I'm looking at buying a 2.0TDI at the end of this month, something fairly high mileage - around the 100k mark. I'm trying to get an idea about what current owners think is important so have a hypothetical question.

 

If you had the choice between ~100k mile car and a ~130k mile car, with the 130k car being about £300 cheaper and having a couple of extras including maxidot, which car would you choose? Am I stupid for even considering the higher mileage car? 

Go for the higher one if you want the extra toys. At circa 100k you'd expect the DMF/clutch would have been changed and if fitted the DPF too. Look at when the Cambelt/kit was last done or if it has been done. Basically saying study the service histories closely to see what has/hasn't been done. The higher one might be cheaper but if it's got one of the above 'potentially' needing to be done in the not too far distant future then that would negate any saving. I've never had a problem buying cars around the 100k mark.

 

The VRS I have now (2.0PD) I got at 5 years old and 107,000 miles.

 

DMF/Clutch had been done at 82,000

DPF replaced at 58,000 (faulty pressure sensor, replaced with Malaysian one)

Cambelt had unbelievably not been done, even more shocking when it was a lease car and only serviced in Skoda dealerships. Had that done and water pump before I would take ownership.

 

Looking at the service history I could see it had got through a few sets of tyres (inner edge wear) but a sort out on a hunter alignment rig to the 'revised' VRS settings has put that right and the tyres wear nice and evenly now.

 

In the end all cars are different and 'luck of the draw' but a bit of studying and gut feeling can put the odds in your favour.

Choose on condition as maxi dot is nice to have but not essential. Look at the maintenance schedule as if items such turbo or clutch/dmf has been changed it will be a bonus. Also look at when the cambelt was changed as if its due budget for £350-400 for this.

I'm not too worried about extra toys, especially as they can be retrofitted at a later date. 

 

Have spoken to the dealer of the higher mileage one, and he says that (unbelievably) there's no record of the cambelt being done. At just over 130k miles, I'm impressed if it's still on the original! However, they'll do the cambelt and water pump for an extra £200. I've asked for some more details, including which version cylinder head it has, but I doubt he'll be able to tell me that... 

 

I haven't spoken to the dealer of the lower mileage one, but the cambelt has apparently been recently done according to the ad. There's no mention of the water pump, but hopefully that's been done too. I'll speak to the dealer of this car today and see if I can find out a bit more about it's service history, and go off a comparison of the two service histories rather than the mileage. 

Agree ^^

All the dealers I went to said they would sort a Cambelt change if it made a sale. At the end of the day the balls in your court and there are plenty of others out there if they won't do it as part of the deal.

High mileage? Look at ex-taxis and loads of other Octys on here with 400 - 500 k miles on them. Those are the high milers! 100k is nothing at all on these.

 

In answer to your question -- go for the one which has got the better history of being looked after. The mileage is irrelevant with only a 30k difference. You talk about the couple of extras -- maxidot can be retrofitted, as can a lot of other extras.

 

 

If you go for the higher mileage one, don't pay an extra £200 for the cambelt -- get them to change that as part of the deal, and if they won't walk away, there are plenty of other cars out there.

 

Mike

 

Cheers Mike, I'm hoping this one will keep going for that long!.

 

I think the higher mileage one has been better looked after, but I need to go and see the service receipts for myself to know for sure. Hopefully I'll be able to get them to do the cambelt for free, but the ad does say no offers so I'm not sure how well that will go. Having said that, I don't believe in "no offers" when it comes to buying cars - there's always a deal to be made somewhere!