Hi all.

It's been about 18 months since I had to part ways with my Mk1 vRS (to fund a van for my racing), but I'm pleased that the time has come to buy another. However, I've been looking over the last few weeks, and a bit of a pattern is emerging. I've already been to view a few, and keep coming away empty handed.

Price

They seem to fluctuate between cheap as chips, to "how much, for that?!" or borderline extortion. I had an 04, totally standard and in superb condition inside and out, sold it with 100k on the clock for £2000, but at the time, that seemed to be about as good as the price got. Now, looking in all the usual places online and on the forum itself, you see them from about £1500 to around £4k. Are they becoming a bit of a cult classic already?

Condition

Of the cars I've been to view, most are described as excellent condition with only the usual wear and tear. Then after making the effort to view, they're usually a wreck. Starting to think that perhaps the low prices from a few years ago have left them with owners who just want a quick turbo, and that's it. This would certainly be the case with the individual that I sold my old motor to, would not be surprised if it too has become the aforementioned wreck.

Mileage

Are they a difficult car to clock? I viewed one locally only last weekend, but I'm almost certain it had been tampered with. The car was rough everywhere, totally worn out. The owner claimed that it was purchased from a main dealer with 90k on the clock, FSH (but no cambelt or waterpump changed.. raised questions) then due to lack of use, sold it to his mate. Long story short, it ended back in this guys ownership, and was claimed that it had only covered 4000 miles in a year. Given the condition of the car, there was no chance at all that it was on a Skoda forecourt, yet it would of took another 10 years of motoring to get it in that state.

So whats the deal? I know what I want, and that's my old car. Everything was perfect, and any faults were rectified. Perhaps my standards are too high for the prices the car appear to be fetching of late. My budget is sat around £3000, but I'd expect something as good as my old motor for less than that.

Bit of an odd topic, I admit. But having been away from vRS ownership for a while now, I'm hoping others may shed some light on the matter. Prior to my Octy, I had a Fabia vRS and hated it. I've considered a few other motors, BMW 320, Golf Mk4, Leon FR/Cupra etc. But I know what I want and will almost certainly be disappointed if I deviate away from the Mk1.

Cheers,

Keith.

£5k i'll sort una beast lmfao

Ha ha

Serious tho....

Was there not some tidy ones in the classifieds mate ?

Or autotrader ?

if you wait another few weeks i will have a mk1 54 plate in silver bog standard for sale 60k miles but currently fitting a new engine ;-) has new discs and pads all around

that will be up for 3k

Ha! I just want to stress that this isn't a shameless 'wanted' post. I'm genuinely wanting to know whats changed to bring about the crazy awful cars I'm currently looking at.

I get it, cars get old and generally wear through use. But I have high standards for the right motor. CN's post above is just another example of what I'm trying to avoid. For what I'm spending, I'd expect a strong, original engine to still be fited. Understandable that engines do fail, but generally, the VAG 1.8T is bomb proof, or it was in my experience.

yeah they fail when owned by people that havent a clue about what the red oil pressure light meant lol becoming more common

but mine is having a new 1.8t engine so it will be even better than the original ?? so surely that would be even better would it not ?

p.s they are only bullet proof if looked after !!

I'm shocked by people who don't look after cars. I've seen someone redline an RS-4 that had only had about 30 seconds to warm up. If I was dropping that kind of money on a car I would bloody well look after it....wait, I already do look after my car and its just a diesel chugger

I thought the same when looking for mine too. but a thing worth mentioning is, I was put off when I saw a modified one. I had it in my head that I wanted a standard car and so ruled a lot out because they had a few bits added/taken away here and there. I wouldn't do the same if I was looking for another one. Or the likes of a second engine would have set alarm bells ringing, it now says to me that the rest of the car must be in pretty good condition for somebody to go to the hassle of fitting a new engine.

I have to agree though there was a lot of crap when I was looking too....

This is true. While I'm not against buying a modified car, a bog stocker would take preference. Even remaps are a little off putting, but only if they've not uprated or kept on top of the other items that wear as a result. Anything cosmetic, other than window tints, would probably be a no go for me. Same goes for springs and alloys, it's plenty low and firm enough without slamming it. Alloys look great as standard and it's even better that they're difficult to curb. My old vRS was as it rolled out of the factory, with a different DV (fitted for the sake of it, didn't actually need it) and a panel filter. On the other hand, my old Furby was mapped, with a few induction mods. It needed a new clutch by 40k miles and the extra power made the car worse to drive in standard trim.

