Hello chaps,

My Octavia 1.8T is 8 years old this December and has around 87,000 miles on the clock and the only major mechanical work it has had done so far is rear discs and pads, the clutch pedal replaced (not the clutch, just the pedal!) and the alternator.

I am just wondering how much more life I could reasonably expect from the other major components (exhaust, clutch, suspension and steering bits)

A big service and MOT is due at the beginning of December, plus probably front tyres and front discs and pads so I reckon I am probably looking at £500 then. I am just wondering whether I am likely to have further big service bills coming up it might be a good time for me to change to a newer car?

Thanks for your help.

That's pretty low mileage for the age. Personally I would keep the car.

Second hand cars are worth naff all, so I would keep it for a good 200k miles.

Just keep it well maintained and it'll probably last another 8 years.

My 4x4 hatch was first registered in November 2001. It is just coming up to 120,000. It runs brilliantly. The best investment was the extended warranty as the main dealer couldn't diagnose a problem for nuts and was happy to keep swapping parts until the problem went away. My clutch pedal broke too, faulty welding. Local Skoda specialist, an ex main dealer recovered vehicle, lent me a car for 3 days, fixed the problem and billed me for £81.14.

Like anything else in life you never know what the future holds. I'm hanging on to it until it turns its toes up.

Cheers.

This is an impossible question to answer. There are so many variables that effect a cars life and component fatigue!

Only 87000 miles :eek:

Thats very good for the age.

The car did a lot of motorway/A road miles in it's early life but now does less miles but mostly town and stop start stuff.

I know it's quite hard to give precise times of when certain components will fail but was just looking for a general consensus... Don't really fancy shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds on repairs in the next few years that could go towards a newer car.

Is there anything expensive that hasn't already been replaced that is fairly likely to need attention fairly soon?

Thanks for the replies so far.

turbo, exhaust, suspension, bushes, brakes again, clutch, head gasket...... could need all.. might need none... impossible to say as its all down to how driven.

Looked after and serviced correctly, it should last a while yet

I have had my tdi estate for 5 years now. Is 1999 and has 143000m on it bought with 47000m. Went through a wee spell of components breaking around 120000 miles with what looked like fatigue in the materials used but now has settled down to be pretty reliable again(I hope) Value of car is now negligible so will keep it well maintained till it dies.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Is the depreciation on a newer car going to be more than the cost of repairs on your current one? Don't include routine maintenance costs because you'd have to do that on any car you had.

Are finance interest charges(loss of interest on savings) going to amount to more than breakdown costs?

Is a replacement car going to give you peace of mind that it will be 100% reliable?

Could you buy a quality aftermarket warranty for your current car?

Personally I think the most cost effective way of running a car is to buy a 4 to 5 year old one for circa £5k and keep it till it dies.

Some of the components you class as major; brakes, exhaust etc are consumable items and will have a finite life span

Thanks for that.

If I do replace it will probably with a smaller car which should also have lower running costs so I need to consider that plus the angles you mention.

I'll have a look whats around and if I have any money available when it comes to service time!

Edited 20 August, 200817 yr by DGW
Redundant quote deleted.

my brothers vrs got 185k or sumin, and thats still goin well, and looking cool

:orb_danci

I've just bought a 1.8T 4x4 with 79K on the clock, with the intention of converting to Gas and running till it dies, then revive it and run it till it dies again! the equivalent diesel version would have been about £1000 more so the gas conversion is mostly covered. Will then be more economical than said diesel equivalent, and as the garage that does the Gas service also does normal servicing and MOT's theres not really any extra cost associated with it. And I drive a car that makes me smile about five minutes up the road once its warmed up a bit - got to look after that turbo :-).

On the point of Parts failing, had a brand new Mondeo and a brand new Primera, whilst the Mondeo didnt actually break and bits, it spent far too much time in the garage and ate tyres like fun. The nissan broke its aircon pipework just outside its warranty (metal fatigue) would rather have a used VAG group car anyday.

My car is 2001 with 56k now on it. Not had to spend a penny on it other than the usual tyres, pads ect ect, but its having the water pump and belt done @ 60k. The interior has seen better days with having 3 children but its nothing a carpet cleaner and a bit of hard work wont sort.

There is a Vrs advertised locally, 2002 with 199k on it..............

Some people say clutches hardly fail if driven smooth and should last the life of the car.

Others say 100k miles

Mine was changed at 100k

I bought my Skoda when it was 8 years old with 74k miles and its still going strong. Loads of life left in there.

I have had my tdi estate for 5 years now. Is 1999 and has 143000m on it bought with 47000m. Went through a wee spell of components breaking around 120000 miles with what looked like fatigue in the materials used but now has settled down to be pretty reliable again(I hope) Value of car is now negligible so will keep it well maintained till it dies.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Is the depreciation on a newer car going to be more than the cost of repairs on your current one? Don't include routine maintenance costs because you'd have to do that on any car you had.

Are finance interest charges(loss of interest on savings) going to amount to more than breakdown costs?

Is a replacement car going to give you peace of mind that it will be 100% reliable?

Could you buy a quality aftermarket warranty for your current car?

Personally I think the most cost effective way of running a car is to buy a 4 to 5 year old one for circa £5k and keep it till it dies.

Some of the components you class as major; brakes, exhaust etc are consumable items and will have a finite life span

:iagree:

my brothers vrs got 185k or sumin, and thats still goin well, and looking cool

:orb_danci

WOW ..If he ever consider selling those alloys PM me - they would fit my car perfectly

What are those alloys!?

Look ruddy marvelous!

So long as the car is correctly serviced, i would keep hold of it.

I've a 54 plate Mk2 Octavia 1.9TDI with 119k on the clock and runs sweet as a nut!

I have had my tdi estate for 5 years now. Is 1999 and has 143000m on it bought with 47000m. Went through a wee spell of components breaking around 120000 miles with what looked like fatigue in the materials used but now has settled down to be pretty reliable again(I hope) Value of car is now negligible so will keep it well maintained till it dies.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Is the depreciation on a newer car going to be more than the cost of repairs on your current one? Don't include routine maintenance costs because you'd have to do that on any car you had.

Are finance interest charges(loss of interest on savings) going to amount to more than breakdown costs?

Is a replacement car going to give you peace of mind that it will be 100% reliable?

Could you buy a quality aftermarket warranty for your current car?

Personally I think the most cost effective way of running a car is to buy a 4 to 5 year old one for circa £5k and keep it till it dies.

Some of the components you class as major; brakes, exhaust etc are consumable items and will have a finite life span

I totally agree with all of that. There's no way that buying a new car can be financially justified, and even less so if it's purchased on finance. You buy a new car because you want one that's fair enough, but the rate of depreciation on a new car will always be greater than the cost of repairs to an older car, and that's assuming that an older car needs repairs. if it's been properly looked after it may not need any.

Cost savings are not everything. One issue often overlooked when choosing new/old car is reliability, another is risk of wear-induced loss of control on the road.

If the car used in home-to-work-and-back scenario over urban or country roads, a used car is perfect. But if you drive 100mph+ for hours at a time (across Europe), and measure trips in 1000+ miles range, get a new car and don't use it for too long.

My rating for Skodas is 100k-150k miles for this type of use, then it's best to pass it to your significant other for use as commuter and/or shopping trolley.