I have done a large topic of this not long ago so I shall keep this short. Right, I've found out today from the seller that the vrs was a leasing car and it has only being leased to 1 person for 3 years. So far so good, I think. The leasing company is in Basildon called Two Me Leasing? I have tried to search for it online with no luck in finding it :wonder: Should alarms be ringing? Like I have stated previously on my other post i've done a full DVLA & HPI checks and the results are good. Me head is now spinning and i've come to a dead end to what to do. The car looks so nice and i'm tempted to just buy it! The other half is saying don't do it and buy a Honda Civic Type-R GT. I was offered a Type-R 08 plate from Honda but they wouldn't reduce the price so I could pay £200 p/m for it. It only had 15k miles on the clock as well! The problem with Type-R's is they are very bumpy on our roads and not very practical if your thinking of having kids next year. Everyone I know have told me the same story 'leased car? leave it alone!' and think I should go with Honda instead or wait for another VRS. I was meant to keep this short! Any honest opinions would be very helpful cheers

If you are thinking of having kids, the VRS is the one to have. You'll soon get fed up of only having 2 doors.

Having said that, the type-r feels more sporty.

If you are doing any long trips, the Skoda is more comfortable.

Both cars have decent boots, big enough for baby stuff, buggy, etc. The Skoda is a little bigger.

Hondas are more reliable - this is not my opinion, but the results of warranty claims statistics. Hondas are the most reliable brand of car on the road, twice as reliable as the next brand. Skoda come 5th, the best-placed non-Japanese brand.

A lease car is much better than a rental car.

The vRS is much more practical and family orientated than a Type-R too.

If you like the car then go for it, you've been mulling it over for some time now!

I've had performance Japanese before and I've gotta say it wasn't really for me. I don't like the urgent revviness any more and the interiors are somewhat lacking, the Octavia is just a more complete car

I know what I'd choose!

I forgot to say that I'd choose the vRS, but I have a kid and a wife and travel 70 miles a day.

If I was still a young 'un with no kids planned, I'd probably go for the R-Type.

A lease car is much better than a rental car.

The vRS is much more practical and family orientated than a Type-R too.

If you like the car then go for it, you've been mulling it over for some time now!

I know, i've being going on about this topic for a while but as i've never owned a Skoda before it's like treading in deep water. I've always liked the Honda's and the new Skoda's too. The thing is, you have to be so careful these days in what you buy as a car is very expensive. Also it's the first time i'm buying a car by borrowing from the bank. Previously my parents bought the cars and i'd pay back on 0%! Unfortunately they are not in the position to do it this time, which is why i'm extra careful. Like they say, you can never be too careful.

I've had performance Japanese before and I've gotta say it wasn't really for me. I don't like the urgent revviness any more and the interiors are somewhat lacking, the Octavia is just a more complete car

I know what I'd choose!

Let me guess, Skoda?

Whats wrong with a lease car?

Its just one method of paying for a car and most likely to have been a company car.

The lease company would insist the car being serviced properly

I would be worried about a rental car but a lease car to one person should be fine. Chances are it was some form of company car or the person and since they have kept it for 3 years they would look after it a bit more i.e. not thrash it. If it looks as good as you say it does then go for it. My VRS has been great since I have had children. The boot swallows absolutely all the stuff you need with kids. The civic just does not come close to what you can put in a VRS. Also the rear doors will be a godsend for getting in the child seat in the back (amasing how much those baby carriers weigh)..

Personally I'd go for the Skoda, not becaused I own one now, or biaised towards them.

The Octavia vRS is less common than the Honda, and it's more of a grown up car. Jap cars are very reliable (my last car was a Mazda 3), but Skodas are also very reliable, Skoda have just reported record sales and they are becomming more and more popular, this wouldnt happen if they had a crap reputation. Lets face it, 10-15 years ago people would laugh at Skoda drivers (some still do), it takes a lot for a company to turn around a reputation like that and be as succcessful as they are today (to the point it worries VAG that they might become more popular than vw/audi).