So far, of the cars I've viewed, they're either in awful condition, I cant trust the seller or the car's history, or the asking price is outrageous with no room for movement.

CN, whats the deal with the car receiving a brand spankers engine? That must be worth a good third of the asking price alone!

Its an engine I've had that only did 60k

But before I fit it I will be putting in new oil pump oil pick water pump timing belt etc etc and some new shells so will be as good as new

It has also been stripped down and fully cleaned

New exhaust gasket new inlet gaskets

Every other bit of the car is big standard only modification is it has uprated brake pads new

It was the main reason I brought it because I had a spare low mile engine and it was standard and standard cars are rare now

Oh and it has private plate

If you wanted I can even so a full photo gallery when I rebuild engine ;-)

Will even have the turbo stripped and seals changed for new :-)

Why must you tempt me such such offerings?!

The full rebuild does indeed sound tantalising, like you say, if it's been done, you know it's right. One thing that has concerned me is the crazy build up of sludge in all the breather pipes. I remember my own car was quite bad for it, this is what puts me off higher milage/older cars, though I know it's just as likely to happen to younger ones as well.

I think I'll have to keep my eyes open for the time being. Always plenty of motors up for sale, but I'll be trying to find something that's been owned by an enthusiast. The forum is definitely the best place to find one.

Especially the turbo rebuild makes it sound VERY worthy indeed on top of everything else. I must admit, I wish I'd have known about Clive when I bought mine. :(

What a right bag of loose nuts and bolts I bought though!!!!!!!

It's not just you that he'd be tempting with an offer like that... Seems far better than 'taking a risk'.

Sounds like mine would tick all your boxes, however it isn't for sale at the moment.

Sorry that's not a lot of help! I feel your pain though, a couple of months ago I was helping my brother look at cars and the number that were not as described (usually from dealers...) was quite frustrating!

This is what I don't understand, wasting everyone's time looking at a car that is not as described. Any time I have sold a car I have given an honest representation of condition and included photos of any/all damage so buyers know before travelling to look.

It is hard to find good examples of these types of cars, as you say the process dropped into the range of non mechanically minded people who will rag it from cold etc.

Keep looking, something will turn up eventually. Dont forget this is a good community and I'm sure people would help out by checking a car thats local to them before you travel to view etc.

Shameless plugging not allowed sorry ...... If you want to sell please join freedom

Edited 24 March, 201313 yr by David 8

Shameless plugging not allowed sorry ...... If you want to sell please join freedom

sorry! !! did say thinking for selling, but understand

The search continues. Checked out two over the last couple of days, both fairly local independant garages.

04 Plate with 50k, FSH etc. Up for over £4000 and again, not worth the money.

Just got back from another small garage up in Durham, 04 Silver, FSH with all the right history, 60k and mechanically superb. Body was lacking a bit all over though, looked like it was used as a proper family run around, a lot of lacquer had worn off around the doors, handles, with chips in the sides where they'd been opened against walls of varying height. Nasty flat spot in one of the rear aches, looked like all 4 corners had come in contact with something. Front bumper was fairly mangled on the underside. He was prepared to move on price by £400 without any warranty, but I just wasn't impressed so walked away. Yet again, this one is described as "stunning" in the listing on evilBay.

It's becoming a bit tedious now this Octavia buying lark. Of the 5 local cars I've viewed (4 of which were from dealerships) they've not been worth parting with the hard earned.

Just waiting for that perfect car to show up in the Cars for Sale section!

I did drive a Mazda 3 MPS for the giggles and was half tempted, but I just can't be bothered with paying twice the price up front and twice as much to run the damn thing.

Did you wanna come see this one ?? Engine will be out and any niggles with bodywork you don't like I can get sorted ;-)

You can see the new engine and can choose if you want me to do vac deletes or anything while the engine is out ??

Wokingham Berkshire

When i was looking a for mine 3 years ago i dropped quiet lucky, I had looked at a couple and they were complete dogs,

I noticed a 51plate locally from a private seller, it was abit older than i wanted to go coming out of a 53plate volvo but went and had a look anyway as it had only done 63k

The owner came out with a pile of paperwork with every recipet since new, 2 owners husband and wife (wife got car in divorce),

Front bumper had had a bash but rest of bodywork was spotless and i ended up buying it and i've still not got round to getting bumper sorted