I am about to part with my Mark I 4x4 estate (in the best colour).

 

I've owned it since October 2011 and in that time it has been essentially faultless.

 

The only failure was the battery, which was actually the original, so I guess I can't complain at it for lasting 12 years!

 

I ran it with Michelin Alpin A4's during the winter and it proved virtually unstoppable in the snow.

 

My Fuelly account (link below) tells me I've filled it up 73 times, at a somewhat staggering total cost of £5,593.65. The actual economy has been a very creditable 28 mpg (30 mpg over the last 3 months). The best was 36 mpg and worst was 23 mpg. I covered a total of 24,781 miles.

 

I changed to Goodyear Efficient Grip performance mid-way through my ownership and found these good in the wet, quiet and good value (supplied / fitted by Rainworth Skoda at a price which undercut Camskill / Mytyres etc).

 

The car was remapped by Jabba many years ago and is fitted with a variable boost controller. On "full" it is genuinely quick and in a straight line has proven a match for a work colleagues Focus ST (2.5). It ran on Shark's rollers last year and produced a very healthy result

 

It was a well equipped car for its day, featuring an electric sunroof, all electric windows, mirrors, full (ESP) traction control etc. 

 

The trade-in / "We Buy Any Car" price does not take into account just how much shear ability / practicality / performance the car offers, so it is staying within my immediate family. I may even retain the option to buy it back,once I'm bored with its replacement.

 

My ownership of this car came about as a direct result of my Briskoda membership - thank you.

 

It is being replaced by a fairly anonymous choice (Rapid 1.2 TSi) and I will genuinely miss it.

 

That must be one of the least depreciating cars you have owned, Sean! A nice report on your ownership, and the car looks as good as the day I said a sad farewell to it. Its successor is likewise showing no sign of wear and tear.

That must be one of the least depreciating cars you have owned, Sean! A nice report on your ownership, and the car looks as good as the day I said a sad farewell to it. Its successor is likewise showing no sign of wear and tear.

 

Certainly a contender for the best value car I've ever owned Denis.

 

The ultimate was probably my first Yeti, which I sold after 1 year / 10K miles for virtually the price I'd paid for it. The dealer then sold it on for more than list!! The benefits of supply / demand and a 6 month waiting list!! 

 

I'm glad to hear the TSi 4x4 is serving you well.

You should keep it as you will miss it when it's gone. LPG is always a very good option on these 1.8's as well. Had mine for 6 years now and the only thing I can find that I would swap to (that I can afford ) would be an A4 avant 190 Quattro. On LPG of course.

Looks very clean.

Are you selling or is it going in as P/X for your new one. 

Looks very clean.

Are you selling or is it going in as P/X for your new one. 

 

It's staying within my immediate family - keep an eye out for it in Sheffield!

 

The car has very little intrinsic value, so no real benefit trading it in. 

Strangely enough, I also have one of these in 'DGW blue' that I've let be 'in the family' as well. Bought it as a winter and (big) dog car but has been in service offsite for 8 months now ! I get to drive it once a month or so and it still impresses despite the new cars I get to drive. 

 

I had my original 4x4 Jabba'd way back in 2003 also and if I ever get the blue one back permanently, I'd be very tempted ! 

 

Question - How do they take to tuning with 150k on the clock....

It's staying within my immediate family - keep an eye out for it in Sheffield!

 

The car has very little intrinsic value, so no real benefit trading it in. 

I know but you would be surprised how many let their cars go in P/X for peanuts.

 

Question - How do they take to tuning with 150k on the clock....

Mileage is immaterial if they have been looked after. Mine was mapped at 70k and is now on 161k

Interested to hear more about your mapping experience with the 4x4

 

any notable gains on mpg? (i'm currently standard seeing 27 to 38.1mpg!!)

 

any pointers to what best to uprgade/check before mapping? (cambelt and haldex dervice done, brakes next step!)

