While Googling for some info on the Octavia I came across this from earlier this year:

http://www.telegraph...da-Octavia.html

I really do wonder about some of the advice this fella gives out.

He starts off by mentioning terminal oil pump drive problems, which don't apply to the Octavia. Then mentions timing belt changes, which should have been done two years ago anyway (well I know that's debatable but...). The dual mass flywheel is perhaps a fair point, but if its given no trouble up to now why worry yet. Then he goes on to warn about the DPF, which an Octavia of that age wouldn't have had.

So he's basically scared someone who's perfectly happy with their car into changing it for a new one due to three non-existent problems and one that with low mileage may not happen for years. Unbelievable !

Not the first time Honest John has given false advise, I think muppets run that site and I dont heed a word thats printed on it.

To be fair.... he only echoes the feedback from readers who write in

and he saved me a few quid not buying a Golf for the dreaded ESP Teves problem!

But the Golf you were thinking of buying might never have developed the ESP fault?

And even if it had VW UK are still making substantial gestures of goodwill on cars out of warranty.

I beg to differ.... friends have come a cropper ,its well documented on here, and the web, and the reason I bought a TSi Octavia without ESP

SUK are a joke and dont want to know... but you are welcome to take your chances

To be fair.... he only echoes the feedback from readers who write in

and he saved me a few quid not buying a Golf for the dreaded ESP Teves problem!

Do you not book a holiday 'just in case' it rains? life too short to worry about what ifs!

And you can get a Teves ESP repair kit fully fitted for £200-£300, so it's hardly a big issue IF and I repeat IF it goes wrong. Hell, hitting a pothole or curb and damaging an alloy and tyre would cost more than that to fix.

I think the point is "Advice" no need to take it, make your own like so many do.... at least there is a choice available and HJ is a great site

Some of the advice he gave me referred to a DPF regeneration. The symptoms I described had nothing to do with that.

I think the point is "Advice" no need to take it, make your own like so many do.... at least there is a choice available and HJ is a great site

TBH... its not really balanced advise, but just a list of known faults (if not all..) to say a car is on its last legs at 63k is a bit irresponsible without having full knowledge of that car itself

The reply they gave was based on what was asked for

In any case its only an opinion, and probably founded on the hundreds of letters and emails they get about problems.... its to help anyone who has a decision to make

A six year old 70k TDI with a DSG on the balance of probability "may" give you problems and thats what he replies to

the timing belt advice seems correct he also states the 1.4 tsi does not need a timeing belt replacement which is correct its a timing chain.

I was faced with the same dilemma and I chose a manual petrol Skoda which appears to offer less potential problems, however.....nothing is certain

I'm surprised he missed the opportunity to say that the wheels are too big and it really would be more comfortable riding on some nice 80 profile tyres that are also less expensive than these newfangled 55 profile tyres favored by young folk...

Whilst I like reading his column, i'm conscious he probably gets a few kickbacks and is therefore not keen to have a word wrong said about his sponsors like WarrantyDirect and BCA/sure sell who he promotes continually as a panacea when in fact they might be inappropriate.

My previous car was a 2l tdi and I know it was not perfect! After 4 years and only 40k the turbo blew on mine. It happens, I'm just saying the response tends to say to the question ' get a new car soon ' as its gonna break! What car doesn't eventually

My previous car was a 2l tdi and I know it was not perfect! After 4 years and only 40k the turbo blew on mine. It happens, I'm just saying the response tends to say to the question ' get a new car soon ' as its gonna break! What car doesn't eventually

ditto

IMHO most of us buying a "used car" do our research before taking the plunge..... I feel most of the dealers are either ignorant or tell porkies about used cars..

I asked about the ABS Teves fault and all dealers dismissed it.... Not one would offer to repair free and one car had the fault but I was told it was a lamp out!

Some running faults seem to get dismissed to as "Well all this type of car have it" hardly reassuring is it?

A trawl of the site will reveal potential pitfalls with every car made, but at least you can make your choice?