rangor_g

Mileage on both is around 90K miles Colour of first is white (or "candy" according to skoda), second is blue. Spec on both seems to be about the same as far as i can tell. Differences are: white has cage between boot and back seat, off-road mode, some pump thing instead of a spare wheel and empty spaces where some other pieces of wheel repair bits should be Blue has spare wheel under floor in boot. The white one with rust on the bonnet there are small bits around 3 mm x 1mm (2 or 3 of those), plus lots of tiny specs on the roof. These are like pin pricks. There is also some scrapping visible on the pillars between the passenger side windows. Looks like its been driven a bit close to some tough hedges. There's moss and algae on some of the joins between metal and rubber trim, also around the boot hinges. It seems like it has been driving much for a while. The body work on the blue is excellent, without any noticable marks other than a couple of small chips on the bonnet which haven't gone through the colour layer. I'm in no major rush to buy, but its hard to think why not buy one of these cars as both seem good value. There are not that many scouts for sale. I could wait, but may not find a better option.

Thanks ScoutCJB. Sounds like a great purchase. The first car I looked I found a print out of the service history in the glove box, which is I think the only way i got to see it. The sales guy said he normally removes these things. As i'd already seen it he was happy for me to look at it again in more detail. I'm not sure he would have been so forthcoming if i hadn't already seen a copy in the glovebox.

An update: first car. Ex-lease car. They have dropped the price a bit, and have offered to do the cambelt and water pump before I buy it, but they would then add some of the cost of that back on. Basically it works out that they knocked off £600 from the orginal price, then add another £200 to do the cambelt and water pump. Pretty good deal I think. Cons: rusted chips on the bonnet and roof, fairly corroded outer edge of disk brakes, missing spare wheel, I'm less keen on the colour. Pros: has Off-road mode, more details in service record. Second car. 1 private owner. They have agreed to do the cambelt and water pump before selling to me, included in the price. Cons: No Off-Road mode, serviced history only has dates and that it was done by Skoda up to 2020. Bit of a large gap in servicing between 2018 and 2020 which is 30K miles. Pros: I prefer the colour of this one, the body work is in better condition, has a spare wheel, brakes have much less corrosion on outer edges. After negotiating with the sellers both cars are now at hte same price and include new cambelt and water pump. both come with 3 month warranty. Both 2015 (although 1st car slightly newer as has Off-Road mode), same mileage.

Thanks for your input everyone. Really helpful. The condition of both cars looks pretty good, especially the second one i viewed. Regarding engaging Off-Road Mode, i noticed that the first car i test drove did have this option, but the second car did not. The only drive modes available were eco, normal, and sport (I think), and then custom. Both cars are 2015 plates, but presumably the one without the Off-Road mode is slightly older and just before that option was added. Anyone know if an update can get the Off-Road mode added or if it is worth it?

crazy. somebody somewhere has not thought this through....

Yeah it does seem a bit silly. More likely just an excuse to share as little information as possible with the buyer. I'll ask again. I'm not buying a car without seeing its service history.

Hi e-roottoot Many thanks for the tips. I saw and test drove the two cars yesterday. Gave them a thorough (layman's) inspection. Both seem good, apart from a glaring hole in the service history of both cars. First car: ex-lease Lease Plan Uk ltd. I saw the paperwork of the servicing. The usual stuff done, including oil change on haldex at 58K miles in 2018. There's a note about recall 90k1, but I'm not sure what that is. But no evidence of servicing since 2018. No evidence that the cambelt and water pump has been done. Dual mass fly wheel replaced in 2019. There are a few small chips on the bonnet that have rust showing, and a couple more with visible metal (no rust) I found tiny rust spots on the roof. The rust can be wiped off, but a minuscule spot remained in the centre. Brake discs had quite a bit of corrosion on the outer edges. Second car: Previous owner was a private owner. According to the sales garage the service history is all digital and they can't show me any details, just give me dates of servicing. Is this normal? Why can't they print out the service record for me? It was serviced by Skoda at 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. In 2020 the sales garage gave it a check and put in new oil, filters (pollen, oil, diesel). After viewing the car I went to speak with Skoda to ask if they can give me more info on the car's service history. They were very helpful. They have no record of a service between 2018 and now (around 30K miles). No evidence of a cambelt and water pump change. So unless the sales garage can provide evidence that the car was serviced in 2019 or 2020, and that the cambelt and water pump was done, I have to assume it wasn't.

Hello Octavia experts, My trusty 15 year old avensis has finally got to the state of not worth me repairing it. :( I'm going car shopping tomorrow and will be test driving two octavia scouts, both 2015, 148 BHP, one with about 80K miles, the other about 90K. I know one is an ex-lease, I'm guessing the other could be (1 previous owner). What should I be looking out for? Service records? One car was on some lease service plan, but I don't know if this is a good thing or bad. What about Haldex oil, filter, ring replacements? Mass fly-wheel? One of the cars I'm looking at had a new duel mass flywheel in 2019 If anyone has some advice or can point me where to read what to look out for that would be great.