Skoda Fabia 1.2 MK1 for my learner daughter
Discussion
Hi all,
I'd been looking for a car for my daughter who's been taking driving lessons for a few months. Main requirements were for something safe, insurable, simple (as she'd like to learn how to maintain it), and reliable. And cheap.
TL;DR - bought a decent Skoda Fabia for £800. Now here's the story:
I'd been looking at local Facebook marketplace posts, narrowly missing out on a decent Mini One at a good price, then went to see a Citroen C1. A yellow one. She really liked it, but it was obvious the guy was an amateur dealer, and admitted as much. Not a problem in itself, but despite a new MOT the rear silencer was starting to blow, the clutch engaged right at the top of its travel (ok, maybe adjustable, but didn't fancy that) and tyres were nasty and mismatched. Passed on that.
Then went on the off chance to see a Skoda Fabia. 1.2 engine, so economical and insurable, 5 doors, and red. Sensible milage (65K ish), and allegedly a couple of lady owners. Yeah, right.
We arrived at the guy's house, to see him starting to wash it with a dish sponge and washing up bowl. This thing was very dusty, clearly it had been standing for a little while. And the battery was flat. And there's a little mould on the dashboard. And the bumper ends had popped out a bit and the front number plate had a crack, and there's a scrape on the rear bumper. The vendor told me his story - he'd bought the car for his daughter who'd gone overseas and decided to stay for a few months so the car had sat there. He'd damaged the bumpers when moving his van - the FB photos showed it undamaged, so OK, maybe. The paperwork actually bore this out! Before him, one lady owner, and history until a couple of years ago. He hadn't sent off the V5, so still one lady owner!
A jump start had it going instantly, and looking a bit deeper it had 4 Conti tyres (although one is a different style), no smoke, an immaculate, albeit dirty, interior, no shiny steering wheel, good seat bolsters and so on. A spirited drive up and down the road - and what a little peach! Great steering, gearchange and brakes. Everything works except the rear washer. No lip on the brake disks even!
£800 later and we're on the way home, and it does 70 smoothly, willingly, quietly (relatively). My daughter spend the afternoon cleaning the interior, and it's come up very well. The rear washer is a common problem where the pipe pops off behind the air filter, easy fix, took me less than 5 minutes. The brake booster vacuum line is starting to split, that's an easy fix too.
I'm just hoping my daughter doesn't give it a silly name:
Incidentally, I learned something useful - insuring same or next day costs a lot more than insuring 5 days later. I saved £140 on that!
I'd been looking for a car for my daughter who's been taking driving lessons for a few months. Main requirements were for something safe, insurable, simple (as she'd like to learn how to maintain it), and reliable. And cheap.
TL;DR - bought a decent Skoda Fabia for £800. Now here's the story:
I'd been looking at local Facebook marketplace posts, narrowly missing out on a decent Mini One at a good price, then went to see a Citroen C1. A yellow one. She really liked it, but it was obvious the guy was an amateur dealer, and admitted as much. Not a problem in itself, but despite a new MOT the rear silencer was starting to blow, the clutch engaged right at the top of its travel (ok, maybe adjustable, but didn't fancy that) and tyres were nasty and mismatched. Passed on that.
Then went on the off chance to see a Skoda Fabia. 1.2 engine, so economical and insurable, 5 doors, and red. Sensible milage (65K ish), and allegedly a couple of lady owners. Yeah, right.
We arrived at the guy's house, to see him starting to wash it with a dish sponge and washing up bowl. This thing was very dusty, clearly it had been standing for a little while. And the battery was flat. And there's a little mould on the dashboard. And the bumper ends had popped out a bit and the front number plate had a crack, and there's a scrape on the rear bumper. The vendor told me his story - he'd bought the car for his daughter who'd gone overseas and decided to stay for a few months so the car had sat there. He'd damaged the bumpers when moving his van - the FB photos showed it undamaged, so OK, maybe. The paperwork actually bore this out! Before him, one lady owner, and history until a couple of years ago. He hadn't sent off the V5, so still one lady owner!
A jump start had it going instantly, and looking a bit deeper it had 4 Conti tyres (although one is a different style), no smoke, an immaculate, albeit dirty, interior, no shiny steering wheel, good seat bolsters and so on. A spirited drive up and down the road - and what a little peach! Great steering, gearchange and brakes. Everything works except the rear washer. No lip on the brake disks even!
