Hello I went looking at a 2007 Octavia 2.0tfsi today with 106000 miles on the clock , all felt well when driving and the car interior is clean and the bodywork is immaculate especially for the age couldn't find any scratches or dents even that many stonechips really wheels have very little to no kerbing . 

Before taking it for a test drive I notice the coolant light flashing on the dash and the brake pad warning light on . look at the coolant and it was below minimum so topped it up with water , my first thought is obviously the dreaded head gasket , oil pump , water pump maybe ?? There isn't a drop of oil in the coolant tho. But the coolant warning didn't go off even tho after a 15min spin it didn't drop again . 

I know the brake pad light can come on even if it looks like there's plenty of life on the pads. 

One big put off there's only service history to 20,000 miles . so I don't know if the timing belt has been done . 

The dealers story is that the previous owner was a technician at a garage so he must of done work himself , only thing I've got to go off is how clean it is especially the bodywork no dents or scratches and when the engine is running can't even ear it in the car . 

Have these engines got a cover at top of the timing belt which clips off so I could see the condition?

Coolant light illuminates and a beeping noise happens if the coolant level drops below the sensor inside the coolant reservoir. Check it's sitting above the low mark. Look inside the oil filler cap for white/yellowish cream residue. If you do a long run in warm weather there will be no residue. The  TFSI does accumulate this type of residue in the winter/cold months if you do a lot of short runs, it's nothng to worry about and is caused by condensation.  The engine should pull like a train smoothly right up to the red line. Insist on a timing belt and water pump change if you have no history, it must be changed every 4 years. Check the air con works properly i.e. blows cold and isn't noisy. Look at the rear tyres inner edges to see if they've saw-toothed, if they have, when you are driving it will sound like a rear wheel bearing is gone. I would be astounded if it hasn't had remedial work at this age and mileage on the ABS sensor. Check that there are no ABS/Traction warning lights staying on the dashboard. Sounds like a horror story but apart from these well-known problems, they are great cars. 

He's got it up for £2995 , I've put the reg into autotrader valuation online , and £2995 is the recommended private seller price , and £3300 - 3900 is the dealer price . and this is a dealer I'll be getting it off if I do . 

I used to work in a garage and obviously alarm bells are ringing in my head with no service history , and coolant light flashing , it was below minimum level but he topped it up to max and he didn't drop back down after I test drove it . but light was still on . 

Its not the abs light what's on its the brake pad warning light the circle with the 3 dots at either side.

It was quite has a mouse when I drove it , I've got a mk1 superb diesel 1.9tdi at the mo so not used to such a quite car lol , even in my bora 1.6petrol they was more noise. 

I'm guessing the white gunk is because its not been used much lately because the way dealers buy the cars and it has been iced over up here in the north west. 

Like you say it should of had a timing belt done at some point but without paper work who knows , but why would the car be so clean if its been neglected?? 

Minds puzzled because its cleanest one I've seen 

I don't think hell do timing belt for that price 

You just have to budget to do a major service and that is all fluids and filters, water pump and belts.

Make sure the windscreen is OK in sunlight and not covered in tiny chips.

Then check out the bead on that rear wheel, it was just an advisory at the MOT, but might be as it was.

 

Every used car is a gamble, and Autotrader / Parkers Guide is no guide, just something that suits sellers,

for buyers just be sure to pay nothing like those prices, go between WBAC offers and the 'Asking Prices'..

Edited 27 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

Bead on rear wheel ? I've not mentioned anything about the wheels , 

No but the MOT examiner gave an advisory and i looked at the MOT history, the high miles after the first MOT then less miles in recent years.

 

Just what many buyers do before even going to see a vehicle, and check forums etc and see if the car appears, or previous for sales etc.

That is before taking a mechanic or a keen DIYer with you that knows the model / brand.

Edited 27 April, 20179 yr by Awayoffski

How did you check the mot history ? Would be good to know. 

So do you think it would be best to stay away from buying this car with the milage and no service history?

Is this car not worth 2995 without the major service being done in the price i.e cambelt water pump etc ??

I don't know the market that well for pre FL mk 2s. Had a quick scan over autotrader £3k seems about dealer asking price at 100k miles and some say full service history. If they are saying that they should have cambelts in date but who knows.

 

Here is on I brought back in the trawl.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201703243648296?postcode=gu12qd&sort=sponsored&advertising-location=at_cars&make=SKODA&model=OCTAVIA&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&year-from=2005&radius=1500&year-to=2008&aggregatedTrim=vRS&page=2

 

The water level sensor if it is the double prong in the water get furred up. You need to get a new water bottle, or cheaper and easier scrape the prongs off. It usually fixes it, but why was it low to start with...

 

Edit ps. Also, small point but MOT expires August, you'd probably want to ask for a little longer than 3 months...

 

For body work to be so stone chip free, i guess it has had some work done, front bumper and wings resprayed?  Everyone is a mechanic or a technician who did all the work themselves when it comes to a seller dealing. I do work myself, I keep part receipts, I fill in the service book for what is done!

 

 

Edited 28 April, 20179 yr by TheClient

It was a cat D at some point so I'm guessing it might of been front end , I might have wait instead of rushing then . but would it be worth it with a full mot on it ? And cambelt + water pump done? In price

Possibly but it seems that if you look you might be able to find a non Cat D car, and one less thing to worry about.  Cat D must drop £500 off equivalent cars no?  If you were to sell someone else would want it. How good are you at checking bodywork repairs, chassis alignment etc...

