Hi All

My Toyota Estima is tired and old and desperately needs replacing before it costs me any more money in bits corroding, leaking or dropping off!

My first thought was to get another 7-seater MPV as I've really enjoyed having the space of one (great for camping, carting the three kids + friends around, moving band equipment around etc).

However..as we are now pretty much reduced from a family of 5 to 4 (eldest teenager doesn't like to spend time with the rest of the family if she can help it!) then I'm starting to think that a large estate with a roofbox would serve my needs and be more economical to run. Also, I'm thinking that I'll get more car for my £5k budget.

I wonder if anyone could give me a quick idea of how much Skoda Octavia Estate £5k might buy me and which models are available? On a Google search I'm seeing two 1.9TDi variants (one with 105BHP, another with 130BHP?)and I think there is a 1.8 (from the TT?) and VRS Petrol variants too?

I must admit, I'd love a petrol VRS (my mate had a 51 plate hatchback and it was a fantastic car) but I imagine a Diesel is a lot cheaper to run (albeit much less fun :( ) My old Estima is running at about 26mpg these days, so I guess either Diesel or Petrol will give me a significant saving on trips to the Fuel pump!

Only other consideration is a BMW 320D Estate but the rear space seems much smaller?

All advice for a newbie appreciated!!

Edited 10 February, 201214 yr by Odgeuk

If you don't mind buying one with 100k+ miles you could get a 2006-2007 Mk2 estate for that money:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201205445791515/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/5000/body-type/estate/model/octavia/make/skoda/radius/1501/postcode/tn11ta/page/17?logcode=p

£5k will get you a very very good mk1 estate with low miles, something like this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201149433426266/sort/priceasc/make/skoda/model/octavia/postcode/tn11ta/radius/1501/price-to/5000/body-type/estate/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer/96050/usedcars?logcode=flp

The petrol Mk1 Octavias are actually quite economical and can do 35-40mpg if driven carefully, certainly worth considering as the diesels fetch a higher price than the petrols especially for low mileage good condition examples. VRS's are just as cheap as the other models now.

Engine wise - Diesels you've got 90/100/110/130bhp versions... Petrols there are 1.8T, 1.8T 4x4 and the VRS versions, they also did 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 non-turbo and 2.0 petrol ones

They come in different trim levels as well, really early ones were LX, GLXi etc. then in 2000 they changed trims to Classic (lowest spec), Ambiente, Elegance (highest spec), Laurin & Klement (ltd edition spec even better than Elegance), VRS and VRS WRC.

If you don't mind buying one with 100k+ miles you could get a 2006-2007 Mk2 estate for that money:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201205445791515/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/5000/body-type/estate/model/octavia/make/skoda/radius/1501/postcode/tn11ta/page/17?logcode=p

£5k will get you a very very good mk1 estate with low miles, something like this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201149433426266/sort/priceasc/make/skoda/model/octavia/postcode/tn11ta/radius/1501/price-to/5000/body-type/estate/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer/96050/usedcars?logcode=flp

The petrol Mk1 Octavias are actually quite economical and can do 35-40mpg if driven carefully, certainly worth considering as the diesels fetch a higher price than the petrols especially for low mileage good condition examples. VRS's are just as cheap as the other models now.

Engine wise - Diesels you've got 90/100/110/130bhp versions... Petrols there are 1.8T, 1.8T 4x4 and the VRS versions, they also did 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 non-turbo and 2.0 petrol ones

They come in different trim levels as well, really early ones were LX, GLXi etc. then in 2000 they changed trims to Classic (lowest spec), Ambiente, Elegance (highest spec), Laurin & Klement (ltd edition spec even better than Elegance), VRS and VRS WRC.

Thanks! That's really helpful. Any concerns about a high miler? I guess these are robust and reliable engines in the main? Why the Diesels so much more desirable? just better fuel economy?

Both the 1.9TDI and 1.8T engines are pretty bulletproof, the rest of the car (suspension, clutch) will wear out before the engines do. Have a look at some of the threads on here recently about high mileage Octavias.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/214154-high-mileage-octavia/

And yep the diesels generally fetch a higher price due to the fuel economy, if you want a cheap diesel one you're stuck with ones that have done starship mileage.

Engine wise - Diesels you've got 90/100/110/130bhp versions... Petrols there are 1.8T, 1.8T 4x4 and the VRS versions, they also did 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 non-turbo and 2.0 petrol ones

The mkI diesel had the 90 and 110bhp versions which are the older injection pump engine and the 130bhp PD engine - the same as the engine in the Fabia VRS.

Nothing wrong with the injection pump ones though.

The 130 PD really only came in Elegance and L&K spec, but there was a rare as hens teeth Ambiente SE model with it but this was a run out model and I don't think they sold many.

