1999 T Reg SKODA Felicia 1.3 LXi 5 Doors, Estate, Petrol, 75,000 miles, Green. one previous keeper, low road tax £1,295.
I have seen this for sale, am quite tempted as it seems good VFM. Am I right that this is basically VW engineering? I am interested in a good solid reliable workhorse that won't cost too much to keep running. I am not concerned about what it's like to drive (unless it's really horrid)
Yes or no? Please advise.
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my opinion follows,
too many miles for the old skoda lump to stay quiet and reliable on (estate as well dont forget)
buy a lower mileage one for same money
they drive very well
they are well built
they must have power steering (hard when stood)
they leak in on the windscreen surround
i,m not a skoda fan as such but i reckon these are the best of the old school cars that were built
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Is the 1.3 not a VW engine?
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Nope, as far as I?m aware its still a throwback from the Favorit (or even the Estelle before that).
It might not stay quiet, but its probably no more noisy than that 'orrible Ford unit they insisted on inflicting on us in Escorts and Fiestas.
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I must have a VW engine, I have found them to be unbreakable. Which model does have the VW petrol engine?
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Not really up on my Skodas, but they did a 1.6, which could be the same unit as the one found in the golf. I did a quick look on Google, and this is what it seems to suggest. The 1.9d is also a vw unit I think.
(Someone who's more qualified should be able to say one way or the other)
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Wife has a 1996 model 1.3 hatch which has been ultra reliable to date (touch wood). It's got no guts and no PAS but we like it and it gets her from a2b. It's been cheap to run and service.
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We had a 1.6 estate for a couple of years. Trouble free and a Dealer to die for. (Well, perhaps...!)
Sit up and beg steering wheel with no adjustment was the only quirk. Ours was a '97 and build quality robust. Go for it.
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Sorry to post again but... the 1.6 was a VW engine. The 1.3 was a Skoda unit, but I canot recall any criticism of this engine. Remember: Skoda was building cars and engines a long time before VW.
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What happened to the 205 GRD that you bought and enjoyed so much?
Peugeots have gone off in recent years but the 205 diesel was one of their best.
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They´re pretty good little cars.
Big inside with great versatility - the back seats flip up and lift out Megane-style. Although a reskin of the older Favorit (of which I owned 2) it really benefits from the VW engineering input.
The Skoda 1.3 lump isn´t bad but has a tendancy to blow head gaskets. It´s no ball of fire either.
If I were you, I would maybe cast the net a little wider and see if you can´t get the 1.6 VW engined version, or the 1.9d engined one. I drove the 1.9d a few years back and found it surprisingly quick for a normally-aspirated diesel.
You should be able to find lower mileage ex-pensioner models around...
Alternatively offer him 800 quid.
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I know someone who bought a 97 1.3 Felicia at a car auction. It was white, very grubby and had no tax or MOT. He paid £60 for it. Trailered it home, serviced it and gave it a thorough clean. Flew through MOT. Total cost £170. He taxed it and his wife used it as a runabout for two years. Eventually she demanded power steering and the car was sold to a Polish guy for £350. The Skoda is a very unexciting 'Ronseal' type car -just don't expect to be noticed!
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They´re pretty good little cars.
Yep tend to agree the 1.3 traces its roots bach to the skodas of old the 130's rapids etc where by you get the old jokes why do skodas have heated rear windows? ... To keep your hands warm when your pushing... No but seriously its just a old lump when the VW lumps are better
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What happened to the 205 GRD that you bought and enjoyed so much?
Still got it and enjoying its amazing refinement for such an old and simple design. This Skoda would be another car for SWMBO to use since the Yaris is a bit small for her needs. I will never sell my 205.
Peugeots have gone off in recent years but the 205 diesel was one of their best.
I tend to agree, although I rather fancy the 407SW.
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IIRC the Skoda engine is aluminium and lighter than the VW lumps put in after?
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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IMO, these are reliable little cars, just don't pay too much for one - they are very basic, after all.
My father ran a '97 1.3 estate (bought one year old from another owner who changed for a power steering model) until changing for a new Octavia. Two problems over five years/80,000 miles were a leaking windscreen seal (as mentioned above) and the fuel pump failed just shy of 80K.
The steering is a little heavy without PAS and the 1.3 only produces 53bhp, so not quick on the motorway or with a load in the back. And yes, the engine is a Skoda design that harks back to the rear-engined Estelle.
If you go for it, good luck with it!
- Gromit
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Re the old Skoda engine, have a look at www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=18754
especially the comments by Flat in Fifth.
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