Hi guys, first post so take it easy on me! Currently got a Golf Gti (non turbo) which i have had for the last 2 years but is starting to cost me (1999 S Reg) so looking at the Octavia's found a 52 plate with FSH for £2,985 its the Elegance and has done 90,000 miles. Are there any things i need to be looking for when i go to look at it?

Thanks for the advice and any help would be much appriciated :yes:

I have a 2001 tdi elegance estate, love it, the only thing i have come across is sticky vanes in the turbo, give it a test drive a see how it performs, generally if its done a lot of slow in town driving it is more likely to suffer from this, its solved by turning off the engine removing the key, and restarting. in the long term, i put a storng mix of that Diesel Red-Ex stuff in my tank and gave it some beans on the motorway and it hasn't done it since! Another thing is just check that the Cam Belt and water pump has been done and find out what kind of servicing it is on. (refer to the handbook and stamps)

Ah mine has also developed some squeaking up front but this is only the radiator mounts and isnt an expensive or hard job to replace!

Mine had FSH and apart from sticky vanes i havn't had any big issues!

Welcome to Briskoda and hope you enjoy!!!

Ahh By the way mine is now on 191,000 miles so that one if looked after should give you many more miles motoring!!!

I have a 2001 tdi elegance estate, love it, the only thing i have come across is sticky vanes in the turbo, give it a test drive a see how it performs, generally if its done a lot of slow in town driving it is more likely to suffer from this, its solved by turning off the engine removing the key, and restarting. in the long term, i put a storng mix of that Diesel Red-Ex stuff in my tank and gave it some beans on the motorway and it hasn't done it since! Another thing is just check that the Cam Belt and water pump has been done and find out what kind of servicing it is on. (refer to the handbook and stamps)

Ah mine has also developed some squeaking up front but this is only the radiator mounts and isnt an expensive or hard job to replace!

Mine had FSH and apart from sticky vanes i havn't had any big issues!

Welcome to Briskoda and hope you enjoy!!!

Ahh By the way mine is now on 191,000 miles so that one if looked after should give you many more miles motoring!!!

Thanks for that James, good pointers there, there are a couple i have found (that one) and another with SOME Service History that has done 78,000 miles....i have asked both garages that the cambelt/water pump has been done, has the elegance got Lumbar support? Worth £2,985? Well the garage said they would give me £1200 for my Golf so £1,785 i think is a good price going from 26mpg to 54.....hopefully?!!!!!

Welcome to Briskoda

As above really, check the service history to see when the cambelt and water pump were replaced.

I've had mine just over 6 months and have only needed to replace the battery, glow plugs and coolant temperature sensor, also loving it, lovely smooth drive

At least you are test driving in colder weather so should pick up any starting issues - is it petrol or diesal as the price seems a little high, mine was £2200 in June with 110,000 on it, including 6 months warranty, full service history, a years tax and mot.

It had just been serviced and the cambelt and water pump had been changed

Edited 30 December, 201015 yr by alexandjen

Yes the Elegance has lumbar supports

Yes the Elegance has lumbar supports

Yes its a diesel, it seems a high price compared to parkers price guide, but seems in nice condition, told me that there was a slight bump on the offside wheel arch but will sort that out, said it was in good condition interior wise too.

Yes its a diesel, it seems a high price compared to parkers price guide, but seems in nice condition, told me that there was a slight bump on the offside wheel arch but will sort that out, said it was in good condition interior wise too.

Should get around 50 mpg if the lead boots are left in the cupboard

Saloon or estate?

Should get around 50 mpg if the lead boots are left in the cupboard

Saloon or estate?

Saloon, the missus is sick of throwing £110 a month in the gas guzzling golf!!!! There are two Elegance's both the same price, would you go for the one with the FSH with the extra 12,000 miles??

Saloon, the missus is sick of throwing £110 a month in the gas guzzling golf!!!! There are two Elegance's both the same price, would you go for the one with the FSH with the extra 12,000 miles??

Is there any service history with the lower mileage Elegance?

Personally i would go for the one with higher mileage but with FSH over the one with part and less miles. Just for that peice of mind!, I think 2,985 is a little too much but not far off, If the tyres are all good, mot'd and taxed then yes a good price! they are usually willing to come down a few hundred! 102,000 isn't too much on these engines.

Agree, high mileage on these diesal engines isn't anything to worry about and doesn't bother me in the slightest, some members are clocking 300,000 miles so it will outlast me if looked after.

Is there any service history with the lower mileage Elegance?

It just says some service history in the ad.

It just says some service history in the ad.

As James said, go for the one with full service history but have a good read through it to see what has been done and when the next service is due

As James said, go for the one with full service history but have a good read through it to see what has been done and when the next service is due

Yes i will do, i will go over the history book with a fine toothcomb!! the high mileage does not bother me with fsh, looks a nice car, another thing in the ads the battery indicator light is on in some of the ads as well which put me off a few!!

