2005 skoda fabia vrs
Discussion
So come to a decision sell the suzuki that left me on Friday night. Then it dawned on me I had a 60 mile commute each day and I HAD to purchase a car this weekend. My friend contacted me to say his colleague was selling his fabia and I should take a look.
Here's the result
And a couple after I got it home tonight
Info so far is 2005 model 10 months mot, 115k miles, a lot of work carried out recently for mot etc..
Brakes all round
Rear springs
Front wheel bearing
Timing belt waterpump
Two pirelli front tyres
And more importantly to me near as damn it bone stock. So many of these have fell into the wrong hands. I'm hoping there chav phase has passed now.
It's not mint and does have a few scabs of rust here and there. Couple of minor niggles but is probably the cleanest car I was going to get for the money paid for it.
I will update tomorrow when it gets its first wash and I can get a good look at the bodywork
Here's the result
And a couple after I got it home tonight
Info so far is 2005 model 10 months mot, 115k miles, a lot of work carried out recently for mot etc..
Brakes all round
Rear springs
Front wheel bearing
Timing belt waterpump
Two pirelli front tyres
And more importantly to me near as damn it bone stock. So many of these have fell into the wrong hands. I'm hoping there chav phase has passed now.
It's not mint and does have a few scabs of rust here and there. Couple of minor niggles but is probably the cleanest car I was going to get for the money paid for it.
I will update tomorrow when it gets its first wash and I can get a good look at the bodywork
So had a quick hour today started the decontamination process. The paint work is swirl city lots of fine minor scratches etc.. Couple bits of lacquer peel, spots of rust. Hopefully superficial. At the end of the day the car is coming up to 13yrs old.
Gave it a quick wash today and I'll start to work on each panel as and when I can.
The main thing is giving it a once over tomorrow on my dinner making sure it's mechanically sound.
Gave it a quick wash today and I'll start to work on each panel as and when I can.
The main thing is giving it a once over tomorrow on my dinner making sure it's mechanically sound.
Just a little update on this. Had it in work. There is a few bits and pieces need doing
Cv boot
Track rod end (done) but I need to buy rack ends and another track rod end so I can align it properly
Full service being done in bits and bats
Replace s2000 filter with standard set up and new filter
Pollen filter being replaced tomorrow
There was a litre too much oil in the engine. I've currently sucked out the excess to put it to max. I'm driving round for a couple of weeks to see if level rises again which would point to worn injector seals or tandem pump.
Picked up a leather interior for the fabia today pics tomorrow once its fitted and cleaned up.
Load signal wires from alternator are broken. Removed plug going to extend wires and Rewire the plug next week.
There is a few wacky things happening but I'm 99% sure everything will return to normal once wiring is fixed
Cv boot
Track rod end (done) but I need to buy rack ends and another track rod end so I can align it properly
Full service being done in bits and bats
Replace s2000 filter with standard set up and new filter
Pollen filter being replaced tomorrow
There was a litre too much oil in the engine. I've currently sucked out the excess to put it to max. I'm driving round for a couple of weeks to see if level rises again which would point to worn injector seals or tandem pump.
Picked up a leather interior for the fabia today pics tomorrow once its fitted and cleaned up.
Load signal wires from alternator are broken. Removed plug going to extend wires and Rewire the plug next week.
There is a few wacky things happening but I'm 99% sure everything will return to normal once wiring is fixed
I think they're the perfect all round car tbh. I'm on my second one now. I plan to see this one to 200k miles which will roughly be 4 years. Maintain and upgrade when something wears out is the plan.
Little sneak preview fitting them tomorrow. Had a wipe down today with some baby wipes and will be getting some leather conditioner on them tomorrow.
Little sneak preview fitting them tomorrow. Had a wipe down today with some baby wipes and will be getting some leather conditioner on them tomorrow.
Leather is now fitted. Gave the carpet a quick vac and a wipe. Need new mats as drivers side has worn through. Going to replace with some direct fit rubber ones.
Few pictures as the interior is a really nice place to be now.
If anyone wants a set of standard immaculate interior. I've got one for sale. No rips, tears or wear to the bolsters. Can upload some pictures for anyone interested £100 collection from SK14 Hyde greater manc
Hi podie yes non se leather is like hens teeth. These have red piping and green stitching match the vrs perfectly in my opinion.
