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.

I missed a PD130 2003 for £2,800 (125k) and am a bit sore about that. After all, who doesn't want more power! It does make the one I'm looking at tommorow look a bit bad in the value-for-money department but I really can't wait much longer for the right deal to come along.

The 90/110 TDi seems to be at least a very economical engine, as a trade-off against the extra power of the PD130... To be honest, the 110 will seem like a Ferrari after driving a Toyota Estima for the last 7 years.

Edited 23 May, 201214 yr by Odgeuk

The 110 is a good all round engine, had it on an old shape ('98) Audi A4 . never had any problems, except for two breather pipe splits.

Not to put you down or pee on your parade however, but honestly the difference between the 110 and 130PD isn't just "20hp" mind .... it's a phenomenal difference, especially in torque. But if muscle isn't your main consideration then there's nothing wrong with the 110.

Just make sure you don't invest in a 110, then spend your time wishing you'd held out for a 130PD - I've been there, and it's not fun and always leads to a car going up for sale, and usually some lost pennies!

Edited 23 May, 201214 yr by Longyear

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?

Expensive! I paid that 12 months ago for an 03 hatchback with 78,000 miles and full service history, I would knock him or her down a bit.

<Sigh>...Still nothing decent about, at least not local to me.

I know this is a Skoda forum, but is the Passat 1.9TDi worth considering? The ones I've seen in estate form seem to have a very generous boot space and I'm wondering if the 1.9TDi engine is the same as the Octavia? There certainly seem to be a few more about for sale....

One on Autotrader, 18miles away from me, 2002, 130BHP 1.9TDi, 99,870 miles, £2,645. FSH. Private sale.

Do you need an estate? Have you seen the size of the hatchback Octavia in person?

We have an Accord Tourer (estate) and a hatchback vRS, and to be honest, there isn't much difference for most needs. We've a massive Phil and Teds double buggy and it fits in the Skoda as easily as in the Accord estate.

If you can manage with a h/b, you might wanna check out skinnyman's vRS.

Do you need an estate? Have you seen the size of the hatchback Octavia in person?

I think so, the space is required mainly for camping trips. I just managed to fill the back of my Toyota Estima bus on last weeks trip, so any Hatchback will need to be very generous (counting in a roofbox as well though of course).

You can see how much stuff we took last time:

!!

Estate ftw!

I think so, the space is required mainly for camping trips. I just managed to fill the back of my Toyota Estima bus on last weeks trip, so any Hatchback will need to be very generous (counting in a roofbox as well though of course).

You can see how much stuff we took last time:

!!

Man, that's a lot of gear.

Are you sure the Octavia estate is even big enough for that? That old yoke of yours has a lot of height space that's not in any regular estate car.

Given the trouble I've had with mine, I'd say a Passat would be preferable.

A Passatt would probably be a better sized platform for the amount of stuff he needs to haul around .......

Odge, remember that an Octavia estate is still on the Golf platform, so although generous for it's class, like the hatchback, it's still not a large car relatively speaking!)

I think going from that huge Toyota box thing to an Octavia may not be the best choice for you, Odge!

Edited 11 June, 201214 yr by Longyear

Thats a fair old bit of kit you have there. IF you want my advice I would find someone local with an estate who doesn't mind you jamming your gear into the back of it to see how it fits. I live down in portsmouth and would happily show you my car but its a hatchback so probably not a good enough comparison.

Personally id just get a hatch and a camping trailer that way once you get home you don't have the hassle of unpacking everything lol

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

Personally id just get a hatch and a camping trailer that way once you get home you don't have the hassle of unpacking everything lol

Not only that, but you get my favourite kind of reverse park sensor as an added bonus. Courtesy of "Witter"

Not only that, but you get my favourite kind of reverse park sensor as an added bonus. Courtesy of "Witter"

Watched someone in a crv use mine the other day, amazing how much flex is in a bumper till the tow bar punches though! I found it really funny especially as the back plate stopped it from touching my car at all and he was going slowly so there was no danger of any damage to mine lol

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

LOL! A trailer would be a great solution but sadly I don't have a driveway or garage to store it.

I think, with a Roofbox and some slightly more ergonomic packing, I'll get that lot in an estate. Passat definitely something to consider. Can anyone confirm if the 1.9TDI is the same lump as used in the Octavia?

Thanks for all the responses, I hadn't intended on turning this into a 2 page thread! Very helpful.

The 1.9TDi is the same across the VAG brands. I know there was a PD150 version in the Golf and Leon, don't know if it was in any other VAG cars...

if you get a passat make sure you do/check these things.. The front suspension is not worn. They have a Double wish bone set up and the pinch bolts ALWAYS get stuck and/or snap. All garages know it and will rape you for repairs. If you do it your selfs you will hate the car.. fact!

The bulkhead where the battery is, there are 2 rubber bungs supposed to be drain holes. these are a bad design and ALWAYS block up. if they do water collects in there like a pool, gets in down your pollen filter, floods your foot well. it can also mash up your ECU, and it can also rot your servo as it rusts it, Just pull them out and the holes will never block again.

they also leak around the rear light clusters and are commonly owned by polish imigrants! haha!

Finally decided on an Octavia estate and put a deposit down, to take it away on Tues. I prob overpaid somewhat but this is the first Octy that's come up that was anywhere near local, and I've been looking for awhile.

It's a 2004 1.9Tdi Elegance, 126,000, lots of Skoda Dealer stamps in the book. Cambelt done at 80k, 4yrs ago which suggests I may need to do that this year (any advice on how much I should pay for this?). Car felt great to drive, surprisingly pokey and a 6 speed gearbox. One interesting thing about it is that the autotrader info (which I think is populated by the DVLA when the seller inputs the reg) shows this to be a 110BHP but the sticker under the boot carpet says it's an ASZ, as does the log book engine code. From memory, the TDI badge only had a red "I", Consistent with the 110. an Oddity? Paid £2700. car very tidy except for a stone chipped bonnet in places and car does have a towbar fitted...

Edited 17 June, 201214 yr by Odgeuk

ASZ & 6-speed gearbox = PD130 engine, congratulations!