No not althetes foot.

 

I'm getting the annual itch to change car.

Will have had the VRS 7yr in June and there are a few niggles getting to me. Plus just the urge to change

 

For the VRS - Pluses

 

• Still drives like new
• Plenty fast enough
• Can get 40mpg
• No major faults
• Paid off

 

Minuses

 

• I've had it 7yr
• Odd rattles I can't get to the bottom of
• Couple of patches of persistant rust on the sills just above the stone chip paint (pre-FL common issue) needs sanded down and repainted every 2-3 months now. Looking at a maybe £400 to fix properly/permenantly actross the both sills
• Starting to get more age related faults and odd gremlins that some and go

So tell me how to get over it and keep the car or help me pick a new one.

 

Looking around at a cars they've gotten very expensive since I got eh VRS. I specced a Mk3 and it came out at £27k. No offence to my fellow Skud owners but if I was spending £27k on a car it wouldn't be a new Skoda.

 

My budget would be £15k, preferably less

I drive 12k a year so on the line for petrol diesel.

I'd probably like an estate for the roof bars (for bikes).

Age/mileage less important than condition and likely reliability.

Must be reasonably nippy for overtaking on country roads.

Edited 28 April, 201412 yr by Aspman

Can't help you with the decision, but I've got the rust issue on both sills as well. Currently arguing with Skoda HQ about that (am expecting a call later today).

 

Quotes for repair are £800+ from an independent repairer or £670 from the authorised Skoda repairer. The authorised repairer said that it  might see it good for 1-2 years, but will need doing again at doe point after that...

 

That probably adds ammunition to your desire to change it. Sorry.

Haven't bothered arguing with Skoda. It clearly comes from stone chips therefore rust not corrosion irrespective of the bad design decision not to put the stone chip paint up high enough.

 

Last time I took it right back to the metal, cured it, two coats of zinc primer, two coats of blue, and a layer of clearcoat. I'll certainly avoid any car that doesn't have protected sills in the future. If the car was black I'd have slapped on some Waxoyl.

 

Should add that next year's 8yr service is a biggie again with a second cambelt due so probably circa £600.

Edited 28 April, 201412 yr by Aspman

Maybe a Ford Focus ST estate? Out of your budget at the moment, but wait a while then one may fall into it. Or another Octavia vRS?

I'd probably not get another VRS unless it was a Mk3. I'd like a change.

 

Maybe I should have said no worse mpg than the VRS and no £400 VED cars.

 

[Edit] Quite surprised to see the ST sneaks in under £400.

I got some spray from Boots (other stores probably stock it), works wonders.

Mycil's good, but apparently no longer available

I'd like a change.

 

Must be reasonably nippy for overtaking on country roads.

 

RWD / 4x4 ? ...

There's alot for your budget

 

 

RWD / 4x4 ? ...

There's alot for your budget

 

 

Yes and yes. Although I'd say that for 4x4 it's more the quattro type 4x4 than big off roaders.

 

I've looked at 320d, Merc C and E. Part of me likes the Merc better just because it's not a BMW and they are so common now.

I like A4 and A6, keeping it in the same VAg family I suppose but arguably Mercs are better value 2nd hand.

I like Honda Accord but not so much the estate.

 

Too much choice. If I decide to change I've got a lot of test drives to do.