Hello all

The other day I test drove a 2l diesel with DSG auto, and it was lovely. It is going for 8000 which is cheap for the low mileage, although the age of the vehicle does worry me - it comes with a years warranty and 2 years free servicing, by then child number 3 might have come along and it might be time to change anyway.

My reservations are - it has been driven for only 6000 miles a year, which sounds to me like short journeys. I am no expert, but it was spick and span inside and no marks, 2 previous owners, and fun to drive.

Also - I would much rather have the 1.9l engine, as it appears to be much better economy (a friend says his gives him 52mpg brim to brim every time), and I am under 30 so my insurance goes up a lot with a 2l (I drive a 1.2 16v fabia now). But there are simply no 1.9s going at Skoda used car dealerships in East Anglia at the moment, and certainly none at my price range (8000 is my max). This one has the dsg which is also marginally more thirsty than a manual.

I will be driving it for regular short journeys around the surrounding villages with occasional trips cross country and maybe weekly trips of 20-40 miles on A-roads and dual carriageways. I have heard that only using a diesel for short journeys causes trouble for the DPF, but from online research I have gathered that a weekly thrashing on the A14 should clear that out.

Anything warning signs or things I have missed?

I take it it's a VRS? otherwise it won't have the DPF.

The DPF can be removed if it causes problems (Cheaper than replacing). I woukld be more worried about the DSG once it is out of warranty, the early ones can be troublesome and costly to fix (Mate had a mechatronic go on his 5 year old TT - ouch!).

Having said that it is low mileage and may run without cause for concern for the next 3 years.

Your weekly a road jaunt should be enough to clear the DPF out if you keep the revs up (I.e. 2.5k in 4th)

I could be wrong but I don't think the early 2.0 PD140's have the DPF (only the PD140 8V Scout and the PD170 vRS?) Even if it does then the type of driving/age/mileage it has on it already would have caused issues by now.

The 1.9 vs. 2.0 debate has been done a few times, the 2.0 is the more refined and powerful engine but is more thirsty. It can match the 1.9 for fuel economy if the majority of your journies are on the motorway as the 6th gear helps but this doesn't appear to be the case for you?

I drove a PD105 1.9 recently and was suprised how good it was. A lot of people on here call it agricultural and under powered, I disagree, and I have a 2.0 PD140 and a 2.0 PD170! The 1.9 is also a very tough/durable engine.

Do you actually want an auto? If so I'd avoid an older DSG, it could be good for ever but for me auto's are more complex and are more likely to cause issues compared to a manual in later life.

Edited 13 April, 201214 yr by silver1011

Is this a main dealer? have you a link, seems ok to me for price and mileage , if it is a main dealer, I would look into having the warranty extended to two years and then you are covered either way .

Every 40,000 miles or 4 years (whichever comes first) you should renew the DSG transmission fluid. This needs special equipment, and is not a DIY job. Has it been done recently? Is it included in the 2 years service deal?

Ditto with the timing belt - 80k miles or 4 years, whichever occurs first, so it's probably due too if not done already.

Niall

Thanks all for your responses! Well clearly the dealer isn't all that technical, as they confirmed it had a dpf when I asked-great news that there isn't one (that improves the mpg a little too doesn't it)

Here it is;

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=602429691

They are going to give it a full service and apparently the cam belt will be changed too. I will check about the transmission fluid.

Have just seen a c4 Picasso for sale for the same price, same trim, same mileage but a year younger and a 1.6 diesel engine with 50-60 mpg. Lower emissions and car tax and insurance. Tell me the ESG auto/semi auto gearbox would drive me crazy (and the car weighs over 2000 kg!)

c4 Picasso for sale for the same price...

Isn't that French?

Thanks all for your responses! Well clearly the dealer isn't all that technical, as they confirmed it had a dpf when I asked-great news that there isn't one (that improves the mpg a little too doesn't it)

Here it is;

http://www.skoda.net...px?id=602429691

They are going to give it a full service and apparently the cam belt will be changed too. I will check about the transmission fluid.

Have just seen a c4 Picasso for sale for the same price, same trim, same mileage but a year younger and a 1.6 diesel engine with 50-60 mpg. Lower emissions and car tax and insurance. Tell me the ESG auto/semi auto gearbox would drive me crazy (and the car weighs over 2000 kg!)

