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Length of ownership, and why did you buy - quick survey for fun!


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Ok, I know I often post up whimsical declarations of love for my '51 plate VRS, gulity as charged :D

 

However, having a bit of fun on forums notwithstanding - in all seriousness, in 25 years of driving, I have never had a car that is as great all-round as this one. More amazing still, is the fact that it's getting on for 15 years old, worth next to nothing and yet still puts a smile on my face. That's pretty amazing really, isn't it?

 

So with that in mind, for fun I thought I would ask everyone why they bought their Octavia, are you still in love with it, and how long have you had yours? Oh and I guess - one more question - are you intending to replace it, and if so why and with what?

 

I'll kick off: five years ago, I was working in senior management, and I had a Porsche 911 as my daily drive, on finance, which because of the recession had dropped like a stone in value. I then copped a redundancy, so it had to go - especially as I then decided to go back to University for 3 years as a mature student, and re-train as a Paramedic.

 

I took the Porsche to a marque specialist for a quick sale, and after paying off the finance, I was left with the grand total of 3 thousand in cash. I needed something that was going to be reliable, practical, within my budget but also a bit of fun still when I wanted it to be. I have always admired the VRS, so after viewing a few duds, I was lucky enough to find mine with a lovely history in great condition, in my budget - at a dealer amazingly. He traded in prestige cars, had taken it in px, and just wanted rid of it really. I got it with 70k on the clock for £2,500, a bit of a bargain at the time.

 

However, it's been utterly amazing, and I am still in love with it, even now, and with nearly 160,000 miles on the clock. I've just finished my Paramedic degree and will start work proper next month, with a pay check coming in again every month at last. I guess I COULD think about getting another car...but I'm just not interested really. I am not a big fan of the next newer models, I don't really like the styling, the size of them, and I hear a few horror stories about the camchain in the new engines. That said, I must admit that I DO like the look of the latest one - however even a good second hand one is still around 20 grand, money that I just can't get close to.

 

Mine's still utterly solid all round, even underneath, no signs of corrosion or any major worries looming. It's had new suspension all round recently, new wishbones too, brakes, brake lines etc. and last year a new cat-back stainless exhaust. Engine and box couldn't be sweeter, and other than bits like an alternator, starter motor, battery, radiator fan, a few coil packs and that, it's been spot on. Never ever let me down, never left me stranded. Absolutely everything still works, including the aircon.

 

I reckon I am going to just 'Trigger's Broom' the thing, until something hugely horrendous and terminal scupprs it, or worse some utter muppet smashes into it and writes it off. That said, even if the big things like motor or gearbox fail, looking round the net and seeing how many replacement units are available, even that wouldn't put me off - I'd happily pay a good indy to replace either of those. Even a bill of 2 or 3 grand wouldn't put me off - I know how good the rest of the car is, so to me it would be a good investment.

 

 

Anyway I've gone right off on a tangent! BE interested to hear other ownership stories as per the thread title! :D

 

 

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Had mine for around a year, the half of it that's left on the driveway has been SORN for 2 months. With my current situation the repairs became uneconomical and impractical. I now have a Saab Aero 95 HOT 2002, very impressive car, paid for by breaking the VRS.

All that said, I always wanted one. My Toledo V5 (also very nice) got a bit long in the tooth and I came into some cash so fancied a change. Found my yellow one with 67k on the clock in very tidy condition for just over 2k. Have to say when it was running right and not a source of worry or costing me in maintenance (some of which had to be done prematurely e.g wheel bearings) I loved it. Brilliant cars. In many ways mine was a good example, the chassis and suspension were very good indeed. However, a failing actuator, driveshaft, gearbox, abs ecu, rear calipers and some other little bits it came down to time and money and not having much of either. So very sad to do it but had to break it up to pay for a car as being in rural Wales I just can't go without.

To sum up, loved it, just a shame I seemed to be unlucky, if you find yourself in my situation, get a Saab ;)

Any car is only ever as good as the last mile it completed though.

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Bought mine in September 06', = 9 years next month.

Why?

Well thought they looked pretty stealthy, not the fastest on the road but brilliant value for money, big plus is the full size spare wheel, practical ie trips to DIY shops.

Finally, when I took it for a test drive before buying, thought sh***** this is quick, and it still makes me smile pulling away at lights and overtaking

on motorways :happy: .

 

NB: Never failed a MOT

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3 weeks.  Mongrel dead (11 year owned Fabia) and wanted something fun, so bought Gee's developed and built Estate vRS. 

