Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 22:24
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - Iain Smith

Just wanted some advice around buying a second hand car. I’ve been looking for a fabia vrs and found one offered by an official skoda dealership. I put a deposit down to hold the car subject to test-drive but then the day afterward I put the deposit down they called me back to inform me that the entire engine had been replaced about 8 months ago. Apparently it was all done under warranty and has been fine since but apparently they didnt have details of exactly why the engine had to be replaced. As its being bought from an offical skoda dealership it comes with a years further Skoda warranty if I go ahead and buy it. My thoughts were that this should be a good thing having a new engine and all but just wondered if there is any other questions I should be asking/things I should be specifically looking out for when I test drive it?

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 22:38
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - SLO76
I'd be happy enough if it the owner hadn't flogged the car so soon afterwards. Suspect the transplant didn't go as smoothly as they suggest or last owner was so sickened off by the experience they just wanted rid of it. Did they buy another Skoda, or was this car bought into stock and not traded in to them?

Got to admire the dealers honesty in telling you though. Would you have known if they hadn't?

Edited by SLO76 on 13/10/2016 at 22:39

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 23:00
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - Iain Smith

Not sure whether the prev owner bought another skoda or not but will call and ask tomorrow I guess.

I don't know if I'd have found out otherwise, would it have been recorded in the log book if it was done under warranty?

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 23:08
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - SLO76
Not necessarily. I know if I had owned it I wouldn't want to advertise it. Either it's in the service record or the dealer in question is as genuine and honest as they get. Skoda dealers do have a good reputation though.
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Thu 13 Oct 2016 23:09
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - SLO76
I'm assuming it's the 1.4 TSI VRS with the DSG autobox?
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Thu 13 Oct 2016 23:14
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - Mick27

Is it the diesel or petrol? As the repair was under warranty I'm assuming it's the petrol. The PD diesel engine on the Mk1 is generally regarded as being very reliable. If it's had a full new motor then I'd be happy enough. I'd be curious to know the reason for the failure though. I had one from new and it was faultless. Alternatively if it's the twin charger I'd be very wary about the DSG gearbox, lots of well documented issues, from memory I think were some problems with premature bore wear in the motor as well.

Edited by Mick27 on 13/10/2016 at 23:17

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 23:34
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - brum

Head over to

www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/113-skoda-fabia-mk-i.../

Get yourself registered and learn all about the fabia ii vrs with cave/cthe engines and the extensive history of engine failures.

Total engine failure is very common, a significant proportion drink oil (often just a few hundred miles per litre) and eat spark plugs. Skoda uk have replaced many engines but many owners have been stung with mega expensive bills and engines that still fail. Some cars have had two or more replacement engines.

www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/294051-cave-cthe-14t.../

Read, ask and learn before you jump into this deal.

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Thu 13 Oct 2016 23:36
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - SLO76
Have heard a few woes regarding the twin charger engine and the DSG box. Friend had a £6,000 bill left on his lap to replace the DSG box in his at the time 6yr old 45,000 mile Audi TT 3.2 and he wasn't alone.

The old 1.9 TDI was a bombproof unit if looked after but sadly the later car just isn't as robust. Spend more and buy a manual Golf GTi or Fiesta/Focus ST. I wouldn't buy a motor that's been offloaded so soon after a major repair. Last owner had no faith in it.
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Fri 14 Oct 2016 23:53
Skoda Fabia vRS - Buying used car with prev engine change - Big John

The twincharger engine has had major cam chain or piston/oil jet problems in the past, the latter resulting in horrendous oil consumtion. However this does seem to have been resolved and later engines are sorted . Infact the best 1.4 vrs Fabia IS one with a new engine.

Look out for evidence of oil on the back of the car - any evidence whatsoever simply walk away!

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