Fabia VRS MK1 Replacement

[meeky37]

Hi, I’m looking for some advice and/or suggestions.
Last month I got the ‘proper’ Birmingham experience as my household was burgled.
Car keys to my Fabia VRS SE were taken and I was left with an empty space on the drive.

While I’m tempted to seek another Fabia VRS with ULEZ, CAZ zones coming in and fancying a change has anybody got suggestions up to around 7.5K?
Currently considering: Fabia VRS mk2 (worried about the engine), Audi TT Mk2 TFSI, MX5, Peugeot 208 GTI (reliability?), Renault Clio Sport 197.
By the way oddly the TT is the cheapest to insure out the bunch up here (yes, even less than the mx5).

Is there anything else I should look at?

[ZX10R NIN]

Sorry to hear about your break in, at 7.5K there are lots of options, the 208 GTI will be as reliable as anything else is there anything in particular you want from the car?

[RonnieHotdogs]

Suzuki swift sport perhaps?

[meeky37]

ZX10R NIN said:

Sorry to hear about your break in, at 7.5K there are lots of options, the 208 GTI will be as reliable as anything else is there anything in particular you want from the car?

Thank you for your reply. Regarding the 208 GTI, I'd read some bad things about the pre-facelift THP 1.6 engine - though perhaps these issues by this age/mileage, if they are going to happen, would have happened by now and sorted by previous owners?

I know I won't be able to get anything as economical as the PD 130 but something that'll do mid-30s on a run would be preferred.

The Fabia was my first car and was £1.5K (Bristol), £1K (Bristol), £1K (Birmingham negotatiated) to insure each year respectively. Lost my 2 year no claims though now because of the theft - I'm 20 btw. No one can really recommend on insurance though as in Birmingham it seems to be a bit of a lottery £1.8K for the TT vs £2.5K for the 208 GTI. Thankfully, I have a year out of university next year and both of them are under £1K back in Bristol.

I may have to use the car to commute roughly an hour during my placement year (along M4) but I do tend to always drive with music on so I guess it doesn't have to be particularly comfortable.

[meeky37]

RonnieHotdogs said:

Suzuki swift sport perhaps?

I've heard superb things - I'm just a bit worried I'll find it a bit slow / not punchy because I've been used to 229 ft-lb of torque (vs 109 in the "swift")

[HaydenS2k]

A Fabia vrs is hard car to replace.

I had one that was written off in 2015 and changed to diesel Octavia vrs. By comparison the supposedly quicker Octavia seemed lethargic and always had something go wrong.

I now have an fn2 civic type r which I picked up for £3k with 90k on the clock (proper bargains) and over 20k of having its head kicked in has only required a tie rod an a couple of services.

I'd avoid a mk2 vrs like the plague.

Maybe a an early 320d with the m47 if you still require decent mpg and cheap tax.

7k is a strange one for me. Too much for something cheap and not enough for something nice.

Good luck op. Hopefully other posters have better suggestions than me.

[meeky37]

Thanks Hayden.

It certainly wasn’t a car I was looking to get rid off. I intended to hang on to it (was only on 100K) till I finished my degree in its entirety 2024 then get something much nicer with my graduate position.

I do love diesels just don’t like the £8 charge to enter Birmingham and £9 in Bristol next year.

I suppose considering 7K is pushing it and in this odd middle ground I should probably seek out a good example of a cheap car rather then a ropey nice one.

Thank you for your input

[HaydenS2k]

Less than 100k on an se must make that a valuable car.

If mine hadn't he rear ended I'd probably still have it. Mine was an early 53 plate car and has covered 115k and still pulled like a train.

If it wasn't for the ulez I'd have another in a heartbeat.

The fn2 is the only car that has matched the fabia for reliability and despite being more fun with the 8k rpm redline I still miss the fabia for the low down grunt and mpg.

I agree about keeping it cheap until graduation.
3k on an fn2 or pre 07 E90 320d would be the way I'd go and start saving for that nice car one you get the graduate job.

Good luck op

[ZX10R NIN]

meeky37 said:

Thank you for your reply. Regarding the 208 GTI, I'd read some bad things about the pre-facelift THP 1.6 engine - though perhaps these issues by this age/mileage, if they are going to happen, would have happened by now and sorted by previous owners?

I know I won't be able to get anything as economical as the PD 130 but something that'll do mid-30s on a run would be preferred.

The Fabia was my first car and was £1.5K (Bristol), £1K (Bristol), £1K (Birmingham negotatiated) to insure each year respectively. Lost my 2 year no claims though now because of the theft - I'm 20 btw. No one can really recommend on insurance though as in Birmingham it seems to be a bit of a lottery £1.8K for the TT vs £2.5K for the 208 GTI. Thankfully, I have a year out of university next year and both of them are under £1K back in Bristol.

I may have to use the car to commute roughly an hour during my placement year (along M4) but I do tend to always drive with music on so I guess it doesn't have to be particularly comfortable.

THP issues were sorted by the time the GTI was released, the trick on insurance is to sometimes go for slightly different cars.

Now there are some smart CAZ?ULEZ compliant diesels that are within budget with some haggling.

