Hi all,

Went to look at a used Octavia Scout today.

Two things looked out of place.

The first was a hole that had been cut into the lid of the rear ashtray / storage compartment under the rear seat air vents. It has been filled/plugged with a rubber grommit. There is no evidence of any wires etc. in the compartment itself.

Secondly in the boot on the left hand side panel there is an additional socket. It has a sprung loaded cover (in a similar style to the factory fit 12V accessory socket on the opposite side) but this one has 'Britax' written on it.

A little bit of research suggests Britax make auxilary vehicle lighting (flashing beacons / lightbars etc.)

The Scout is exactly three years old and is an ex-lease vehicle.

The first thought to cross my mind was ex-NHS (Paramedic) as it is silver, but at 3 years old it has too low mileage (50,000 miles).

I then tried to think what jobs would require additional power into the rear passenger compartment and the boot?

I'm going to ring the previous owner in the morning to see if they will tell me but until then do any of you have any ideas!?

This is what I believe to be the socket in question (although I assume it'll be a 12V version as 24V is used on commerical vehicles right?)...

Edited 2 August, 201213 yr by silver1011

That is just a Britax socket, (basically a 12v socket that uses a smaller plug than the std cig lighter plug - they can be 24v as well, but as you say it would need to be on a 24v vehicle) it could of been used for a number of things, fridge, lights etc.

Could have been a motorway maintenance vehicle, they need lights to go on site, we get lease cars in all time at work with lights in boot, most just work off 12v cig lighter but odd ones are hard wired

What color is it?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

While I'm not much help on what your socket is, at least it's sort of like a 12v cig socket. I opened up the rear of our Landy to find a double plug socket like you find in your house! haven't had the nerve to plug the toaster into it yet mind you.........

What color is it?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

The car is silver.

This is why I thought it may have been an ex-paramedic car as the vast majority of their Scouts (at least the ones I've seen) are silver which have the fluorescent battenbergs fitted. I've seen quite a few silver police cars too as I'm guessing these are easier to sell on afterwards?

However, 50,000 miles in three years seems too low mileage to me for an emergency services vehicle?

I have noticed a lot of silver Octavia estates on the motorway, parked up under gantry's and next to those windowless brick buildings with flashing amber strobes on their roof although these are standard Octavia's, not Scouts...

Traffic light menders use them as well

Could have been a motorway maintenance vehicle, they need lights to go on site, we get lease cars in all time at work with lights in boot, most just work off 12v cig lighter but odd ones are hard wired

The estate gets a 12V power socket in the boot as standard (drivers side) so they've either needed a second one or have had a specific need for this particular 'smaller' Britax fitment (thanks Gizmo).

Well it turns out that the car is an ex ambulance service management car.

From what I can gather it was a NHS manager's company car that has been fitted out with the required kit (lights and sirens) to enable it to attend 'major incidents' as and when required.

There are no other marks, holes or cuts in the bodywork or the interior and I'm told it was unbranded.

Hmm, I'm not so sure now, I know these cars are driven pretty hard (which isn't always a bad thing, unless straight from cold) and carry a lot of gear around with them.

Would it make a good reliable second hand buy I wonder?

I would imagin it wanted for nothing, if the price is right it should be a good buy

what are the wheels like, heavy curbing may be a bad thing

Cheers Andy,

All four wheels were delaminating but this is a common issue on all Scouts.

It doesn't matter now, it's sold, someone has just got a nice Octavia!

Thanks to everyone for their input.