My Honda Civic VTi is suddenly on its last legs and needs to be replaced, but I'm not exactly flushed with cash to replace it (no VRS I'm afraid). I've seen a nice 2006 2.0 TDI PD Elegance with 75k on the clock and one owner, no idea yet if the cam belt has been changed, but at £5,450 I think it's priced quite fairly ?

It looks like it's been very well looked after inside and out, so unless I go to see it and something just doesn't seem right I should be fine with it for at least five years plus at around 12k miles a year ?.

If it is a stinker there's another one down the road from it, a year older with 13k less on the clock, but has a tow hook fitted. Should I be concerned about anything mechanicaly considering it's been towing a load ? (of course I'll have no idea what that coudl have been).

Thanks.

My 2008 is at 71k that I've had from new. No problems with mine (touches wood) - Been serviced every year and belt at 60k.

Is it private or dealer? If dealer get them to do a fault code scan for you.

If private

If you can test drive it on a motorway and in 5th floor it preferably up hill to see if it goes into limp mode. Plenty of threads explaining VW limp mode.

Other option would be to buy it on condition no faults are recorded then have it scanned at a VW garage for £ 40 or see if there is a VCDS member near. I have seen VCDSers advertising fault code scan services on ebay for £ 25.

Edited 11 November, 201213 yr by Web Ferret

IMHO...

On 12k miles a year do you need a diesel?

Consider the 1.4 and especially the 1.8 Tsi petrols

Both are superb value for money, if you dont do the miles, no major issues and no cam belt to change as its a chain.

You could get a newer petrol for the same money as that 06 Tdi

CarGiant always have a good selection if you have some patience to keep checking their excellent web site.

Personally I would not buy a car fitted with tow bar unless you knew it had only towed a small trailer to the tip once a year!

The price sounds a little on the high side, because back in April we purchased our 1.9TDi Classic with 91K for £3K, and although the example you have quoted is an Elegance with 75K, I would have thought that £4.5K was nearer the mark. You will have to factor in the cam belt, and also leave a little aside for a DMF replacement (not an unknown problem). The last thing you want, is to have to shell out another £1K for these two items on top of £5450.

This is the sort of price range I had in mind. Should be able to get this for £4.5K.

http://www.autotrade.../1501?logcode=p

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll try the 5th gear 'limp mode' test. None of the ones I'll try to look at this coming weekend are with a VW or Skoda dealer so I'll have to use my instincts etc.

The reason for a diesel is that it should save me at least £70 a month, and this goes a long pay to covering the loan I'd need

Where are you based, and where is the car?

No reason not to consider that one, decent mileage. Take a look then see if you can negotiate the price a little.

Check carefully that that AC compressor isn't making a noise and that the AC blows nice and cold. The compressors go as well as the DMF.

Also check the rear parking sensors work, and the rear washer is squirting.

Try a hot start. If it takes a lot of cranking, it will need a new battery too.

Check the rear tyres are wearing evenly.

Edited 13 November, 201213 yr by flyerphil

So, off to look at this one on Saturday morning...

http://tinyurl.com/d5uvkll

... and if something is 'off' with it I'll probably take at look at this one on the way home...

http://tinyurl.com/cqtvkmy

... however, with the second one I'm concerned about a couple of things. The garage has quite a few Skoda's for sale, they said they used to be a Skoda dealer, but firstly the radio/parking sensors are apparently not working as expected as it no longer keyed to the car and is being taken to a Skoda dealer in Winchester to resovle. Secondly they don't have the service book at the moment, but all receipts (for cambelt change etc) and prior MOT's, the service book is apparently still with the Skoda Dealer that they obtained it from but if not available they will stamp a new one. How fishy does this sound ?.

I'd want to see solid evidence of the service record and any bills/receipts/invoices before proceeding further. Rather than go on goodwill that they'll turn up at some point....

Don't be put off my mileage. My 2005 has just hit 160k.

It is around the 100k mark that things start failing - clutch, flywheel, turbo, aircon.

If there is documented evidence of any of these being replaced recently you are on to a winner. Should be fairly easy to spot any of these on their way out.

Make sure you get a good test drive and give it some welly in 2nd and 3rd to make sure it doesn't go into limp mode because of sticking vanes on the turbo.

Be careful with the PD engine, specially if it has the DPF, you must run it on long runs regularly otherwise you will have to go to a dealer to request them to run a regen.

If you are doing 12k miles of short runs, reconsider switching to petrol.

Least these examples with the BKD PD140 won't have DPFs. One less thing to worry about!

My 2.0tdi (BKD) is just shy of 520,000kms.

I would think that they are very reliable!!

Tapatalk'd from my HTC SXE Beats

My 2.0tdi (BKD) is just shy of 520,000kms.

I would think that they are very reliable!!

Tapatalk'd from my HTC SXE Beats

How about adding yours on here?

http://www.briskoda....b/page__st__540

520k km would make it about 323k miles - 3rd from top!

I reckon I'll take 1st soon. I'm doing between 8 and 10,000kms a month !!