To go for a lease car? I'd have no problem with that whatsoever. The car will have been serviced and maintained 100%. Will the previous owner have taken care of it is impossible to be sure of, however this is the case for any second hand vehicle. I'd get an AA inspection and pay the extra premium so that it's the more thorough inspection that they offer. Get a warranty on it through the seller or arrange one yourself.

One thing I always do when buying a car is go with my gut instinct. If you have a niggling doubt, even if you cant explain it, walk away. Another car will come up if you keep looking, when you find the right one you will know, but remember if it's the "risk factor" that's niggling away at you, it will be there with pretty much any car purchase.

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by saint1d

I would be worried about a rental car but a lease car to one person should be fine. Chances are it was some form of company car or the person and since they have kept it for 3 years they would look after it a bit more i.e. not thrash it. If it looks as good as you say it does then go for it. My VRS has been great since I have had children. The boot swallows absolutely all the stuff you need with kids. The civic just does not come close to what you can put in a VRS. Also the rear doors will be a godsend for getting in the child seat in the back (amasing how much those baby carriers weigh)..

You've not had a company car before have you? Almost everyone I know that has one gives the car a good thrashing, often from cold, I know I was guilty of it at times over the years that I had company cars... It's not your car, it's annoying if it goes wrong but it's not costing you anything so you don't always treat it as if it was your own.

However, on the upside, they are almost always serviced on time as the lease companies aren't happy if the maintenance schedule isn't adhered too, and as a company car, the driver isn't paying for the service, the company is...

I'd still consider one though, engines these days don't seem to be as adversely affected by not being run in properly etc. If anything, the cars I've had have used less oil and had fewer problems when they've been driven fairly hard from new compared to the ones I took it easy in the first 1000 miles or so...

Whats wrong with a lease car?

Its just one method of paying for a car and most likely to have been a company car.

The lease company would insist the car being serviced properly

I don't think there is anything wrong at all. I just wanted to hear other people's opinions on whether it's safe to have a car that has been leased. I don't know much about leasing so for me all this is very new to me. The salesman did say the car had only being leased to one person as a company car for 3 years.

The reason why the previous owner gave the car back was because he had finished the contract, and bought another brand new one. In my previous post I made the mistake in thinking the car was a rental car which would have being driven by an unknown amount of different people.

You've not had a company car before have you? Almost everyone I know that has one gives the car a good thrashing, often from cold, I know I was guilty of it at times over the years that I had company cars... It's not your car, it's annoying if it goes wrong but it's not costing you anything so you don't always treat it as if it was your own.

However, on the upside, they are almost always serviced on time as the lease companies aren't happy if the maintenance schedule isn't adhered too, and as a company car, the driver isn't paying for the service, the company is...

I'd still consider one though, engines these days don't seem to be as adversely affected by not being run in properly etc. If anything, the cars I've had have used less oil and had fewer problems when they've been driven fairly hard from new compared to the ones I took it easy in the first 1000 miles or so...

I have not hd one but had many friends who have had them and so has my dad in the past. All have looked after the cars and driven them as if they bought them. So not been thrashed at all.

I would be worried about a rental car but a lease car to one person should be fine. Chances are it was some form of company car or the person and since they have kept it for 3 years they would look after it a bit more i.e. not thrash it. If it looks as good as you say it does then go for it. My VRS has been great since I have had children. The boot swallows absolutely all the stuff you need with kids. The civic just does not come close to what you can put in a VRS. Also the rear doors will be a godsend for getting in the child seat in the back (amasing how much those baby carriers weigh)..

