Hi all, I always find the forum a fountain of knowledge and hoping some of you might be able to provide some thoughts and advice on what the next step for my father should be for buying his next car.

 

He currently has a 1.9Tdi Skoda Octavia Ambiente 56 reg. with 139K on the clock.  It has been quite good, though did let a valve go which caused some damage and cost a bit a few years ago to get fixed (£2500!)

This did put him off diesel a bit and he was considering a petrol for his next car.

He seems to want to stay with Skoda at the moment, mainly based on affordability. You can still get something Skoda orientated for a better price than other makes by the looks of what we have seen over the last week or so.

 

He ideally wants a car which is no more than 4 years old, low mileage and is efficient. He drives on the continent for holidays so it needs a big boot (rules out Citigo / Fabia hatches). So it seems to pin it down to Octavias and Fabia estates in his budget.

I said if he doesn't want anything complicated (engine wise) then maybe a basic 1.4MPi is the way to go (not many about and they do seem to be hatches!)

I think my boot in the hatch is big enough, though seeing an estate, he seems to think its the way to go.

 

He has considered (dare I say it) Dacia's as well, Mazdas, and a Vauxhall Asta estate. My parents other car is a 13 year old V40 1.8 petrol which has been very good too. So maybe a Volvo, but that wouldn't get within his £7 / £8k budget for an under 4 year old.

 

So a budget of £7k / £8k. 4 years old ideally at most. Low mileage (sub 50K). Decent boot and is reasonably powerful (i.e. in line with a 1.9TDi 105bhp in an Octavia). He is not sure about Diesel vs Petrol either. Currently he is doing around 15K miles a year. DPF puts him off diesels a bit.

I said I had read mixed reviews about TSI's on here too.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Rich

Fabia estate. 1.2 tsi 105bhp.

Powerful enough to cope fully loaded.

Economical enough. People seem to report 45mpg or so.

Nice to drive, pulls well from low down despite being a turbo.

Get a test drive n im sure youll be impressed (:

Id steer away from a diesel because of DPF.

Thanks

 

We looked at a few cars yesterday and the sales guy reckoned diesel was the way to go, as Dad does a bit of mileage. Though I am concerned about DPF's too.

 

Some of the problems with TSI reports on here a bit put me off the TSI engines. I certainly wouldn't recommend a 1.4TSI!

 

He didn't get to try any petrols and I think the 1.2 3 cylinder 12v might not be enough for what he wants. Power wise, I think the 105 1.2TSI would be fine for his needs. It just the reliability aspect which I am unsure about (cam chain rattles and oil pressure on start). He wants to be able to keep it for sometime.

 

Thanks for your advice on it.

Thanks

We looked at a few cars yesterday and the sales guy reckoned diesel was the way to go, as Dad does a bit of mileage. Though I am concerned about DPF's too.

Some of the problems with TSI reports on here a bit put me off the TSI engines. I certainly wouldn't recommend a 1.4TSI!

He didn't get to try any petrols and I think the 1.2 3 cylinder 12v might not be enough for what he wants. Power wise, I think the 105 1.2TSI would be fine for his needs. It just the reliability aspect which I am unsure about (cam chain rattles and oil pressure on start). He wants to be able to keep it for sometime.

Thanks for your advice on it.

Salesman will sell you anything wont they. Lol.

Petrol seems the way forward anyway. Now its clicked with the government that dirty diesels are actually worse, i dont think itll be long before everyone turns back petrol.

Probably not enough in a 70hp 3 cylinder, no. Dont get me wrong, i love mine, but if i was doing fully loaded big trips, id want abit more.

The 1.2 tsi seems generally quite good. There are a few issues but i think its just on the early version of the engine iirc. Defo worth looking into anyway.

And remembering that all the problems make it straight to the forums, not all the many faultless ones with happy drivers haha.

Some of the problems with TSI reports on here a bit put me off the TSI engines. I certainly wouldn't recommend a 1.4TSI!

