I'm after an 2.0 diesel octavia, I've seen a few in my price range but they have done 70,000 - 80,000 miles and are about 3 years old.

I'm assuming the cam belt & possibly the water pump should be replaced around this mileage, is there anything else I should be aware of that may need replacing?

Thanks

Dave

Yes belt should have been changed - check the receipts carefully to be sure it has been done. A 3 year old will be out of warranty so be careful if buying privately - a dealer should give at least 1 years warranty but check what is covered as they vary.

Just check general condition including wear on front discs - a good indicator of a hard driven, and braking, car - are they very worn or recently replaced (no ridge).

General state of the seats and inside trim, anything that points to an easy or hard life. If regularly serviced and the car looks and feels sound then it should be a good buy, price dependant.

Check the ESP bulb lights when you turn the key.

An unscrupulous seller might disconnect it to hide a failure which will cost around £1500 to repair.

See: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=teves+mk60

If it's DSG, the oil in the 'box should have been changed at around 40k miles.

Good luck! If you get a good one, you won't regret it!

Check the ESP bulb lights when you turn the key.

An unscrupulous seller might disconnect it to hide a failure which will cost around £1500 to repair.

See: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=teves+mk60

Now that has me worried. Would this be covered under warranty?

Some of the skoda dealers I have seen will only offer a 3 month warranty because of the mileage being over 60,000.

BBA-Reman offer a repair for £350 so not too bad. Also has a 2 year warranty with the repair.

Now that has me worried. Would this be covered under warranty?

Some of the skoda dealers I have seen will only offer a 3 month warranty because of the mileage being over 60,000.

Or buy an Octavia that doesn't have it.

Up to and including Elegance spec didn't have ESP as standard so don't have this problem (unless it was specified as an option)

Thanks for your responses.

I've narrowed it down to:

57 plate Black 2.0 TDI Elegance just over 60,000 on the clock (1 owner) for just under £9,000, dealer seems reluctant to move on price & part ex price is pants.

or

06 plate Grey 2.0 TDI Sport with 35,000 on the clock (2 owners) for just under £9,000 - I'm curious as to why it's got such low mileage for 2 owners!?

Is the 57 plate the better bet?

Hey there, I'm in Norfolk too. Just picked my Octy for a decent price from auction. www.british-car-auctions.co.uk they can deliver too saved a fair bit too and in the weeks before Christmas prices can drop. Over 50 Octy's at various locations.

Thanks for your responses.

I've narrowed it down to:

57 plate Black 2.0 TDI Elegance just over 60,000 on the clock (1 owner) for just under £9,000, dealer seems reluctant to move on price & part ex price is pants.

or

06 plate Grey 2.0 TDI Sport with 35,000 on the clock (2 owners) for just under £9,000 - I'm curious as to why it's got such low mileage for 2 owners!?

Is the 57 plate the better bet?

You could try to buy at a car auction. Next Tuesday at BCA Bedford they will be a very nice Skoda on sale (Fleet car), I reckon it will sell for around £6k - £6.5k

SKODA OCTAVIA 2.0 TDI PD ELEGANCE

5 Doors, Estate, Diesel, Manual Transmission, Grey, Margin

* RegistrationEJ57XYL

* Registration date31/10/2007

* Mileage67271 Warranted

* Colour Grey

* Log bookn/a

Equipment

Maintenance Record - 3 skda svcs to 59k 7/10, SH - 2 SKDA STMPS TO 59K 7/10, Parking Sensor(s), Air Conditioning, CD Autochanger

With this mileage it should be already after its big service and cambelt change.

You could try to buy at a car auction. Next Tuesday at BCA Bedford they will be a very nice Skoda on sale (Fleet car), I reckon it will sell for around £6k - £6.5k

SKODA OCTAVIA 2.0 TDI PD ELEGANCE

5 Doors, Estate, Diesel, Manual Transmission, Grey, Margin

* RegistrationEJ57XYL

* Registration date31/10/2007

* Mileage67271 Warranted

* Colour Grey

* Log bookn/a

Equipment

Maintenance Record - 3 skda svcs to 59k 7/10, SH - 2 SKDA STMPS TO 59K 7/10, Parking Sensor(s), Air Conditioning, CD Autochanger

With this mileage it should be already after its big service and cambelt change.

I did see that one, looks pretty good.

Only problem I have with auctions is that I can't get to them because of work.

My buying advice would be 'don't'.

Buy a petrol instead. The extra money spent on fuel will be offset by the cheaper maintenance.

I'm regretting my purchase of a 2.0CR VRS as it seems to have an unfixable problem.

I'm regretting my purchase of a 2.0CR VRS as it seems to have an unfixable problem.

What's the unfixable problem?

My buying advice would be 'don't'.

Buy a petrol instead. The extra money spent on fuel will be offset by the cheaper maintenance.

I'm regretting my purchase of a 2.0CR VRS as it seems to have an unfixable problem.

.....and the petrol will be SO much more fun to drive!!

.....and the petrol will be SO much more fun to drive!!

I'm sure they are more fun, but I do too many miles (25k) to justify the cost of petrol, and I know that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from putting my foot down all the time if I had a vRS

I did see that one, looks pretty good.

Only problem I have with auctions is that I can't get to them because of work.

Take a sickie or take holiday or unpaid leave, just think of home much money you'll save.

Or pop down to Bedford on Saturday morning to view the cars, then bid live via the interweb.