I love to buy and run classics and previous cars I have owned include the Mk1 Skoda Fabia and many VW Polo 6N2 models. These vehicles are now rare in low mileage, low-owner provenance and prices are rising. A recent valuation covered a 2000 Fabia 1.4 16v 100bhp 5-door showing low mileage and just two previous owners. This would clearly be a difficult car to replace in total loss and deserved a bespoke agreed value insurance valuation.
About the Mk1 Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v 100bhp
The Mk1 Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v 100bhp was the range-topping petrol model in the Fabia lineup when it launched in 1999, sharing its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Polo 6N2 and Lupo, as part of the Volkswagen Group’s platform-sharing strategy. Built on the A04 platform (PQ24), the Fabia was Skoda’s first car to fully benefit from VW’s engineering input, significantly improving perceived quality and mechanical refinement over previous Skoda models.
The engine used was the 1390cc 16-valve AUB DOHC petrol unit from the EA111 family, producing 100bhp and around 126Nm of torque. It featured multipoint fuel injection and variable intake timing, delivering respectable performance for a supermini of the time. Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, the Fabia 1.4 16v could reach 60 mph in just under 11 seconds and had a top speed of around 118 mph. It was smooth, rev-happy, and offered a good balance of economy and usable performance.
Compared to its Polo and Lupo siblings, the Fabia was slightly larger and better suited to longer journeys, with a roomier cabin and more grown-up feel. It came in various trims, including the Elegance and Sport, and was available in both hatchback and estate (Combi) formats.
Common issues include coil pack failures, EGR valve problems, and occasional electrical niggles. Timing belt changes are critical at regular intervals. The 1.4 16v 100bhp is a quick and reliable engine when properly maintained and is a popular engine in motorsport.
About my Skoda Fabia TDI Comfort Estate
My Mk1 Skoda Fabia was bought as a stopgap vehicle when a third party wrote off a Honda CR-V I owned at the time. Deep in an expensive loft coversion in late 2013, cash was scarce, so I bid for and won a 2001 Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDI 100bhp Comfort Estate on eBay, paying £840 from an equestrian business somewhere in Oxfordshire. Other than the usual window regulator and door handle issues, the car was superb to drive, with plenty of power, good economy and no real vices. Once the liquidity improved, I sold the Skoda but then began a period of Polo ownership underpinning the early driving careers of my daughters, which has only recently ended.
A low-mileage Fabia is now an increasingly rare car and prices are rising: two low-owner Fabia TDI 130 VRS models in Silver with under 40k miles are currently dealer listed for sale at close to £9k. A petrol automatic estate showing very low mileage recently sold for just under £3k on eBay. What may seem unexceptional at first glance is actually a very usable classic that would not disappoint a keen driver. Highly recommended as a classic first buy and agreed insurance is available through Adrian Flux.