Yep, defo no DPF :sun:

If you have your heart set on a DSG (who could blame you....I think they're fantastic) another thing to consider is that the 1.9TDI DSG isn't really any more economical than the 2.0TDI DSG going by the combined book figure.

However the 1.9TDI with a manual transmission is very economical. Should get 20% more economy over the DSG.

I have heard horror stories about the DSG box but I can also tell you that my 2006 2.0tdi DSG has 466,000kms on it and its still going strong.

Dont buy the C4 Picasso, all over Watchdog there was an issue about the brake pedal linkage being under the carpet in the passenger footwell which could be operated by your passengers by pressing on the carpet. What else have they left on the wrong side!

Get the DSG you will never look back, such a nice cruiser with the DSG its just makes driving a joy as opposed to a chore with a manual sometimes, overall, they are great cars, as was suggested see if you can negotiate an exyra years warranty or something on it and you will be good to go, and have nothing to worry about :-)

Well for £800 more you can have this!

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/Skoda/details-543461-Skoda.asp?viewtype=0

Facelift and she looks very nice indeed!

I have just 3 weeks ago bought a Octavia 2.0tdi 140bhp Ambiente saloon with DSG.

got rid of a saab 95 170bhp auto for this car which cost 5.5k with 56k on the clock with full skoda service history.

i love it, dont drive it in sport or manual mode only standard. i am doing 67 miles each way to work 60 miles on motorway and averaging 45mpg to a tank cruising at 75-80mph it is due a service which i am sure will help, and i hope to get the servicing changed to variable to.

its a great car apart drom. no cruise control, and the rear wiper motor doesnt work which appears to be quite normal.

dont know if it had the DPF thingy as i havent seen the symbol on yet so maybe it doesnt actually have one? any body tell me other wise?

Am also contemplating a k&n or other filter purely as i am driving decent daily distances at good speed for a long period and think it may improve the mpg due to increased and easier air flow? any advice?

great car wich i had the money to buy an even newer one but i think this will run for a good 150k.

Edited 25 May, 201214 yr by mroberts

Welcome to the club!

No DPF on a 140 (exc Scout)

Cruise could be an easy retrofit depending on your steering control module version.

Glad you like it.

Looks like the OP did not get the car, still avaialble

http://www.skoda.net...px?id=602429691

Sounds a bit overpriced even with the low mileage. Haggle and you could get up to £1000 off the asking price.

Mac

Dont buy the C4 Picasso, all over Watchdog there was an issue about the brake pedal linkage being under the carpet in the passenger footwell which could be operated by your passengers by pressing on the carpet. What else have they left on the wrong side!

We had one - worst car we have ever owned and by a long way, and the must un-ecenomical. Trully awfull. And yes the passengers could operate the brakes.

Sounds a bit overpriced even with the low mileage. Haggle and you could get up to £1000 off the asking price.

Mac

As per Macs comment....it does sound overpriced!

Ive recently bought a FL 140pd elegance estate 2009 on a 09 plate in black, yeah it had 119k miles on it but came with a full main dealer history, 2 new front tyres, a years MOT (from the dealer) and tax until August and I paid just over £5500 for mine....drives like a dream!

steve

We had one - worst car we have ever owned and by a long way, and the must un-ecenomical. Trully awfull. And yes the passengers could operate the brakes.

agreed look at this C4 list of recalls ............. HOLLY SMOKES HOW MANY?

http://c4owners.org/plugins/content/content.php?content.10

Welcome to the club!

No DPF on a 140 (exc Scout)

Cruise could be an easy retrofit depending on your steering control module version.

Glad you like it.

Thanks. how easy could it be to fit? any ideas about cost?

and some advice, the DSG changes up nice and smooth but not quite so smooth on the down shift if slowing down quicky. is this normal or because i use D and not S or Manual?

I paid £7000 for my 06 plate car in August of 2011. £8K is definitely too much - think the dealer has pumped up the price because of the low mileage.

Mine had 39K on it when I bought it and is coming up for 46K. So far I've only done the DSG oil change at 40K and that's been it. Car itself has been fine. Is due a service shortly though, suspect one hasn't been carried out properly for a while, but I honestly have absolutely no problems with the car - it's great.