 

Yes I like it.   Do I intend to replace it.  YES.  Once the mongrel is back 100%.  But in the meantime I couldn't imagine another vRS octavia giving as much fun (at least not without serious money spent)

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Was looking for a low milage lpg as my last vauxhall vectra 2.2Sri was lpg and is cheap as chips to run never had a diesel and doing 20k a year a petrol costs dont add up seen a shiny red 55 plate Vrs lpg with 1owner and 41k on the clock the badge put me off and weeks went by and luck should have it i was down to the area it was on sale so after a test drive and a big smile on my face olivia is my new women and its the first car i have had where i have spent money on her modifying her tinted windows front lights, wrapped grill forge diverter and a cone filter next thing is a double din stereo im a skoda man now :)

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November 2013, I had changed jobs in the March of the same year where my weekly commute went from 300 miles down to 100, which meant I could rid myself of my mk1 Ford focus 1.6 zetec and buy something a bit more respectable :D

My budget at the time was only £1500 as I'd got impatient and was just desperate to end my daily despair of driving that Ford turd.

I narrowed the search down to having a small mk4 platform car with a 1.8t 20v, my first choice was a Leon cupra, but the wife hated it and I couldn't afford a cupra r.

Next up was an a3 but they were all really rough for that money and the same with the golf, all full of ripspeed tat and looked ragged to bits.

So I'd basically given up and resigned myself to driving that rolling scrapheap until I could afford a decent mk4 vag car.

But, then a mate of mine who buys and sells cars for a small profit acquired a red mk1 Octavia vrs.

The car was a 51 plate with 87k miles, service history with lots of receipts.

He put it through an mot which only needed £38 of parts.

The car had already been offered to 2 members of my mates family, so I had to sit and wait a few days while they made up their minds. To my surprise they turned it down.

"Give me a grand and its yours" he said.

Result :)

I couldn't and still can't believe how much car I got for the money, and can't believe how I overlooked the Octavia in the first place, I love my car and I don't even flinch when it needs something as it owes me nothing.

I've got lots of mods to do to the car and have fitted quite a few already so don't see me selling anytime soon :D

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Bought my work horse in jan 2012, paid 3400e, straight cash with 126k on it, as i liked it as soon as i drove it. Had always like the Octy shape, and wanted diesel for the reduced running costs.

Main reason though - cataclismic engine failure of my 1.2 cordoba 3days before xmas, 8 months before wedding. Couldnt have been better timed.... i was thinking about changing the cordy, but had planned on proper hunting post wedding. I think about changing from time to time but cant justify the outlay. Anything in budget for the age id like has mileage not far short of whats on mine 177k... and the potential problems that go with it.plus.... what do i change to? Theres nothing really that want short of brand new cars..

Edited by mac11irl
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I got mine in June 2012, 03 plate with 67,000 miles 2 owners from new and guy I bought it from had owned it from 2004, paid 2800 due to the fact it was pretty much mint and he had done a few mods to it and not long done the timing belt, the fact he was an MOT tester helped me make up my mind.......

 

Never thought about getting rid of it as it been one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned and it still a head turner and always makes me smile when the wee boy racers go past and give it a good look over lol

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Owned just over a month, bought after my other car (a very broken mk3 Astra turbo) was in for some unexpected MOT work and a friend lent me his Octavia to get me to and from work for a day... I asked him how much he wanted and two weeks later I had it on my drive (parked next to my recently expired Astra).

It's done 120k, it's got plenty of age related marks, irritating central locking and a boost leak I can't cure... But, and it is a big one for me... I love it! It's not as fast as my Astra but it's comfortable, quieter, more refined, more understated and so far, more reliable. I doubt I'll swap it until it's time to scrap it, because that's how I roll. Best £1500 I've ever spent!

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My 2001 TDi 90 bought exactly a year ago and MOT'd it within hours, passed no advisories and MOT'd again last night (no advisories again) having covered just over 10K more miles it required only 2 wishbone bushes to be replaced (original 14 year old ones). I got it with 42K had 1 retired owner from new, garaged etc £1275 (bought at other side of country within 3 hours of going on gumtree). It's basic Ambient in spec does mpg to challenge the latest eco boxes and is light enough on it's feet to be able to safely overtake in normal driving conditions. It was bought as an impulse eco buy due to mileage and condition and I sold my 530D shortly after. I can't help myself looking at other cars for sale, but in practicality sense, this car could last me 10 years and cost me very little. For the sake of it I when bought it, serviced it fully inc brake fluid, belts inc kits and pump etc as the previous owner had been moved into a home due to dementia and despite him being a very keen skoda owner and the cars visual condition, they couldn't be 100% sure when timing belt was done also where original service book was. Ironically timing belt that came off it looked like new, but better safe than sorry. Car didn't even have a single stone chip on it, rub strips were grey (now black again) and it's got a fair amount of swirl marks, other than that it's like new inc underneath. Sadly though someone decided to bash it opening a door in a car park and gave it a typical wee car park dent and likewise someone brushed against corner or rear bumper :( 

