I'm very happy with my Octavia. It's a really eager and reliable car, but my eldest is now 14 and is beginning to struggle with legroom in the back of the Octy on long journeys.

I've been looking at Superbs of various ages and types, as they seem to have a bit more legroom. Cost is the problem at the moment, I couldn't afford anything newer, but I've been thinking "in a year or two perhaps..."

Now, I've been idly looking at the classifieds and have spotted a 02 Passat Sport Estate with the same engine as mine (PD 130). It's got more miles than mine. Mine has about 145k and the VW has 202k. I'm not especially worried about the extra miles if the engine has history etc. It just goes against the grain a little to buy a car that's older with more miles.

In terms of cost I should be able to come out slightly ahead on asking prices too as mine seems to be worth a little more than the Passat is up for.

Thoughts?

There are many thousands of Mk1 Octavia's out there as taxis... how tall is your son!?

Not that tall compared to his mates, but when we're on a long journey (4 hours or so) he's a bit cramped, especially as he's usually sat in the middle of the back seat.

The other factor worth putting into the mix is that I do about 24k per year, so the Passat would be up to 250k quite quickly, within 2 years!

I assume you have wife in front passenger seat on said journeys?

usually. In fact if the back seat is full (3 kids) then yes.

Would it not make sense to put the tallest passenger in the front passenger seat, with the shortest behind them?

I've been on loads of long journeys in mine and I've never had a complaint from an adult on leg room, what about putting someone the younger ones in the middle?

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

Sod that! I want to sit next to the missus on a long trip, not the kids!

The youngest one's car seat doesn't sit properly on the hump in the middle, and the middle child moans like fook about absolutely everything so I'd rather pull my own fingernails out than put her in the middle!

I think having his legs astride the hump in the floor doesn't help.

There's always the boot?

I like yer thinking Babs.....

I bought my youngest the same vehicle for £1500 5 months ago,

52 plate in metalic blue,

immaculate with all service records & new tyres, MOT & tax, 105,000 miles

Great car, but i would not pay higher than that for one with a higher mileage.

Buyers market.

george

Why don't you put the kids in kennels and have a peaceful trip with your wife.

Why don't you put the kids in kennels and have a peaceful trip with your wife.

Best suggestion so far!!

If your happy with the octy & there is nothing wrong with it then id keep it,i wouldnt be buying a 202k passat thats for sure.

Seeing as you've got a tow bar there's trailer kennels you can buy, can't see people putting expensive dogs in something unsafe so would be fine for the kids, plus you get more room to put booze on the back seats lol

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

Doing the mileage you do it just doesn't make sense to trade in a 145K Octavia you know the history of for a 200K+ Passat for an extra inch of legroom.

Take the grief for another year and chop it in for a Superb!

Doing the mileage you do it just doesn't make sense to trade in a 145K Octavia you know the history of for a 200K+ Passat for an extra inch of legroom.

Take the grief for another year and chop it in for a Superb!

+1

Legroom isn't the best in the octavia. Lucky it's only me and the missus, so back seats are very rarely used. Had 3 mates other month on a trip and 2 of them are about 5ft6 so was a bit cramped for them in the back as I'm 6ft5 so like my legs out straight. Been in a work mates superb and even with the front driver seat pushed all the way back, I still had about 2-3" of leg room in front of my knees. Would have got a superb but the missus said it was far too big for her to drive. Plus with all the mileage you do you find the extra space alot better

Sell the kids and buy my MX5 Very low mileage on that