I'm currently after a black MK1 VRS for about 3-3.5K , I'm living nin London and all the ones I see for sale are miles away up north or other depts of the country.

Seen this one on autotrader that seems pretty good condition http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201019358711708/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/4000/price-from/3000/model/octavia/make/skoda/page/3/postcode/nw101eh/quicksearch/true/radius/100?logcode=p and I wanted to ask you guys on here who know your stuff what you think of it? I'm hoping to see it in the next few days, I hope its what I'm looking for , if it has FSH by skoda it should be pretty good!

looks tidy enough. Have you looked at the buying guide on this forum?

Looks good and fairly unmolested, no exterior mods or boost gauge or anything like that.

It looks like one of these "selling cars off my driveway" dealers which always put me off a bit but if you go and look at it and it's clean then go for it.

I would say the price is a little bit high for the age and mileage, if you want to try and knock them down a bit the cambelt and water pump should have been done in 2007 and unless it was done recently (out of schedule) will be due again next year so try and knock them down on that.

Edited 12 May, 201016 yr by chicken_eyebrow

I'm currently after a black MK1 VRS for about 3-3.5K , I'm living nin London and all the ones I see for sale are miles away up north or other depts of the country.

Seen this one on autotrader that seems pretty good condition http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201019358711708/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/4000/price-from/3000/model/octavia/make/skoda/page/3/postcode/nw101eh/quicksearch/true/radius/100?logcode=p and I wanted to ask you guys on here who know your stuff what you think of it? I'm hoping to see it in the next few days, I hope its what I'm looking for , if it has FSH by skoda it should be pretty good!

car seems sweet enough from pics but beware of the kind of dealer youre who is selling the car, from his drive namely! you can always do a vehicle (ie. hpi check). like previous posters have said check timing belt kit has been done etc. look at the tyres for over wear etc and give it a damn good test drive. it may be worthwhile travelling a few miles to check out a few more cars. good luck and enjoy my friend!

thanks for the replies , that did cross my mind about a dealer selling cars from his house, a little bit worrying but i thihk I will go and check it out. I've seen this one as well on autotrader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201019358776425/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/price-from/2000/model/octavia/make/skoda/postcode/nw101eh/radius/100/page/7/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

it's not too far from where I live, the milage seems higher but it still has FSH and I've heard the engines take high miles in there stride. How easy is it changed the cambelt / water pump on these engines? I'm no stranger to fixing cars but don't want to have to pull an engine out to get to a cambelt like on some cars!

I have read the VRS buying guide , I printed it out and took it with me when I looked at a VRS last weekend, excellent guide to have although I could not find the location on the engine number on the block, it it easy to see without pulling off parts? . Is there anywhere you can point me to a picture of the block with the number on it?

Cheers!!!! :-)

thanks for the replies , that did cross my mind about a dealer selling cars from his house, a little bit worrying but i thihk I will go and check it out. I've seen this one as well on autotrader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201019358776425/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/price-from/2000/model/octavia/make/skoda/postcode/nw101eh/radius/100/page/7/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

I have look at a car from this dealer in the past as its very local to me and the car I looked at had had a lot of bits done to it (paintwork, replacement bumpers etc.) and the bits were not done well!! I thought it might just be a bad car but when I had a look round there seemed to be a lot of cars that had work done, for example an escort that had clearly had the rear bumper replaced with different ones that were not previously painted and were bumpy that had been sprayed to match the front one!!

Also for your information there are 5 scrap yards in the same estate as this (one next door) so that’s probably where some of the cars/bits come from judging from what I have seen there.

That’s just my opinion and I may be wrong and it might be worth a look if your not far but make sure you do a good inspection and do your own HPI etc.

I could not find the location on the engine number on the block, it it easy to see without pulling off parts? . Is there anywhere you can point me to a picture of the block with the number on it?

It's on a little metal tab on the front cambelt end of the engine (left end as you are looking at it), it might be easier to see it with the plastic engine cover unclipped.

Here's a picture:

As far as cambelt change goes I don't think you have to go as far as removing the engine but the engine needs to be supported and one of the mounts removed and lots of covers etc removed so it does take a few hours, the water pump is usually replaced at the same time to save doing all the labour twice.

I know the car has been washed at the local place round the corner, always supply the same air freshner.

Not much help but typical, i wanted a black one a few months ago, i live 3 miles from Guildford and couldnt find one!!

As for constructive info, as stated it does seem a high price.

I got my 51 plate with 90,000 on the clock and only paid £2500 with full service history etc.

I know its older but lower miles.

thanks again for all the good advice and help, keep em comming!!!! I'm going to go out this weekend and check out as many cars as I can.

I'm in hire car at the mo and need to use a car for work so there is a pressing concern to get a car quick, If I can't find a good one soon I will buy a normal octavia for a few hundred quid to run around in till I find a decent VRS as it's costing me £140 a week to hire a car ,athough having driven the VRS last weekend I want to pick one up ASAP , I can't wait to give one a really good blast on the motorway :-)

Paul

I'm currently after a black MK1 VRS for about 3-3.5K , I'm living nin London and all the ones I see for sale are miles away up north or other depts of the country.

Seen this one on autotrader that seems pretty good condition http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201019358711708/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/4000/price-from/3000/model/octavia/make/skoda/page/3/postcode/nw101eh/quicksearch/true/radius/100?logcode=p and I wanted to ask you guys on here who know your stuff what you think of it? I'm hoping to see it in the next few days, I hope its what I'm looking for , if it has FSH by skoda it should be pretty good!

Pretty pricey? I bought mine for £2250 with 136k on the clock on an 03 plate. BTW, I have just switched to a black one for the first time in my life and it is a FANTASTIC car! Best buy so far! I loved my rover but it doesn't hold an ounce against my vRS.