 

results of mapping? gradual power, or all in one lump?

 

thanks

Karlbar2k:- Mine is well looked after, but starting at 150k. (My first one had about 50k on when remapped with zero issues)

 

Octabus:- I can only speak for the Jabbasport custom remap I had on my first one -

+ Super-smooth and progressive remap with instant build throughout the rev-range

+ MPG was marginally better (certainly no worse until you went mad, which you didn't need to!)

+ Car coped admirably with everything else standard OEM - adjusted driving style to slow in fast out

+ Had Bailey valve fitted at same time on recommendation of Jabba

+ Rolling roaded at 222bhp with standard air filter, but I wasn't interested in the absolute output

- Honestly, no downsides in the years I had my first one.

Edited 16 June, 201411 yr by Fabpreza

Only mod what breaks!!

things like airbox defin and extra trumpet helped stop TIP collapse

I also did wheel arch mod to improve airflow over the SMIC

 

Car is much more drivable as it pulls better so driving at 30 is not all gearchanges

 

however I did kill my gearbox on a particularly bad pothole. As they are known to be weaker than the VRS box it is  something to be aware of..

Only mod what breaks!!

things like airbox defin and extra trumpet helped stop TIP collapse

I also did wheel arch mod to improve airflow over the SMIC

 

What the remapping did show up was boost and vac leaks which were causing poor consumption figures so after fixing those mine went from 25-30 to 30-40 depending on driving style. 

 

Car is much more drivable as it pulls better so driving at 30 is not all gearchanges

 

however I did kill my gearbox on a particularly bad pothole. As they are known to be weaker than the VRS box it is  something to be aware of..

"things like airbox defin and extra trumpet helped stop TIP collapse" --->? 

 

The wheel arch mod is simply make more airflow through the arch liner so air flows through the intercooler than against it?!

 

any guides on the usual suspects for boost/vac leeks? That's my kind of modifications, fix it to run right giving power and economy it should have in the first place!

The main culprits on the 1.8 is all of the pipes

They do tend to come in a sort of order though:

Pancake pipe join in the wheel arch

Other end of the same pipe up behind the engine block, it is the biggest PITA to deal with, but lots of different approaches to sort it

Crank breather pipes, ALL of them and in particular an extra check valve in the small line that goes to the inlet manifold

"Suction jet spray pump" at least I think that's what they call it, lives under the manifold and the metal plate with all the vac and valve cr4p, they split causing vac and boost leaks.

Injector seals in the manifold, if they look wetted then they are leaking boost, probably not much but if you decide to use a thingy gasket (phenolic?) then it's worth changing them at the same time.

Over time you will end up replacing most of them, the small line with the extra valve probably more than once ;P

The replacement (Rapid 1.2 TSi) is only around 7 MPG more efficient, despite being ~100 BHP & 400 Kg down on my old Octavia (and FWD only) - progress???

OK, the rapid's now up to around 39 and the old Octavia (which I borrowed at the weekend) is running at low 20's.

Still good fun (and properly quick) with the boost turned up - I miss it :-(

If the old one is running low 20's then something's wrong

Boost leak? Air filter? Plugs?

The old Octavia (which I borrowed at the weekend) is running at low 20's.Still good fun (and properly quick) with the boost turned up - I miss it :-(

Got my blue one back from 'extended family' duties for the last year and after a tart up and vRS interior its still a brilliant car - even with 165k.

p.s. Remapped and I'm getting about 26mpg to work and 32-34'ish on the motorway

My old Mk 1 4x4 is still around   - 90K miles now (& 14 years old!!) and not quite as shiny as above. Still properly quick, although probably in need of a suspension refresh.

 

They don't make em like that anymore!

thats why I trying hard to hold onto mine, though I regularly see 40-45 on a run (and then double it cos the price of LPG )

 

going in for stainless turbo back with decat next so hoping it should creep up to 45-50 :-)