Hi guys,

Have hit a problem in my life, my Hyundai Coupe 2.0 has just had it's last drive, the garage just called to say the bottom end has gone. Bad news.

Thus i need a new car.

I've got £8,000 to spend am am looking for a Octavia vRS either hatchback or estate. I have seen a 57 plate with 98,000 on the clock at this price, is this good value?

What sort of things should i check for when i go to inspect the car? (One owner with full service history)

I have purchased cars in the past and wished i'd given them a full once over before parting with my cash, this time i hope to not make the same mistake again.

Many thanks

Matt

P.s. On a side note my 2.0petrol hyundai was 137bhp, how will the diesel octavia feel different? Will the extra bhp make it faster? Quicker acceleration? Better acceleration whilst on motorway etc? Cheers

You need to check all the usual things. You say you've seen a 57 plate with 98,000 on th clock, is it Diesel? if so this is nicely run in now. take it for a test drive.

HTH Simon.

Without looking at figures, I'd make a guess the diesel VRS has about twice the torque of your Hyundai....

Should feel like a rocket ship in comparison, especially at low revs!

Make sure you test drive a few to get a feel for them before buying. :yes:

I've got £8,000 to spend am am looking for a Octavia vRS either hatchback or estate. I have seen a 57 plate with 98,000 on the clock at this price, is this good value?

No, I wouldn't say that was good value at all, you should be looking at cars with a third of that mileage for that price.

Also, are you aware there's a petrol version of the vRS also?

For ref, this vRS with 98k sold recently for ~£6k: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/193786-2006-octavia-vrs-20tfsi/

Edited 14 April, 201115 yr by BigC

I will give the same advice that I usually give with these questions.

Try to make sure that your purchase has the specification upgrades that appeared around 2007.

They are:

18" Wheels

Jumbo Storage Box

Dual-Zone Climatronic AC

Rear Electric Windows

Just those features missing does devalue your vehicle (as I've found out trading my one in without them).

Look at the service book yourself and make sure that it has been serviced on time. It should also have had, or be due, it's second cambelt change.

Check tyre tread and look for even wear. Check for obvious signs of accident damage - lookat the seams in the boot by the wheel well and under the bonnet.

Drive it at all speeds and go up and down the gear box and make sure it pulls smoothly. Check what options the vehicle has, the above should be pretty much standard on that age, but does it have xenons, maxidot, sat nav etc?

If the car has a PD diesel engine (as opposed to the more sought after and refined CR) then expect a huge wave of torque when it is on boost.

Could also ask to see the last MOTs and service sheets for signs of pending work

Check the traction control is working properly, when you press the ESP button you should get it lighting up on the dashboard to show it's disabled and when you press it again it should go out and only flicker on when you spin the wheels and engage the traction control. There's a well known issue with the ESP failing (lots of threads here about it) which will mean the ESP light is on constantly to show the ESP is disabled and pressing the ESP button will do nothing. There is a repair kit now available for the issue but I think even then it's still a few hundred quid to get it fitted, I don't know if Skoda dealers now have this part as previously it was around £1500 without goodwill to have the full unit replaced.

I'd also make sure the aircon/climate control blows suitably cold air as that means the compressor is working fine, there's been quite a few people with that age of car and failed compressors although I'm not sure if later ones were any better.

Is this the blue one from Southwick car centre? It looks to have the climate pack (climate control, jumbo box and rear electric windows) although it was late on the timing belt change (changed at 93K rather than 60K), I guess if it hadn't snapped that's ok.

Edit: Just noticed Carbase have a hatch for £8,000 with 98,000 miles which it may be? Or another entirely?

Check the traction control is working properly, when you press the ESP button you should get it lighting up on the dashboard to show it's disabled and when you press it again it should go out and only flicker on when you spin the wheels and engage the traction control. There's a well known issue with the ESP failing (lots of threads here about it) which will mean the ESP light is on constantly to show the ESP is disabled and pressing the ESP button will do nothing. There is a repair kit now available for the issue but I think even then it's still a few hundred quid to get it fitted, I don't know if Skoda dealers now have this part as previously it was around £1500 without goodwill to have the full unit replaced.

I'd also make sure the aircon/climate control blows suitably cold air as that means the compressor is working fine, there's been quite a few people with that age of car and failed compressors although I'm not sure if later ones were any better.

Is this the blue one from Southwick car centre? It looks to have the climate pack (climate control, jumbo box and rear electric windows) although it was late on the timing belt change (changed at 93K rather than 60K), I guess if it hadn't snapped that's ok.

Edit: Just noticed Carbase have a hatch for £8,000 with 98,000 miles which it may be? Or another entirely?

I'm looking at both the south wick and the car base ones. Am looking for diesel only. What are the two mentioned above good value with that many miles?

Thanks again

Look here:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/195267-2008-skoda-octavia-vrs-tfsi-race-blue-fa57-vrs/

How many miles ere on your coupe?? I had one back in 2003 kept it 5 years was a great car done 110k and not one issue ....until a few months before we changed it for a 5 series, all the dials died nd it lost 5 litres of oil in a week.....but not on the drive or road to this day i dont were it went lol it wasnt smoking either. although it was really fecking gutless.

If your Coupe was petrol, is there a reason you're not looking at petrol vRSes as well? They can represent much better value 2nd hand, and will also obviously widen your available choices. Perhaps test drive two locally and then make a decision?

I do a lot of driving for work so need to move to a more economical diesel. Would love the pretrol but couldn't afford to fuel it.

Anyone know of any good vrs diesels around b'ham Bristol? Looked at one just north of Cardiff earlier but it was a bit scratched on the outside and had bad scratches on the drivers side door and window.

Also, what you guys think of buying a car that was ex rental? Good? Bad? Reasons for....

Fair enough.

Wouldn't touch an ex-rental. Generally used and abused, as the people driving them don't care about what happens to it after they give it back