Fabia VRS buying advice needed..

Fabia VRS buying advice needed..

Author
Discussion

JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Whats up folks?

Just thought I would pop by and hopefully get some advice about a Skoda Fabia VRS that I'm off to view at the weekend.

When I left home, my flat-mate had one.. 55'plage. I fell in love with the thing.. always vowed to get one one day. And that days now.

I've done a bit of research, and they seem to be fairly bullet-proof. But what should I be on the lookout for?

I'm off to see a 56 plate, 53k miles, full service history, cambelt changed 200 miles ago.. completely standard.. even comes with a 6 month warrantee from the dealership.

Any advice? Are there any engine variations.. I noticed some are TDI, some are listed as PD? Is one better than the other?

Many thanks
Jim

AJB88

12,269 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
They are all 1.9TDI PD130, Pump Duse is the engine style, newer VAG engines are now Common Rail.

Pretty solid engine, can achieve 300+BHP with the right mods.

The top MK1 Fabia VRS is the VRS SE. They only came in Blue and all have numbered leather seating. but they usually command 1-2k more then a normal VRS.

JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Yea.. I'm not too fussed about the blue ones. My flat mate went from his VRS to the limited edition one, but I wasn't sold on the price difference.. ! They are a nice colour, but it looks the best in black.

As regards mods, it will probably only get a remap. It's going to be a family car! Although I am young so a few mods may be on the cards :-)

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Generally pretty solid:

  • Console bushes go - upgrades available.
  • Rear doors are known to leak
  • Boost hoses occasionally pop off
  • Headlights go opaque
  • Standard cloth trim hard to keep clean on the grey bits
Missus Podie has had two, covering 175k miles. Very few issues, returns 55mpg if you give it stick.


JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Lovely jubbly.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

Found that on the classifieds, very attractive price.. but I think I prefer the black.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
The LE is more likely to hold its money, and it avoids the issues with the seats.

Not sold on the lowered bit, but looks in good condition.

AJB88

12,269 posts

170 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
I think it looks very good. If I was going to get 1 it would be a Blue 1.

I looked at buying 1 in 2009 and they were 7k then, so roughly 5.5k now its not a huge drop.

Drive Blind

5,076 posts

176 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
I ran one for 2 years and 30K-ish miles. Massively over hyped and actually very dull, was my opinion.

Yeah it did 55mpg, and was quite nippy with the PD torque lump at 1800rpm but there was little joy in driving it enthusiastically.

The radiator went on mine, the doors leaked and both rear calipers seized. The console bushes were past their best again at 100K after being replaced at 55K. And the DMF was also on it's way out at 100K.


JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
I'm not overly fussed with enthusiastic driving.. When I drove my friends every now and again, it always put a smile on my face.. since that I have had an old 1.8 SRI Astra and an Alfa 147 twin-spark. I enjoyed the Astra the most.

The Fabia had a good poke out of corners, and enough torque to dispatch a couple of cars if they're driving below the speed-limit. That's all I'm looking for really.

I'm also attracted to the good reliability and decent fuel returns. That's what's important. I appreciate there may be some faults as mentioned, but that seems fine.. I have been browsing the Skoda Enthusiasts forums and they're seem to be reasonably easy fixes for the problems mentioned.

Cheers again guys!

starmonkey

293 posts

188 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
Other half has th SE. It's a great little car, pulls very well yet returns very good mpg.

Only problem we've had was the paint peeling off the rear spoiler but Skoda split the price of having it resprayed which I thought was ok for an almost 8 year old car! Known problem apparently - Briskoda is where you want to ask any questions!

Who me ?

7,455 posts

211 months

Friday 28th August 2015
quotequote all
Jimmy-Skoda PD engine- service history/service history, especially oil changes & cam belt changes- 4 year /60k and it's circa £350 , and best to have water pump changed at same time, as it's a cheap item, but labour to change is high. Console bushes( rear bushes on lower front suspension is MOT description0 do fail. Replacement is a DIY JOB, easiest replaced with Powerflex .Another problem is drop link arms on front ARB, another cheap and easy DIY job.
Door cards on all models/levels on MK1 are known as a problem-wet carpets, FRONT AND REAR. Fabia is one vehicle that uses a calliper carrier that is prone to securing bolt thread failure ( easily/cheaply cured with helicoils)according to place that did mine. . Heater fan resistors fail, leaving fan on only (in extreme cases on full on mode)-so it's on or full on,no variation. Have a look at http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/213819-the-ex... given decent service history, there's several examples of 200k cars on BRISKODA, where as another poster suggested you may want to look .

