Hi Guys

I am looking at getting a Vrs Estate, have seen a couple of autotrader

Auto Trader UK - SKODA Octavia 1.8T RS

Auto Trader UK - SKODA OCTAVIA 1.8T VRS

Mileage wise they are both about 140Kish, just wondering what peoples thoughts are, is it worth taking a risk or should I keep looking, budget wise I have 3250 to spend.

Cheers for all your help

I bought one with 120,000 miles very clean in and out but within 3 months the engine blew up at 30 mph. Cost me a grand for a replacement. Only paid £2750 for the car. Thats not to say all high mileage octy's are gonna blow up, I was just unlucky. The engine I got was out of a seat leon cupra, came with everything under the bonnet, 6 spd gearbox, linkage, turbo, alt, a/c, wiring loom the lot. Just be careful and make sure its had a belt and water pump change and its on the latest spec coils.

I would have to say that is just pure bad luck. Modern engines can go for double that easily if well serviced. It tends to be the little things like electrical relays, hoses and sensors that start playing up/giving out with age.

I would have to say that is just pure bad luck. Modern engines can go for double that easily if well serviced. It tends to be the little things like electrical relays, hoses and sensors that start playing up/giving out with age.

Agreed.

At that age the engine itself can still have plenty of life left but there's a good chance you'll get minor faults cropping up that can cost a couple of hundred quid to diagnose and fix if you have to pay a garage to have a look.

The octavia shouldn't be any worse than other quick cars in that price range though.

Both cars should be on to their 2nd cambelt by now I would imagine.

Both cars should be on to their 2nd cambelt by now I would imagine.

Hopefully they are into their 3rd

What mileage should the the cambelt be changed, 60 000ish?

4 Years regardless of mileage I believe (but stand to be corrected 'cos mines a diesel).

Dave

My 05 vRS estate has 117k on the clock and I have had no major problems. One wheel bearing, performance issue turned out to be bad fuel, lumber support broken on drivers seat... It had just over 100k when I purchased, so that 17k of pretty much trouple free driving.

I made sure the car had full skoda history and the cam belt/major service was done the day I bought the car at a main dealer at cost to the seller. I payed £4.5k in March 08, it was only 2 and half years old.

Still drives like new... Touch wood, lol.

4 Years regardless of mileage I believe (but stand to be corrected 'cos mines a diesel).

Dave

4 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first for a petrol turbo engine

To be honest it makes no odds how many times the belt has been changed or not - if it hasn't failed then it's done no harm.

All you need to know when buying the car is when it was last done , and if it needs changing now then you demand a reduction in price to cover the cost of doing it. If they can't show proof of the work then assume that it hasn't been swapped.

cheers for all the input guys, i am just going to double check on when they belts were last done and might wander off to see one or both of them tomorrow.

as you say could be fine could be VERY unfine! but you never know until you have a look