Hi everybody!

I am looking to get my first car and I've decided it's to be a skoda octavia diesel I've got around 3k - 3.5k to spend and I am looking for a car for a daily commute and long journeys at the weekend (600 miles 1-2 per month).

But as this is my first car I am not really sure what I should be Looking for so have come to consult the experts. What I'd like to know is at this price range would I be better off getting a car that is older with lower 70-80k mileage or a newer car with higher mileage? Ideally I'd like to keep the car for a few years and to me it's reliability is absolutely key.

Thanks a lot.

Edited 30 June, 201411 yr by Guilherm3

Welcome to the forum.

 

Given your budget, I'd get the car with the lowest mileage possible. You'll probably find some Mk1 Octavia's for sale in your budget, so if your heart is set on a Mk2 be aware of this.

 

I don't think a vRS will be under £3.5k, so the diesel engine choices are fairly simple......1.9 TDI PD (105 bhp) or 2.0 TDI PD (140bhp). These days there really isn't much between these two engines when it comes to reliability. The 1.9 TDI is a little less refined and less powerful than the 2.0 TDI, but is is significantly more economical (57 mpg average vs 51 mpg), a bit cheaper to tax and provides more than enough power for everyday driving. The 2.0 TDI is significantly more lively when you put your foot down and on a long run, it's mpg won't be far off a 1.9 TDI.

 

But as reliability is a key issue for you, I don't think you should get too hung up on one engine or another. I think you should be open minded and try and find a car than has had few owners, low mileage and is in overall good condition. Also be on your guard for clocked examples.....the Octavia interior takes big mileages very well, so are good candidates for clocking.

 

The other thing to consider is a 1.6 FSI petrol. Your budget would probably get you a one owner example with very low mileage and it would still average 40 mpg or so with no DMF or turbo to worry about.......food for thought. 

Mk2 1.9TDi is probably best choice in terms of economy and reliability, full service history is a must as they can be easily clocked, unless you carry heavy loads then the 2.0PD will offer better performance but the mpg is not as good as the 1.9PD

 

make sure the cambelt/water pump has been changed on the early of 4 years or 80k otherwise budget £400 for this

 

try to find a Elegance spec one as it comes with all the toys such as climate, cruise control, parking sensors and just makes it nicer place to be in especially if you are going to keep the car for a while.

My 54 plate 1.9TDI Elegance cost £3000 from a local garage back in March, although I think it was a tad over-priced now, it did have full service history and although its done 115k its been reliable apart from the battery dying.  It is a DSG (semi auto) and I find that makes for a more relaxed drive to work!  Make sure you go for a test drive and check that there is not a load of wind noise coming from the rear doors at around 50-60 mph,  seems to be a common problem, mine had it but I managed to get the garage to fix it.  Other general  things I have learned, check the spare wheel is OK and that the power outlet works (for charging phone etc)

Thanks guys very helpful! I'll let you know how I get on. I could really push the budget to £5k but I doubt that would really give me more of what I want (reliability) or would it?

Just to give you a guide I traded mine in for £2300,  06 elegance 1.9tdi @92600 miles . Disappointed that that was all I could get for it ,

I bought my '56 Mk2 PD105 Elegance Estate for £4k in Feb. Not had any issues with it over the 3k miles I've done so far, it's now on 117k. I think it was a little overpriced, but I was a little desperate and it was either this, a Ford or a Citreon....

I know I previously said diesel but what do you guys think of petrol versions? What type of mileage should I be looking for their and what models? Thanks.

If you're considering petrol then go for the 1.6. The 2.0 is a bit of a guzzler.

 

You usually get a bit more car for your money (age and mileage wise) with the 1.6 FSI.

 

Just basically get the newest/lowest mileage car you can for your budget and you should be fine if it's got service history etc.

 

Phil

Thanks Phil, the weird thing for me at least is that the 1.6FSI seems to be very expensive to insure (£4k+ I know amazing and im 25) while the RS is £1900 which is around what I will have to pay no matter what car I get.

 

This 1.8t RS http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201406034712292/sort/default/usedcars/radius/1500/keywords/rs/make/skoda/price-to/2000/price-from/1500/postcode/m160lw/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/model/octavia?logcode=p looks a bit too good to be true don't you think?

This 1.8t RS http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201406034712292/sort/default/usedcars/radius/1500/keywords/rs/make/skoda/price-to/2000/price-from/1500/postcode/m160lw/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/model/octavia?logcode=p looks a bit too good to be true don't you think?

 

That's a Mk1.

 

Like I said in my earlier post, the 1.6 FSI petrol is well worth considering if you are on a budget. When I was researching prices on Autotrader the other day, I found a one owner example of a Mk2 1.6 FSI with 34,000 miles for £3500. The idea might be a non starter if insurance is that expensive for you.....I'm a bit perplexed as to why the quotes should be that high...AFAIK the 1.6 FSI is even lower insurance group than the diesel models.....that's got to be some sort of mistake on the part of whoever is quoting you.     

Edited 1 July, 201411 yr by booke23

That's a Mk1.

Like I said in my earlier post, the 1.6 FSI petrol is well worth considering if you are on a budget. When I was researching prices on Autotrader the other day, I found a one owner example of a Mk2 1.6 FSI with 34,000 miles for £3500. The idea might be a non starter if insurance is that expensive for you.....I'm a bit perplexed as to why the quotes should be that high...AFAIK the 1.6 FSI is even lower insurance group than the diesel models.....that's got to be some sort of mistake on the part of whoever is quoting you.

No its not wrong I've done well over 400 car insurance searches and I'm always confused.

Amazingly two of the cheapest cars I found to insure for me were a caddilac cts and a porsche boxster. And one of the most expensive a small 1.2l corsa was like 7k with 3k excess.

That's partly because Corsa's are a typical boy racer car and likely to end up in a hedge within 6 months of ownership lol

If you're not going to be hooning around, I'd suggest, like others have, a 1.9 Elegance. easily got 60mpg on a run out of mine, sufficient toys and comfort to keep me happy. Can be remapped (to 140BHP) and upgraded (better OEM stereo etc) and just goes and goes. I put 50,000 miles on mine in 2.5 years, never missed a beat. If you can find one with factory HIDs and MaxiDot you'll be laughing.

 

If you can find one a Laurin and Klement has greater luxury and a couple more toys as standard.