Next on the cards inside is cruise control retrofit and a cupra steering wheel with red centre line I'll prob be done inside then.
Few pictures as the interior is a really nice place to be now.
If anyone wants a set of standard immaculate interior. I've got one for sale. No rips, tears or wear to the bolsters. Can upload some pictures for anyone interested £100 collection from SK14 Hyde greater manc
Hi podie yes non se leather is like hens teeth. These have red piping and green stitching match the vrs perfectly in my opinion.
Next on the cards inside is cruise control retrofit and a cupra steering wheel with red centre line I'll prob be done inside then.
Little update changed the pollen filter over, old one was filthy can tell the car has been in long life servicing
Rewire the load signal wire plug and refitted today. We stripped wire back as far as we could but it's not the best condition. It's definitely been broken for a few years. We've got a battery light back on ignition now and all appears to be well no more asr light after 10mins of driving.
However we'll see how the wire hold up. We may have to run a new wire parallel to the existing wiring loom and splice into the correct pin at the ecu. If this is the case I think I'll also run the wire for the cruise control aswell.
There is a couple of other minor niggles but I'm slowly working through them. My aim is to get it mechanically mint and then start to improve areas which I feel need doing. the only big numbers I'll be chasing is mpgs though.
Rewire the load signal wire plug and refitted today. We stripped wire back as far as we could but it's not the best condition. It's definitely been broken for a few years. We've got a battery light back on ignition now and all appears to be well no more asr light after 10mins of driving.
However we'll see how the wire hold up. We may have to run a new wire parallel to the existing wiring loom and splice into the correct pin at the ecu. If this is the case I think I'll also run the wire for the cruise control aswell.
There is a couple of other minor niggles but I'm slowly working through them. My aim is to get it mechanically mint and then start to improve areas which I feel need doing. the only big numbers I'll be chasing is mpgs though.
Hi guys thanks for taking time to read.
P1ston - my first one was reliable till I started messing around with it trying to do things in the cheap. It turned expensive very quickly. I'm hoping this one given that it'll lead a lot easier life than the last one will take everything in its stride. It has had a decent amount replaced already and I'm now just chasing the little niggles down.
Josh - judging by what I paid for mine and the mount of standard optional extras yours has. I'd guess prob 2k is a good start point.
Mehrunesdagon - the seats are just optional extra leather which you could order from new. The blue se ones come with leather as standard and a lot of previous owners went to seat surgeons and got seats and door cards retrimmed. Get a quote mate you'll be surprised I was insured at 20 (few years ago mind) for £800 with 1yrs no claims. Although car in general currently has a image problem has pretty much taken the saxo crown I think
Avenger286 - yes I enjoyed my time with the ignis and will get another as a cheap track car when space and funds allow. The fabia feels so loose compared to the ignis sport. Although the grunt and mpg when needed makes it a totally different car to live with. Also enjoy not having to fill up half way through the week. The tank is tiny in the ignis.
The fabia has been bought to munch miles so won't be getting as much attention or money thrown at it as the suzuki did. Chasing perfection got expensive very quickly with that.
P1ston - my first one was reliable till I started messing around with it trying to do things in the cheap. It turned expensive very quickly. I'm hoping this one given that it'll lead a lot easier life than the last one will take everything in its stride. It has had a decent amount replaced already and I'm now just chasing the little niggles down.
Josh - judging by what I paid for mine and the mount of standard optional extras yours has. I'd guess prob 2k is a good start point.
Mehrunesdagon - the seats are just optional extra leather which you could order from new. The blue se ones come with leather as standard and a lot of previous owners went to seat surgeons and got seats and door cards retrimmed. Get a quote mate you'll be surprised I was insured at 20 (few years ago mind) for £800 with 1yrs no claims. Although car in general currently has a image problem has pretty much taken the saxo crown I think
Avenger286 - yes I enjoyed my time with the ignis and will get another as a cheap track car when space and funds allow. The fabia feels so loose compared to the ignis sport. Although the grunt and mpg when needed makes it a totally different car to live with. Also enjoy not having to fill up half way through the week. The tank is tiny in the ignis.
