Hi all, hope you can help!

I'm considering joining the Skoda fold after years of BMW and Ford, unfortunately I know almost nothing about them so feel out of my comfort zone!

I've spotted an Octavia L&K, 2006, 24K miles, full history, belt and pump has been done. It looks like a lovely spec, and it's specifically the petrol version, 2.0 FSI that I'm interested in as I hate diesel following getting my fingers burnt badly in the past.

I'd just like to know what I should be looking out for with these cars? Is the FSI a fairly bullet proof engine? Will I get 40mpg on a very long steady motorway run at about 80mph?

For the record, it's in competition with a cheaper Mondeo 2.0 that's a bit older but over £1K cheaper and has similar low mileage for the age, immaculate condition etc.

I've driven the Octavia and it seemed fine, even had four matching Pirellis fitted and was largely immaculate, unmarked alloys etc. If I'm buying I need to ring back tomorrow and place the deposit.

Any help for a total newbie appreciated!

A Mondeo 2.0 vs an Octavia is a no brainer even for an unbiased observer, Skoda every time.

There's plenty of info in the forums about that engine and model if you search for it. 24k seems very low mileage for a 6-7 year old car, but the Octy wears it's miles well. I just got rid of my 2006 vRS petrol, and it still felt nice and solid after 85k miles.

That's what attracted me to the car to be honest, the mileage is so low the car is practically brand new, and looking around the car I've no reason to doubt that it's genuine. Will keep checking around the forum, had just been hoping there was a nice sticky somewhere with a checklist but I didn't see one yet unfortunately lol

We have recently bought a FSI Octavia and previous car was a Mondeo, so in a good place to compare.

The Mondeo was the ST TDCI, 155bhp diesel standard but with a few mods probably 165-170.

The Octavia is the 2.0 FSI 4x4. 150bhp NA.

Inside, the Mondeo wins hands down. It had heated recaro seats that were incredibly comfortable and switches and dashboard in general was just a bit better. However a bog standard Mondeo won't be as nice and probably on a par with the Octavia.

I've been really pleasantly surprised by the engine and power of the FSI. It is responsive and pretty torquey. Not quite the punch or overtaking power of the Mondeo, but pretty good. 2.0 Mondeo is ~130bhp so I think the FSI will be the better engine in your case.

Reliability and costs will be similar I am sure. Ford and VAG are both cheap to service with parts readily available.

As for MPG, the 4x4 will be different but over 200 miles, mostly motorway and ~70mph I achieved 36mpg.

26k miles is very low, almost too low. Make sure its been serviced annually and not just by mileage, which would only be 2 services!

Thanks for the reply, I had a Mondeo ST TDCI myself once upon a time, it was that car that made me vow never to do diesel again!

If a 4X4 FSI is achieving 36mpg then I doubt I'll have trouble cracking 40mpg in a standard FWD

The car's last registered address was in London so I suspect it has simply not been used very much, perhaps only for the longer runs out of the city...

Checking the Service history it has had a service every two years (I believe these are a 2 year interval) and all were dealer stamps.

Oh I remember something I wanted to ask!

Under the armrest was an aux input, however I couldn't see an aux button on the Skoda head unit, is this something that needs activating separately like on some of the older Mondeos or did I just not spot the button?

Thanks for the reply, I had a Mondeo ST TDCI myself once upon a time, it was that car that made me vow never to do diesel again!

If a 4X4 FSI is achieving 36mpg then I doubt I'll have trouble cracking 40mpg in a standard FWD

What went wrong with the Mondeo? Ours was utterly reliable until i drove it through a flood.

I heard of problems with the DMF and injectors, but we didn't have those issues.

The 4x4 is not full time 4x4, but it won't be quite as good as FWD. I'm not sure if 40mpg would be possible gauging from our car, but it won't be far off.

Ours is 6 speed, not sure if the one you are looking at is?

Yeah the one I'm checking out is 6 speed which I think must help with the motorway economy.

My Mondeo suffered from failed clutch and DMF three weeks into my ownership, £1200 to fix. Shortly afterwards I noticed that it was smoking HEAVILY on startup indicating a possible injector problem. I got shot rather than spend £1,200 fixing them and vowed to never buy another diesel unless I was doing 30K+ per year!

To be fair I think you were extremely unlucky. We had ours for 4 years and 60,000 miles and no issues.

I was always aware of the DMF and injector issues though.

DPF's put me off more recent diesels.

Edited 19 January, 201313 yr by mat-vrs

Yeah I probably was just unfortunate, however, that tends to be the trend with my cars, hence wanting to know if the FSI has a tendency to throw up any big bills lol

Under the armrest was an aux input, however I couldn't see an aux button on the Skoda head unit, is this something that needs activating separately like on some of the older Mondeos or did I just not spot the button?

