Hi there

I'm considering buying an ex-police Octavia Rs 1.8 estate but it's done approx 130,000 miles in 3 / 4 yrs.

What would you expect the normal lifespan of this car to be? Would it be worth taking the risk with the high mileage because it will have been serviced more often than normal cars?

If it had done less than 100k miles I reckon it would be a definite maybe but at the level it apparently has then I'm less sure.

Thanks

I would not worry as long as you get the service paperwork, the police service their cars really well.

130,000 on that engine is nothing really as long as you have proof that it has been serviced.

I once bought a vectra 1.8 petrol with 167,000 miles and it never had any history just a few receipts and i got rid at 182,000.

Mileage is nothing these days its just the servicing/looking after that counts.

Being ex-police aswell you dont have to check if its been stolen lol

Forgot to add what is the price of the car?

The old farm I worked at bought a Suburu Forester (ex Military Police), it was much cheaper than a forecourt price, full service history, and was a very nice example, not a practical colour though for the farm (white). We had no trouble with it, apart from the hole in the roof that had been sealed, leaked, but it was soon sorted after it was returned with the fault!

So as long as the price is right, and you have the full service history (we had MOD service sheets and paper work (not the service book)- some details were blanked off though), it should make for a good car.

Just check for dashboard fixings / holes, and any holes that may have been put in the body work.

Cheers for that folks. There's a 2005, 55 plate 1.8 with 130k on the clock for £3800 and a 2005/4, 54 plate with 138k for £3500.

They're well below the What Car price that I can extrapolate for that mileage.

One of them says motor way miles which would be the one we're most interested in. We've done some reading that says to stay away from the squad cars as they get razzed and crashed but the cruisers can be a good buy

We're just looking for something to make us smile again as we got a Focus ST about a month ago and it was stolen within a week so there could be something kind of satisfying going ex-police next time

Might investigate trackers next....!

In my experience, the only thing that stops cars from lasting forever is rust! And modern cars don't rust. The rest is just nuts and bolts, and thats easy.

Therefore, I conclude that the vRS will live forever!

(don't quote me on that!)