Just wondering how reliable they are as a few people have asked me to recommend them a car around 4k and thought of a Mk1 Octy of some kind. I know about coil packs but what else is there? I'm sure I remeber someone saying it has to have fully synth oil else some pipe blocks up and wrecks the engine. Any truth to this?

You should be able to find a nice VRS for under 3k. Don't worry about low mileage as a good service history is more important. VAG 1.8T engines are pretty bullet proof if looked after, but failure to service properly at the correct intervals is the main cause of problems. Yes the oil pick up pipe is prone to blocking, which can wreck the engine. Good quality VAG spec oil is essential.

Good quality VAG spec oil is essential.

+1

It still doesn't necessarily stop the problem though, as others have found before the worst has happened.

For peace of mind you can get this oil pickup pipe changed quite cheaply at the next service. Any garage should be able to do it, or yourself if you have the tools and know-how. Got to take the sump off.

Just wondering how reliable they are as a few people have asked me to recommend them a car around 4k and thought of a Mk1 Octy of some kind. I know about coil packs but what else is there? I'm sure I remeber someone saying it has to have fully synth oil else some pipe blocks up and wrecks the engine. Any truth to this?

These cars are very reliable

As other have stated, regular oil changes are key to the engine lasting. The oil pick up pipe is known to block up when oil is not looked after, but nowhere near the major issue list when you consider the amount of 1.8t cars on the road.

They have the tendency to split vac hoses as well but you can pull a lot of them out and throw them away (n249, secondary air system etc) and the split ones will announce themselves with a fault code anyway.

Sorry for the thread bump but saves making another. My brother has been an Ibiza FR (1.8t 150bhp) and was wondering also what's it like on fuel? Parkers reckons at best 35mpg

Nah best would be over 43mpg on a run, that's what I can get in a heavier octy

I just bought mine on a 55 plate with 65k miles for £3700 and im pleased to say the car is faultless and had none of the common faults whatsoever! I will be servicing it every 5k from now on with vag parts so should do another 100k

Sorry for the thread bump but saves making another. My brother has been an Ibiza FR (1.8t 150bhp) and was wondering also what's it like on fuel? Parkers reckons at best 35mpg

Can manage 40 or there abouts relatively easy, any more is very difficult if you plan on going over 50 mph or doing any accelerating. Not a realistic figure to achieve on a daily basis though imo.

Yeh that's where the fuel goes, as soon as you accelerate watch the mpg figure go down lol.

Around town my average is 33mpg

Ive got an audi s3 (225hp) and the engine is as said before on this thread bullet proof. Still pulls hard and ive never had a problem with it. Done 80000 miles with cambelt done early on 64k and had a recall last year for ignition coil.

Highly recomended, if you keep the oil changed and look after it

Mine averages around 25mpg. Never seen anywhere near 40mpg.

I get 31 mpg combined and 42-45mpg on a motorway run

Mine averages around 25mpg. Never seen anywhere near 40mpg.

A comfortable motorway cruise should be high 30s-low 40s.

Return trip back from Weston super mare meet 140 miles all motorway, 75mph on cruise 35mpg.

You need a good service or you must be on an incline...

Cruise control uses more fuel than a human too!

I reckon he could live with around 40mpg on the motorway. His Felicia barely does that on the commute. How bad does it get if you push it?

I dont drive mine slowly and i get 31 indicated on the computer and ive had 39-40 on a long run, plus my car is about 200kgs heavier than the Octavia

I reckon he could live with around 40mpg on the motorway. His Felicia barely does that on the commute. How bad does it get if you push it?

I dont hang around with a lot of short journeys and i get 31mpg combined

Yeh that's where the fuel goes, as soon as you accelerate watch the mpg figure go down lol.

Around town my average is 33mpg

wow, i would love to get that round town. too many short journey's i get about 25 around town.

Mines on 170k and still returning 42mpg daily!!

Original engine / turbo and gearbox.

Thanks guys. MPG looks promising then.

Got this on a run up the m1 yesterday..

was between 50 and 70 mph thanks to those average speed cameras!