 

Did the dealer tell you that looking at the car? They have to disclose don't they?

Edited 28 April, 20179 yr by TheClient

Plus what are these 2.0 tfsi engines like? Would I be better off with a diesel model

Its on the advert has a cat d ? I've seen a couple of cat d , which are going for same price and little bit more.  

So do you mean because its a cat D it should be £2500 , 

And because there's only 2 stamps in the service history it should be even less let's say £2250 .? 

But then what if he offers do cambelt plus water pump ? 

He said hell put 12months mot on it . 

 

I may be missing something...if the previous owner was a technician/mechanic than surely it would have been no issue at all to get the service book stamped and there being some documentation to check the car's history?  

 

Call me paranoid but if an owner is fastidious enough to keep a 10 year old car in (what sounds like) very very good condition then they would, in my eyes, be fussy enough to keep a very detailed service history too.   

 

"Previous owner was a GP/Bank Manager/Mechanic" - always starts my paranoia alarm.  

FWIW I owned a 56 plate vRS TFSI and it's a fabulous car.  Engine is very smooth and capable of pulling from low down and right to the redline.  Almost like a diesel without the drop off and coarseness.   I think the only thing that was replaced on ours (under warranty) was a CV boot at 12k miles and (IIRC) a temp sensor at ~36K.  One of the best cars we've had to be fair.  

I worked in a insurance accident repair centre for 10 years as a body fitter / mechanic , I used to do alignments on a daily basis after fitting all new suspension , axles , steering racks , etc etc . 

If its been painted with new parts fitted , and there's no stonechips maybe it was a front end and its had a new radiator on it maybe that's why the coolant level was so low , because they hadn't bled the system fully . 

 

I've check the mot history has far back as it let's you on .gov website and its had hardly any fails over the years and about 2 advisory's .

Like you say tho I worked in accident repair centre and I just used there stamp when I did my oil &/filter changes 

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/162325349737

Oh and what's WBAC offers ?

3 hours ago, malibu200786 said:

Its on the advert has a cat d ? I've seen a couple of cat d , which are going for same price and little bit more.  

So do you mean because its a cat D it should be £2500 , 

And because there's only 2 stamps in the service history it should be even less let's say £2250 .? 

But then what if he offers do cambelt plus water pump ? 

He said hell put 12months mot on it . 

 

It is just that you didn't mention it was Cat D until your later replies and you made a point about how clean the bodywork was - so I guess that explains it.

 

I suppose £2,500 or less with the Cambelt / water pump edit: DONE. Like I a said, I am no expert on pre FL, that was based on a 5 min trawl this morning. You're probably not going to get a deal that goes ahead to a price to your satisfaction, I am sensing.

 

Also, vehicle traders are full of it. I'm very circumspect, I admit that. But the car was owned by technicians but they keep the coolant low, left warning lights on, didn't change out disc pads (even if there is some friction material left) edit: didn't keep receipts, didn't make an entry in service book - it doesn't look good.  And then they bought an Aston Martin. Guess they got a promotion!

 

Edited 28 April, 20179 yr by TheClient

5 hours ago, malibu200786 said:

Plus what are these 2.0 tfsi engines like? Would I be better off with a diesel model

 

As I said earlier in the thread. These engines are superb, very smooth and pull very strongly to the red line. They need a bit of oil between services, make sure it's the correct grade and rating. I can't recommend them highly enough...which is why I bought the updated version. You will see 31-36 Mpg depending on the temperature and driving conditions and around 40 Mpg on a steady motorway run. 

He's said back to me 3250 with cambelt done , 

I'll go back to him with 2750 with cambelt + water pump plus 12months mot if he says no I'll leave it . 

Hard to find a model with touchscreen in it tho :( 

 

I've got a 2003 superb at the min , 1.9 PD 130 ,  its had all new brakes all round within the last year new cambelt kit + water pump done at vw and just put a new cat on it . 

Would I notice the greater fuel cost coming from my superb to 

2.0tfsi Octavia?

59 minutes ago, malibu200786 said:

I've got a 2003 superb at the min , 1.9 PD 130 ,  its had all new brakes all round within the last year new cambelt kit + water pump done at vw and just put a new cat on it . 

Would I notice the greater fuel cost coming from my superb to 

2.0tfsi Octavia?

 

You will spend more on fuel, it will be smaller than your Superb but still large enough for most requirements and a completely different car to drive. Given your recent repair costs and knowledge of the Superb, unless you suspect further costly work is required, it seems sensible to retain it, if you're concerned about fuel costs and other possible future repairs on the Octy. 

How much more fuel ? I currently put in £20 maybe £25 a week . 

The octy was a completely different drive like you say it was a lot more nimble and the steering felt a lot lighter smoother and newer .

I know it would be sensible to keep the superb , after all a car is a car . but that's the reason I want a vrs .

Because I got the superb under the sensible choice frame of mind , and not what I like . don't get me wrong the superb is a great car , great specs but maybe not for 30 year old lol

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201703022843379?postcode=bl25ap&keywords=Vrs&price-to=3500&model=OCTAVIA&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=sponsored&radius=60&advertising-location=at_cars&price-from=1000&make=SKODA&page=1

 

Would this be a better choice its got history and had clutch and cambelt done 15000 miles ago , plus its a diesel .