My 98 Octavia Mk1 SLX has a rattle underneath so I went to Skoda in Failand, North somerset yesterday for a look.

Told me "cat" has/is disintegrating and also needs a bit of welding. Told nearly £600 for new cat and £200 for the bits , plus VAT plus Labour.

Surely there must be a cheaper way. Am about to sell it, but if I need to spend £1k or more on it, it wont be worth it.

Any pointers for cheaper bits? Is it a diy job?

thanks in advance.

Is it worth going to a main dealer for an 11-year-old Octavia?

probably not, its about 1 minute up the road from my house. i take it that there could be a lot cheaper options elsewhere? I will take to Grham Batt in Bristol as well later in the week , any other recommendations?

buy a second hand cat and go to back street garage to get welding done ebay is your friend:thumbup:

Pretty much what he said!

great, many thanks

What welding needs doing? Exhaust or body?

Ebay or scrapyard for the cat, or cheap aftermarket exchange.

shop around! thats a hell of a high price, u can get a performance down pipe and cat for a vrs for 400 so im pritty sure you should pay less than that for one for yours.

try euro car parts, or andrew pages.

there will be a local parts dealer were you are that could sell you one cheep.

But be careful about cheap chinese cats as a there are a good number of cases of MOT failures following fitting of these due to higher emissions.

Do a google search, this is the first one I found & these are sports cats, you must be able to find something even cheaper Sports CATs / Hi-Flow Sport CATs / Skoda Octavia / Euro Performance Car Parts

Jetex Catalytic Converters - Universal Sports Catalysts, Direct Fit Standard Catalysts, Direct Fit Sports Catalysts

Oddly enough they are now a site sponsor too.

How handy