Used Skoda Fabia vRS review and buying guide (2010 to 2013): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Skoda Fabia vRS should you buy?

There isn't a safe year of Fabia vRS: the oil-burning fault on its 1.4 Twincharger covers every car from 2010 to 2013. The engine was revised partway through, but owners still reported heavy oil use afterwards, including a new car bought in February 2013 that got through 2 litres in 1,500 miles. Don't pay extra for a late car thinking the problem's gone.

The car that's worth your money is the one with proof: receipts for any engine work done under warranty, and an owner who can tell you how much oil it uses between services. Several engines were replaced in the first few years, and one owner's car failed a second time after its first replacement, so a new engine on its own isn't a clean bill of health.

Every vRS from these years has the seven-speed dry clutch DSG, so there's no manual to fall back on, and that gearbox has a High-rated fault of its own. The engine's torque sits right at the limit of what it's built to take. A car that judders or drops gears is one to leave alone, however tidy it looks.

Which Fabia vRS engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

Neither the engine nor the gearbox is a safe choice here; both carry High-rated faults, so you're picking the healthiest example rather than the right version. The 1.4 TSI Twincharger, with a turbo and a supercharger, gives the car its pace, but its pistons and oil rings are the weak point. Cars can need a litre of oil every 600 to 800 miles, and the trouble shows up between 10,000 and 50,000 miles.

Piston cracking is the second engine fault, showing between 60,000 and 80,000 miles. Running on lower octane 95 RON petrol makes it worse, so ask what fuel the car's had. Misfires, lost power and a knocking or tinkling sound from the engine are the signs. One owner's 2013 car, kept topped up and run on premium fuel, still lost compression at 40,000 miles when part of a valve broke off.

The DQ200 seven-speed DSG is the other worry. Its clutch packs wear early and its control unit can fail, leaving the car with judder or missing gears. One owner's 2010 car had its gearbox fail completely at 50,000 miles; it was replaced free, though they still had to pay part of the labour.

What should you check when viewing a used Fabia vRS?

Pull the dipstick first: a level well below the top mark, or an owner who can't say how often they add oil, is the clearest warning you'll get. Ask for receipts for any engine replacement, breather modification or piston ring work. If the engine's been swapped, the V5C should show the new engine number, so check the number on the log book matches the one on the engine.

Start it from cold and listen for tinkling or knocking, then watch the exhaust for blue smoke when you pull away. On the drive, a misfire, a flat spot or a lit engine warning light points to piston or ring trouble. One owner's car went into limp mode on a 25 mile commute, so give it a long enough run to get properly hot.

Pull away gently in first and second gear several times and feel for any judder, then check that every gear engages in turn. Flashing gear lights or a spanner symbol mean the DSG's in trouble. There's also a reported quirk where the engine briefly cuts out as you pull into a junction just after lifting off the brake, so try a few slow junctions too.

The main power cable on Fabias from these years can chafe and blow an 80amp fuse, killing the power steering without warning and sometimes needing a new wiring loom. Ask whether it's ever lost steering assistance or shown a dash full of warning lights. Check the headlights after dark if you can, as one owner found them very poor.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Skoda Fabia vRS cost to run?