The fact that so many taxi firms and independents use Octavias speaks volumes for the reliability of these cars. There are hundreds of them out there with upwards of half a million miles under their belts. No taxi operator would ever use vehicles that would lose revenue from constantly being off the road.

Mike

I totally agree with Mike. Thanks to the Governments austerity measures and the closure of my base, my daily commute increased from five miles a day (all done on a push bike) to one hundred miles a day. A bit too far for the push iron!

I'd previously owned a Honda and my wife still does. Between us, we've owned three of them. I'd considered a Honda diesel for my journey but had heard quite a few horror stories regarding their reliability regarding oil usage and a few other issues.

For me, it was a huge leap of faith when I bought my 56 plate 1.9 diesel Octavia four years ago. At the time it had 44k on the clock and is now fast approaching 100k miles. And do you know what? It's probably one of the best cars I've ever owned.

I completely agree that one of the most important issues regarding the longevity of a car, is a thorough and comprehensive service history and maintaining it.

Mine came with one and I have maintained mine to a high standard since I've owned it. Take your time when buying and ensure it comes with a good service history and you won't go far wrong.

By the way, our Hondas have not been the paragons of reliability that one would expect. On the whole they have been good, however we've been dogged with niggling issues like water ingress amongst other things.

Good luck

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by flying pig

Whenever I think of used cars I think back on my experiences in taxis.

 

There's a real mix in York of different cars used.

 

Some of the worst are from the likes of Vauxhall, Ford, Peugeot and citroen. They generally all run a bit rough, rattle like a bag of spanners and have horrible crashy rides.

 

Then I get in an Octavia, Passat or Superb and I've yet to come across a bad one.

 

I'd say VAG have a lot going for it and generally seem to wear miles well compared to other brands.

 

But as with any car it can only be reliable if looked after. Unless it's a 2001 1.2 Clio my friend owned for 6 years that never once got serviced or any work needing doing to it and still ran fine! lol

 

Phil

From reliability point of view (according statistic and confirmation from car mechanics/friends)

 

Toyota

Honda

KIA

Subaru (basically all Japanese/Asian cars)

 

12. Skoda (most reliable European/China car)

 

French/USA cars the worst

 

 

ALL CARS ARE MADE FOR DRIVING - low mileage cars are ticking bomb (I've recently repaired Audi A6 ALLROAD - that was masterpiece after two years without driving)

 

VAG original parts are usually decent quality from Poland/China. Aftermarket brands such as Sachs, FEBI, ATE (OEM VAG considered as "better").

 

As manual states - coastal/desert areas require reduced service intervals. During my life in UK - oil and parts were changed earlier than manual states. It is just RECOMMENDATION - that's why is annual inspection required!!!

It is possible - not sure about statistic. It's just numbers sponsored by car manufacturers?

 

From my experience - ask car technician about French cars. You'll hear something.

 

I think it's endless polemics.

 

My extensive and hard core use of my cars gave me two winners without problems. Skoda and Subaru. Subaru rarely breaks down. Skoda is decent travelling car.

 

Of course it's all about driver - you can have a most reliable car but driven by idiot...it will be most unreliable.

 

I would say - most problems are caused by misinformed people. Usual driving style - start engine and high revs right away. Push it hard, show you can do it. People who can't walk 3km and must drive. And so on.

 

I dare to say - my cars last longer than anyone else. Even my friend (auto mechanic) was surprised by my driving style and condition of my car.

The only thing I've heard consistently about French cars is not necessarily about their reliability, but simply that compared to a lot of other manufacturers, they're just a pig to work on!

 

It would seem they seem to spend their budget on the design on the the outside, and not on how to make it easy for a mechanic.

French/USA cars the worst

 

The saying goes, "there are lies, damn lies......and statistics".

 

Certainly my experience with two American cars I have owned does not reflect the above.....they were supremely reliable.  

Edited 5 January, 201511 yr by booke23

No no not a money pit. our costs may be higher than but we are still happy, had car 6 years

vrs petrol 06 reg 67000 miles on the clock. Modified with shark renap.

Parts replaced so far

Rear shocks under warranty

Am radio booster under warranty

Front and rear discs and pads, total cost about 400

Rear wiper motor circa 200

Rear window motor that caused rear fits to lock 350

Air conditioning condenser

Sunroof motor combined cost 1200

Tyres are lasting well circa 20k

The saying goes, "there are lies, damn lies......and statistics".

 

Certainly my experience with two American cars I have owned does not reflect the above.....they were supremely reliable.  

Made in China right ;-)

 

I used to live in UK and supposed to work in USA. Worst mechanical engineering I've seen so far ;-) That's one statistic I believe for sure.

I have an 04 mk2 it's at over 111,000 miles now and apart from a few niggly problems (temp sensor failed, n/s mirror glass fell off, air con died) I've not really had any issues with it. At the end of the day my cars 10 years old now and starts first time, still feels tight and well controlled. I think the biggest thing when buying a used car is previous maintenance. Mine has FSSH and every service was done on time. I've maintained that and once the car goes it will go to its new owner fully maintained and should remain on the road for many years to come.