The "CD" button in the bottom left hand corner of the headunit is used to scroll through radio, single slot CD, boot mounted multichanger (where fitted) and AUX in.

Our octavia has the 2.0 fsi and has been very good.

Not sure you'll get 40mpg,we get 36-37 typically.

Unless the mondeo is a derv, it'd struggle to return 40mpg as well

Which mondeo btw? The mk3 is an awful barge. Mk4 is better but poor interior unless it's a decent spec. Servicing is cheaper with the skoda

Had both mondeos as company carsand preferred to drive our octavia

I'm only really hoping for the magic 40mpg on a straight 300 mile motorway run, I know it will never crack that ordinarily.

Is your 36-37mpg on fairly mixed use or purely motorways?

This is the Mondeo I'm looking at, the cost to change is a third less than getting into the Octavia and I always quite liked them although it's been a while since I drove one!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301124896946/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/seller-type/trade_adverts/fuel-type/petrol/maximum-age/up_to_10_years_old/price-to/4000/transmission/manual/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/model/mondeo/make/ford/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/bn35su?logcode=p

I'm only really hoping for the magic 40mpg on a straight 300 mile motorway run, I know it will never crack that ordinarily.

Is your 36-37mpg on fairly mixed use or purely motorways?

Extra urban. Mostly dual carriageway. Round town its about 32.

Even 32 would be amazing round town, I got 22mpg out of my last tank in the Focus!

I could sell you a better, cheaper & younger Mondeo than that!

I'm running a T FSi Octy which is a little thirstier than an FSi, but 40 mpg is possible on the 18 miles or so between our two homes, but only

when traffic is quiet & I can cruise at 70 for most of the trip.

Compared to our Mondy the vRS is harsh, with a choppy ride & an audible exhaust, but it is nippy, & a better car on a red mist day.

The Ford is different, a much more "grown-up" car, a comfortable ride, good handling & very little noise. The big V6 costs more to run, (28+mpg)

but I'm happy to pay for the hush & the deceptively nippy performance.

My only advice would be, buy the car you like best, running costs aren't all that important, IMVHO.

HTH, DC.

Which Mondeo have you got? I'm guessing an ST?

You're possibly right re the running costs actually, I know I have always wanted another Mondeo, but the Octavia seems to tick so many sensible boxes in comparison (even though it's eating over £1200 more of my savings than I originally wanted!)

I had a 2005 2.0 FSi from new, and do low mileage. Just before the warranty ran out it had to have a new a/c compressor. As I traded it in the catalytic converter was on its way out.

Both expensive items if one had to pay for them!

Otherwise a nice car but, I have to say, not a patch on my current 1.8 TSi.

I could sell you a better, cheaper & younger Mondeo than that!

I'm running a T FSi Octy which is a little thirstier than an FSi, but 40 mpg is possible on the 18 miles or so between our two homes, but only

when traffic is quiet & I can cruise at 70 for most of the trip.

Compared to our Mondy the vRS is harsh, with a choppy ride & an audible exhaust, but it is nippy, & a better car on a red mist day.

The Ford is different, a much more "grown-up" car, a comfortable ride, good handling & very little noise. The big V6 costs more to run, (28+mpg)

but I'm happy to pay for the hush & the deceptively nippy performance.

My only advice would be, buy the car you like best, running costs aren't all that important, IMVHO.

HTH, DC.

+1 on most of this. One thing here is you're quoing what a vRS does (which is accurate) but Blue oval is considering an L&K which is a far smoother ride, though as you have variants of both your opinion is worth considering by the OP.

Boot's bigger on the Octy if that's important too.

As ever the test drive and your personal preference will decide which you buy.

Cheers

I could sell you a better, cheaper & younger Mondeo than that!

I'm running a T FSi Octy which is a little thirstier than an FSi, but 40 mpg is possible on the 18 miles or so between our two homes, but only

when traffic is quiet & I can cruise at 70 for most of the trip.

Compared to our Mondy the vRS is harsh, with a choppy ride & an audible exhaust, but it is nippy, & a better car on a red mist day.

The Ford is different, a much more "grown-up" car, a comfortable ride, good handling & very little noise. The big V6 costs more to run, (28+mpg)

but I'm happy to pay for the hush & the deceptively nippy performance.

My only advice would be, buy the car you like best, running costs aren't all that important, IMVHO.

HTH, DC.

Trouble is you're comparing a V6 Mondy with a vRS. The op is comparing 2.0 petrol versions, where the Octy is probably a league ahead. Plus you can't get a newish Ford with a V6 anymore. Shame, as the duratorq was a fun engine, if a little frightentingly thirsty