2008 Skoda Fabia with exceptionally low mileage?

notanewuser

One of our cars is going to be off the road having some work done for probably 2-3 months soon. A relative has offered us a spare car to borrow, but I'm not convinced. It's a 2008 Skoda Fabia 1.4 with 19000 genuine miles on the clock. The lack of mileage worries me (it's also located 250 miles away and I'm not sure it will cope with a motorway run if it's only ever pootled around town). Any pitfalls i should be aware of? Being so far away I've not had chance to try it out.

worried_jim

Good cars- go for it.

Herzlos

It's free and on loan, I'd be more worried about dinging it that mechanical failure.
If it's been serviced on schedule it should be fine, the 250 mile run might give it a good stretch.

What are you doing that'll have it off the road for 2-3 months? Rebuild? Camper conversion?

elsien

My from new 1.2 2006 skoda fabia was similarly low mileage until 2 years ago as I worked very close to home with the odd jaunt up to Cumbria. I now average 1200 motorway miles a month and it's been fine.
Can't see motorways being an issue if it's been looked after.

Robisere

notanewuser wrote: »

One of our cars is going to be off the road having some work done for probably 2-3 months soon. A relative has offered us a spare car to borrow, but I'm not convinced. It's a 2008 Skoda Fabia 1.4 with 19000 genuine miles on the clock. The lack of mileage worries me (it's also located 250 miles away and I'm not sure it will cope with a motorway run if it's only ever pootled around town). Any pitfalls i should be aware of? Being so far away I've not had chance to try it out.

Is the Loaner relative an older person? I ask because these cars are often owned by a retired older citizen, (no offence!) and being retired, the cars are used much less, for shorter journeys. This will have no detrimental effect upon your use of the loaned car, although you may do the engine some favours by using it more often.

notanewuser

Herzlos wrote: »

.

What are you doing that'll have it off the road for 2-3 months? Rebuild? Camper conversion?

Cosmetic work, mostly, but it's a rare car and parts can take weeks to come in from abroad/have to be custom made.

Gonna be a shock going from 400bhp to 80!

notanewuser

Robisere wrote: »

Is the Loaner relative an older person? I ask because these cars are often owned by a retired older citizen, (no offence!) and being retired, the cars are used much less, for shorter journeys. This will have no detrimental effect upon your use of the loaned car, although you may do the engine some favours by using it more often.

Friend of relative was selling it and relative "knew it had been looked after" so bought it on expectation that a family friend would have it once they'd passed their test. Being a poor student, it took them about 18 months to pass (car didn't move much during that time). They took the car but couldn't really afford to drive it so it barely moved (the battery had to be replaced as it wasn't being used) so they gave it back. It's been sitting on a driveway since waiting for someone to need it.