Should I buy an ex-learner driver's Vrs?

[JMC]

Hi,

I have got the possibility to buy an ex-learner drivers red Fabia Vrs for £8500 (2004 with 45,000 miles).

What do people think about buying a car like this? My thinking is that it probably won't have been cained, but it could have had some hard use of the clutch.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

[robmawer]

Originally Posted by JMC

but it could have had some hard use of the clutch.

Think this is a bit of a myth TBH - most instructors I've come across know that their car is their livelihood, so they're not going to allow the learner to do anything which is going to cause major damage or undue wear on the car.

If the car is in good condition I wouldn't see any reason not to buy it...


Rob.

[h4rri]

One of the things to note is the numerous holes or sticker marks on the car from the decals and dual controls etc. I would also say check around and see if that is a little high for the £'s etc.

[P.G]

Was it owned by someone who happened to own it whilst learning to drive or was it owned by a driving instructor?

[JMC]

Thanks for the responses so far. Yeah - you are probably right about the clutch, the car seemed fine when I was driving it.

In regards to the decals etc, couldn't see any at the time but will have a look out for them - the cost is slightly higher than I could probably get, but this is from a main dealer.

[JMC]

Originally Posted by P.G

Was it owned by someone who happened to own it whilst learning to drive or was it owned by a driving instructor?

You must have been posting the same time as me! - was owned by a driving instructor

[Chris GB]

I would say that the car is likely to have been treated well. As said above, we earn our living from the car, so keeping it in good order is a must. Of all the owners out there, an instructor is the least likely to have an abused car.

I would be more wary of buying a car that had aftermarket alloys myself.

Chris

[fabia145re-map]

i am a driving instructor myself with a 100pd elegance but cant wait to get vrs.

my dad has just ordered a new vrs. we got a good deal from the dealer.

£12000
with 3years 0% finance.
£3800 deposit
weekly works out to be £52 for 3 years.

had to haggle for:-

£340 off list price
free met paint
free silver seal protection.

i think you should by brand new with finance.
or wait 6 months for price to go lower.
or buy brand new from car supermarket for between 10500 and 11000.

we have to treat are cars good especially if its our own.
but it will get slightly more wear and tear than a 'granny' driver but not more than a 'boy racer'.

45k is very very low mileage for an instructors car wich would go in your favour.

also an insructor on this forum said he's done 70k on first clutch an still seems new.

but i still think you should wait for prices to get cheaper or buy brand new if the
0% is still there.

hope this helps

[seano47]

i would agree with Chris GB i think it will be in good nick due to it being the instructors lively hood and him needing it have you checked the roof though aswell to see is there any marks from sticking a learners cone on top or anything like that scuffs holes etc....

wish i learnt to drive in a VRS hahah

[heresmo]

Just wondering if the clutch would be covered under the warranty if there is any genuine case for concern (or even your perceived concern maybe). Presumably a main dealer will give a year's warranty (i assume it's just outside the manufacturer's warranty now?

You could have it checked over by the AA, which, although it costs money, if any faults are identified, they can be used to negotiate on price.

Just thinking out loud as I know nothing

Regards
Mo

[JMC]

Originally Posted by heresmo

Just wondering if the clutch would be covered under the warranty if there is any genuine case for concern (or even your perceived concern maybe). Presumably a main dealer will give a year's warranty (i assume it's just outside the manufacturer's warranty now?

You could have it checked over by the AA, which, although it costs money, if any faults are identified, they can be used to negotiate on price.

Just thinking out loud as I know nothing

Regards
Mo

I think there is still another 6/7 months on the manufactures warranty as was registered in Oct 2004.

In regards to buying a new one - I would have considered doing this however a) I was woried about depreciation on a new Vrs now they have stopped production and b) for the same money I could get a new Ibiza FR which has a few more goodies + it doesn't have black seats. Do you think second hand prices will fall once the new (standard) Fabia is released?

[Chris GB]

I am on 61,000 miles on the original clutch so for no problems (touch wood).

Chris

[JMC]

Originally Posted by fabia145re-map

i am a driving instructor myself with a 100pd elegance but cant wait to get vrs.

my dad has just ordered a new vrs. we got a good deal from the dealer.

£12000
with 3years 0% finance.
£3800 deposit
weekly works out to be £52 for 3 years.

had to haggle for:-

£340 off list price
free met paint
free silver seal protection.

i think you should by brand new with finance.
or wait 6 months for price to go lower.
or buy brand new from car supermarket for between 10500 and 11000.

Do you mind me asking where you got the VRS from for £12000 (PM me if you don't want to make it public).

Thanks for your response, also thanks to everyone so far for your responses, I'm shocked at how quickly I am getting answers to my questions

[fabia145re-map]

hi. i live in ilford in Essex. my closest dealer to me is preston motors in Forest Gate, which is East London. about 2 0r 3 miles from me. if you do a search on skoda website, you should find where it is. but i reckon you could haggle any dealer anywhere coz they would rather have less profit than none.

the haggle
Basically I told them that you are giving the 0% finance at £12340 anyway to anyone from the street. so what else are you gonna do for us. they said we can do met paint for free. we said ok. but we then said why cant you make it a nice round number and make it 12000. he said we cant do that but we can give silver seal (worth £175) for free. we told them to think about OUR offer of 12000 with free met paint and for THEM to get back to us.

basically he spoke to main manager who eventually agreed on 12000 and met paint. we then got cheeky and also got silver seal(interior/exterior proctection) on top of everything else.

if we were to buy car in full cash i think we could have got them down to about 11047 which is the roughly the 'what car' target price.

the Home - What Car? Helping you buy better target price is the actual price that they have got the dealer down to at an actual uk dealer.

hope this helps. thanks.

p.s.
if the 0% is still on. please take advantage as its a brilliant offer as you get an 07 plate with 0miles and you pay less than 4k deposit and 50 quid a week after that|.

[Happy Shopper]

Picked my new Corrida Red VRS up yesterday. £11200 with Supaguard thrown in.

The same dealer also has two 54 plates with about 21k and 26k on the clocks for £8999

[anonymouse]

I'd say overpriced - do a search. Some private sales with 30k for £8k.Quite high mileage car so chances of bills repairs a lot sooner than, let's say, a 30k car

Even dealer - though not Skoda :-
2004 04 Reg Skoda Fabia 1900 cc 1.9 TDI PD 130 vRS 5dr (trade)
Perrys Portsmouth Peugeot

22,897 miles
Manual
Red
Diesel
5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 22,897 miles, Red, 1 Owner(s), Air Bag, Air Conditioning, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Remote Central Locking, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Fog Spot Lamps, Passenger
£8,494

[JMC]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

I'd say overpriced - do a search. Some private sales with 30k for £8k.Quite high mileage car so chances of bills repairs a lot sooner than, let's say, a 30k car

Even dealer - though not Skoda :-
2004 04 Reg Skoda Fabia 1900 cc 1.9 TDI PD 130 vRS 5dr (trade)
Perrys Portsmouth Peugeot

22,897 miles
Manual
Red
Diesel
5 Doors, Manual, Hatchback, Diesel, 22,897 miles, Red, 1 Owner(s), Air Bag, Air Conditioning, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Remote Central Locking, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Fog Spot Lamps, Passenger
£8,494

OK - thanks. I did think it looked a bit high, I'm going to start looking at some non-dealer cars.