It's good to hear that the VRS is a great car to have if you have kids. I really loved the way it drove. The power of the VRS is very smooth power. I was a bit shocked to see how huge the boot was without the rear seats down. With the seats down it was like the Tardis from Doctor Who! looks smaller on the outside than it really is! I also love the seats with the half leather and the car I drove also comes with a multi CD changer and Xenon lights & those special alloys I can't remember what they were called! My wife loves the car too, I thought it was brand new and the engine didn't have one spec of dirt on it!

Personally I'd go for the Skoda, not becaused I own one now, or biaised towards them.

The Octavia vRS is less common than the Honda, and it's more of a grown up car. Jap cars are very reliable (my last car was a Mazda 3), but Skodas are also very reliable, Skoda have just reported record sales and they are becomming more and more popular, this wouldnt happen if they had a crap reputation. Lets face it, 10-15 years ago people would laugh at Skoda drivers (some still do), it takes a lot for a company to turn around a reputation like that and be as succcessful as they are today (to the point it worries VAG that they might become more popular than vw/audi).

To go for a lease car? I'd have no problem with that whatsoever. The car will have been serviced and maintained 100%. Will the previous owner have taken care of it is impossible to be sure of, however this is the case for any second hand vehicle. I'd get an AA inspection and pay the extra premium so that it's the more thorough inspection that they offer. Get a warranty on it through the seller or arrange one yourself.

One thing I always do when buying a car is go with my gut instinct. If you have a niggling doubt, even if you cant explain it, walk away. Another car will come up if you keep looking, when you find the right one you will know, but remember if it's the "risk factor" that's niggling away at you, it will be there with pretty much any car purchase.

I think you hit the nail on the head there! I agree with the fact that the Type-R's ride quality is very hard indeed and it I would not want to drive it on long journeys unless I wanted the car to break my back! I wasn't to sure if it would be a problem getting in the back as I thought the front seats go forward quite a lot. To be perfectly honest i've never seen a baby seat in the back of one neither in the front which might be for a good reason. My wife likes the look of Type-R inside and out but a big NO, NO on ride in car! I also agree with the fact that the VRS is a grown up car, yes you're right. The only people I see driving or racing Type-R's are spotty looking young people with baseball caps on! mostly showing off. ah, the hell with it. Skoda it is then, I can't stop thinking about it, maybe the VRS I looked at is a devil! as it's red! it's posessed my mind! Like that film 'Christine' that car was also red!

I would definitely go for the Skoda

It's good to hear that the VRS is a great car to have if you have kids. I really loved the way it drove. The power of the VRS is very smooth power. I was a bit shocked to see how huge the boot was without the rear seats down. With the seats down it was like the Tardis from Doctor Who! looks smaller on the outside than it really is! I also love the seats with the half leather and the car I drove also comes with a multi CD changer and Xenon lights & those special alloys I can't remember what they were called! My wife loves the car too, I thought it was brand new and the engine didn't have one spec of dirt on it!

Nice! Sounds a really good car, did it have Maxidot (the posher, hi res screen in between the dials)

Sounds like it has the options to have, I'm guessing those wheels are the diamond cut 18 inch Zeniths.

Corrida red is amazing too, black out the grille or colour code it

Edited 3 December, 201015 yr by RiceNik

I would definitely go for the Skoda

Nice! Sounds a really good car, did it have Maxidot (the posher, hi res screen in between the dials)

Sounds like it has the options to have, I'm guessing those wheels are the diamond cut 18 inch Zeniths.

Corrida red is amazing too, black out the grille or colour code it

Yes! It has all these things and the alloys are 18 inch Zeniths too! It also has the Maxidot screen which looks really cool & smart I still can't believe how clean the car was inside as well as outside. The engine bay was imaculate, i've never seen a car or an engine this clean before! I've put a deposit down for it which was only £100!!! Now all I need to do is sort my loan out. I can't wait to drive it home!

You have definitely chosen the right car. Used to have a type r and sold it due to having a baby. The 3 doors wasnt a massive issue until our daughter became heavier. Getting the car seat in and out started to become a real problem.

