Hi, I've been researching on the forum for a while now but finally thought it time to sign up and post. 
 
I've been looking to replace my Alfa 156 2.4 sportswagon for a while now. I've test driven everything from BMW 330d Tourings to Seat Leon Cupra Rs but have decided the best combination of fun and sensible (plus being able to get it passed the missus!) is a VRS estate. 
 
I don't do huge milage and fancy going back to a petrol so I've been looking for a 2.0t fsi estate. Ideally I want as low a milage as possible (50k ish), 1 owner, fsh, looking at cars from around 2006/7 and have a budget of upto 7k - though obviously I'd like to spend less if possible!
 
I've looked at few cars now, some dogs, some tidy but most seem to be a fairly basic spec. I had been very interested in this tidy looking Blue VRS with 18s and jumbo armrest (sadly now sold) but the recent thread Low spec level vrs has me thinking that there are higher spec cars out there with xenons/maxi/satnav etc. 
 
So, my questions… What are the chance the car I'm looking for is out there, is my budget realistic and is it really worth holding out for?

 

Many thanks, 

James

Edited 20 May, 201412 yr by Jamesfts

You've obviously seen my response in the other thread!

 

I think mine is a bit of a rogue one if I am being honest to have all the spec - it was originally a company car so it must have been a manager with a budget to spend! I imagine close to 7k would get you a slightly newer one tbh, the estates seem to hold their money a little more than the hatch's but not too much!

 

One thing I will sat is the Sat Nav in the 2006/2007 models is normally the MFD2 (old VW system) as is in mine isn't as all singing, all dancing as the Columbus (or MFD3) that was fitted in the later models -  I find it does me absolutely fine thou and its never got me lost! Also it makes upgrading to a newer Nav a lot easier...

Thanks for the reply.

 

Yeah, funnily enough it was yours and a couple of others that got me thinking it might be worth waiting for a car with a better spec to come along. Saying that I can't find a petrol estate which ticks the age and milage boxes at the moment so holding out might be a waste of time! 

Think thats the kind of year when all the extras starting going onto the vrs so certain cars do have a higher spec. Hold out for the one you want. I got a red estate with 28k on with jumbo box armrest electric front and back windows which not all had for that year and 18 inch wheels.  It was an approved skoda car so paid slighly higher money than off a private sale but also got  skoda extended warranty and breakdown cover 4 years ago for just over 9k but still got it now and its been a great car and still is. So hold out for the right one its worth it.

Don't think your search is unreasonable, just that your requirements mean you filter down the field quite a bit. Meaning you'll need to wait for the right car to come along.

 

Petrol, estate, lower miles and a decent vRS spec means you'll be looking at less than 10 or so cars across the country, by my reckoning. You might know that the vRS spec was originally based on the mid-spec Ambiente with a nicer interior, Zenith wheels and vRS bumpers etc. So cars before around 2008 when they boosted the std spec, don't have a huge spec from the factory.

 

If you don't mind moving a little on the mileage, something like this comes into play:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/skoda/octavia/skoda-octavia-estate-5-dr-2-0-t-fsi-vrs/2200635

 

Although if you're set on one colour, then that really will start to cause problems

 

Best of luck

Ive been looking recently and you will struggle to get a low mileage estate for about £7k.  Most are closer to £10K.  As for spec Im finding the same in that there are very few that have that many extras.  Im trying to replace my beemer which has Nav, phone, MFSW, arm rest etc etc all integrated and there not a lot of Octavias that will match it.  A bit dissapointing especially when they are around the same price on the market.   

 

i notice someone mentioned keep fit windows in the back, is it really an option to have electric? 

Edited 21 May, 201412 yr by coullstar

Thanks for all the info, it's is a great help.

 

I think being realistic I need to concentrate on finding the right car in terms of condition, history, owners and milage.

 

I'd like that to come with 18s, climate, cruise and jumbo box but anything else would be a bonus. Having looked through the site it seems most things can be retro-fitted if I really wanted to.

 

Really should have pulled my finger out and got up to Wakefield for that blue car by the looks of things!  

Ok, next twist... 

 

I've found a car with a great spec, slightly over budget but not by a huge amount... problem is, it's yellow. Now I don't mind the colour (had a yellow Fiat Coupe for a while) but trying to convince SWMBO is another matter.

 

Are yellow cars harder to sell, would it put you off? 

Edited 21 May, 201412 yr by Jamesfts

I love the yellow vRS's - but again my other half would have to be convinced! Did they do a Yellow Pre-Facelift or is it a Facelift?

 

I don't think they are any harder to sell tbh, its just there is less of them!

I have to be honest it's growing on me.

Spec is higher than what I'd accept (above) as in addition it has front and rear parking sensors, maxidot, cruise and a Militek exhaust.

 

08 with 58k plus it's just had the belts done.

Could be a winner... 

Just for info in 2009 you could get a late pre facelift front end, but with the face lift interior and 2.0 TSI petrol engine (plus the odd other change) so if the budget will stretch then maybe worth keeping an eye out. Personally i think the FL interior is worth trying to get and i wanted the TSI engine, but was also lucky as didnt know the interior differences until i bought it. 

Did spot the yellow example you're talking about, but didn't mention it because of the colour! I tend to find, unless people are specifically looking for a yellow example, I don't mention them....

 

Harder to sell, no question about it.

 

I would just keep an open mind about mileage and number of owners in particular. You might find one that's done 20k more for example, with a few more owners - but is in far better condition than something with half the miles and one or two owners

As mentioned I've had a yellow car before (technically only the front half was yellow and only for a few months, long story) but I did quite miss it when when I got around to replacing it with the original dark blue panels. So although not actively looking for a yellow car I'd happily drive it and possibly a bit of a bargaining tool on the car in question?

 

Resale doesn't really bother me too much, if it's anything like my last few cars it'll get 100k of hard use and be worth peanuts regardless of colour! 

 

I hear what you're saying about owners/milage and would only put that into the equation if the history was there and on seeing the car in the flesh. I've seen some very rough low milers over the last few weeks! 

Sounds like a go-er then

Definitely worth a look

Totally agree with regards to the mileage/owners. U find a well looked after car with 100k with regular oil changes and an owner who understands how and engine works it's going to be a far better buy then a car with 80k on one oil change with a Muppet at the wheel! That's where forums become such a blessing as most never treat a car as a simple a to b. We give a ****

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Yeah, I can completely agree with that.

 

When buying my last car I must have driven at least 1 examples, the one I ended up buying had more miles than some but you could tell it had been looked after. History was huge, lots of money spent in the right places, every small job taken care of, Alfa Owners Club sticker in the window etc. So would never discount a car without seeing it in the flesh.

 

I won't tell you want the other half said I'd look like driving a yellow car… but it rhymed with "smell end" 

Spent yesterday seeing as many as possible. Driven standard and mapped deisels and also went to see the yellow car mentioned above.

Made my mind up on getting a petrol, did really like the yellow car seeing it in the flesh and looks to have been enthusiast owned.

Problem is the other half is dead against it and kicking up a fuss.

Only other petrol estate for sale is 400 miles away in Inverness, 2 years older and budget spec...

Lol I was going to look at that one in Inverness yesterday.  Decided not to as it is budget spec and top money as well. 

Finally found a car that ticks enough boxes to put down a deposit. Hopefully will be picking up a blue Petrol VRS estate at the weekend.

Whislt not quite as high a spec as the yellow car it's the same age and with very similar milage, still having 18s, maxidot, jumbo/aux and climate. The only things I'd like to fit are cruise and satnav but that shouldn't be a big job.

Can't wait!

Nice work. Got there in the end