The fabia has been bought to munch miles so won't be getting as much attention or money thrown at it as the suzuki did. Chasing perfection got expensive very quickly with that.
Edited by Ste372 on Wednesday 17th January 16:44
Got the sample back we sent off. No fuel in the oil so did a oil and filter change today
Replaced the sump plug aswell.
I feel a bit more confident now I know exactly what oil is in it.
Refit the Airbox this weekend hopefully if weather holds off. I'm fed up with the filter chattering, dumping and chirping at me. Makes the car sound like a old tractor.
Replaced the sump plug aswell.
I feel a bit more confident now I know exactly what oil is in it.
Refit the Airbox this weekend hopefully if weather holds off. I'm fed up with the filter chattering, dumping and chirping at me. Makes the car sound like a old tractor.
Grill spent the night in the wash room with the dryer going at it most of the night.
Lacquer is now cured and been given a very quick polish. Old paint will need cutting back and polishing up. I'll do the car in sections as I've just not got the spare time these days to do a full car.
Colour coded the vrs badge as I'm trying to go for the low key approach and all badges will be going black.
Next little project will be colour coding interior air vent surrounds. I'm hoping to brighten up the interior and give it a bit of sparkle/colour without going into full on chav mode
Lacquer is now cured and been given a very quick polish. Old paint will need cutting back and polishing up. I'll do the car in sections as I've just not got the spare time these days to do a full car.
Colour coded the vrs badge as I'm trying to go for the low key approach and all badges will be going black.
Next little project will be colour coding interior air vent surrounds. I'm hoping to brighten up the interior and give it a bit of sparkle/colour without going into full on chav mode
So more cheap/free stuff done over past couple of days. When I bought the car it had a list of codes brought up by vagcom so the load signal repair all but one of the fault codes. Air con compressor short to positive intermittent came back and true to its word. The air con ran whenever it felt like it.
Had an hour free in work so traced the wiring back and the plug at front of gearbox was broken. (another sign that the car has has a clutch at some point in its life. On further investigation the wiring was completely rotten (plug been broken for years probably) I decided to cut the wiring back as far as I could, I've got use able wire but future work will probably see it being rewired directly from the source. As it is made a new section of wire up reusing the plug at the compressor. Quick Regas and vacuum confirmed everything working as it should. The compressor is noisy though so we'll see how it goes.
Onto the cheap stuff now. I've been looking for a decent cup holder there seemed to be two options looking at etka the cup holder at the side of the radio was £43 and then I noticed an extra to delete ash tray and put a cup holder in its place for £8. No brainer for me although when I'm feeling flush the side of the radio one will be fitted.
Next up painting the air vent surrounds. I'm trying to make this a nice place to be considering I'm doing 500 miles aweek in it. I still had some black magic lying around after doing the grill so figured I'd coulour code the vent surrounds aswell.
Tomorrow will see a trip to fellow member podie picking up some genuine boot storage bags and a second set of wheels with winter tyres fitted.
Had an hour free in work so traced the wiring back and the plug at front of gearbox was broken. (another sign that the car has has a clutch at some point in its life. On further investigation the wiring was completely rotten (plug been broken for years probably) I decided to cut the wiring back as far as I could, I've got use able wire but future work will probably see it being rewired directly from the source. As it is made a new section of wire up reusing the plug at the compressor. Quick Regas and vacuum confirmed everything working as it should. The compressor is noisy though so we'll see how it goes.
Onto the cheap stuff now. I've been looking for a decent cup holder there seemed to be two options looking at etka the cup holder at the side of the radio was £43 and then I noticed an extra to delete ash tray and put a cup holder in its place for £8. No brainer for me although when I'm feeling flush the side of the radio one will be fitted.
Next up painting the air vent surrounds. I'm trying to make this a nice place to be considering I'm doing 500 miles aweek in it. I still had some black magic lying around after doing the grill so figured I'd coulour code the vent surrounds aswell.
Tomorrow will see a trip to fellow member podie picking up some genuine boot storage bags and a second set of wheels with winter tyres fitted.