 

Not all 1.4 TSIs are twin charged. The 150bhp 1.4 is Turbo only and doesn't suffer like the twin charged 180 version featured in the Fabia vRS.

15K a year probably makes sense to get a derv.

 

Has he thought about the Koreans with their long warranties? Kia/Hyundai.

 

Or Honda Civic? I got a good deal on a 3yr extended warranty when I got mine despite it being 5yr old.

Thank you for all of the advice Its really good to get an idea of what people are thinking. It can be a bit more of a challenge working out what you want these days with so many options and a few stumbling blocks (knowing about potential faults)!

 

It used to be easy with Skoda's, choose a Favorit 1.3 - Estate or Hatch and then decide on spec!

 

I agree fabiamk2SE that the 1.2 non TSI might not be enough. I have driven a few, they are nippy, though laden I appreciate it might not be enough. The point you make about diesel is exactly what my father is thinking. Boris is going to bring in all sorts of regulations in London in 2020 apparently to restrict diesels. It might not seem very relevant, though my parents do like to go to London on trips to the theatre and Dad doesn't like trains / coaches etc so they are always the car! In that case going to London needs to be something his next car needs to do. If it is a diesel and he is keeping it for a bit then it might not be a good idea! The rumours seem to be that diesels will be taxed more in the future as they are now classed as "dirty".

Yes my Father and I both had that conversation about all the bad reports that are on here, not the good ones!

 

To be fair the sales guy we deal with at the dealer we go to is good. Though I did laugh to myself that Dad immediately went from Petrol to Diesel when he said that it was what was needed due to his mileage!

 

Thanks Dan - I knew the MKII Fabia RS was bad for engine problems. I am pleased to hear not all 1.4TSI's are a problem.

 

Thanks Aspman - he did have a few Hyundai's and was very pleased with them. They seem to have got a bit pricer since he had them. Dad owned a 1.3 and 1.5 Accent 5 - 10 years ago. Our friend swears by Civic's, so its definitley something else to consider.

 

Thanks again.

I'd take a look at a Rapid 1.2 TSi (105 bhp) hatchback. Loads of room, cheap and relatively simple - much like a Mk I Octavia actually.

You can probably source a car still under manufacturers warranty within your budget.

I initially found my 2013 Rapid a little dull and dated, but there really is very little to touch it, when viewed as simple / cheap transport. The Spaceback is more costly and has a smaller, less practical boot. To my eyes the styling of the Spaceback is also a little odd - a bit like a strangely truncated Audi A3.

Mine returns around 40 mpg - Fuelly link below.

Thanks pinkpanther - I am impressed they are in budget. I have just had a quick look on autotrader. They have more room than a Fabia so it might be the way to go.

 

Cheers

Rapid would do the job - either hatch or spaceback

Thanks pinkpanther - I am impressed they are in budget. I have just had a quick look on autotrader. They have more room than a Fabia so it might be the way to go.

 

Cheers

 

My other suggestion would be a Roomster - a very practical and quite cheap option, should you be able to deal with the looks   I've had 2 and favoured the 1.9 TDi over the 1.6 TDi.

 

The Rapid is based on old, but relatively well proven mechanicals and is certainly a bargain in hatchback form, although possibly less so as the more costly spaceback.

 

Mine was less than £9k at one year old / 10k miles. Equipment is good in elegance spec - multifunction wheel, small leather pack, bluetooth, maxidot, fogs, MDi, traction control / ESP, alloys etc.

Thanks pinkpanther. I think he has thought about a Roomster too.

I drove the 1.9TDi (my own) and a courtesy car (1.6TDi) back to back. Initially when getting into the 1.6TDi I preferred the 1.9. After getting back into my 1.9 when I got the car back I found the 1.6 a bit better! I guess I am quite adaptable to different cars and engines.

I think the 1.9Tdi is more punchy and certainly pulls better lower down in the rev range. Furthermore - no DPF!

 

Sounds like your was a great deal with that spec, sounds lovely