Skoda Fabia Review (2000 to 2007)

Quick Summary

Judged on price, a used Skoda Fabia may well be overlooked by buyers seduced by cheaper rivals from Fiat, Ford and, ironically as it is also part of the VW Group, SEAT. Having said that, quality costs, and with the Skoda you'll have to pay that bit extra. The brand value of the Skoda badge is growing steadily and the informed consumer now sees it as a watchword for build integrity. Unfortunately the less well informed could be overcharged by those with less well-formed notions of integrity. Nevertheless, the chances of landing a good used Fabia are in the buyers favour, and the car should satisfy for years to come. Recommended.

Overall:

Models Covered:(5dr hatch, 5dr estate, 4 dr saloon 1.0, 1.2 HTP, 1.4, 2.0 petrol, 1.9SDI, 1.9TDI, 1.4TDI [Classic, Comfort, Elegance, Ambiente, vRS, Sport])

BOUNCING CZECH

If anything is going to betray a person's lack of automotive knowledge, it's making tired old Skoda jokes. The Czech company, owned by VW, now produces some of the best-built small cars around, and their reputation has been enormously boosted by the 'Car of The Year' winning Fabia supermini. With used examples now starting to appear on the market, the Fabia is one of the most cost-effective ways to get a well-renowned latest-generation car on your driveway. If ever a used car came with a solid gold guarantee of customer satisfaction, the Skoda Fabia would be it.
Used Skoda Fabia for sale

History of the Fabia

Launched in March 2000 to instant acclaim, the Skoda Fabia cemented the Czech company's burgeoning reputation as a manufacturer of quality cars. Following the Felicia and Octavia models, the Fabia took Volkswagen's 'next-generation' Polo chassis and got to use it before any Volkswagen – an indication of the importance of Skoda within the VW Group empire. With five petrol engines and two diesel options to choose from and an ever-widening array of body styles, the Fabia appeals on a number of levels. The choice starts with the 1.0-litre Classic, which was only available for three months before being discontinued. A better bet is the 1.4-litre engine, available in 68bhp, 75bhp and sixteen valve 100bhp guises. For those who want a genuinely unruffled supermini, a 2.0-litre 16v engine appeared in November 2000, generating a healthy 155bhp.Two diesel options existed from launch, both based on the 1.9-litre engine that has seen service elsewhere in the VW Group. The 64bhp SDi unit will attract the traditional diesel buyer, but the turbocharged version, the 100bhp 1.9-litre TDi, is a viable alternative to a petrol model for those who enjoy driving. Three trim levels were available, Classic, Comfort and Elegance in ascending order of plushness. The estate version was introduced in spring 2001, and was soon followed by the announcement of a four-door saloon with a quite enormous boot. A 1.4-litre TDI engine with 75bhp was added to the line-up in 2003 as was the HTP 1.2-litre petrol engine which replaced the 1.0-litre at the base of the range.Towards the end of 2004, the Fabia received a facelift. Changes to the grille, spoiler and front fog lamps as well as the rear light clusters were made and the interior trim was 'modernised'. Prices remained largely unaltered but the Comfort trim level was re-named Ambiente. Then soon afterwards a Sport model was added as a budget sporty option slotting in below the vRS hot hatch. In the summer of 2005, the 1.4-litre engine in this Sport variant was downgraded to a 1.2 64bhp unit. The all-new Fabia arrived in the spring of 2007.
Used Skoda Fabia for sale

Skoda Fabia Road Test

On the road, the handling is tuned to please the family driver rather than the enthusiast - which is understandable given Skoda's likely clientele. Expect it to ride and respond with all the quality of a VW Golf and you won't be disappointed. Whilst never feeling particularly enthusiastic, if you choose to force the issue, the little Skoda handles well albeit with a fair degree of body roll.The 100bhp 16v 1.4-litre engine offers a good all-round package, making sixty in 11.5s on the way to 115bhp. Try to avoid the 1.0-litre petrol engined car, as the Skoda is a well-built (read heavy) little car and 50bhp just doesn't cut it in this instance. There are no throttle cables: your right foot impulses are communicated via a 'drive-by-wire' throttle. Five years ago, you found this technology on F1 cars: now you find it on Skodas. Refinement is superb for such a small car, and the quality of the fittings and competence of the chassis shames previous generation family saloons.
Used Skoda Fabia for sale

Buying a Skoda Fabia

The Fabia has yet to report any significant faults, and few would expect any to materialise this early in the car's life. The engine technology is tried and tested, and the build quality is superb. If you're paying main dealer prices for your Fabia, you should expect virtually as-new condition. Don't settle for anything less.
Used Skoda Fabia for sale

Skoda Fabia Typical Pricing

Used Fabias are relatively few and far between. This is not due to the fact that Fabias haven't sold very well, quite the opposite in fact. Those who have bought the car seem happy with what they've bought and see no reason to trade in early. Naturally, this situation will change as the market matures, but at present, the best place to find a used Fabia may well be a franchised Skoda dealer. This means that there will be few genuine bargains around, but as with anything else, you get what you pay for. A 2000 W-registered 1.4 classic will fetch £2,400, the 75bhp 8v 1.4 Comfort will be another £500 on top of that. You'll still need to fork out £3,200 to get your hands on a 1.4-litre 16v Elegance and a nearly new 54-plate Elegance comes in at £7,100. Diesel models are rarer still but W-plate SDi versions are around for £3,000 and an 54 TDi Elegance derivative will cost roughly £9,000. You can also pick up a VRs diesel-power hot hatch for around £8,500 on the 03-plate. Insurance for the Fabia is eminently affordable, ranging from Group3 for the defunct 1.0-litre model, to Group 4 for the first of the 1.4-litre petrol cars and Group 6 for the 16v and TDi models.
Used Skoda Fabia for sale

Skoda Fabia Parts

(approx based on a 2000 1.0 Classic) Consumables for the Fabia are average Volkswagen Group prices. Expect to pay £14 for an air filter, £6 for an oil filter, £12 for spark plugs and £25 for a fuel filter. Brake pads go for around £35 (front) and £28 (rear). If you need more major parts, prices are still manageable. A clutch assembly is around £100, whilst a new alternator is £180 and a starter motor about the same. Replacement headlamps are £90 apiece, and a new exhaust system with catalyst will set you back around £700.
Used Skoda Fabia for sale