Hi all, I’m a newbie here and this is my first post, but I’m already mithering for advice – sorry!

 

I currently own a 2000 yr Toyota Avensis CDX estate, 2.0.  I’ve owned the car for the last ten years, it does what I want it to do but it’s now starting to get a little tired.  Having said that it’s been a faithful companion and has never let me down or hit me with anything other than minor repairs.

 

I am looking to replace her shortly, and was considering the Ford C-Max or the VW Golf IV before my attention turned to the Skoda Octavia, in particular the 1.9 Tdi estate.

 

The reasons for this are as follows:

 

I average around 15,000 miles a year, a general mix of town and country driving, but at least once a year I drive to Germany (approx 600 miles of driving each way - normally in snow - what is the Octavia like to drive in snow?).

 

I use my car daily for work, both for commuting and during work hours (business use).

 

I have a set of winter tyres already for my Toyota - the PCD and offset seem comparable to the Octavia and so would only require an adapter ring for the central bore of the rim.

 

I tow a caravan, and whilst the Toyota copes quite well the additional torque of the Tdi would be of great benefit.

 

I also enjoy outdoor pursuits, therefore the estate is more practical for my needs.

 

In addition to the above I require a minimum of cruise control, air con and an alarm / immobiliser.  I realise this is not standard across the range, but believe cruise can be fitted for around £125.  Which models have remote central locking / factory fitted alarm as standard?

 

Having owned the Toyota for so long and it being so reliable, I want to make sure that the car I replace her with is just as good in all respects, if not better.  I know all cars aren’t perfect, and in my 10 years of ownership I’ve discovered all the little niggles and minor irritations, so I thought the best people to ask for advice would be long term owners of these models.  I want something that will suit my requirements and will be quite happy running on to relatively high mileage as I intend to hold onto the car for some time.

 

So, would anyone be able to offer any advice on what to look for, or watch out for, in buying an Octavia estate, 1.9Tdi on around a ’52 or ’03 plate?  Sorry about the long winded first post, and many thanks in advance for any advice or info you may be able to impart.

I am sure much better informed folks will be along soon. I bought my 2000 SLX tdi for £300 with 125k on the clock. I have changed the cam belt, repaired the drivers door lock(common) window mechanism(common) and replaced various broken bits such as missing badges etc. I also had to do the ARB bushes and the wishbones( which it turns out weren't needed). Rear wiper motors are notorious for going wrong but a new motor is £65 for a genuine bosch and is easy to change. Air con recirc motor goes and is a pig to change. Most problems will be common across the golf mk 4 and seat leon ranges so google problems that apply to them. Hope this helps .

my old mkI was useless in the snow until I fitted winter tyres, then it was chuffing amazing.

 

If you're looking at the 110bhp diesel make sure it has been driven hard, otherwise the turbo gets gummed up.

Not an estate driver, but ive an 04 Lift Back, 90 bhp tdi. own it about 20 months now, bought at 126k now at 149.7k miles.

absolutley love it.

keep an eye for one with a good service history thats been minded and mind it yourself.

then your golden. they are a joy to live with as a daily, and comfy on the haul drives too :-)

 

I would love to get a 110.... Keeping an eye for 1 for myself wen i can afford it!!!!