I went to see an RS today and I have been hankering after one for a while although I haven't been able to warrant it until now. My car has been costing a a bit recently so I feel like I am ready for a change. It wasn't quite as good as I expected (ex police car) so I wasn't expecting too much. It was very tidy on the outside, an estate which I would prefer, inside at the front was good too, and reflected the mileage correctly (steering wheel / gear knob / pedals all matched the mileage). In the back it was wet, missing the shelf and obviously bits of trim which had been mutilated a bit for the police equipment.

I took it for a spin and it drove in the same manner as mine does - obviously more power available though. When I booted it onto the motorway though it did leave a huge plume of smoke (white/grey) behind which I doubt is normal! It has only done 47K too (supposedly). I checked the service history which I found to be a spreadsheet - possibly one I could have written myself! The service book hadn't been filled in.

My queries are - do police cars typically have low mileages? Do they remove the shelves? Is it normal to have service history on a printed spreadsheet?!

I should have taken my VAG COM (a stupid mistake I forgot it!) I have probably left it a bit late to find a nice example now most are pushing 6+ years old. Still the figures for this one weren't good enough for me to make a deal so my search carries on!

All ex-Police vehicles will have service history via a spreadsheet, as maintenance/servicing is managed centrally - not seen one yet that's had stamps in the book.

The rest of what you found doesn't sound good though, particularly the smoke under acceleration. The rear shelf will have been removed I'd imagine, for either storage in the boot (cones etc if a motorway policing vehicle, or to carry dogs - depends on it's use).

Mileage - depends what it's been used for, but that does seem low. What year was the car?

Thanks for your thoughts on this - least some of what I have seen does ring true!

I could understand the removal of the shelf by the police although why one can't be supplied with the car is a pain!

It was registered in March 2005.

The ex-Police stock tends to be sold 'as is', to keep costs down. You could always pick up a shelf from a breakers, for example.

Where did you goto see it, and what's your budget for purchase?

Water in the back is a common-ish problem. Mine has just started doing it again, although I don't think the normal issues are the cause on mine this time around.

The smoke didn't sound too clever, possibly turbo on it's last legs!

And the mileage sounds a bit odd as well, possibly it's been adjusted, I would have expected morelike 147,000 miles on a 2005 job car.

A Briskoda member near me bought an ex Sevenoaks police estate the year before last that was a 2005 plate and had 140,000 on the clock. His had the service schedule as a printed list but it was all done at the same place in Gillingham and could be verified.

Id stay away from it m8, don't add up to me. You said the inside match the mileage, mine had done 109k when I brought it and there still isn't any wear on the interior apart from stained seats. Could easily pass as a 30k car if I had the seats cleaned and its at 133k now

Many thanks for the replies

I went to look at it in Manchester. I am looking at spending up to £4000 providing I can get a reasonable P/X for mine (c£1000) or sell it privately. I have just had a £500 bill on it so I am not planning on giving it away!

In terms of the damp - it was dripping wet. If I knew someone was looking at my car I would have at least dried it out with a cloth! I have been lucky so far by the sounds of it, my 02 Octavia hasn't had this issue yet (touches wooden desk!)

I hadn't driven the RS model before so it is new territory. There was a slight whistle when the turbo was used - dads diesel one makes more noise! I must admit the mileage was iffy particularly in terms of the smoke. It wasn't worth considering after that and the poor financials I was offered! It just proves even with a salesman sat next to you, you need to try pushing the car a bit to see what it will do.

At a 4K budget I think you can do a lot better than the one you saw.

Check out Pistonheads Classifieds, to give you an idea of what else is out there:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=333&dist=10&pc=&min=&max=4000&y1=&y2=&txt=vrs&px=&filter=TP&o=p&Submit=Search

Whereabouts in Manchester was it, out of interest?

For that budget you can get a really decent one, keep an eye on the for sale forum

I'd also go and test one nearer to home, doesn't have to be on budget - just to give you an idea of how they drive.