Sokda Fabia Combi/estate 2013 1.6 diesel

Hannaho

My daughter has saved up money for a car. She drives from Dublin to Galway twice a month, and will be using the car to go to college and to and from her part-time job in Galway. The car has 118,000km on it, one owner. It's feels solid. Her insurance quote - first time insurance after test is 1650. The dealer is selling the car for 8k - I think it's a little overpriced, but the dealer is from my home town and has a good reputation. The car belonged to someone we would know through friends, so I know it wasn't abused. Its this car worth the money? Is it an ok first car - basically to get her through 2/3 years more of college?

Toyotafanboi

Wouldn't be a terrible option. They are a good goer and well able for mileage.

I am generally a defender of the VAG 1.6 diesel of that era and while a well maintained example should be dependable, you are never really a million miles away from a €1k repair either.

I suppose what i'm saying is if you are planning to run it on an absolute shoestring budget, i'd probably avoid but if you are prepared that it may need a little investment year on year in exachange for what it is then probably for it.

It does sound a shade expensive too, you'd probably get into a Golf for around that budget and year which would be a better value holder?

Hannaho

Thanks, Toyotafanoi. You're reply is really helpful. My daughter thought of putting down a deposit on a pcp deal for a new car, but really the only one she could afford was the Dacia Sandero, new on PCP. Both of us thought it was a bit light. Also, she didn't want a new car, and wanted to go for an older one, due to being nervous about damaging the car, scrapes, dinges etc. I cold help out a little with 1k repair bills, maybe go half, but that would be at a stretch.

Toyotafanboi

Would you consider a petrol car?

Sure, that driving style would accomodate a diesel but the fuel saving may not be that dramatic vs a petrol.

That model Fabia as a concept is a fairly dependable car, well screwed together etc.

That 1.6 is partial to an EGR cooler, partial to injectors, the odd high pressure fuel pump too. They are capable of massive mileage once kept serviced and some seem to solider on pretty much trouble free, but i'd also be prepared as I say, for a €1000 check engine light at any point in your ownership. May never happen but i'd rather have a the few bob ready encase.

If you are looking at one, you'd want to make sure it runs smooth from a cold start, no lumpyness or uneven idling. Take it out on the road and put the foot down a little with the window open, there should be no harsh knocking or rattling even with the foot planted it should sound smooth. Another good check on one of those is the inside of the tailpipe should be absolutely spotless, like new, even at 9 years/ 120k kms, any black soot at all would be a bad sign.

Hannaho

Thanks, Toyotafanboi, that's really helpful advice re the fuel plum and tailpipe. My daughter said she was going to set aside 1000 for any major repairs, as that's what her friends had done when they bought older second hand cars. My impression from reading some reviews of the Fabia 1.6 is that they are reasonably reliable, and a solidly built car, which is also important. The dealer that is selling the car used to be the main Skoda dealer and the car was originally bought from them. They are now only a used car dealership. Should I get someone to look over the car, aside from the garage she is buying it from. When we suggested this, they said they would have 'everything done' before we paid full for the car and took it home, but I don't really trust garages, though this is a local and well-known garage. Would you recommend one of those companies who does a pre-purchase check on cars such as Bestdrive.ie?I know the AA don't do it any more.

Toyotafanboi

Honestly, i wouldn't be too bothered in this instance with an independent inspection, if it is as you say it is.

Well known, long standing local dealership and you know the previous owner through the grape vine.

I'd have a flick through the service history, make sure it's had a service roughly every 12 months or15k kms, have a look around the bodywork and make sure there's nothing obviously out of place and if all that looks good i'd just do a history check from the likes of motorcheck. If that's sweet i'd probably work away.

Hannaho

Thanks, Toyotafanboi. The dealer is considered to be reputable. The lad who head it up, and who is selling us the car, is from the same village as myself, and would be a friend of my partner's brother, so hopefully, he wouldn't mess up in his own backyard so to speak. Will definitely check re service history. We looked around the bodywork and it was fine. My daughter didn't take it for a test drive that day, as she hadn't gotten her test, and several cars were blocking it in, and we were caught for time. I think I'll ask if she can have a drive in it, accompanied by one of them, before paying the full amount. I didn't know re motor check, but will do a history check over the next few days.

Toyotafanboi

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-fabia-co-ambition-1-6-tdi-75hp-4dr/29736723

I dunno, not to throw you by any means but in the cold light of day it's really all of the money for a fairly dull car. Now if she's not spec or style conscious it may not be an issue, but it really looks more like an old ladys last car than a young womans first car. Very light on spec, no air con, no steering wheel controls, acres of dead plastic.

What's drawing you to this car? Do you like it? Does your daughter like it? What do you need from the car?

That said, that stuff isn't an issue it has a lot of hallmarks of a good car, only had 2 owners in nearly 10 years, still has it's original main dealer number plates front and rear, original floor mats, still wearing good quality tyres at this point in it's life.

Probably not a thing wrong with it but it is a nasty yoke, really.

bazz26

If she is going to be driving Dublin to Galway and back twice a month she really would be better with something that has cruise control, a/c would definitely be useful too.

Toyotafanboi

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2012-ford-fiesta-style-1-2-petrol/29852713

Just going off the basic jist of around €8k budget, Waterford area, dealer purchase is preferable, first car kind of a thing, somethink like this would be a better shout to me.

That interior would be a far far nicer place to spend time, you're getting a few bits like air con, aux input etc. The petrol engine is far less complex and should still give decent mpg's. Generally the car has a tiny bit of life to it and isn't too likely to break your heart, still low owners, claimed service history.

That Fabia was in it's last year of production in 2013, that particular model was launched in 2007 and even then it was a very light warm over of the 2001 model so while the reg plate is new the model is prehistoric. Afaik that Fiesta was a ground up new model for 2009 and they still look very fresh today IMO.

That's enough fron me on thr matter i think 🤔

Hannaho

Thanks to both of you for your comments. Toyotafanboi, my daughter is majorly style conscious, Apple Watch, nails painted, personal trainer, branded clothes etc, and she's still a college student! That Fiesta looks like a good buy. I don't know why she's attracted to the Fabia. I think she felt it was a larger, stronger car. We looked at a Clio as well and she felt it was 'tinny' compared to the Fabia. A friend of hers died in a car accident about 2 years ago, so that has probably something to do with wanting a car that feels heavier. I drive an even smaller supermini and she hates it, and doesn't feel safe in it. The Fabia has actually had only one owner - just checked the history on motor check as you advised, it was very helpful! Something that concerns me though is that the dealer bought the car from the original owner in June 2021 and has not sold the car since. Also, the car must not have been used, as the NCT is out since August 2021. They said they will NCT it, but it seems a bit strange to leave a car that long without use and no NCT? I will show my daughter that Fiesta - definitely more of a stylish car for first car and for a girl.

bazz26

The Fabia is in the same class as the Clio, Fiesta, etc. The perception of it being larger and hence stronger is probably due to the fact it's a slightly longer estate version. In reality it won't make it any safer.

Personally I'd try and stretch a little to a bigger car from the next segment up as they tend to have more safety features, more planted on the road and are more suited to longer journeys. Something like this Focus perhaps, 1.6 petrol engine is a tried and tested less complex engine with no turbo, etc that will happily cruise along the motorway without much effort. I would see how much it is to insure over the Fabia as you might find it not that different to insure:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-2012-1-6-petrol-zetec/29698603