Hi folks. I've sold my Subaru(it's being collected today)and am off to look at a Octavia Elegance estate with a 130PD and the six-speed box. It's on a 53 plate, has done just under 90k and apparently has had one previous owner. Is there anything in particular i should look out for?

Thanks

Toby

Check the usual

Service History

Body Panels

Clunking on a test drive from the front (most likely to be ARB Bushes/Radiator mounts)

Put it in a high gear at a lowish speed and accelerate (checking to see if the clutch slips)

Some Estates get a bubbling under the paint on the boot at either end of the plastic boot handle above the Reg plate, make sure it has the false boot floor (even if not needed)

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head

Matthew

all electrics work from the drivers door control. When locked the LED flashes in the door, and when unlocked it stops flashing.

Check it pulls ok, 90k = cambelt change at 60k / 4 years on on a 53 plate that would 2007, or on miles. If done in 2007, then in theory is is due another belt change.

It seems like a low mileage for 130..... is that might up the price. Check the drivers eat for wear on the side bolster thing. CD changer in the boot - passenger side behind the trim. Check for a full size steel spare wheel, and all the normal goodies under the boot floor. As Matt says, it should also have a false boot floor.

Paint bubbling I was more of an issue on earlier models.

Check the wipers move smoothly - no juddering if they do then the linkage is starting to become seized and will eventual fail (normally in heavy rain - I know.... :( )

Cheers folks. Thanks for all the helpful advice. I compiled both posts into a checklist and went to look at it. Everything checks out, drives really well, pulls like a train, no clunks or knocks from the front end, only a few minor rattles/creaks inside (on really bad roads) and a few small dents on the outside count against it. I haggled the price down a few hundred to £3.5k, and they offered to give me the weekend to mull it over. Think i will say yes though. Almost as big as my Legacy was, half as much to tax, cheaper to insure, much more economical and so much quicker it was a real surprise.

Thanks again

Toby

PS Matthew. I see you're a fellow cyclist. Good luck with the last few hundred miles. The weather's been perfect here for it lately. Not sure if you're in the same part of the country(east Northants/Leics/Rutland)

Toby,

Sounds like you were more impressed by the Octavia than you thought you would be , the boot space is the largest in its class (if I remember correctly) and they are excelent load luggers.

I've had 2 mk1 octavias (x1 vrs hatch/x1 pd130 estate) and they were both faultless with over the years (apart from my tinkering )

I'm North Sheffield on the Peak District border so the weather is very changable round here. I'm struggling to get the last few hundred miles done as I've been working a crazy amount of hours and have very little time at home and when I do I put the family 1st. What do you ride?

Matthew

Hi Matthew. Put my deposit down earlier today. Picking the car up on Saturday. Will let you know how it goes, and probably post some pics a few days after. Really looking forward to it

I mostly ride on the road these days. I was really into MTBing in the 90's, and got into road riding in the 00's. Did my first sportive this year too, went really well. My wife and i also own a tandem, which went inside the Subaru, but may have to go on top of the Octavia. One of the reasons i wanted a Skoda is that they sponsor the pro cycing now. Guess their advertising worked then.

Regards

Toby