There was also the SDi engine which I believe was a 1.9 diesel just without the turbo. These are the ones always used as taxis and seem to rack up 100000's of miles

As far as the diesels go, the early 90bhp ones have a simpler turbo but the later 90's and 110s have a variable vane turbo which is prone to problems if the car isn't driven hard every now and again. The 130 is the best performer but the PD injectors cost a fortune to replace if they break.

Try and find a low mileage 130 l&k for that price 2skodafamily has a hatch one and can regularly see 60+ mpg on a run.

I have a TDi estate and love it. Most complete car I've owned. I went for the 130 engine, which has the addition of a 6-speed box.

I paid £2,995 for mine, with 126k and in the top-spec Laurin & Klement format. This meant heated leather interior, factory-fit Xenon lights, grey 16" alloys, cruise control, parking sensors... I could go on!

Things to watch: coolant temp sensors can be borked when bought, as mine was. Lessens the economy somewhat and the glowplugs take ages to preheat. Easy, cheap fix so don't let it put you off. CD changers are prone to getting soaked by a burst washer pipe, therefore breaking, and in a nasty double whammy the radio aerial corrodes easily at the base and totally rapes the radio reception. Solution: remove the standard stereo, chuck in a cheap head unit with a CD deck or iPod capability. Also, standard speakers aren't brilliant, but again easily changed. Rear tailgates are known for rust but fixable under warranty- check to see if this has already been done.

It's incredibly practical, has a decent turn of speed, handles OK, looks fine, always starts first time (now the ignition switch is fixed!). Well worth buying. Find a nice, tidy L&K TDi with either a 110 or 130 lump and you can't go wrong. £5k could get you a lovely one!

Sent from outer space, on my HTC.

Thanks everyone. £5k is my max but if I can reduce that to around £3k then even better! Still a little uncomfortable about High Mileage but getting used to the idea. My 1993 Estima has 230km on the clock and just about everything is corroding, splitting or leaking even though the engine is still running fine. I guess FSH is a MUST with a High Miler but I do wonder just how genuine some of these FSH documents are....

With high milers that don't have FSH, there are real concerns about poor condition of the coolant system and lifetime of the engine being reduced by poor or infrequent oil changes.

Cars have moved on a lot since then! Japanese cars of that vintage have extremely shoddy rust control.

Mine's got 130,000 miles (so around 210,000km?) and there's not a problem with any fittings, bodywork, etc. The only wear is on the leather seats and whatever I've broken...

There's a lovely 110bhp L&K estate, silver, black leather, on Auto Trader for £4,995 at the moment. A few grey '53 plates with 110bhp engines, around 105k, for around £3,500ish each.

Just go to Auto Trader, search for Octavias, put the keyword 'Laurin' in and off you go!

Hey Odge, small world...

Prices have gone up again then I see. I paid £4,000 from a dealer for my '03 vRS Estate with 49,000 miles last Feb, and I thought I paid over the odds. Especially since I then had to spend a fortune on the suspension (and hoses, and bushes, and...) Diesels were somewhat cheaper around here back then, too.

All I will say is, if anything has a tow bar fitted, MAKE SURE TO TEST THE SUSPENSION REALLY WELL. My shocks all round were completely lifeless. Unfortunately when I tested the car, the wife was in the back with our little boy. She's NOT a good passenger at the best of times, so I didn't give it a workout at all. Plus it was very low on petrol. I bought a dud, don't get caught out the same way.

Even the vRS petrol should give a fuel saving over what you're seeing at the moment. I'm averaging around 30mpg, or around 35mpg when I behave a bit better. And they can do better still if you avoid sitting in traffic and drive carefully. But having owned a vRS, AND having a bike too which is where MY driving fun happens, I think next time I'd go for a diesel myself.

Be sure to have a good look round for corrosion, especially on the bootlid (edges of handle strip in particular).

And yes the BMW's will seem a bit miserly in comparison, bootwise. The Octavia is by far the biggest boot in it's class. Or at least, it was...

Oh yeah, and a Marshall 1960TV (A cab) fits in the boot easily, with a Marshall head alongside it, and a couple of guitars on top, and the screen still pulls over and hides the lot, all without putting the seats down. I know you'll find THAT useful. The only downside of the boot in these, is if you DO need to put the seats down, there is a ridge in the middle between the boot floor and the seat floor. :(

But since you're also considering BMW, the wife is a long time E92 335iSE owner (okay so it's the newer shape), and it far exceeds the quality of the Skoda in just about every single department. Working on both, and driving both, is just a completely different experience. Never a more solid and planted car have I owned (sort of) in my life, and even my brothers old 54 reg 911 Turbo didn't feel quite as steady as the BMW. The cost of upkeep so far has been dramatically less in the BMW (except for tyres, but it does have ridiculous 19" runflats with 255 section rears) and the BMW has covered vastly more miles than my Skoda, which does a good job of eating all the money that I don't have.

