I know it's not gonna break any land speed records I just want something that will not struggle with her journey up the a1 to work. Also I have read about early reliability problems what where these??

Cheers

The 1.4 MPi is just fine on the Motorway, will keep up with modern traffic with ease. You'll be doing about 3,500Rpm's if your crusing at around 80Mph. Quite quiet, no need to shout to be heared.

Reliability depends on which 1.4 engine you get (8v/16v are completely different engines). I think there are common problems with both, perhaps no more than any other car though.

1.4 16v be aware:

1) Cambelt will need changing every 4 years or 60000 miles, whichever first; about £250

2) AUB code engines have a certain predilection for eating their way through the factory-standard piston rings; once modified OK; some cars will be OK anyway. £expensive

3) Need revving, but go nicely once revved

1.4 8v:

1) Has timing chain so not so maintainance heavy

2) Are slower, and apparently don't always get much better fuel economy

3) Might have problems with cylinder head/cooling (?). Can't remember, do a search.

I am sure that both will be fine on motorway, 16v certainly will (I've got it). Don't be frightened by this list, most cars will have a similar or longer list of common faults. Try a search for common fabia faults for more info, the more you know the better prepared you are when you look.

Cheers

Rob

In common with all Fabias, add to the list above suspension bushes which are prone to failure. Couple of hundred quid in labour to rectify (as I've just discovered to my cost). The 1.4 16v certainly goes well on the motorway, I'd recommend it.

The thing I'd say in this thread (being a female driver) is that the nice thing I've found about my 8V 1.4 2001 mpi is that it gives me "a place on the road" as opposed to some hatchbacks where people think they can carve you up at their leisure. It is heavy on petrol, but I reckon that's because it's quite a heavy car and it has survived well in the two "incidents" I've had.

I know nothing about cars BTW.

Mo

I can only talk about the 8V (1.4 MPI on rear badge) , but I find it fine on the A1 dual carriageway to Edinburgh. I have even been known to overtake things in it!!

As far as reliability goes , there used to be some problems with head gasket failures on the 8v engine , most cars will have had this sorted by now (ive certainly not had any problem with mine in that regard). Other things which are common to all Fabias ; Front suspension bushes wear out , Power steering sensor causes a warning light to illuminate and your steering goes heavy (sometimes the pump and/or rack can be a problem too , these are big £s , so you dont want that!!) Check for wet carpets , especially in the back as there are problems with water leaks from the doors on some cars. Personally Ive had one or two niggles with mine , but I still like it - I must do because its the longest Ive ever kept a car!!!

I hope this helps.

I have a 1.4 MPI (that's the 8V one) I have had only two problems:

- The coolant temperature sensor stopped working, this meant that the engine stuttered on starting and occationally didn't start on the first attempt. This was easy to rectify with a Haynes manual and a replacement sensor for £25 from the skoda dealer... and some "underbonnet" time.

- The only other problem was the power steering, it occationally goes heavy when doing lots of manuvering, it only happens, at most, once a month, so i'm happy to put up with it.

The car is great on the motorway, easily cruises along at 80 with little noise. (Don't tell anyone but my 1.4 often touches the 100mph mark with ease.) They are great little cars... and I love mine!

They look great dropped 40mm with some nice 16 inch alloys on there too.

Hope this helped!

-Duggie.

What's the fuel economy like on the 8v one??? Main reason I want shut of the diesel is it's economy is crap lol

Similar story on the 1.4 TDI - cruises well at about 3500 RPM- capable of getting into instant ban territory and returns a good MPG ,even in that sort of area . Been on trips from Coventry area to west highlands recently ( a few times ) and it's at home either on the motorway or on windy highland roads .

Looked again at your economy thing - then tell me another car that can return £10 a hundred miles (or more ) when speed is more important than economy .

Overtaking is only problem - could do with more poke - and on my trips up north certain that a lot more folk have a lot more respect for Furbies --but then I'm used to those sorts of roads ,and it's a pleasure to drive a common or garden hatch that makes driving a windy road so much fun whilst being leisurly at 60 .

The fuel economy in the 8V isn't the best to be honest... it can be all over the place. If you put your foot down more than once in a blue moon... which I do then i've been getting around 27-30mpg... i have seen the monitor on the car at 12 though!!! However, I drove up to York (from Oxford, that's 250 miles each way). It did it on one tank (JUST) and i was getting around 55-65 Mpg... that was seriously eco-aware driving though.

Hope this helps.

My wife has a 1.4 MPi, and I pretty much echo everything that's already been said. You're unlikely to find one these days that won't have had the head gasket replaced under warranty, so that's the main coolany issue covered. Their biggest non-mechanical let-down is the fuel economy, though. My wife never really gets more than 32mpg, which is what the 1.8 16v in my old Xantia would do, with its much bigger engine and twice as many horsepowers...

But then again, they're seemingly pretty reliable (unlike the 1.4 16v with their piston rings that are apparently a ticking timebomb) and cheap to run. A full annual service + new brake pads and linings cost my wife less than 150 quid the other week!

Agree with the above.

I toddle down the M6 every fortnight to Staffs and my 1.4MPI 8V will happily tootle at 70-ish (ahem). At that speed, It'll even pick it's skirts up and overtake quite smoothly.

MPG wise, I average around 50 for the journey (80 miles).

Considering she's revving around 3,000 - 3,500 depending on traffic density, I can't complain at all.

Lovely little car to drive too.

My economy figure is averaging about 38mpg on the computer , and thats mostly town driving. On a run Ive seen over 50mpg average if I keep the speed down , or mid 40s at motorway speeds. Of course , you can take these figures witha pinch of salt as the computer has a tendancy to be optomistic , but they give a good benchmark of what to expect. Ive just had mine serviced and it was £160 , insurance (for me) is under £140 a year fully comp with protected NCD , and , as my car is a pre 2001 model (and as such is taxed on engine size , not emissions) my last years tax cost £115.