fishsoup

Hi all, I'm looking to buy my first Skoda after years of bad experiences with Ford wet belts and ongoing reliability issues. I'm planning to buy used, and my main priority is finding a car that has been properly maintained throughout its life. At the moment I'm looking at a SkodaApproved Used Scala in the UK with the following spec: 2023 registration (August 2023) 1.0 TSI petrol, 115 bhp 27,500 miles I appreciate the mileage is slightly above average for the age of the car, but I'm assuming the previous owner likely did a lot of motorway driving. My main concern is the service history. From what I can see, the car has been on the Flexible servicing regime, which may explain the gaps, but I'd appreciate some advice. The only service history currently showing is: Oil Change Service – 16,479 miles (03/2025) Oil Change Service – 26,991 miles (06/2026) I should be able to request more supporting documentation when I view the car, but at the moment there is no mention of an Extended Scope Service, brake fluid changes, pollen filters, spark plugs, etc. Looking at other Scalas of a similar age, many seem to have had an annual service and additional items completed, such as pollen filters, spark plugs, brake fluid, and so on. From looking at the service schedule, my understanding is that the next 3-year service is due around August 2026, which would likely be shortly after I purchase it. My questions are: Should I ask for the 3-year service to be included as part of the sale, given it appears to be due very soon? It looks like the car may currently be covered by a service plan until late August. Are there any red flags with the service history shown above? In particular, is it a concern that the first service was only an Oil Change Service at 16,479 miles / 18 months old? Could the lack of annual servicing have had any impact on the engines long-term reliability? The car still has a months manufactuer warranty on it, which I assume would have been voided if appropriate servicing hand't been carried out. I'd really appreciate any advice on the above, or what questions I should be asking around this when I view the car. I'm likely over thinking it, but It's been over 10 years since I've bought a car, so I'm trying to make sure I get this right. Thanks in advance!