Hi:

My son needs to replace his 1998 Astra Estate which is effectively a write off(blown head gasket). He needs an estate for work which is reliable and not too expensive to buy/run.

I notice that a local dealer has a 2004 1.9TDI Ambiente Estate, 104K miles, 2 owners and FSH for sale at £3,595.

I've got a 2009 2.0 TDI estate but don't know much about the Mk 1 Octavias.

So any feedback on the MK 1 1.9 Ambiente would be much appreciated, especially concerning reliability issues (if any).

Many Thanks

sounds too expensive to me. There is a buying guide stickied on this forum.

Which engine? The 90 or the 130 (TDi badge is all black on the 90, and has red Di on the 130, and the 130 will have a 6-speed gearbox).

My wife had one of those and it was a brilliant little workhorse. Not terribly quick but ok. Funnily enough when we test drove it, the turbo had failed. There was no surge at all. Dealer had to put a new turbo in before we bought it.

I agree, sounds like a lot of money to me. We traded in ours two years ago with slightly fewer miles, got about two grand iirc.

The one you're looking at is not worth more than 2750 IMHO, and only then if you can see its had a cam belt done at 60k.

As above massively overpriced... but your on the right track for a bullet proof work car if your looking in that price range try looking further afield you will get one newer/less miles/both

Which engine? The 90 or the 130 (TDi badge is all black on the 90, and has red Di on the 130, and the 130 will have a 6-speed gearbox).

Note sure. Not had a chance to have a close look at it up close.

Apart from the performance difference, is the 130 better/worse than the 90?