But that's the bad news. Someone said 55MPG .I run little brother, a 1.4TDI with a tad over 70/80 BHP,as opposed to the 130 and it's one of the few cars I've owned that returns an almost constant 50+MPG ,except in a hurry on motorway ( and even then worst I've had was 45-48 , on a drive from Midlands to north of Glasgow when dad had a stroke - Autoroute says 7 hours- I did it in less than 5.5,with at least two coffee stops and one fuel stop). It's hard not to drive it "making good progress", as it's such a fun car to drive.

Edited by Who me ? on Friday 28th August 22:34

JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
Would you guys advise addressing commonly known issues when I purchase the car, or leave it to an as and when job?

The console bushes for example?

I've been trawling the Briskoda forums as well guys, great resource.. feels similar to alfa owner when I had my 147. Great community.

Is there a fix for the leaky doors, damp carpets?

Olivera

7,068 posts

238 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
Shambolic handling coupled to a dire engine. Buy a mk5 golf gti or mk1 leon cupra r.

Drive Blind

5,076 posts

176 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
JimmyB88 said:
Is there a fix for the leaky doors, damp carpets?
it's such a common problem google/youtube will explain it better than I can.

When I bought mine I was well aware of the problem and mine was bone dry. That lasted about 6 months until a very heavy night of rain which soaked the front and rear carpet.

I took off the door card to seal it to find evidence of a previous repair which had obviously failed. I cleaned it up and resealed it. This lasted about a year before it failed again.

I couldn't be bothered trying to fix it again so for the last 6 months owning the car I did the trick of shutting a plastic bag in the doorshut to stop the water ingress. This was a back door that rarely got used so it was a quick and easy solution.

Drive Blind

5,076 posts

176 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
I'm guessing a 56 plate low miles Fabia vRS - the dealer is going to be asking 5.5-6K?

Prices of mk5 seat ibiza's with the CR140 engine are now in the 6K bracket. If your budget can afford it I suggest you look at these. The CR140 engine is far superior to the PD130 IMO.

JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
The one I went to see this morning was listed at £5.3k.. the dealer wouldn't stop harping on about finance rather than the car. Even though I explained it was a cash purchase.

Anyway. I took it for a test drive and it brought a smile back to my face. It's all about perception. I enjoyed the ride and the engine is spot on for my liking.. superb torque lower down. I'm not about thrashing it about like I was a few years ago.

Dealer confessed however that it's listed as a 130bhp, as that's what's listed on the v5c. However, the paperwork has a receipt and folder indicating a remap to 175 amongst other things.

It's had the console bushes replaced to Cupra Bushes at 49k when it went in for a service. Cambelt and water pump have been replaced also.. it had full Skoda Service History until 41k, which is a thumbs up.

I felt the handling was pretty good, I think a little lowering and some uprated springs would make a ton of difference!

I suppose it's all about what you guys have driven previous and what your driving now.. but it felt solid too me. I also really dislike the golf's. I do like the R32's, but I couldn't afford to run one.. the rest just don't appeal too me. Especially around here - there are hundreds. The Ibiza is also a car I think is particularly ugly..

A Seat Leon Cupra R.. Now there's a car - but I can't justify it to my wife when there a suitable diesel alternative.

Anyway. Played my face up about the remap. Is it illegal for them to be trying to sell me the car? Said I would need to think about it. He offered it for 5k. Managed to talk him into 4850 and a full tank of diesel.. also a 6 month warranty that was advertised with the car anyway.

My budget is 5.5k, but I would ideally prefer to get the car and pay my insurance off in one go as opposed to car and paying monthly.

AJB88

12,269 posts

170 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
is it illegal for them to sell you a car with a remap on? No.


Obviously you would need to tell your insurer if you bought it. Who was the remap by?

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
You need to advise your insurer of the remap and lowering springs. Personally I'd tell them about anything non standard.

He'll have harped on about finance as that's where he'll make money.

JimmyB88

Original Poster:

21 posts

129 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
I just presumed as it's not what's printed on the v5c, it's therefore not right? Is a remap something I would need to make the DVLA aware of?

Demon Tweaks in Wrexham did the remap.. it had some printouts of customer feedback and adjustments.. I presume it was a custom map as that's what indicated on there website.

Drive Blind

5,076 posts

176 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
quotequote all
You need to tell your insurance company about the remap.

Remap doesn't change anything with the DVLA or the v5.