£800 later and we're on the way home, and it does 70 smoothly, willingly, quietly (relatively). My daughter spend the afternoon cleaning the interior, and it's come up very well. The rear washer is a common problem where the pipe pops off behind the air filter, easy fix, took me less than 5 minutes. The brake booster vacuum line is starting to split, that's an easy fix too.
I'm just hoping my daughter doesn't give it a silly name:
Incidentally, I learned something useful - insuring same or next day costs a lot more than insuring 5 days later. I saved £140 on that!
Triumph Man said:
I've got a soft spot for the mk1 fabia - my mum had one when they first came out, and my sister had one as her first car. Solid little things - rather that than a C1.
Agree about the C1 comments, if the C2 I bought my lad to get on the road with is anything to go by, made of tin foil and tupperware!
And why is it that when time comes to collect, they're always 'too busy' to help out!
Down and out said:
When you wash it or it rains, check the rear footwells. Most of them leak and causes steaming up but it's quite an easy fix involving the rear door cards coming off and the window carrier being sealed.
Thanks, it does steam up when sitting, we're airing it out today but will have the door cards off! Great tip, much appreciated.And she's called it "Sammi the Skoda".
Booked it in to a local garage I trust for an oil change and a good going over too, will do air filter and plugs myself but can't be bothered getting under a car and dealing with oil disposal.
Little update - we gave it a good wash and it came up very nicely. No water in the footwells which is nice. Ordered a new brake booster vacuum pipe, pulled the air filter which is like new, pulled a spark plug which looks like the "good" example in every Haynes manual ever and checked the tyres again which all look like new Conti's - although one is a different model. Tons of tread left.
All good so far!
All good so far!
It drives beautifully. The clutch and gear change are just lovely. It understeers a bit when pushed (I may possibly have had some fun driving it home, and my gf in her Cooper S may have been left a little way behind) but it's quiet at 70, rides well, seats are German-hard but the driver's is height adjustable which is perfect for us.
Off to get the new brake vacuum hose now. I'm seriously worried that I may get attached to it. Not the hose....
Off to get the new brake vacuum hose now. I'm seriously worried that I may get attached to it. Not the hose....
gman88667733 said:
What's the leg room for the driver like? I struggle to fit into most cars as I have long legs and my knees get stuck on the steering wheel. However, I found that in a VW UP i had more space than in some really big SUVs.
Any chance we could see some interior photos?
Leg room is fine. I'm 5' 9" and with the seat on its lowest setting it was too low for me. The seat goes way back. I'll grab some photos in a bit.Any chance we could see some interior photos?
gman88667733 said:
What's the leg room for the driver like? I struggle to fit into most cars as I have long legs and my knees get stuck on the steering wheel. However, I found that in a VW UP i had more space than in some really big SUVs.
Any chance we could see some interior photos?
Space is fine in these, I'm 6'6" and I had one as my first car. Any chance we could see some interior photos?
It was a red 1.4 MPI Classic (CW03 CKY, according to the DVLA MOT site, the MOT lapsed in 2017, so it's possibly not around now). Great to see another Fabia , mine was the same bright red and had the same wheel trims
.The Up is good for space too, I had a Citigo (same basic car) and had no problems.
OK, brake vacuum pipe done. Nice and easy, just needed a Jubilee clip from my box of bits to replace the rubbish OEM clamps.
Here are the interior pics - seat is down/back all the way, that's my leg at full stretch, I can just about reach the footwell behind the pedals with my toe stretched. 31" inside leg.
HTH!
Here are the interior pics - seat is down/back all the way, that's my leg at full stretch, I can just about reach the footwell behind the pedals with my toe stretched. 31" inside leg.
HTH!
My wife has had a MK1 2004 fabia just like yours for the past 11 years. Over that time, it has only required servicing, an O2 sensor, tyres and a battery. They are very good little cars, no doubt.
As mentioned above it's less fun in winter - it steams up like f
k, and whilst i've done all the usual tasks of preventing it, it still manages to freeze ice on the inside of the screen in winter.
Would I buy another? Probably not, I find it quite fatiguing to drive on the motorway, but they are pretty tough things.
As mentioned above it's less fun in winter - it steams up like f
k, and whilst i've done all the usual tasks of preventing it, it still manages to freeze ice on the inside of the screen in winter. Would I buy another? Probably not, I find it quite fatiguing to drive on the motorway, but they are pretty tough things.
Edited by devnull on Monday 25th March 10:11
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