Hi

I am looking to replace my current car (a Clio), the Octavia has come up as it has a large boot (for my climbing gear) and they are well built etc.

I have a budget of £3K and I would like a TDI due to its good mpg over the petrol equivalent. The Ambiente specs are in a lower insurance group than the GLX but they have higher mileage, is this an issue? Is there a point when the TDI starts becoming expensive to repair etc?

Thanks

James

TDI 90's are more reliable IMHO.

Check the aircon is working (i mean icy cold on LO).

at 3k, i suspect the mileage may be approaching cambelt time, which is expensive to do. so check if it has been done or not.

My GLX starts, stops, turns, pretty much everything i need it to do.

Ambiente will be newer so for the same money they will probably have done more miles. Personnally i don't think mileage is much of an issue till it gets very high. More important is how the car has been looked after.

These cars will do huge mileages; why do you think they're so popular on taxi and private hire fleets?

Thanks, I was seeing car that have got 100K on the clock and alarm bells where ringing!

If I get a well looked after car with a new cambelt then I should OK

Thanks, I was seeing car that have got 100K on the clock and alarm bells where ringing!

If I get a well looked after car with a new cambelt then I should OK

100K, just run in, seriously, these cars can do intergalactic mileage if serviced properly

The TDi 110 (denoted by the red i on the badge) has problems with its turbo as the miles increase. There is plenty of information on here about it.

1 word... elegance!

go for the elegance, has most of the toys and other upgrades such as rear discs, no horrible drum brakes

The TDi 110 (denoted by the red i on the badge) may have problems with its turbo as the miles increase. There is plenty of information on here about it.

Correction in red text. The issue that may arise with the 110 is the variable geometry vane system jamming on the "low boost" geometry, causing overboost at high revs, and forcing the car into a limp home mode.

It's easily avoided by driving a few miles a month with assertive use of the throttle, so that the vanes get well exercised.

Or just drive it hard most of the time :P

Well yes; in fact I normally use assertive acceleration, but I do very little mileage mired in traffic.

Hi

I am looking to replace my current car (a Clio), the Octavia has come up as it has a large boot (for my climbing gear) and they are well built etc.

Welcome, and BTW the Octy is great for climbing kit:thumbup: and 4x4 is fun for winter stuff aswell:D:D

:cheers:

Blanchie

Does anyone know where you Can get a copy of the manual for servicing intervals etc?

Welcome, and BTW the Octy is great for climbing kit:thumbup: and 4x4 is fun for winter stuff aswell:D:D

:cheers:

Blanchie

Thanks for the welcome, a 1.8T 4x4 is a dream, the insurance would hurt too much :eek:

Correction in red text. The issue that may arise with the 110 is the variable geometry vane system jamming on the "low boost" geometry, causing overboost at high revs, and forcing the car into a limp home mode.

It's easily avoided by driving a few miles a month with assertive use of the throttle, so that the vanes get well exercised.

90bhp model ahs the same VNT turbo aswell so also suffers from sticky vane issue.

90bhp model ahs the same VNT turbo aswell so also suffers from sticky vane issue.

I entirely believe you, but I've never heard of a VVT issue on the 90.

Nope, me either on the vane thing...

Check the elec windows, c/locking & mirror adjustment. If anything is suspect, could be a sign of water getting into the wiring.

I entirely believe you, but I've never heard of a VVT issue on the 90.

I've done more on the 90's than 110's. But thats probably due to the 90's usually out numbered the 110's 3 to 1, more of them out there so you will see more back.

I am slightly hijacking my own thread but then I can !!

I was read somewhere on here that the mpg figures on Parkers were a bitunder what you might get on a motorway run.

What are the real life mpg figure for the 1.9 tdi 90 bhp, the 110 bhp and the 1.6 petrol?

Thanks

I am slightly hijacking my own thread but then I can !!

I was read somewhere on here that the mpg figures on Parkers were a bitunder what you might get on a motorway run.

What are the real life mpg figure for the 1.9 tdi 90 bhp, the 110 bhp and the 1.6 petrol?

Thanks

I've got a 2001 TDI (110bhp) Elegance, it's easy to achieve an average of 48mpg (combined) and 54mpg (motorway).

my mum and dad have a 90tdi and on a motorway run the get about 55mpg and get around 48-50mpg round town, they do drive it pretty hard though and it is usually fully laden.

I've had better than 60mpg out of a 90; ok I was cruising it at 65 (yes really) on the M'way, but that includes 2 hours in an M25 jam.

My 110 has never been below 45, even here and commuting, with cold starts and lots of accelerating 0..50 bursts, often 1 or occasionally 2 a mile.

I had 70 mpg out of my 110 TDi last week..on a cross country run at 55-60 with the climate switched off completely, the sunroof tilted and a window slightly open.

Average around 53-54 including some in town commuting. On a m'way run at 75-80 it's possible to get mid-high 50's. Never less than 40 when I commuted in London traffic.

Mid-50s from a 110 on a decent length run is easily possibe, even with fairly enthusiastic driving, assertive overtaking, and the climate left on auto.

90bhp model ahs the same VNT turbo aswell so also suffers from sticky vane issue.

What makes the power difference then? I'd always thought the extra 20 bhp was down to the 110 having variable vanes, because the original sales brochure when I bought mine (2002) said variable geometry turbo for the 110, and didn't say that for the 90.