Skoda Fabia vRS review

WHAT SHOULD I BE PAYING?

As of September 2021, you can buy a well-used Mk1 Fabia vRS for as little as £1,500. That buys you a car that’s done well over 100,000 miles. Not necessarily a problem – the Fabia vRS is generally seen as a very reliable car good for big miles, but you’ll want to check it’s been maintained properly. Though checking a used car has been well maintained is always important, of course, regardless of the car’s age or mileage.

You can spend over £6,000 on a Fabia vRS if you want, but around £4,000 looks like the sweet spot far as age/condition/mileage is concerned.

ANY PROBLEM AREAS?

It’s not a complicated car, the Fabia vRS. And as it’s a Skoda, parts ought to be relatively affordable and easy to track down. There are plenty of owners' forums dedicated to Skoda ownership, and we’d urge you to check them out/seek their advice before parting with any cash. In brief, though, you’ll want to make sure the timing belt and water pump are changed every four years/80,000 miles, check there isn’t any smoke billowing from the exhaust when you hit the gas and that the interior carpets aren’t wet.