Not trying to put you off, but BMW really are on another level compared to VW.

Hey Odge, small world...

Prices have gone up again then I see. I paid £4,000 from a dealer for my '03 vRS Estate with 49,000 miles last Feb, and I thought I paid over the odds. Especially since I then had to spend a fortune on the suspension (and hoses, and bushes, and...) Diesels were somewhat cheaper around here back then, too.

All I will say is, if anything has a tow bar fitted, MAKE SURE TO TEST THE SUSPENSION REALLY WELL. My shocks all round were completely lifeless. Unfortunately when I tested the car, the wife was in the back with our little boy. She's NOT a good passenger at the best of times, so I didn't give it a workout at all. Plus it was very low on petrol. I bought a dud, don't get caught out the same way.

Even the vRS petrol should give a fuel saving over what you're seeing at the moment. I'm averaging around 30mpg, or around 35mpg when I behave a bit better. And they can do better still if you avoid sitting in traffic and drive carefully. But having owned a vRS, AND having a bike too which is where MY driving fun happens, I think next time I'd go for a diesel myself.

Be sure to have a good look round for corrosion, especially on the bootlid (edges of handle strip in particular).

And yes the BMW's will seem a bit miserly in comparison, bootwise. The Octavia is by far the biggest boot in it's class. Or at least, it was...

Oh yeah, and a Marshall 1960TV (A cab) fits in the boot easily, with a Marshall head alongside it, and a couple of guitars on top, and the screen still pulls over and hides the lot, all without putting the seats down. I know you'll find THAT useful. The only downside of the boot in these, is if you DO need to put the seats down, there is a ridge in the middle between the boot floor and the seat floor. :(

But since you're also considering BMW, the wife is a long time E92 335iSE owner (okay so it's the newer shape), and it far exceeds the quality of the Skoda in just about every single department. Working on both, and driving both, is just a completely different experience. Never a more solid and planted car have I owned (sort of) in my life, and even my brothers old 54 reg 911 Turbo didn't feel quite as steady as the BMW. The cost of upkeep so far has been dramatically less in the BMW (except for tyres, but it does have ridiculous 19" runflats with 255 section rears) and the BMW has covered vastly more miles than my Skoda, which does a good job of eating all the money that I don't have.

Not trying to put you off, but BMW really are on another level compared to VW.

Hahahahah!! From Marshall amps to Skodas! A slight jump! Cheers for the advice, especially regarding space for cabs! I'm down to a 2x12 these days but still keep a 4x12 for rainy days

Sorry to hear your Skoda needed so much work. Next time look for a Point to Point wired one :p

The VRS is sorely tempting, at least it'd be good fun, my friend had the regular version (non-estate) and that was a lot of fun for a 5-door.

BMW...I'd be looking at an E46 for sure, I'd love one but I really think the boot space would be a problem when it came to camping (even with a roofbox).

I need to see both cars in the flesh really, thanks for all the advice so far, it's been extremely helpful. Will have to start checking the local area ads and dealers now...

Hi if you want to try before you buy pop up and have a spin in my VRS. I'm near to brands hatch and would be time well spent if you are serious about one as mines a good one. Prob three hour round trip for you by the time you've had a drive and a cuppa. Regards Pete.

Sorry to hear your Skoda needed so much work. Next time look for a Point to Point wired one :p

That is SOOOoooo gonna go straight over everybody's head...

I'm wishing I stuck to my mkIII Mondeo plan, personally. Not everybody's cup of tea, I know. Trouble was, every one I saw had issues. One was near perfect, except for door sills on the inside were showing signs of rotting on the beads. Another one was absolutely perfect, except for the most ridiculously strong smell of cigar smoke, and the headlining reeked of it. That was never going to work out for me. I spent a whole week and covered over 1,000 miles just trying to find a half decent estate car (damned if I could find one). My only criteria were low mileage and at least 33mpg. I guess in the end I just got complacent with mine, but I was sort of in a rush since my trusty old V40 had a pretty terminal oil leak after 170,000 (great car, renault engine not so great).

The boot really is impressive in the Octavia estate though considering it's just a golf platform, and whilst bits do seem to wear quite easily, the engines seem to be holocaust proof.

That is SOOOoooo gonna go straight over everybody's head...

My old Fender Tonemaster says otherwise! You're not the only one who has an estate to lug music gear around in!

I managed to get a Marshall head and cab, 2 PA speakers and 2 guitars in the back of the hatch, that was without the bracing struts removed too

Hi all, original poster here. Well, my budget had to drop slightly from 5k to 3k, It's certainly been difficult to find a good used Octavia Estate Diesel! I guess people hold on to them...

