Is 30k miles a year too many?

[Jigger72]

Now assuming a vRS estate has not been used as a taxi, is 123,000 miles on an 11 plate too much, or just run in?

 

I've seen a couple around the 120,000 mile mark for very reasonable money and just had cambelt services, as they should have.

 

The mileage is higher than I would like but if I only do 10,000 per year for the next say, 7 years, that's 190,000 on a 12-year-old car, bringing the average annual mileage down to 16,000 per year.

 

Cars are here:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201411058765964/sort/default/model/octavia/radius/1501/body-type/estate/make/skoda/price-to/9500/price-from/6000/keywords/VRS/page/1/postcode/e174sw/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/usedcars?logcode=p

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201412129616008/sort/default/model/octavia/radius/1501/body-type/estate/make/skoda/price-to/9500/price-from/6000/keywords/VRS/page/1/postcode/e174sw/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/usedcars?logcode=p

 

 

What do we think?

[nickgpfc]

There was a petrol hatch at a local garage to me with 120+ K miles on it, and it looked nice enough as does that. A diesel version should be OK with that mileage as far as I can tell (unleaded only for me please!), others should be able to provide more feedback. One thing I noticed is that in the second picture (taken from in front of the passenger side looking down the side of the car) is that the "bump strip" or what ever it is seems to be a different shade on the back door to the front. It may be an optical illusion or a sign that some repair has been done to one or other of the doors on that side.

 

It would be worth trying to find out how the previous owner used it to put those miles on, they may have been M'way cruising or something more strenuous.

[Wardy]

I would say they're perfectly able to handle that sort of mileage in that timeframe.

 

All depends how they've been used and looked after. So if you dig into the ownership and servicing history and find a company car driver I wouldn't be unduly concerned. As to clock up that sort of mileage it'll have to be mainly longer distance motorway work, which is known to be kinder to components than just urban-only work.

 

All comes down to how it drives, the overall condition and the ownership/servicing history. But that mileage on its own wouldn't put me off.

 

You also need to keep an eye on re-sale too, unless your plan is to run it until it stops. Is the current sale price good value enough, taking that into account?

[Jigger72]

Thanks. I was thinking of making it a keeper so resale isn't too much of a worry, but assuming it's still in good nick after I've finished with it, I must be able to get something for it.

 

I'll give them a ring and see what's what. It seems a coincidence that they have two almost identical vRS at same age and mileage, maybe from the same fleet? :think: 

[Coops]

Look like ex fleet cars - probably recently come off 4 year leases (which a lot of companies seem to do these days, rather than 3 year). Therefore 30k isn't much, my Superb has done similar sort of mileage (90k over 3 years)

 

If ex fleet/lease - well maintained, money no object usually. Just need to check they have had everything done - service wise, cam belts etc.

[giandougl]

Suggest 'Jigger72' keep shopping around mate, it's a buyers market these days..

My opinion your looking for approx 10 - 15,000 miles for every year of vehicles life.

I know the vehicle with regular maintainance could/would be OK, with the high mileage you quoted, but I sense you have doubts ?

[whitep]

Im not a taxi and I do maybe 24k a year, without international driving holidays.... I just live a fair way from work and out of town and my parents and in-laws are both miles away and I have a child.

[Wardy]

 

Thanks. I was thinking of making it a keeper so resale isn't too much of a worry, but assuming it's still in good nick after I've finished with it, I must be able to get something for it.

 

I'll give them a ring and see what's what. It seems a coincidence that they have two almost identical vRS at same age and mileage, maybe from the same fleet?  :think:

 

 

Probably more a case of a small dealer perhaps specialising in higher milers. As said, they'll have almost certainly come off lease and then bought at auction.

 

As you'll already have seen, there are quite a few 100k+ 3/4yr old vRSes on 'Trader, in both hatch and estate form. Also check the driver's seat bolster. This will give you a good idea of how carefully people got in and out! Saw a 130k miler recently that didn't have much side bolster left....

