Looking to buy a 4x4 estate to guarantee getting to work this winter and have decided upon the Octavia...probably the Scout. Very rare second hand which I suppose is a good sign but they all seem to be pretty high mileage, often around the 100k mark. Is this something to worry about or do people out there who have the diesel engines found that they run well in to that sort of mileage. The ones I'm looking at have FSH and one owner so I'm hoping they should be fine.

Any help/advice?

S

I assume you are after a diesel? If so the 140bhp PD TDi 8V engine is well proven so no worries there.

You'll hear talk of DPF (dust particulate filter) issues but they are rare.

The facelift (FL) gets the more modern and refined CR diesel engine and looks more modern but I actually prefer the older squared off profile. I think the well respected automatic (DSG) followed shortly after too. Used FL models are holding their value very well, some have been offered what they paid for it after a year!

The interior is very nearly identical to the rest of the Octavia range so again no major worries there either.

The 4x4 / Scout obviously have different mechanicals underneath, a Haldex drive system routing power to the rear wheels when the front ones lose grip. This system is a derivitive of the older Audi Quatro system so again is pretty well proven.

I preferred the Scout to the standard 4x4 because of the raised ride height, Proteus alloy wheels and chunky bumpers all appealled. Some prefer the 4x4 for the understated look but to me it looks too understated and a little awkward on it's little wheels. The Scout also gets additional underbody protection over the 4x4.

The Haldex needs it's oil and filter changing every 40,000 miles so make sure this has been done as it can be a tricky job and is often overlooked. Equally if you are looking at high mileage Scout's make sure its had a camblet at 60,000 miles or 4 years.

There was a recent thread where a member had experienced premature failure of some parts of the Haldex system that resulted in some unexpected and rather unwelcome repair costs (I'll dig it out if I can find it). Saying that, if you check out the 'Scout owners list' thread pinned at the top of this forum there are plenty of us now (quite a few who do good mileage too) and it has to be said there are very few complaints of poor reliability.

If the ones you are looking at have Skoda full service history you should be good. Just make sure you pay special attention to underneath the car for dents and scrapes as some used Scouts have had a hard / off road life or spent most of it towing or lugging around a full boot of vets equipment!

You are right to say that they are rare, this is a good sign as they really are a hell of a lot of car for not a lot of money. Just look at prices for the Audi A4 Allroad (even the older A6 Allroads) the Subaru Forester, Saab 93X and Volvo XC70, all demand hefty used prices.

Prices have rocketed over the last few years, I timed it just right and picked up my one year old 2008 (08) Scout with 8,000 miles on it for £14,000 nearly three years ago. The same car now would be more like £18,000 today.

Standard spec is good, I found one with optional xenon headlights but would have liked Maxidot and curtain airbags but as you've found out you can't really afford to be too picky unless you go new.

Get yourself some winter tyres and you really can go anywhere, mine was brill last winter in all the snow on the factory fit Dunlop SP SPort 01 summer tyres!

Good luck and keep the questions coming, loads of friendly Scouters on here!

This is the one I bought:

The wife liked it so much she nicked it so I bought another Octavia, a vRS, a few months ago!

Edited 5 December, 201114 yr by silver1011

Echo all of the above.

I got my 07' with 3.6k miles at 9 months old in Feb 08' for relatively similar money to Silver when he got his. I'd never manage that now!! (Especially as it was a toyed up demonstrator, just missing heated seats/alacantra and Sat Nav)

I'm now on 93k miles nearly 4 years later (time flies!!) and there's plenty life in it yet, still think of it as my 'new car'. There's a few paint chips, the alloys problem, some suspension grumbles in the pipeline according to the garage (bump stops and drop links) but otherwise all OK.

I had a few probs early on, all covered under warranty - Xenon levelling failed, EGR valve and the ABS Pump Issue (none of which are specific Scout issues)

Assuming you are looking at an early model, ensure the G201 Error problem that sees the ABS Pump needing replaced/fixed has been done. Was a £1k+ repair but can now be dealt with via a dedicated 'fix kit' for around £350. If your looking at a 09 or newer you should be fine (but don't quote me....)