Autotrader currently have a 2003 L&K 1.9PD 130BHP (manual) with 125,000 miles for £2,795 which seems to tick all the boxes. For £700 more (£3,495), there is a 2003 1.9PD Ambiente with only 84,635 miles.

At this stage, I'm thinkiing that an extra £700 for a car with 40,000 less miles on it, is probably worth it ? Even though the L&K trim looks really nice. What do you guys think?

If I go and look at these cars this week, is there anything I need to be vigilant about? Will PD injectors on the way out be obvious in the way the engine sounds or responds? Anything known issues I can check for while I'm there?

Edited 10 May, 201214 yr by Odgeuk

What's more important is a documented service history with the all important cam belt and water pump change at the correct interval. I would hold out for a low mileage say under 75k one to come along. There have been some good bargains to be had recently and £3K will get a good one just be patient.

L&K trim is nice but there's more stuff to go wrong (electric heated seats, electric sunroof etc)

It's a shame they didn't do an Octy I trim level with all manual windows and manual locking as the electrics seem to be the biggest problem (new threads on here every other week about door lock or window woes!)

Both of those cars should have had their 2nd cambelt and waterpump changes by now going by the age.

PD injectors rarely go wrong on these engines I've only seen two threads on here in the past with broken unit injectors, if one is broken then the engine will be misfiring badly and it'll be really obvious.

L&K trim is nice but there's more stuff to go wrong (electric heated seats, electric sunroof etc)

It's a shame they didn't do an Octy I trim level with all manual windows and manual locking as the electrics seem to be the biggest problem (new threads on here every other week about door lock or window woes!)

They did, the classic (manual widows anyway) but I couldn't think of a worse car.

As others have said, the condition and service history are the most important things, also the ambiance will probably but the 90 enige do will be quite slow in comparison.

There is a nice looking Black Octy VRS estate on fleebay located in Truro. 69k on the clock with history and just had cambelt done. £3295 from an independent dealer worth a look !

Hi all, original poster here. Well, my budget had to drop slightly from 5k to 3k, It's certainly been difficult to find a good used Octavia Estate Diesel! I guess people hold on to them...

Autotrader currently have a 2003 L&K 1.9PD 130BHP (manual) with 125,000 miles for £2,795 which seems to tick all the boxes. For £700 more (£3,495), there is a 2003 1.9PD Ambiente with only 84,635 miles.

At this stage, I'm thinkiing that an extra £700 for a car with 40,000 less miles on it, is probably worth it ? Even though the L&K trim looks really nice. What do you guys think?

If I go and look at these cars this week, is there anything I need to be vigilant about? Will PD injectors on the way out be obvious in the way the engine sounds or responds? Anything known issues I can check for while I'm there?

Speaking as an L&Kist, I'd say go for that. The little touches all make a lovely difference. Heated seats are brilliant for winter, bad backs and (on a gross note!) my other half's 'womanly pains'...

The engine is lovely too. I did a 340 mile round trip yesterday, averaged 53mpg (running 160bhp and 290lb/ft torque).

Try before you buy. I think the L&K feels like a more special place to be. I've sat in far nastier Audis. Similar feel to a nicely specced Allroad.

Regarding problems, I had the usual 'common' Octavia problems- tailgate rust, coolant temp sensor and control module gremlins. Nothing specifically L&K related.

.

Edited 21 May, 201214 yr by Odgeuk

Think I might have found something. 2001 1.9TDi Elegance. 120,000m, 12mnths MOT, 110BHP engine.

£2,490

Last Service was at 108,000 and information shows this was a new Cambelt, Tensioner and Water Pump. Car hasn't been serviced since though.

Interior is gross, it's beige. But I could live with it. Maybe.Condition looks good from photos. Going to view tommorrow.

The car arrived as a P/X exchange.

Any thoughts?

Just a little 'offering' from me: I have owned 4 different cars that used the PD130 engine. It is absolutely right that if an injector goes (or worse, multiple injectors), you're going to have a bad day, as it's around £500 per injector. :(

However (and this is the real point of my post) I would never let that fact deter you because, having owned 57 cars in my 39 years on the planet, I can honestly say that the PD130 VAG engine is one of the best engines ever made. Fantastically torquey, flexible, economical and superbly reliable. I do not think these engines have a weak spot around the injectors, personally. It is just a case that if you do have a dead injector, its going to cost a lot of money. I've had 4 of these engines and amongst my friends and family I can account for around 8 of these engines - and none have had injector failures (yet!) ....... my highest mileage PD130 was on 176k ..... still with a healthy turbo and using no oil or water.

I own a VRS 1.8T petrol now, so this isn't a biased case of "get what I've got, to validate my choices!" ....

Go for a PD130 ..... you'll not regret it.

Edited 23 May, 201214 yr by Longyear