2.0d Giulietta 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108106...

1.6d Astra GTC SRI 135

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111219...

Limited Edition 135

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...

You can also get petrol versions of both with between 140-180bhp.

[meeky37]

HaydenS2k said:

Less than 100k on an se must make that a valuable car.

p

I'd have thought so too. Admiral offered £2542.50 at first which I refused they then moved to £2780 (the top in the glass guide). Both prices before they take off the £150. So whatever I buy I'm gonna have to inject savings.

I have expressed that they need to take into account that it is an SE, was in superb condition and they are referring it to a complaints/quality team now.

[meeky37]

ZX10R NIN said:

2.0d Giulietta 150
1.6d Astra GTC SRI 135
Limited Edition 135

Thank you for these more left-field choices!

The Astra seems interesting - £1750 to insure here.
The Giulietta - £2210

I still don't understand why a 2.0 TFSI Audi TT is "only" £1800 though - it's the most power (200) to insurance cost I've found so far up here.
I know they don't handle the best but my Fabia was stock so loved to roll around too.

Admiral, Elephant etc are the cheapest back at my parents in Bristol but here they always quote over £5K they really don't want the business - understandably with how bad crime is near uni of Bham - worst burglary rate in Birmingham because students always have valuables and we don't take much notice off loud noises, get drunk and become careless etc.

I think most students here don't actually update their address from their parents - I am glad I did would have been an awkward one to explain and made things even more stressful if I hadn't had the details right.

[ZX10R NIN]

meeky37 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

2.0d Giulietta 150
1.6d Astra GTC SRI 135
Limited Edition 135

Thank you for these more left-field choices!

The Astra seems interesting - £1750 to insure here.
The Giulietta - £2210

I still don't understand why a 2.0 TFSI Audi TT is "only" £1800 though - it's the most power (200) to insurance cost I've found so far up here.
I know they don't handle the best but my Fabia was stock so loved to roll around too.

Admiral, Elephant etc are the cheapest back at my parents in Bristol but here they always quote over £5K they really don't want the business - understandably with how bad crime is near uni of Bham - worst burglary rate in Birmingham because students always have valuables and we don't take much notice off loud noises, get drunk and become careless etc.

I think most students here don't actually update their address from their parents - I am glad I did would have been an awkward one to explain and made things even more stressful.

How much would an Astra GTC VXR be to insure?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...

More sensible Astra GTC SRI 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111219...

SRI 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111219...

Giulietta Sportiva 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111229...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111229...

RCZ GT 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110218...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...

[meeky37]

Car
Birmingham
Bristol

Astra GTC VXR
£5989.76 (Go GIRL)
£1155.84 (Admiral)

Astra GTC SRI 200
£2208.51 (Churchill)
£723.52 (Admiral)

Astra GTC SRI 180
£1851.78 (Churchill)
£777.28 (Admiral)

Giulietta Sportiva 170
£2308.98 (Churchill)
£574.56 (Admiral)

Audi TT Mk2 2009
£1789.23 (Churchill)
£826.56 (Admiral)

MX-5 SPORT
£2214.97 (Churchill)
£738.08 (Admiral)

[HaydenS2k]

meeky37 said:

I'd have thought so too. Admiral offered £2542.50 at first which I refused they then moved to £2780 (the top in the glass guide). Both prices before they take off the £150. So whatever I buy I'm gonna have to inject savings.

I have expressed that they need to take into account that it is an SE, was in superb condition and they are referring it to a complaints/quality team now.

That's shocking. I'd have thought at least £4k as a starting point. Looking in the usual places, you'd be looking at category cars with a million miles for that amount of money.

Was your car ever recovered op?
If it was then I'd be tempted to buy back it back for pennies on the pound and fix her up.

[Gtom]

What about a Jetta 2.0 tfsi?

[Skyrocket21]

Scirocco mk3 2.0 tsi

[nuttywobbler]

Astra 1.7 cdti with a DTUK tuning box

[ZX10R NIN]

meeky37 said:

Car
Birmingham
Bristol

Astra GTC VXR
£5989.76 (Go GIRL)
£1155.84 (Admiral)

Astra GTC SRI 200
£2208.51 (Churchill)
£723.52 (Admiral)

Astra GTC SRI 180
£1851.78 (Churchill)
£777.28 (Admiral)

Giulietta Sportiva 170
£2308.98 (Churchill)
£574.56 (Admiral)

Audi TT Mk2 2009
£1789.23 (Churchill)
£826.56 (Admiral)

MX-5 SPORT
£2214.97 (Churchill)
£738.08 (Admiral)

It looks like the Audi or GTC Astra are the two picks out of the petrols, how much did RCZ 200 & Limited Edition Astra GTC 135 come out at?

[georgeyboy12345]

Some ideas - these are in a lower insurance group than an Audi TT TFSI, but I guess that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be cheaper to insure. Might be worth a look


Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...


Kia Proceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...


Mini Cooper S R53
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...

[meeky37]

Skyrocket21 said:

Scirocco mk3 2.0 tsi

I really quite like these but £2.9K to insure here - must be stolen or crashed often.