2000 Skoda Fabia Comfort review from UK and Ireland

The ABS light flashes occasionally for no reason.

The car seems to get through oil at an alarming rate - I check the oil level regularly and it often seems to be dangerously low, despite the fact that the oil warning light never comes on.

Sometimes there is a strange squeaking noise from behind the dashboard, it seems to come from just behind the stereo. We have taken it back to the dealer three or four times to fix this problem, but it keeps coming back.

There has also been some damage to the suspension and other parts on the underside of the car, but I live on an unsurfaced road, and these faults are probably due to the fact that the car has to endure many speed humps and potholes.

The car handles very well, the suspension is good and the steering excellent, but it is not a particularly satisfying car to drive.

The throttle response is very slow and somewhat unreliable, which means that I often lack confidence when overtaking or pulling out of a junction.

Having said that, the Fabia is much more comfortable on long journeys than many small cars. It is comfortable and reliable on the motorway, if a little noisy, and very economical. I took it to the south of France last summer, and had very few complaints.

The Fabia has a very poor turning circle for a small car, so parking it in a tight space in a multi-storey car park can sometimes take a lot of shuffling around.

I would not buy another Skoda - at first glance they seem like reliable, good-value cars, but I have far too many problems with this car for its age and mileage. I also feel that anyone who is passionate about driving would be a lot happier with something with a little more 'oomph' and character.