Trip completed without hiccup today. Picked up some genuine storage bags for the boot. Found my genuine cargo net to secure stuff and also picked up a second set of fabia vrs alloys fitted with hankook winter tyres with 6mm tread.
As mentioned in previous posts I'm doing the cheap/free bits and pieces at the minute as I've allocated myself a strict budget for this and I'm determined to stick to it.
As mentioned in previous posts I'm doing the cheap/free bits and pieces at the minute as I've allocated myself a strict budget for this and I'm determined to stick to it.
Overdue a update......
Car is now on 118k miles.
This weekend will see a clean up of the paintwork and a switch over to the winter tyres. Its a forced change as three tyres on the car have suffered unfortunately. Both rear tyres have uneven wear and make a humming sound and one of the new pirellis has a bulge in a sidewall which I wasn't too pleased to find. Plus all the news reports of impending ice age approaching.
Once the tyres are off the car. The one good pirelli will go into the spare wheel as that has a questionable puncture repair in the sidewall. The wheels will be going for a refurb in boring gloss black. I'll be honest I don't like cleaning cars. Only do it to stop people moaning and if the wheels are black brake dust won't show up as much.
The car never misses a beat and regularly returns over 50mpg doing 70ish daily.
I have treated it to a present but it needs sending away for refurbing and custom stitching, managed to get hold of a cupra steering wheel which should complete the interior nicely
Other plans this weekend will see the rear wiper removed as its broke and I never use it, resetting front wiper linkage and some new front wipers and also fit the wind deflectors. Bit chavvy I know but I always have the window down a little.
Ill report it this weekend with a few pictures of bits and pieces done
Car is now on 118k miles.
This weekend will see a clean up of the paintwork and a switch over to the winter tyres. Its a forced change as three tyres on the car have suffered unfortunately. Both rear tyres have uneven wear and make a humming sound and one of the new pirellis has a bulge in a sidewall which I wasn't too pleased to find. Plus all the news reports of impending ice age approaching.
Once the tyres are off the car. The one good pirelli will go into the spare wheel as that has a questionable puncture repair in the sidewall. The wheels will be going for a refurb in boring gloss black. I'll be honest I don't like cleaning cars. Only do it to stop people moaning and if the wheels are black brake dust won't show up as much.
The car never misses a beat and regularly returns over 50mpg doing 70ish daily.
I have treated it to a present but it needs sending away for refurbing and custom stitching, managed to get hold of a cupra steering wheel which should complete the interior nicely
Other plans this weekend will see the rear wiper removed as its broke and I never use it, resetting front wiper linkage and some new front wipers and also fit the wind deflectors. Bit chavvy I know but I always have the window down a little.
Ill report it this weekend with a few pictures of bits and pieces done
Pics just look normal to me pal? Not been at the wacky backy have you?
The original plan was to put a few quid in the bank and get a 1.2 petrol ibiza. Never really materialised though. I was getting itchy feet as there will be a big bill coming soon. The dmf will need replacing and also got a worn cam bearing and a sticky lifter occasionally. So ideally a top end rebuild would be for complete piece of mind.
I was going to trade it in for a toureg V10 diesel but I'll be honest my balls aren't that big and I s
t out the potential for a crippling bill genuinely worried me like nothing has done before
The original plan was to put a few quid in the bank and get a 1.2 petrol ibiza. Never really materialised though. I was getting itchy feet as there will be a big bill coming soon. The dmf will need replacing and also got a worn cam bearing and a sticky lifter occasionally. So ideally a top end rebuild would be for complete piece of mind.
I was going to trade it in for a toureg V10 diesel but I'll be honest my balls aren't that big and I s
t out the potential for a crippling bill genuinely worried me like nothing has done before Swapped the wheels over this morning and chucked a sponge at it.
Bodywork is acceptable it passes the 10ft test with flying colours. I will eventually start to work in each panel at a time see what I can do.
Cleaned the door shuts. Tomorrow I'll give the leather a clean and sprush up the inside.
Swap the wipers over.
Bodywork is acceptable it passes the 10ft test with flying colours. I will eventually start to work in each panel at a time see what I can do.
Cleaned the door shuts. Tomorrow I'll give the leather a clean and sprush up the inside.
Swap the wipers over.
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