Fabia

[Ian_Fearn]

So the Panda idea has been given the thumbs down. Apparently the lad in question would prefer a Fabia. 

 

I guess it'll be a 1.2 HTP between £1-2k. Anything to worry about? Personally i'd rather walk but hey, it's not my decision.

[Dave_Q]

Missed the first thread but I'm guessing this is for a new driver?

 

I wouldn't spend that much, should easily get a pez powered Fabia for under £1000.

 

Or a diesel for that matter, what the insurance like on a SDI? This mega powerplant is the same bhp as the 1.2, but will do 60+mpg on crisp'n'dry.

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-SKODA-FABIA-CLASSIC-SDI-GREY-DIESEL-/292024060149?hash=item43fdfd88f5:g:ycQAAOSw4CFYnLJO

 

Generally they're OK, I had a tdi one as did my wife, I'm struggling to remember what went wrong with them so can't have been much.

[Ian_Fearn]

I'm anti diesel 

[twosmoke300]

Avoid the old skoda motor - while I admire its heritage and simplicity it's too slow and prone to hgf and timing chains .

Epas units go down and are 200 odd quid

Strange feeling steering at low speed esp when you tap the brakes are the front lower arm rear bushes worn ( console bushes in vw speak ) cheap as chips but tricky to get in without damaging the new ones .

[Ian_Fearn]

Is the 1.2 HTP the modern VAG 3 cylinder? The MiL has one, its a highly depressing car in every way. I have no idea what possesses this lad to want one.

[SiC]

What about:

http://autoshite.com/topic/27258-for-salevw-polo-12-5-door/

 

The car the Fabia is based on and arguably cooler (that one has aircon geddit? ).

[Ian_Fearn]

If it were in Derby and needed no work it'd be perfect!   Otherwise, i've already got a garage full of projects that seemed like a great idea at the time.....

[cobblers]

careful with the three pot fabias, the exhaust valves are made of chinesium and split. It'll still run but gets progressively worse and it'll knacker the cat fairly quickly. Obviously a recon head and a new cat will write the car off.

 

Especially don't be tempted by a cheap one with "has a misfire, probably needs spark plugs" because it won't

[Dick Longbridge]

Is the 1.2 HTP the modern VAG 3 cylinder? The MiL has one, its a highly depressing car in every way. I have no idea what possesses this lad to want one.

This. I had the displeasure of hiring one when new, and it was vile. Horrible, horrible car in every way. Get him to change his search list.

[Ian_Fearn]

Get him to change his search list.

 

Excellent advice. I must brush up on my influencing skills.

[Lacquer Peel]

The SDI is probably the sensible Fabia choice. Economical and reliable, a stronger, torquier engine than the small petrols.

[Sigmund Fraud]

careful with the three pot fabias, the exhaust valves are made of chinesium and split. It'll still run but gets progressively worse and it'll knacker the cat fairly quickly. Obviously a recon head and a new cat will write the car off.

 

Especially don't be tempted by a cheap one with "has a misfire, probably needs spark plugs" because it won't

 

^ This ! Avoid the 1200, they're one of the most fragile engines ever made by VAG (the wasserboxer is the only worse one I can think of).

 

The pushrod 1400 is a nice, simple, torquey little engine, but drinks fuel (under 40mpg) and can suffer from rattly timing chains and OMGHGF.

 

The 1400 16v engine is the petrol engine of choice, good performance and economy but nowhere as strong as its 8v predecessors. The cambelt setup is a marvel of half-arsed engineering, too.

 

Mr.Peel is absolutely right about the SDi/TDi, they're good engines and they would certainly be my choice if I bought another Fabia.

[Ian_Fearn]

Right, i've convinced him Fabias should be avoided. Any thoughts on a 1.2 Punto? Newer shape like 2008 ish. 

[twosmoke300]

Grande punto isn't a bad car . 1.2 feels really slow but will cruise at 70+ ok while doing 40-50mpg .