 

Modifications:

  • Stereo
  • Wind Deflectors
  • Official Alloys

P20150419_193618.jpg

 

I could go out and buy a new Octy vRS (again), but I would rather have the best built Mk of Octavia so far!  :sun:

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Yeah, i should add... mine failed its nct aftr 5months of my ownership due to front (8yr old by markings) indicators not being orange enough.. rechecked and passed within 3hrs.

has passed the other 2 since first times in.

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Around a year now on current ownership of my 2003 Octy VRS

I used it until around November last year as a daily then the wife had it for a good while before being passed back to me last month to be used as a daily again.

This is my 2nd Octy VRS previous one was mental in every sense running silly boost and in the non stealthy yellow. Current one is more stealthy totally standard in boring black.

Won't bore you all to death with previous cars but let's say I've been around the block a long time, now 41 and grew up on 80's hot hatches XR's, RS's, R5GTT, GTi's, MGM Turbos etc and then into 90's hot hatches GTIR's and super saloons. Had most things from scoobies, cosworths, evos, M3's, Ren RS's some short term others lasted a little longer. Christ how I wish I still owned some of them as they are highly collectable and sought after with prices at silly money nowadays.

I hate to roll in run of the mill cars, hence why I always look for a sportier model that's within current needs and budget.

Currently my budget may expand when I sell my bike so I'm at a cross roads with my 03 Octy VRS it really needs money spending and torn whether to do it or consolidate my funds and get something else.

I kind of have mixed views with the VRS mostly a great car at its price point but with it being 12 years old it's now needing a refresh with the suspension being top of my list as it does feel slightly tired and uninspiring admitting not helped with current ditch finders on the front but if I do go down the spending road I will certainly get them changed.

My previous mad VRS was the same great engine but seriously lacking in the steering, suspension and handling department.

I'd like to experience a mk1 with excellent sorted suspension that won't knock fillings out but inspire a much nicer handling car.

Trouble is not sure if investing so much money in the suspension is the best thing for me to currently do as no doubt it won't stop there and all of a sudden I'll be changing under bonnet stuff as well....

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bought in Jan 2013 with 150k on the clock to replace my V70T5 that the engine expired. Needed something cheap with a big boot, 5 seats, looks smart and could tow a 1.3 tonne caravan, and could run at 10ppm. Got the 55 reg vrs and immediately lpg'd it, serviced it and new cambelt kit. Now with 190k

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Been behind the wheel of an Octy VRS since 2002 ! Not the same one. Had a brand new one in 2001 another new one in 2002 then onto a MK 2 again new in 2006 and now back to a MK 1 that I got in 2011. When new they were a bargain as nothing came near and in my opinion still cracking value. I have however spent a few dollars on my current one ! Ooops !

53D5742F-373F-44A9-B892-01F36F13BAB0_zps

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almost 14 months now. Needed a big family car, cheap and comfortable. Automatic also due to wife learning to drive on these left side roads (she ended up preferring a manual and I stayed with the auto!!)

 

Only issue I had was a duff MAF and now some bushes need changing.

For 1500 quid no complaints here.

 

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bought in Jan 2013 with 150k on the clock to replace my V70T5 that the engine expired. Needed something cheap with a big boot, 5 seats, looks smart and could tow a 1.3 tonne caravan, and could run at 10ppm. Got the 55 reg vrs and immediately lpg'd it, serviced it and new cambelt kit. Now with 190k

how are you finding the lpg etc mines lpg too
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Bought mine in November 2003 and got it as I was after something a bit different and I knew that been a skoda that nobody I knew would want to own one lol so when I started modifying it I knew it would stand out and over the years it's been through many different guises,many of them frowned upon :)

And although it's parked up now with no mot and is sorn'd I still can't face selling it or stripping/scrapping it.

