Hi All,

Looking at getting an Octavia circa £4k, now I'm well aware of the issues with the 2.0 when fitted in Passats & Audi's, but are there any when fitted in the Octavia?.... Edging towards playing it safe with the 1.9

My mileage is largely motorway circa 60 miles a day, which will be most economical at brisk motorway speeds? I have read the 1.9 is more economical, but is this the case at faster speeds (more powerful engine with 6 gears sounds like it ought to do more)

now I've got my eye on a 2008 1.9tdi estate, would a 100k mile example frighten you (I will add another 45-50k over next 3 years, so circa 150k-160k) and what issues can I expect? And what should I check before buying..... Or would I be better off with a 2004-05 with say 60-70k miles?

Coming out of a 2001 BMW 525i so like some degree of refinement and comfort, primarily when cruising

The other alternative is a B5.5 Passat 1.9Tdi 130ps

Help and advice appreciated

I paid 4k for my Octy 1.9TDi Elegance with extras like leather seats 2 years ago on a 55 and bought it with 130k on the clock. Full dealer history etc, mainly motorway mileage. Had it remapped by JabbaSport with a view to improving high speed performance and overtaking rather than away from the lights, and it's been superb (no pun intended), although the remap costs me about £150 a year in additional insurance. I've had the cambelt done but only as per service schedules, otherwise issues with parking sensors, rear wash, water pump (my fault really, they're known for going and I should have replaced the £40 part with the cambelt change). There's a hint of 3rd gear graunch if I give her some hammer up the via Gellia, but no problem in everyday driving at all. She drives like a new car even now.

Recommended! Good luck with whatever you buy.

Oh, and MPG on the motorway: About 61 at 60mph, 55 at 75, 48ish at 90.

Edited 21 December, 201213 yr by Sammy Craig

porous head on early 2.0tdi and weak turbos are common faults on the 2.0tdi but mine has not of these problems

100k is nothing for a PD engine as long as it has regular oil changes with PD spec oil as I rang a vw bora with 200k with no problems with the engine

Only thing with the B5.5 Passat 1.9Tdi 130ps is the handling won't be as good as an Octavia

So would the general concencious be to get a newer car with miles in preference to older lower miles car?

Ie 2007/8 with 110k instead of a 2004/5 with 70k ? ....

The 1.9 is sounding more like what I want, reliable, economical slogger that'll happily cruse at 80ish mph.

Interesting point about the Octavia handling better, hadn't factored there would be much difference.

One of biggest draws of the Skoda is the Passat has now been superseded by two generations (and early B6's sound problematic) whereas the Octavia has only just been superseded

I have just gone from a 1.9tdi 100bhp passat saloon and got myself a 05 1.9tdi 105bhp elegance estate.

Lots of things are very similar between the passat and octavia, but the octavia is definately nippier. Not done enough miles to check economy against the passat, but fingers crossed it will be as good or better. I had looked at passat estates, but am glad i chose the octy over the passat now.

I had the same dilemma in 2008 when buying new. I drove both on 20 mile test runs.

No contest - I bought the 2.0TDI. The 1.9 was slow and at 80mph was revving high. The 6spd really makes a differnce for munching motorways.

I' just coming up to 75k miles and I'm booked in for next service on 1 st Feb as I'm keeping it.

In both cases a full service history is very important IMO. The PD engine is bullet proof if serviced properly and the correct oil used. Cam belts need to be changed according to the manufaturers timescales- don't know what it is on a Skoda but Seat say every 4 years or 80K which ever comes 1st on the wife's Altea which is the same engine.

The PD is less refined than the CR engine- it's not as quiet either, but does have character some like so I'd suggest you test drive both types before you make your mind up

All the best

Ade

Hello mate & welcome to the forum.

I've got an Octavia 1.9 (105) Elegance on a 56 plate. I've had it for just on 18 months now and I'm really pleased with it. I do a daily commute of 100 miles, mainly on motorways and I'm averaging 58mpg. I must admit that I don't clog it, however I'm not driving it at 55 mph either.

Although its only got 105 bhp, I find it more than adequate for my style of driving and it's far from sluggish.

The Elegance model has got plenty of bells and whistles and makes for a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. It's reasonable to service and the 1.9 is considered to be a robust engine.

A good point by willydog regarding the earlier 2.0 ltr diesels and porous heads. My mate has recently changed the engine in his Audi A3 for this reason.

Good luck with your search and I can only hope you are as satisfied with what you eventually get as I am with mine.

All the best.

FP.

You may already be well aware of this but make sure you know how to check condition of the dual mass flywheel (DMF) and how to spot one that is about to expire.

A search of this forum should yeild lots of DMF info and experiences/perspectives.

For what it's worth I am of the camp that view them as unacceptably unreliable - be aware that there are other opinions which may be along soon.

528,000kms 2.0TDI DSG 2006

I bought a 55 Plate 2.0tdi 140 PD with 71000 on the clock and full service history ( although I have another thread on here regrding FSH) and a lot of recipts for work carried out after trawling through a lot of info on here and test driving both MK1 and MK2 Octavia TDI's, I managed to find one without DPF so thats one issue I wont have that appears to raise its head for a lot of guys on here. there are not many around but if you look at any 2.0TDI check the sticker in the boot next the the spare wheel and if it has a code 0GG it has no DPF.

also as said before reseach DMF and how to check if the car has a failing one.

appart from a few electrical gremilns ( only small things like back electric window not working which was an easy fix) my car has been fantastic, good power, 50MPG + comfortable.

A car with 100k would not scare me if I could see proof that it had been looked after, I like lots of recipts over a book full of dealer stamps( see above comment ref FSH) and if buying privatley talk to the owner, if they dont know where the dipstick is it would put doubt im my mind that the car has been looked after.

you should be able to get a good 2.0tdi 140 with 70000-10000+ miles for 4k depending on the age you go for.

Edited 22 December, 201213 yr by Dave3283

It seems only 5 minutes ago that you posted up that it had gone over 500k!

Mike

I know,it's crazy. I have a small wholesale distribution company with a staff of 2, one in the office/warehouse and one on the road............guess which one is on the road. Ireland is a small country but an average day for me is about 500kms. If I reach 600,000kms I will be contacting Skoda Ireland to see if they want the car to pull apart the DSG box for research !!!!

also,just a side note for anybody that needs to replace a turbo on the 2.0TDI. My "Turbo Technics" refurb has now lasted twice as long as either of the OE Skoda turbos that where on the car. (approx. 260,000kms) and it's still blowin' strong.

Thanks for your advice so far guys

I know I would prefer the 2.0 as I have experienced both in 1.9 & 2.0 Mk5 Golfs, my biggest reservation is the difference in long term reliability, which would appear to be not that great in these.

I guess at the end of the day it comes down to the individual cars merits, and means I won't rule out a 2.0 in my search ...

Any negatives to estates bar the price premium they tend to attract?