Hi All,

Tempted by the early MK2 petrol vRS 'Tavia and have found a few 55 / 06 plate cars with between 40-60K on the clock. Other than the usual checks (FSH, cambelt / water pump changes after 4 yrs) how do these cars deal with middle age?

For example, I've driven my brother's 08 Leon FR with the same petrol engine and DSG, so know the engine is strong and pulls well from low down - but after 50K miles or so?

Suspension / interior build quality - anything else to be aware of or factor in for the next few services?

Thanks

Steven

I've seen posts on here from VAG technicians that have worked on GTI Golfs with the same engine and they've commented that the engine remains solid even with 100k on the clock.

I've noted some wear on my drivers seat leather panels after only 3yr /34k miles so I think that would be a weak point.

I can only give you my experience, which has been mostly positive! Mine was registered Jan 06 and apart form a few "trim" fit issues, which were fixed under warranty has covered the 56k very well!

My advice is check the service history ie, is it fixed or variable (there are loads of threads on here about which is better depending on your driving style). Make sure the cam belt has been done at the recommended interval as has the break fluid change etc etc. At that age/ mileage combo, you could find a car which would leave you facing the hit of the 60K service yourself, not nice within a year of ownership!

I've only had two issues with mine. The air con needed a re gas as it stopped cooling last year. (a minor leak was fixed and all seems ok) and I had to have the Teves ABS/ESP pump replaced. This is a known weakness on VAG platforms and used to cost about £1,500! Dealers seem to offer this now for £800-£1000, but it's still eye watering! I had mine replaced out of warranty & Skoda Customer Services & the dealer were very good at offering a substantial % "loyalty" discount! But worth checking if this has been replaced with the newer ATE version. If not Honest John is suggesting arguing on a £1,500 discount!!!

The diaphragm type diverter vale is also know to go with enthusiastic driving, and should by now have been replaced with the newest piston type valve. There have also been issue reported with the fuel pump/cam follower wearing quickly.

Some trim can wear, ie the rubber coating on door handles etc can lift and leather on the steering wheel can become very polished! The grey suede effect can wear and shows dirt very easily and the threaded seat back and base can be easily "pulled" & show threads. Some folks have reported "thin" paint in places. I've noticed that the paint on my alloys is looking a little less shiny (despite a reasonable care regime) but nothing worse than any other car of it's age (i've a refurb planned soon!). There are also common issues with stereo head units making loud "pops" from time to time, which should have been resolved with a firmware upgrade/replacement unit under warranty. Usual advice here, make sure everything works and that every button does what it should do!!!!

Like any performance vehicle, they are built to be driven & some will have been driven/used harder than others!!! Have a look at the "stickies" thread on common faults for more concerns. However over all I've loved mine, and with there being little else out there to tempt me, I can't see me letting it go for some time yet! Oh and remember they are intended for 98Ron fuel, but can run on 95Ron with some performance reduction. Some say you can't tell the difference, but i sure could in mine!!!

Another thought, when I bought SWMBO's Fabia, as it was under 5 years old, i insisted that the dealer threw in the genuine Skoda Warranty package (not the cheapo one they were pushing!) This proved a really fantastic tool as it paid for a new ECU, ABS Pump, Battery, Radiator and having the piston rings replaced!!!!! I know some folks say that warranties aren't worth the paper they are written on, but that one saved us thousands!!! If you are buying from a dealer, and it has full dealer history, they should be able to confirm any & all work carried out. I've heard some folks argue they can't 'cos of data protection, but my local dealers seems happy enough to show this as a printout to prospective buyers, after they have removed the previous owners details!

Final thought, the size and weight of the Octy mean it won't handle like the Leon, and if you drive it enthusiastically or in heavy traffic etc, don't expect it to be "that" economic! If you're in a Ka now, the fuel/insurance/tax bill will probably be the biggest negatives!!!

Edited 26 August, 201015 yr by uncle bulgaria

I recently bought an 06 reg car and I'm really pleased with it. I bought the car from a Skoda dealer and it is in mint condition. The car has covered 46k and there and no signs of wear on the inside; the seats are near enough as good as new with only slight creasing on the drivers bolster (unavoidable). The trim is unmarked and I have no rattles. The gearbox is sweet, no notches and the engine pulls strongly and smoothly. TBH I think that they are a bargain if you can get the price right. I bought mine from a main dealer, FSH (on the 12 monthly interval - crucial if you ask me), new tyres, cambelt change most of the options, 12 month warranty etc etc for £7.6k. To me that is a bargain for a 4 year old 2.0 turbo of this quality. I've previously spent considerably more than this on performance cars and whilst the VRS isn't up to the quality of some cars, I think it is hard to beat for the price.

Just make sure the car has a FSSH and is serviced annually, look for obvious signs it has been looked after, check the bodywork and tyres (if they all match it is a good sign) and you should get yourself a good car.