Heater resistor wiring has issues so does loom into the boot lid . Ride is firm and not nice to be a passenger in but you don't notice it as a driver .

Wife had hers for 2 and half years with no ftp's

[Ian_Fearn]

So if the heater works and the boot lid electrics work its a goer right? 

[willswitchengage]

Noisy starter motors. Often they grind when coming off load - eventually the gearing will wear out and fail.

[cobblers]

The Mrs'ss Fiat 500 starter has done this for 3 years and only got slightly worse, it sounds flippin awful tho.

I keep meaning to change it one day. That engine in a fiat 500 is decent enough but I can imagine it's a bit borderline in a punto.

[Ian_Fearn]

After a heck of a lot of procrastination a 2009 Focus petrol 1.8 has been procured for £2k. Seems like a bargain with 68k and FSH. Bit heavy on fuel and tax but the low purchase price makes up for it

[Pillock]

That's a proper Autoshite purchase. Well done!

 

You asked for advice on a couple of models, and then swerved it with something totally different. Textbook skills.

[Ian_Fearn]

Seriously, i've done so much driving over the last few days looking at overpriced rubbish on forecourts. I forgot how hard it was to buy a mainstream car on the cheap. The vile smells, bashed bodywork and Full* Service History. Lol.

 

 

Then the girl that sits next to me at work said her Focus was for sale. When she said i could have it for 2k i just said yes. Its absolutely filthy but she's a typical wealthy mum with young kids and is just getting a new car. She dropped the car at my house and I dropped her off to collect her new motor after work today, everyones a winner!

[Ian_Fearn]

Not bad for 2 grand after a MONUMENTAL 10 hour clean today.

 

 

 

[Hendry]

That's an absolute bargain at that price and a much nicer and better to drive car than a Fabia or Punto, more toys too.

 

The pics look like they belong on detailing world though, gone to town on it even taking the plates off to clean behind them and everything!!

[Mr Laurence]

These are still virtually new cars to me. 2k is a STEAL

[Ian_Fearn]

Yeah, i'm a proper loser. I bought a load of kit 3 weeks ago to clean my MX5 and couldn't believe the results! I'm converted.

 

The previous owner was a mate so i've got to be nice.... BUT she didn't give a damn about it, i reckon its not been cleaned inside or out for years. The paint looked like brushed stainless.

 

Bodywork

1. Pressure Wash

2. Snow foam

3. Korrosol (metal particle remover)

4 Clay bar

5. Shampoo wash down

6. Machine polish (Meguiars 105)

7. Machine polish (Meguiars 205)

8. Final wax

 

Seats:

Chemical Guys Lightening Fast - this stuff is amazing, the interior was a total disgrace.

 

 

The old number plates have been getting advisories for the last couple of years so i've treated it to a set of pressed metal ones. I also touched in the kerb marks on the alloys with silver hammerite which is an amazing colour match!

[Ian_Fearn]

You really can't get anything worth owning from a dealer for £2k at the moment. I know, i've been looking for 2 weeks.

[SiC]

You really can't get anything worth owning from a dealer for £2k at the moment. I know, i've been looking for 2 weeks.

Seems to be a massive shortage of sub £500 stuff too. A couple of months ago it was possible to get reasonable runners for around that. Now they all seem broken.

[Ian_Fearn]

Seems to be a massive shortage of sub £500 stuff too. A couple of months ago it was possible to get reasonable runners for around that. Now they all seem broken.

 

 

I'd like to think I can pick up a sub £1000 mk3 Panda to compliment my mk2 Panda but most stuff is knackered at that price 

 

Basically, the dealers seem to have all the cars and they need to make a profit to keep food on the plates of their family and i'd rather not pay for somebody else to eat..... I think webuyanycar is ultimately pushing prices up because its easier than ever to shift your old motor so very little gets sold privately.

 

I've opened a BCA auctions account in the hope of picking up a bit of a project.

[SiC]

What's Cannock going like at the moment?

[Ian_Fearn]

Derby is my local site.

 

My mate goes to Measham too.