 

Both of those examples look clean and tidy though. Have valeted up well, but only close inspection will tell you the full story.

[silver1011]

The first link has sold, so that one must have been OK!

 

The second is clealy ex-fleet. No factory options, Parrot hands-free, no wear at all on the front passenger seat.

 

Being shod with Michelin tyres all round and having the cambelt done on schedule is a good sign too, no scrimping on cost even on a £7K car.

 

Be aware that at 120,000 miles the three main causes for concern will be DMF, DPF and turbo related. Figure in the replacement of one or more of these into the purchase price and I'd have no issues buying a high mileage motor.

 

Personally I would rather save up some more and buy one with less mileage on, but each to their own!

[Anddenton]

The first link has sold, so that one must have been OK!

 

The second is clealy ex-fleet. No factory options, Parrot hands-free, no wear at all on the front passenger seat.

 

Being shod with Michelin tyres all round and having the cambelt done on schedule is a good sign too, no scrimping on cost even on a £7K car.

 

Be aware that at 120,000 miles the three main causes for concern will be DMF, DPF and turbo related. Figure in the replacement of one or more of these into the purchase price and I'd have no issues buying a high mileage motor.

 

Personally I would rather save up some more and buy one with less mileage on, but each to their own!

Whilst this is generally true, it need not be if we'll looked after. I've run my Scout up to 130k miles with no sign of DPF, DMF or turbo issues.

[trebormint]

Im not a taxi and I do maybe 24k a year, without international driving holidays.... I just live a fair way from work and out of town and my parents and in-laws are both miles away and I have a child.

 

ditto, i do around 30k a year.....I've doubled the mileage in Fabia VRS from 104k to 208k in 3 years and 3 months. ...now it's time for a change..  Getting an Octavia on Sunday!

Edited 6 February, 2015 by trebormint

[silver1011]

Whilst this is generally true, it need not be if we'll looked after. I've run my Scout up to 130k miles with no sign of DPF, DMF or turbo issues.

 

You and I are motoring enthusiasts though, and spend (probably too much!) time on here, so over time we get to know about the regular or common complaints on older / high mileage MkII Octavia's.

 

I would imagine that most modern diesel drivers have no idea what a DPF or DMF is, let alone what it does. Also, whilst I appreciate there are some fleet drivers that treat their company cars as they would their own, the vast majority won't, knowing any repairs / premature failures will be taken car of with no financial burden for themselves.

 

I'm not saying they don't treat them properly, more that for example, they won't bother changing down when accelerating away from slow traffic in 6th on the motorway, they won't recognise the increased RPM or running fans as the DPF trying to regen, not accelerating hard from cold, not allowing the turbo to cool through the last few miles of a hard drive etc. etc.

 

On a younger car all this is much less of an issue, as the mileage creeps up and the DMF gets a little looser, the DPF gets a little fuller and the turbo vanes start sooting up a little more then in my opinion it would be wise to budget to remedy one of these higher risk faults when making the purchase, rather than by buying blindly and all of a sudden being faced with a £1K+ bill on a £7K car.

 

Then again luck plays a big part too and there is every chance the car will steam up to 200K with no issues at all!

[stu220]

I agree with everything Silver1011 because for most cars, if you treat them correctly in both servicing and driving then they should give good service. All cars have weak points and AC seems to be a recurring Octavia issue but as the car your looking at has done very high mileage the DPF should not be too much of an issue but at some point it will need changing and should be treated as a disposable part. If you budget for some items then it should be fine.

[Sheriff]

Highly likely that both the above cars are ex Lex or Arval fleet cars with the usual basic spec. They've been on before, were removed and then re-advertised. Both started off at around £8k and have had the prices gradually reduced. I bought a similar ex Lex one, 4 months ago, similar mileage and age. As already stated check the service history and condition are important but I wasn't put off by the mileage. Should be ok for 200k if looked after.