If I were to sell, it's easily so far the least depreciating car I've ever owned. But I'm not. It's just too useful and pretty much matches up to all my requirements for a car. Planning to keep this till it dies, even if it ends up put out to grass as our second car in it's later life.

Niall

It might be a fluke but I'm hoping mine will last as long ...

[edit] To keep it Octavia

Edited 2 December, 201114 yr by FriendlyFire

I've not had ours very long, but it has rapidly become "the best" family car I've ever had! Frequently loaded up to the roof with musical instruments (son's in a youth orchestra), or with 3-4 bikes on the roof! In fact my mate who organises a big annual charity cycle sportive has asked if I'll use it to provide the "broom wagon" for his next years event! Cheek!

I did look at the straight 4x4 estate, but the extra ground clearance and better residuals of the Scout just tipped the balance in the end. I think everyone has already covered the main areas very well, and would agree that if the Scout keeps going as well as it is doing, I'm likely to be keeping for years!

If I was buying second hand, then because of the complexity of the haldex clutch, I'd definitely only be considering ones with FSH and a very short list of previous owners.

My Brother-in-law has been running an A3 3.2 Quattro for a good few years and there are lots of similarities in parts between the two. I know that he's never had any trouble and it's done a h*ll of a lot of miles. But he does ensure that everything is done when it should be! If you are looking at DSG box, then I think there is a recommended oil change on them at about 40K or every 2 years too, so ensure thats been done. Other than that I can't think of any Scout specific issues that haven't already been covered.

Again, if there any extras like Maxidot, Xenons etc they are nice, but I'd buy on condition & provenance first; and extras second.

Bought my '08 TDi this time last year at 82k for £9000. When I bought it the head gasket had gone but got that fixed by the dealer.

Now I've got up to 120k with no problems - I changed the haldex oil soon after I bought it and will be doing it again next week, not a bad job if you can get the car up on decent ramps (have to admit that syringes/IV lines and needles 'borrowed' from work help a huge amount).

Other than the extra work for the haldex I have the standard alloy delamination (will try to get them powder coated this winter while my winter wheels are on) and the front left suspension has got a bit of a knock at low speeds (could well be drop-links judging by other posts on here)

I'm one of the owners hauling about a very heavy bootful of vet equipment but am still managing to get high 40s mpg

The added bonus is that I think I'll be able to sell it for a similar price that I bought it for!

Edited 3 December, 201114 yr by lard-ajc

Engine wise the basics are shared with many VAG cars & all will give very very long service if maintained & serviced. You only have to look at the number of Octavia Taxis with positivly intergalactic miles on them.

The Haldex is incredibly strong & generally trouble free, just make sure the oil has been changed, something that independant garages tend to miss. On my previous Octy 4x4 I ended up pushing 356 bhp through it & it killed the Gerbox in some style but the Haldex just carried on

Turbos can fail at higher mileage on the diesels but thats fairly common across many of the vag diesels. The Mk1 4x4's also had Aircon compressors that failed, not sure if this is the same on the Mk 2 but just check the aircon works.

The Scout I think is one of the best value for maney cars that VAG make, a perfectly comfortable family car / workhorse yet very acomplished when grip is lacking

Edited 5 December, 201114 yr by Stuart_J

To the OP a 4x4 estate will not "Guarantee you getting to work in the winter". There are numerous other factors one main one being ill prepared or inexperienced road users blocking the route.

to Silver1011 you have blocked out your cars reg plate but not in the text of the advert. Why block it out ? It is entirely visible on the car as you drive around.

That said they are a damned good car. I took two lengthy test drives but unfortunately found the seat aggrivated my back ache so was really disappointed not to buyone 2 and a half years ago so got my V50 which I do not think will be a patch on the scout.

Happy hunting.

Edited 5 December, 201114 yr by loskie

To Silver1011 you have blocked out your cars reg plate but not in the text of the advert. Why block it out? It is entirely visible on the car as you drive around.

The chances of an unscrupulous individual gaining access to a number plate from physically seeing it on the car versus them performing a quick Google search on the World Wide Web is miles apart.

I’m really not bothered either way but can fully understand why some prefer to minimise the risk by hiding their number plate.

I transferred my private plate onto the car shortly after the purchase, several photo's of which are widely available to view on Briskoda with a quick search. I'll take my chances!