I don't need it to be honest and don't know if it will ever end up back on the road,I liked the idea of going further with it and putting a cage in,big brakes,big turbo etc but I can't really justify it as I don't use it as it is so to spend more money seems daft if it's not going to get out much but regardless of what happens,it has been the best car I've ever owned.

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Had my first yellow Octy on 1st March 2002 from new. Modded variously over the years and became known as the original yellow peril, but then px'd in Feb 2013.

Wish I still had kept hold of it but now have a replacement yellow 53 plate Octy since end of Jan this year: yellow peril the second.

Great engine and box (especially when kitted out with a limited slip diff) and generally uncomplicated to keep on the road, and driving feedback is surprisingly commuicative. Favourite styling design bit is probably (randomly) the rear door / C pillar when the rear door is open....

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I've had my 2001 1.4 16v Octavia from new with all of its 75 horses - bought the poverty spec model very cheap (£9k) to cover a long and difficult commute reliably. In reality its been great and has been driven to the far corners of Europe. Although clearly not a sports car the old 1.4 still holds its own on the motorway even when three up and full of luggage. Economy mid 40s mpg  except when driven by my father in law - he got 51

 

Overall it has been great with very few problems. Other than service/usual items (brakes/cam belts/ cv boots/exhausts/1 battery) its not had a bolt undone on the engine. It had a worrying spell of burning oil where I thought the engine was worn out - sorted by cleaning out the oil breather (pipe inside air filter blocks with oil mayo)

 

P.S. its always had a diet of higher octane petrol - such as VPower or Tesco Greenenergy

Edited by bigjohn
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Bought a brown coloured 1.6glxi from the auctions when i was supposed to be buying a bora or A-class. Liked the octavia and how it drove and have always liked the octavia VRS so i swapped the glxi for the VRS

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I had a Fabia 1.2 12v for just over 3 years after someone kindly wrote my last car off. Not much up with it, but after graduating and moving into a more lucrative job I wanted to treat myself to a BMW. Because I didn't have to drive anywhere, fuel economy was of no concern, so I had my heart set on a 645ci. Decided that I'd need to wait too long to save up for that though so thought about a 330 coupe as a stop-gap. Randomly I spotted a completely bog standard vRS on the internet last October that was close to my house. Within a week I'd bought the damn thing on impulse...

 

It's unnecessarily large, pointlessly fast, horrific on fuel at best and absolutely perfect for me in every way because of all that! :) 

 

I'll probably look at the brand new vRS next, even though the interiors have steadily become more boring than a John Major speech about bureaucracy in 1930s insurance companies... Either that, a Porsche 944, or the BMW 645. At the moment though, someone would probably have to write my Octy off for me to make the switch. 

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Bought mine back in Jan this year 2015. 1 Owner from new, 65,154 on the clock, never failed an MOT and got it for 2.5k - To me I thought it was a bargain, others may see it a little to much but for the sheltered life it's lived and from an older couple I couldn't be happier!

 

I was looking for a new car, was looking at a friends Golf for years MK4 thinking I want one... yet in my search they was over 150,000 miles easy on the clock for the 1.8T, I knew I wanted a Turbo, even looked at the GTI Anni version which again I loved, although I really wanted an MK4 R32. I kept looking and over time I realised I didn't actually like the shape so I started looking for something with the same engine. Not a fan of Audi personally but by chance I came across an article about the Octavia vRS 1.8 20VT - saw it in red and black and soon as I saw it I wanted one. Would never of thought it, couldn't care less about the badge. Saw my one advertised, went to see it the next day, loved it bought it and it was home within a couple of hours. Brings a smile to my face every day I drive it, just love the vRS! I won't be changing it anytime soon and I'd love to keep it. But, I do want a weekend toy so I will at some point get a Polo G40 1.3L Supercharged 1993/4 and get it on classic car insurance!

Edited by DeanVRS20VT
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Ive owned 2 vrs's spanning over 8 years, had the 2nd mapped and did a few bits to it, they were both amazing cars that never let me down but the mapped one ( R-tech stage one with miltek 200 cell sport cat and full blueflame cat back) was a fantastic car to drive with plenty of go in it! i cannot think of another car that ticks so many boxes for the money and any one that drove mine was amazed at how it went because it was a SKODA!.

A lot of people Still cannot get by the badge and thats their loss, and that is also reflected in the cheap prices of what are still great cars to buy.

The only reason i moved on is I've always wanted a Range Rover which i now have :happy: but will probably one day have another VRS, however it would always be a MK1 as i love everything about them.

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