Fabpreza

I'm no trade expert but I would have thought £400 ish

I'll settle for 250k !

73k - you kid !

I'm still enjoying our 1.8T 4x4 as a third car and its getting daily runs to work and back. With continued proper servicing, what do you reckon is the lifespan? Its done 164k 200k ?

To be honest though if you already know that you car isn't worth much (like mine) and it doesn't make any difference whether it has a Cat C or not. The whole point is that you get to keep you car - which in my case has total Skoda service history from new. The alternative is the lottery of buying another car. I've never bought back from the insurance company until this one as I felt it was such a waste. From memory:- 1. Sent them adverts of similar mileage and condition cars to mine to show how much it would cost to find another. 2. Agreed a value of £1500 3. Deducted my insurance excess (£200) and the scrap value (£250) to buy back the car. Leaving £1050 for repairs 4. Bought exact match used parts for under £150 5. Went to the garage I use for servicing - repaint bumper, fit bumper bar and headlights. £500. 6. Spent the other £400 on a major service, new discs and pads all round

Likewise - mine had a minor bump last year. Priced up used parts on eBay - front bumper cover £30, headlights as plastic brackets broken £70, front bumper bar (edge bent) £50. Insurance company wrote off as a Cat C so I got the pay out I wanted proving how much it would cost me to buy the same model and got it repaired. Good as new as no structural damage at all - purely cosmetic

If its an auto I think that's the way they are ?

A new N75 valve has made a big difference.

Not sure exactly what bulbs you have from Halfords but with my Octavia part of the problem was that the headlight leveller motors were foobared so the lights were illuminating the road too close to the front of the car (ie no range). I got a couple of used headlights off eBay containing the motors as it was as cheap. If your light motors are working ok and its just the sheer 'power' that's the issue, I would have a look at the Powerbulbs website. I and others got the Osram Nightbreakers which made a decent difference and I think there are some Philips ones that are recommended. (Search Autoexpress for headlight bulb tests) You could also upgrade the internal fog light bulbs for a bit more spread near to the sides of the car but I didn't bother. Other than that, coat them in Rain-X so you always have the best light you can...?

Jabbasport ran a Eucalyptus green estate a few years ago as their own car - to showcase how far they could take the 1.8T , haldex etc

If you continue to drive it normally and not regularly thrash it off the line, it should last for ages. My last one was remapped to 222bhp (custom remap, rolling-roaded) at 21,000m and was fine when I traded in at 70k. This included track days. My current one was bought with 150k on it and I had no hesitation in remapping to c. 210bhp (off the peg this time) I wouldn't worry about upgrading unless 1) it starts to play up or 2) you are thinking about big bhp. If its 2) lots of people will have suggestions for you.

No - just whooshy rather metallic. Leak sounds the most likely as it gets more whooshy the more air is going through

My other half drove our Octavia the other day and she says its very' whooshy' (1.8T 4x4, 165k) - she doesn't drive it very often. She's right! It's when you have any sort of lift from the throttle or even moderate it - I thought it was recirc/DV but had already had the OEM one put back on. The vac pipes *seem* ok and its still performing fine with no warning lights. Any ideas ? I'll probably book it into Unit 18 in MK after Christmas to have a look but wondering if there's anything obvious I can check ? (Still amazed how well its going to be honest)

Ditto !

Thanks

Have sprayed about the mechanism (not the pedal!) with WD40 and it still squeaks/sighs every time you press the pedal ! Any serious suggestions apart from not braking, turning up the stereo etc...

Same as last time. Quantum is Castrol by any other name

Mine had been impeccably serviced and still is, but had 'swarf' in the strainer... . I'd get it done !

Does the grille covers help the heater warm up faster ?

Let's hope we get some decent snow this winter to have some fun before our turbos break on the dark side of 170k ? :no:

Got my blue one back from 'extended family' duties for the last year and after a tart up and vRS interior its still a brilliant car - even with 165k. p.s. Remapped and I'm getting about 26mpg to work and 32-34'ish on the motorway

You do take a bigger risk as cars get higher on mileage as components do have a serviceable life expectancy. I bought a 1.8T on 158k miles for very little money, because it had a total Skoda history with it and the owner looked 'right'. The plan is to keep it to over 200k miles bar any major failing (turbo / gearbox / engine). I've deliberately spent more than what I paid for it using OEM Skoda service, brake and suspension parts from TPS plus a few bits that are troublesome with age (oil pick up pipe, hoses, O2 sensor etc). Call it an experiment - so far so very good.

... I had 19 inch Sport Contacts on a new Chrysler Crossfire I had for 3 months (changed jobs not long after) and it was amazingly good in the snow despite being RWD and with not exactly the most sophisticated suspension in the world. Currently have them on 18's on my Superb and they are planted in wet weather. Not sure what they are like on Clios though :no:

Continentals ? I've never owned a car that's driven badly on them. (Grip/ride/noise/wear/brake balance always spot on)

If its due an oil change get them to check that the oil sump pick up pipe is still ok ? (Had mine replaced mine as a precaution at 160k. Still running sweet)