My old money pit 1993/4 Saab is really narking off the missus.

Her parents have offered to loan us cash to replace it.

I liked my old Octavia 1 GLX but the blandness of the 8v killed me with boredom.

I've been thinking about an Octi 2 1.9 as it is a bit gruntier and more powerful than the old 8v petrol, should be a lot better on fuel than the Saab and a lot better on tax a year.

I spent a year driving an auto Toyota Celsior, and the company mule is an auto Jeep Cherokee. So I've been thinking about a DSG.

Am I likely to find a 1.9 TDI DSG L&K for arround £4000?

A sexy magic black one with dark interior would be ideal.

I could live with manual but would prefer DSG.

Does DSG in the Octavia come with paddles or just the manual stick option?

Thanks all.

Looking forward to buying my 4th (and 5th for the family) Skoda.

You wont get an L&K for 4K no, but you may find a lesser model with the same engine and no DSG for your budget.

prolly but expect it to be miley and pretty much shagged out

I'd be happy to go to arround 100k miles.

Just wondering with car values plummeting, and salesmen wanting make their sales (should I decide to go trade rather than private) whether there was a whole load of haggling room.

I was thinking I was asking a lot.

I've seen this Elegance listed in the trader, and while it doesn't have the L&K leather/alcantara, or climate control, and is a bit leggy, but I do like the Black with dark interior.

That looks like a good benchmark

Good to see I'm looking along the right lines.

I'd go for a better condition manual elegance instead.

Why not a late Mk1 L&K. Many were privately owned so looked after & will not have intergalactic miles. Our 52 plate is on 131000 & still going. I think you will find the older ones are also a bit better on fuel.

If you know a bit about cars or know someone who does look at going to an auction, there are some bargains to be had

Also ring the dealers & see what trade ins they are sending to auction, you might be able to do a pre auction deal, its something I did in the first reccesion when I needed a car.

Got A big old Volvo, ( I was broke) 101,000 miles, one owner from new, full service history for £700. Lasted nearly 2 years & apart from tyres I only replaced 1 bulb, didnt even service it. Sold it for £475

I fancied a Mk2 for the DSG box.

As I'm going to be spending about 3-5 times what I normally punt on a run around to keep the missus happy I want something that isn't going to be stupid on tax, and while an auto isn't essential, a DSG is a nice compromise and not as crippling on tax as the old auto in the MK1.

A Mk1 L&K manual would be the alternative, a very optioned up Elegance as has been suggested.

My last few cars, although sub £1k bangers has pampered me, I've gotten so used to powered heated seats, full climate that worked, silky smooth autos and sporty manuals, electric heated mirrors etc.

Why not a late Mk1 L&K. Many were privately owned so looked after & will not have intergalactic miles. Our 52 plate is on 131000 & still going. I think you will find the older ones are also a bit better on fuel.

If you know a bit about cars or know someone who does look at going to an auction, there are some bargains to be had

Also ring the dealers & see what trade ins they are sending to auction, you might be able to do a pre auction deal, its something I did in the first reccesion when I needed a car.

Got A big old Volvo, ( I was broke) 101,000 miles, one owner from new, full service history for £700. Lasted nearly 2 years & apart from tyres I only replaced 1 bulb, didnt even service it. Sold it for £475

I know enough about cars to get me into trouble and then spend money when I hear/feel something new that isn't quite right, but the missus wouldn't even know about until it totally broke.

Before I passed my test, and she had her metro, she complained about a bit of buzzing and vibration, I thought it was probably balance or alignment and said we would get it sorted at the next MOT as the tread wear wasn't uneven.

Then one day she took me somewhere and I had to tell her to take it back home sharpish. It felt like the whole back of the car was bouncing. We drove it slowly to her uncles who is a tyre fitter, he got it on the ramp and discovered a huge egg in on of the tyres that conveniently ended up at or near the bottom so wasn't visible. Turns out it had been like that for somewhere between 3 and 6 months and she never mentioned it.

he got it on the ramp and discovered a huge egg in one of the tyres

Previous tyre fitter being careless with his breakfast bap?

..I'll get my coat.

Thanyavermuch, I'm here all week...

The older Mk2 L&Ks that you'd be looking at don't have all the extras that the current Mk2 L&Ks have. I can't remember exactly but I think you're only getting leather and maybe maxidot over the Elegance.

When did the DSG become available in the 2? Was that from launch or introduced later?

I have a 55 plate '06 L&K estate with DSG. with 62k miles when I bought it. came with leather, maxidot, fully climatic aircon, stream CD (for sale if anybody wants it), auto dimming interior & exterior mirrors, electric drivers seat level boot floor. Sadly it is pre xenons. full service history & 1 owner. Paid over double what you are looking to pay. Everybody kept on telling when I was looking that the spec I have is very rare. Who knows? I found what I wanted & paid book price. I'm happy.

I thought the DSG was available from launch. Correct me if I'm wrong.

DSG from launch is good to know.

Was probably looking at the either the earliest of the mk2 breed, or I still had in mind the mk1 latest possible.

Were there any bugs/foibles/recalls in the early Mk2 models that made people wish they had held on a little?