Morning People,

Basically having a baby in june, and now that ive bought a house etc beginning to think that my wee fabia might not be big enough for me, the other half and the baby, you no buggy, baby bag, shopping blah blah blah, was looking at the Octavia Mk2 Race Blue 170bhp diesel engine but wanted some opinions of it?

Common Problems?

Built Quality (Probably the same as the Fab i know)

and general thoughts about it?

I would be part exchanging my car (Roughly £4k) and i could probably put forward £4k cash.

Seen a few on autotrader with under 60k miles on the clock for roughly £8k

Let me know what use think!

I'm guessing you are looking at the PD170?

Although you may be able to grab the later CR170 (Common Rail) with your budget.

You will have much more choice with a PD170 as there a plenty out there, so you at least can afford to be picky with which one you choose.

I have a PD170 and like it very much. It's power delivery is quite abrubt and therefore feels fast if keep in the right rev range. The CR is much more refined and smoother. It delivers its power in a mich more linear fashion. I like the CR and would chose one over a PD but to me it didn't feel as fast (although it is).

There are some well documented issues with the PD170 but then it is worth remembering it has been around a lot longer than the CR. The CR may well eventually develop its own traits as it ages.

The first is the injectors. A rare issue but one VOSA took seriously enough to force the whole of the VAG group to issue a recall. Makesure the cars you are looking at has had them replaced. There will be a sticker in the spare wheel well or you can ring Skoda UK to check. This recall was worth almost £1000 so it is well worth checking. Even if the car hasn't had it done you can still get it done as Skoda will warrant the work even on cars well out of warranty, without full service history and modded/mapped cars too.

Secondly the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters) seem to cause more issues than most on the PD170. This emissions technology was retrofitted to this engine and as a result it doesn't seem to work as well as it should. If you cover mainly short distances without allowing the DPF to get hot enough to burn of the soot it collects then it will block and cause you issues and expense. They can be removed for less than £500 and still pass the MOT.

The vRS also likes to eat its way through DMF's (Dual Mass Flywheels) so on the test drive make sure you accelerate hard from a low speed/rpm in a high gear to put as much strain on the DPF as possible. A worn one will judder.

Listen for a drone from the rear of the car at higher speeds. Even better check the inside of the rear tyres for uneven wear. Search for 'sawtoothing' on this forum for lots of advice.

Any other issues affect all other Octavia's as they share components so check for a failed A/C compressor and rattly / knocking suspension.

Keep us posted with your search, we'll help you with any cars you find if you share the links.

Finally, yes the Octavia makes for a fantastic family car!

The CR170 engine made it's debut on the pre-facelift vRS during 2008.

Here's how to tell the difference...

Awesome, thats a good start!

I figured theyd eat DMF's just like any other reasonably powered diesel it would seem, DPF and swatoothing are new ones on me though!

Congratualtions on the family addtion !

we managed okay in a Mk1 Fabia with a new baby - we had a "travel system" frame where the wheels came off and it fitted in the boot fine

It was our "second car" ("big" cars were a Focus and then an octy estate), so was mainly used for trips where we knew the adults wouldn't need lots of stuff.

I've only moved up to running 2 Octys because Mini-Me #2 is due in the summer

Ahh right, thanks!

Im going to ask if i can borrow a buggy from mothercare to try the boot, it is a travel system weve bought so hopefully itl fit, but if not i do fancy something a bit bigger and more refined!

Thanks for your input

Hi Trev, I used to have a Fabia vRS and now have a 07 Octavia vRS TDi. My girlfriend has a 3 year old and there is loads of room in it for the three of us and all the junk that goes along with us. Loads of room in the boot for the push chair etc. Mine has had the DPF taken out of it so there is no issues there, although the DMF is starting to go so I'm putting some money away for that. Build wise it's pretty good really, nice and solid with a good clunk when you close the door. Makes the perfect car for us, it's nippy and handles well when I'm on my own, makes a great family lugger when I need it.

The octy boot will swallow a buggy or a pram and still have twice the boot space of the fabia. I can get our kids apple I-candy in length ways when it's folded down, the buggy we have for her can also go in length ways too. The boot has also swollowed to full size prams length way folded down side by side,and still taken the weeks shopping for our family and the wife's friend she had with her.

if u can get cash for ur fabia and put 4k towards it u shud b able to get a cr but will have 85k+ mileage on it. with fsh that shudnt be an issue. I got my fl vrs tdi dsg for 8k so there are bargains to be had if you know how to negotiate

pd170, love it, love it, love it! only car I've owned that I look back at and admire as I walk away. drive it like a diesel and its brilliant. I love the way you join the motorway and you look down to see 90 on the speedo and it says 'meh, wasn't even trying'

just got to get used to not wringing the nuts off it and using the torque of the diesel

you won't regret....

sent via Playbook and Tapatalk

Edited 15 February, 201313 yr by jamiepullen

pd170, love it, love it, love it! only car I've owned that I look back at and admire as I walk away. drive it like a diesel and its brilliant. I love the way you join the motorway and you look down to see 90 on the speedo and it says 'meh, wasn't even trying'

just got to get used to not wringing the nuts off it and using the torque of the diesel

you won't regret....

sent via Playbook and Tapatalk

u need to edit ur post...u put 90 instead of 70...ur not a law breaker r u!!! ahem

nobody has mentioned anything about breaking speed limits? my clock was reading 110 all the way to Stafford Hall and back today

nobody has mentioned anything about breaking speed limits? my clock was reading 110 all the way to Stafford Hall and back today

That's a bit slow, take it you weren't in a rush mate :p

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Fantastic car - got mine in December and not regretted it especially after Brotek Remap!

Power is stunning, alright I only had a 1.8 mondeo before, but its more than enough for me.

On my commute from Stirling to Edinburgh i am also regularly getting 50mpg and up to 56 if tootling along at 65

Space is superb and if you have the seats down you can get an awful lot of stuff in it

Only downside is possibly the diesel rattle but I have kind of grown to like it!

Good luck with your choice!