Try saying that Hondas are the most relaible to the many who have had horror stories with their Honda diesels (there are members on Briskoda who have bought Octavias instead of these, knowing the issues that some have had), and it is unfair to say that French cars are worst. And two of the major official recall campaigns in the UK last year involved Toyota vehicles, which had serious enough braking, steering and airbag faults to warrant the manufacturer repairing thousands of their cars. There are many , many Citroen and Peugeot taxis running about with many thousands of miles/km on the clocks. I personally had a Citroen Xsara Picasso that had a LOT of miles on it and it was one of the most reliable and best built cars I've ever owned, and I know of one member on this very forum who had a Pug 306, again with a hell of a lot of reliable miles under its belt.

Statistics for reliablilty simply record the total number of breakdowns, and returns to dealers, suffered by a particular brand, they do not say how serious any breakdown is. A blown bulb will be recorded as a breakdown if the car is returned to a supplying dealer to fix on warranty. And there is no way on this earth that "confirmation from your mechanics and friends" can ever be valid as they would never be able to supply details for a significant number of vehicles to matter. Statistics are just numbers -- If an equal percentage of all Vauxhalls, Fords and Hondas sold broke down, the Hondas would appear far more reliable purely on the fact that far less numbers of Hondas were sold in the first place.

Forget these figures I'm about to quote, as they are only my examples, but if 10% of all three of these makes broke down, and there were a million each of Ford and Vauxhall, and only 200000 Hondas, then there will be statistically far more recordings of Ford and Vauxhall, because 10% of each would represent 100k each of Ford and Vauxhall and only 20k of Honda. So on paper, the Honda is 5 times more reliable -- in reality it doesn't work like that.

Every single vehicle produced on the planet is a conglomerate of parts made by different manufacturers. Every one of those parts has the potential to fail. and it is important to realise that no manufacturer's product can ever be 100% reliable. Look at the forums for the supposedly most reliable cars -- exactly like on here they are full of posts about what has gone wrong.

Mike

Wasn't so long ago that Nissan had a Major recall of a large range of K12 Micra's where the centre bolt of the steering wheels where over torqued and the bolts sheared causing the steering wheel to come off in your hand.

To chip in, usefully or otherwise, that erstwise paragon of boring solid mechanical reliability the Mercedes of yore.

Relied upon periodic scheduled replacment of coolant hoses, radiators, prob the battery too-LONG before they were near done/worn out.

Hoses at 3 or 4 years old if i recall correctly?

Ditto for Tyre replacment, car goes in for a MB service, comes out with 1 or more VERY expensive tyres, "our technician noticed a defect" etc etc, & please pay up Sir!

To be sure of new car reliability, in an older car, MB maintained car.

Volvo I understand, were no different.

As in, yer man in New York, with the P60(Saint model?) 1,000,000 + mile Volvo , has had it religiously serviced and maintained by an accredited Volvo garage.

I, for one, would like to see his "cost per mile" figures, incl the maint costs.

cheers

M

Made in China right ;-)

 

China?......you mean a European Chevrolet (daewoo)?......No. Both the American cars I owned were built in North America. 

 

 

I used to live in UK and supposed to work in USA. Worst mechanical engineering I've seen so far ;-) That's one statistic I believe for sure.

 

I don't. In the US, cars tend to do astronomical mileages as a norm. So they tend to be built to handle this kind of use.

 

As a general rule you might say a lot against US made cars, (they are uneconomical, handle badly and have bland styling) but saying they are unreliable as a rule is not accurate.      

Oops

I intended to say, that in 10 years or so, when the Octavia is well knackered, at 200,000 to 250,000 miles.

I will buy a Honda (and the new CRV with the ZF 9 speed auto/1.6 diesel would be  a strong contender)

Or a Toyota.(based on our daughters excellent dealership experience over a couple of years and 40,000 + miles on a Yaris)

Prob not another Skoda/VW group product.

Marcus

China?......you mean a European Chevrolet (daewoo)?......No. Both the American cars I owned were built in North America. 

 

 

 

I don't. In the US, cars tend to do astronomical mileages as a norm. So they tend to be built to handle this kind of use.

 

As a general rule you might say a lot against US made cars, (they are uneconomical, handle badly and have bland styling) but saying they are unreliable as a rule is not accurate.      

 

 

My late uncle who lived in Canada, was not short of a bob or two, but always bought large US cars with about 150K miles on them, and then ran them for a few years, clocking up another 150K at least.

I remember him particularly liking the Chevrolet Caprice.

Oops

I intended to say, that in 10 years or so, when the Octavia is well knackered, at 200,000 to 250,000 miles.

That could well be aimed at me, as mine's at 230 and being an ex taxi it's a bit worn, having said that, I've never had anything as high but apart from wear and tear stuff and niggles I'm surprised it as good as it it

But Mike's right in what he says as regards statists and forums, especially forums where all you read about is things that go wrong )I'm no exception either). I think a lot of problems today and for the last 10-20 years is a lot of parts are made cheap and are simply not as reliable/durable as they could be or should

Absolutly correct, I "threw back" a very shoddy looking unkneown brand thermostat to the local Motor Factor.