Hi guys, first post so take it easy on me! Currently got a Golf Gti (non turbo) which i have had for the last 2 years but is starting to cost me (1999 S Reg) so looking at the Octavia's found a 52 plate with FSH for £2,985 its the Elegance and has done 90,000 miles. Are there any things i need to be looking for when i go to look at it?

Thanks for the advice and any help would be much appriciated

other things to check:

• Aircon works
• All the electric windows operate
• Drives in a straight line
• Tyre wear, look out for uneven wear on back
• Look for excessive smoke when accelerating hard
• these 110 motors should pull really well, no flat spots

other things to check:

• Aircon works
• All the electric windows operate
• Drives in a straight line
• Tyre wear, look out for uneven wear on back
• Look for excessive smoke when accelerating hard
• these 110 motors should pull really well, no flat spots

Brakes in a straight line

Brakes in a straight line

Is it wise to get the RAC or AA to do a vehicle inspection for £100??

Is it wise to get the RAC or AA to do a vehicle inspection for £100??

Haven't used them personally so can't really comment, just take your time, don't rush - I took mine out for a test drive alone, dealers suggested route was far to short and couldn't test all gears so I went for dual c/w to test power/gears then country roads to test the handling.

Parked up before going back to have a god look round her when the engine was up to normal operating temperature, checked all electrics worked etc. Have you got a mate that can go along with you as two pairs of eyes are always best?

Haven't used them personally so can't really comment, just take your time, don't rush - I took mine out for a test drive alone, dealers suggested route was far to short and couldn't test all gears so I went for dual c/w to test power/gears then country roads to test the handling.

Parked up before going back to have a god look round her when the engine was up to normal operating temperature, checked all electrics worked etc. Have you got a mate that can go along with you as two pairs of eyes are always best?

Yes i will take my time i know that i can walk away if i smell a rat, my local mechanic charges around £40 and does a good check over vehicles, my mates are normally ap-hazard and just buy it if they like it and suffer the consequences later....yeah ill take my time, i look at both of them next week, with the fsh one top of the list.

I would aim to pay around the 2.5k mark, if its any help i recently paid £2400 for an 02 plate ocatvia tdi 110bhp with 74k and a full history with invoices to back it up, needed the timming belt doing and is due a service in feb but apart from that they are very good cars for the money and im getting and average 45mpg.

Becarefull when garages say they will get bits and pieces done if you pay the full price especially when it comes to belts being changed. Better to get them to drop the price and factor in getting it done yourself by a garage you trust.

With regard to parkers price guides remember it is only a guide, have a good look around nationwide to see what the model you are looking it is selling for and try and aim for a mid point price to pay

I would aim to pay around the 2.5k mark, if its any help i recently paid £2400 for an 02 plate ocatvia tdi 110bhp with 74k and a full history with invoices to back it up, needed the timming belt doing and is due a service in feb but apart from that they are very good cars for the money and im getting and average 45mpg.

Becarefull when garages say they will get bits and pieces done if you pay the full price especially when it comes to belts being changed. Better to get them to drop the price and factor in getting it done yourself by a garage you trust.

With regard to parkers price guides remember it is only a guide, have a good look around nationwide to see what the model you are looking it is selling for and try and aim for a mid point price to pay

Is it every 70,000 miles for the cambelt/water pump change on the SO? What about the clutches on these as well? I'd rather knock them down and get the cambelt done myself elsewhere.

Is it every 70,000 miles for the cambelt/water pump change on the SO? What about the clutches on these as well? I'd rather knock them down and get the cambelt done myself elsewhere.

The garage with some service history have emailed me and said 'i have checked the car this morning its got a belt replacement sticker on the corner of the engine bay saying 70k so you should be fine'

do i take someone along to check it out or do i take his word for it?

going seeing the one with the fsh next week.

go along and have a look, probably worth looking at it close up, try and track down the receipt to see if waterpump had been done (may have been missed if on the cheap) if he seems legit then fair enough, if not maybe track down the previous owner and ask them where it was done. theres ways round it but i would still go for the one with FSH.

go along and have a look, probably worth looking at it close up, try and track down the receipt to see if waterpump had been done (may have been missed if on the cheap) if he seems legit then fair enough, if not maybe track down the previous owner and ask them where it was done. theres ways round it but i would still go for the one with FSH.

He is now saying the car was a lease car and that 2006 2008 services are missing if it was a lease car how many people have actually drove it? Lots probably and all with different driving styles so that clutch would of taken some hammer I guess also the last owner was a doctor.... I have decided I want FSH with the car just for peace of mind.

yeah, well mine is an ex company car but one owner nd only motorway miles, the fact he didnt tell you all of this when you enquired about it seems liek they are trying to hide something, may just be me, but im not sure. go for the other one!