Bought a Vrs and am now on my second and have 2 kids. Brilliant car in every respect and has more useable power than the type r. Easier to drive fast and after a quick remap is actually much quicker with double the torque, better mpg too. Enjoy!

My and the other half went and checked out a Octy Vrs FL in the local car supermark in Doncatser (spit * big mistake.)

Car was abused by the staff from the first turn of the key when we asked to take it for a test drive

Front bumper had been replaced, and rubbing compound was all over the car doors and engine bay... (accident i thought) and they denied all knowledge lol

I dont believer what ex-leasers say.. id go to a trusted source who would have looked after the car .. as the lease means that its not theirs.. its almost certain to be thrashed and abused

I dont believer what ex-leasers say.. id go to a trusted source who would have looked after the car .. as the lease means that its not theirs.. its almost certain to be thrashed and abused

How do you know anyone selling a car is a 'trusted source'? Unless you buy from a private buyer and interrogate him, potentially search his posts on here or follow him around, there is no way of knowing how a car was driven.

Buying a second hand car has an element of pot luck about it - all you can do is try and mitigate the risk.

Steve

VRS-R

Have you a link to the car? or what garage is selling it?

A lease car is not always a bad car, can you ask to see the service book and see which dealer has serviced it, then maybe phone the dealer to ask if there are any known issues with it.

They should be able to tell you with out giving any personal details of the previous owner, so no conflict of privercy codes.

I've had leased cars for the last 21 years, new one every 3 years. I've never mistreated any of them from a mechanical perspective (though I think I only washed the last one three times in the 3 years I had it!). Def made the right choice with the Octy - we've got 2 kids and, short of a Superb estate or a Merc E class, there's little to touch it for boot space. Such a sensible car - makes the VRS a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Skoda is definitely the right choice!

The FN2 Type-R is one of the worst performance cars I have ever driven and is an absolute abomination to Hondas of past! I was offered a test drive in one after previously owning an s2000 and an EP3 Type-R and I was shocked at how bad it was!

I know we are talking about families and practicality etc but even if you want a perfomance car there are much better hot hatches out there!

After owning my Octy now for 7 months I can safely say it is one of the best cars I have ever had the pleasure of owning - fast, reliable and practical and you can still have a fair bit of fun in it too

My Two-penneth

How do you know anyone selling a car is a 'trusted source'? Unless you buy from a private buyer and interrogate him, potentially search his posts on here or follow him around, there is no way of knowing how a car was driven.

Buying a second hand car has an element of pot luck about it - all you can do is try and mitigate the risk.

Steve

I agree 100%. Like you said, it doesn't make any difference whether you buy from garage or private seller. There simply is no way you can know if the car has being abused or not. The only way you're going to have some degree of piece of mind is to buy from dealer or even better a brand new one!. Even if you buy a secondhand from main dealer, how do you know if the previous owner looked after it? I personally don't like buying from private owners because if ther was something wrong with the car there is no going back. I always do full DVLA checks & HPI checks and if i'm still not sure I'll get the AA or RAC to check the whole car before I buy. It's the only way to be sure in my honest opinion.

Skoda is definitely the right choice!

The FN2 Type-R is one of the worst performance cars I have ever driven and is an absolute abomination to Hondas of past! I was offered a test drive in one after previously owning an s2000 and an EP3 Type-R and I was shocked at how bad it was!

I know we are talking about families and practicality etc but even if you want a perfomance car there are much better hot hatches out there!

After owning my Octy now for 7 months I can safely say it is one of the best cars I have ever had the pleasure of owning - fast, reliable and practical and you can still have a fair bit of fun in it too

My Two-penneth

I couldn't agree with you more! The test drive in the VRS was really good, and the performance was much more noticable compared to the Type-R. Also the rear seats are much more comfortable than the Type-R. The TYpe-R ride quality was rock hard! so not very good for long journeys. My mind is set on that Skoda now and I don't want anything else other than that car.