Looking for a cheap estate simply for taking my 4 dogs out in, and hauling garden waste and stuff to the skip. Along with the convenience of having an estate for other things.

 

I've great experience with the 1.9PDs. I used to own a Superb 1.9 Elegance and a Fabia VRS. My uncle now has the VRS and it's still going strong at 210,000 miles.

 

Browising auto trader and I'm shocked to see how cheap you can pick up an Octy estate with a PD lump.

 

For a grand will I be buying a lemon, or is it possible to spend only 1k and have a decent enough car?

I always service any car I buy and would change all fluids and the cambelt. But it seems so cheap, just wondering if anyone can share their experiences?

If you shop about you can find some right bargains, i would avoid buying one from a trader at all costs, will most likely be a nail bought from the auctions for peanuts, try and get one off an old bloke who likes to check his tyre pressures every other day. 

 

I wouldnt let no service history put you off either as long as it drives ok. 

 

There's loads of them about, personally I wouldn't just have my eyes set on a pd either the old pump engines are brilliant as well (imo I think they are better, well stronger than a PD)  

 

As long as your not expecting a brand new car and can embrace the fact it's a moon Milage daily that will need the odd thing or two I don't think you can go far wrong with an octy or mk4 golf, spares are cheap and plentiful, they are not overly complicated and you can park it on the wrong side of town and not worry about it.  

 

As far as cheap motoring goes I'd recommend one. 

 

 

 

Sadly (for people who own one) octavia mk1's are worth very little these days. You can buy a mint vrs for around £1200.

 

These cars are built to last so shop around and I recon you should easily be able to pick up a decent car for around a grand or less I recon.

spares and parts are generally very cheap

 

If you were to get one I'd recommend get one in as decent mechanical nick as you can - service is cheap and easy on them

Mechanical bodywork should be good but closely check tailgate.

Other than that I'd get one with a nice interior at the spec level you want.

Only other thing is check central locking system very carefully

 

Very good, cheap to run cars, and lots of guides up on here for any common problems

Yeah I got an Octavia Estate 1.9TDI (ASV engine) as a second car for exactly that sort of thing (minus the dogs) last year and it's great. It's my 3rd. Cheap to run, cheap to fix, Golf bits off eBay, etc, etc.

 

It's my 3rd one and when I found it on eBay with just one registration character different to my previous one but otherwise absolutely identical I just couldn't resist!

 

I paid £2K BUT it's in excellent nick and was owned by an old fella (before me), who has been very keen on getting stuff done on it. Solid cars. Prefer the build quality inside to my MK5 Golf.

 

The amount of room you get in the back is ridiculous - I'm 6' and can lie in the back fully stretched out when the back seats are down.

Edited 23 April, 20179 yr by reesky