Hi guys,

Looking to get a Scout, and seen one for sale for 5k that I like the look of. Having another look tomorrow and wondered if there's anything you all recommend I should check before agreeing to purchase...

It's got 120k on the clock, so am going to check all the work that's been done as there's a FSH and receipts. Will of course check the cam belt and water pump have been done within this period. Alloys look a bit 'tired' and could do with a facelift as well.

Finally would this 09 plate have been pre/post the FL that Skoda carried out? Any telling signs to know?

Anything else you can recommend?

Many thanks for the words of wisdom...!

Alex.

09 is on the cusp of the changeover so could be either an FL or preFL that didn't sell so quickly. The main tell is the headlights, if they sweep back into the wings then it is an FL.

 

Alloys will look tired at that age, it is a common complaint that the diamond polished alloys soon deteriorate as water gets past the lacquer through stone chips etc. A refurb at around £220 to £300 will sort this (Don't get refurbed as diamond polished as they will just go again).

 

Cam belt and water pump should be done at 80k miles or 4 years (Assuming its a diesel), On a prefl Haldex oil and filter should be done every 40k miles (This gets missed by dealers during standard servicing so check its been done) or I believe 5 years with no mileage restriction for FL (Not 100% on the FL figures).

 

If you search Briskoda you will find the odd problem related to haldex or rear diff failure, but by no means common, just get on some wet grass or something and make sure the rear drive kicks in as expected.

 

Otherwise just the usual Octy issues: check the ABS light comes on with ignition and goes out with engine and the traction control can be switched on and off. Rear wipers are prone to failure as is the rear wash which pours water over the electrics in the boot (Or in my case out the bottom of the dash). Might be worth a gearbox oil change at that mileage (Unless its DSG when it should be every 40k miles). Check the reverse park sensors work. Also make sure that 507 spec oil has always been used, there has been one example on here of a Scout munching its cam followers which rely on the correct oil for long life.

 

Having said that mine has done 127k miles with no major problems, just routine servicing and brakes/tyres.

 

Don't forget the diesel Scout also has a DPF so worth taking someone to view it with VCDS to check the condition of this. If its done lots of short stop start town driving then the ash content may be approaching its limit. Not necessarily a big problem but will cost around £500 for removal (With nervousness about future MoT's) or much more to replace (I don't dare check mine). 

 

All said its a great comfortable workhorse.

I also forgot to say, if it turns out to be a prefl then it might be a PD diesel, facelifts are the common rail diesel which are easier on the DPF and smoother but don't provide the same feeling of shove (Just as quick though)

Really helpful, many thanks for this.

Alex.

Yup, it's a pre FL.

Will check the rest when I next see the car.

Thx

If its prefl then it will probably be a PD diesel so more essential to make sure the DPF is good as the PD was never designed to run with a DPF (Although mine has managed 127k miles without a problem - kiss of death)

Thinking of getting a AA inspection as the seller is a 'little shifty'... assume if I asked them, they would be able to check all this?

Thanks.

Not sure what a scan by the AA would show up. If possible better to take a local Briskodian along who has VCDS.