Hi.I'm after some advice.

I've been looking at upsizing my Fabia Tdi to an Octavia Estate. Am quite intrested in the never shape 55 reg and onwards 1.9 Tdi 4x4 model, are these 105bhp as standard?

If they are, are they easily re-mapped?

and would anyone who owns one recommend them

Cheers

Hi Chimpy. I've only had my 06 model a few weeks but am happy to share my thoughts.

Its done 60K and the previous owner (well to do pilot) changes them every 3 years. He claims to have had no trouble at all. It spent if life on trips from Halifax to Heathrow at 85 on the cruise and was returning 42mpg on the computer. I go a bit slower than that am am getting about 50 on the computer (need to do some brim to brim tests to see how accurate the computer is....I've heard mixed reports).

I believe they do about 5mpg less than the 2 wheel drives which over many miles does add up, but it is worthwhile for my use.

It is fast enough for me. I think the 1.9 model is 105hp so it does not fly, but it has plenty of life even in 6th gear. I've very impressed with the ride and quality feel of the cabin. I'm 6'4" and usually struggle to get comfortable, but there is loads of room in these.

I've not heard major worries about the 4 wheel drive system going wrong. Fingers crossed! There are some great videos on you tube showing the benefits on the 4 wheel drive. They look far more capable than I imagined.

I think they look better with the raised suspension (others may disagree!) but I think they look even better when they go the whole way to the Scout model...........but that was too much money for my needs.

I have a 4x4 but it is the 2.0 140bhp version and yes I would highly recommend it. The 1.9 105 bhp is more common, the owners on here still rate them and they are easily remappable to about the same outputs as the 2.0.

thank you both that's very helpful.

the only problem I'm having is finding one thats for sale!

Yep when I got mine there were only 7 within the dealer network across the country!

Mine came from Alex Lawrie in Liverpool even though I'm in Sheffield.

Autotrader have quite a few listed...

Autotrader Link

Edited 21 May, 200917 yr by skomaz

I just picked up our 06 1.9 4x4 last night, we'd been looking for ages too, well worth the wait though

Andi

I have the 2.0 version, I absolutely love it. Considering how much I paid for it, it's an incredible car. I've had it for 7 months and am yet to find anything about it that bothers me in any way.

I did test drive the 1.9, despite the 105bhp figure, it's actually very driveable, due to 250Nm of torque. Plenty enough guts to pull the car, engine didn't feel like it was unhappy about the car's weight, if you don't drive enthusiastically then it's ample IMO. There are folk on here that use the 1.9 4x4 to pull caravans without a problem.

One thing I did notice was that there seems to be more 2.0 available than 1.9 now, and the 2.0 are increasingly Scouts. I did consider the Scout but didn't quite think it justified the extra money (depends on how much you go off-road I guess!), but it was a close call. I like the "stealth SUV" aspect of the standard 4x4 (but that's a personal thing; I do like the Scout)

Thanks all for the replies, yes I'ts probably going to be a waiting game.

Had a look on' trader but most are hundreds of miles away from me, saw one there that had 79k on it, looked alright and even though it's newer in age I have a pyshcological barries that says I shouldn't buy a car thats got more miles on it than my current one.

Might go down and take it for a drive though, just to test one out like, although knowing me I'll probably come back with it.

I travelled from Swansea to Southampton to get mine... twice! Worth it though, to get the car I wanted

I think prices for these vary more than I've seen for any car. I know the market is a bit odd at the moment (not as many cars coming off-lease due to credit crunch) but I found prices all over the place.

Looking at 3 year olds (say 06) they seem to vary from £5k to £9k. Generally the higher mileage ones are at the cheaper end but not always!

I paid £7k for mine, 2 3/4 year old and 59500 miles in Black Magic paint with cruise etc. privately through autotrader. It was a genuine one owner car with a very believable story and 'easy' miles behind it. I liked the colour and the owner so bought it. The glasses valuation (the one available to the public for a few £s) showed:

Dealer retail: £9330

Private sale: £7940

Trade-in av cond £6660

So this would say I got a bargian?

BUT, the valuations from What Car website were way below these, showing that I'd paid too much! Having said that, everything advertised for sale was also way above What Cars figures (except my Fiat when I was trying to sell it!).

The day I bought it, there was one similar car cheaper (at a Skoda Dealers!) and about 5 more expensive. Withing a few days that had turned around.

My other observations on buying:

* Where have all the private sellers gone? A typical search on autotrader returning say

60 results, only 3 of them would be private.

* Many 'dealers' are not adding any value. They are buying ex-lease cars from auctions and selling them without doing ANYTHING to them. Dents, scuffs, missing keys, near worn tyres all coming as standard. OK I believe you get some protection if it blows up on the way home but still questionable value.

Mine came with 500 miles to go on the Skoda warranty which was rather a clever choice of timing by the seller, as I knew I could take any fault I found straight to the dealer.

Edited 22 May, 200917 yr by Broadpete

I would certainly agree with that, the prices do vary a lot for these.

I don’t work in the motor trade but we get the CAP black books every month , needless to say it's coming in very useful at the moment, I keep scratching my head when I look at the prices out there and comparing it to the book for these 4x4's.

So, anyone just let me know if you want to know what CAP says you're car is worth just give me the Model, year, reg plate year i.e. 55, 06 etc and mileage and I'll let you know.

Go on then ... 2005 (B7) 54 Plate Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE saloon on a 50K miles

Go on then ... 2005 (B7) 54 Plate Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE saloon on a 50K miles

Clean - 8250

Avg - 7575

Below Avg - 6900

CAP Retail - 10150

I bought my 1.9 4x4 last Augsut, afetr several months of research. It's now don 6K miles.

Have I regretted it? No!!! It took a bit of getting used to as I had been driving a Landrover and Suzuki Grand Vitara over the previous 10 years, so it's very low.

However it has done everything I ask of it, including a trailer with an allup weight of close to a ton.

Fuel consumption is levelling out in the high 40's.

Would I buy another one?

YES, with the caveat that I would prefer a 19. to the newer engines!!

For what it's worth I have a 4x4 FSi and it's great. A bit thirsty on the commute but a brilliant al-round motor.