After replacing a water pump sourced from them with only about 13,000 miles on. it was leaking past the spindle.

Ironically the one I had just removed at over 200,000 miles was still perfect, but to be sure one understands, I replaced it, simply due to the milage thereon.

I had thought the water pump had failed, due to a persistent slow leak and drip (off the low mounted water pump too) and stripped down that length, only to find a cunningly concealed split hose, but replaced the pump anyway(I still got it on the shelf , as far too good to throw out)

btw

Wor 1998 1.9TDI Galaxy was absolutly mechanically sound, engine wise,  at 253,000 when parked up, though "falling to bits" in other respect admittedly.

Mostly due to "neglect, misuse and damage"

cheers

m

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by dieseldogg

I personally say it's down how much they save and cut corners but still sell sell sell, I don't think they care much about people's lives and the proof is the amount of recalls or a lot of stuff even some prestige make have (will again no doubt) been called back. I don't know if it was Mike or someone else that said it's mainly component failure and so much is made in different countries and cheaply

Years ago when you bought anything "made in Japan or Germany" you knew you were really good quality stuff but now (and for years) it doesn't matter if it's sony, toshiba, and car wise ford, vx ect. But the problem with all or most components now and for years is that they're made in China. I'm saying everything made there's bad but a hell of a lot is

And phones are the same....just look at the iPhone 6 or banana as it's called...cheap crap!

Got carried away there lol

But yes with most cars, bikes ect it's missuse and neglect

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by Cleo

2Cleo: why do you think everything is made in China?

 

Because people are idiots and want cheap stuff. I can make you quality - I used to make custom parts for cars and bikes. Are you ready to spend thousands just for one part ;-)

 

It is very simple - where is demand, there is supply.

 

Skoda used to do great cars (up to 2008) - ever since, it is same tragedy as VW/Audi and so on. Quantity over quality.

 

Sad thing is - you cannot buy cheap stuff without compromise anymore...there is few companies left but mass production/consumer's age kills them soon or later. People learnt to buy cheap/in long term expensive stuff instead of vice versa.

 

All my climbing gear is cheap/expensive stuff because my life depends on it. Unfortunately, there is no car like that (even legendary Subaru who sold their soul to Toyota)

2Cleo: why do you think everything is made in China?

Because people are idiots and want cheap stuff. I can make you quality - I used to make custom parts for cars and bikes. Are you ready to spend thousands just for one part ;-)

It is very simple - where is demand, there is supply.

Skoda used to do great cars (up to 2008) - ever since, it is same tragedy as VW/Audi and so on. Quantity over quality.

Sad thing is - you cannot buy cheap stuff without compromise anymore...there is few companies left but mass production/consumer's age kills them soon or later. People learnt to buy cheap/in long term expensive stuff instead of vice versa.

All my climbing gear is cheap/expensive stuff because my life depends on it. Unfortunately, there is no car like that (even legendary Subaru who sold their soul to Toyota)

Interesting that dpf sensors made in Malaysia are more reliable than those made in the US.

Also could you produce 10,000 quality custom parts by hand to suitable tolerances that any one will just fit?

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Interesting that dpf sensors made in Malaysia are more reliable than those made in the US.

Also could you produce 10,000 quality custom parts by hand to suitable tolerances that any one will just fit?

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you confuse custom made and mass produced ;-)

 

Little example...I work for a company which makes single purpose CNC machines. I work on 15m long milling center - one custom (complex) part takes one month to make for example.

 

I recall - we used to make flanges for BMW. It was some thing for injection system. Quite complex and small part. It took at least one day to make (per part), with certificate of measuring. It also cost lots of money.

 

My previous companies - mass production...you can't keep tight tolerances on all parts and they are never controlled all ;-) My guess is - 40-60% of parts are scrap :-D

 

Why do you think most cars have replaced almost everything within first four (warranty) years?

 

Why do you think Pagani cost millions :-D

 

You have to choose - quality, which never breaks or cheap rubbish that will most likely cost you more (in long term) than high quality car.

 

Check out a document about F1 - unsure name but it was about manufacturing one engine block for McLaren/Mercedes. One huge machining center working 24h on one block with tolerances 0.0001 mm (no stock CNC machine can do it ;-)

Edited 7 January, 201511 yr by sniper29a

you confuse custom made and mass produced ;-)

Nope, you misunderstand.

If your making a dozen widgets a month you can afford to over engineer and build it to last. If your making two thousand a week you will run into serious issues with raw materials, staffing, equipment, delivery, replacements.

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We are back to same issue I've already covered.

 

You always get what you desire and you always get what you pay for ;-)

We are back to same issue I've already covered.

You always get what you desire and you always get what you pay for ;-)

No, the rich would get what they desire and everyone else would get to stare.

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