I'm looking at a 2016-2018 2nd hand Octavia estate and have a couple of more specific questions that I haven't really been able to find answers to:

 

How is the 1.6 diesel engine? As I'm buying 2nd hand my choice if engines is out of my hands!

 

What is the amperage on the infotainment USB port? (I will be primarily wanting to use android auto so charging is a consideration)

 

One of the cars I have looked at doesn't have the smartlink enabled (says it needs a code) what is the typical cost for this?

 

Cheers guys!

I think unless you are doing silly miles you are brave to buy a diesel in the current climate unless you live in an area that is nowhere near a proposed emission reduction zone or taxation area and you are ok with keeping the car until it dies. The 1.6 diesel is an unfortunate engine in the Octy as it’s fundamentally ok but hampered by a 5 speed manual gearbox that makes it noisy and revvy at cruising speed but has large gaps in the gears so you are using more fuel to accelerate than you need to or you are stuck with a potential ticking time bomb DQ200 7 speed auto which is by far the nicer box from a driver experience but has known reliability issues. Curiously the 4x4 version of the 1.6 TDi comes with a 6 speed manual and IRS so the ride will be better! A 1.4 TSI is a great engine and the 6 speed manual is lovely.

 

The USB will charge the phone and run AA, it’s not a fast charger though.

 

SmartLink is standard on the facelift cars. Pre facelift cars that haven’t got it activated can have this done for £137 (some dealers try it on for more but it’s £122 for the part and 15-20 mins fitting so aim for £137 or under). If you find a car that is older than MY16 that doesn’t have SmartLink in the menu it’s a new radio job and it’s minimum £500 up to over £1200 for that.

1 minute ago, SashaGrace said:

I think unless you are doing silly miles you are brave to buy a diesel in the current climate unless you live in an area that is nowhere near a proposed emission reduction zone or taxation area and you are ok with keeping the car until it dies. The 1.6 diesel is an unfortunate engine in the Octy as it’s fundamentally ok but hampered by a 5 speed manual gearbox that makes it noisy and revvy at cruising speed but has large gaps in the gears so you are using more fuel to accelerate than you need to or you are stuck with a potential ticking time bomb DQ200 7 speed auto which is by far the nicer box from a driver experience but has known reliability issues. Curiously the 4x4 version of the 1.6 TDi comes with a 6 speed manual and IRS so the ride will be better! A 1.4 TSI is a great engine and the 6 speed manual is lovely.

 

The USB will charge the phone and run AA, it’s not a fast charger though.

 

SmartLink is standard on the facelift cars. Pre facelift cars that haven’t got it activated can have this done for £137 (some dealers try it on for more but it’s £122 for the part and 15-20 mins fitting so aim for £137 or under). If you find a car that is older than MY16 that doesn’t have SmartLink in the menu it’s a new radio job and it’s minimum £500 up to over £1200 for that.

 

Really useful, thanks! It was a 1.4 petrol that had that stereo and it had the smart link option (just needed the activation) my only problem is that it was the base SE spec with no upgrades and I think I'm after a little more.

 

I will be buying with an auto gearbox (which is another reason why my options are a bit more limited) the next one we are looking at is an SE L with the 1.6 diesel which is why I ask as I have reservations about diesels myself.

 

We plan on keeping the car until it dies on us, so we are looking for as reliable as possible! (After problems with our current one!)

1.4 TSI also has the DQ200 box. Some stuff can be retrofitted, depends on your experience and what you want. A facelift SE-L is a great standard spec IMO, lovely seats, LED lights and nice glossy trim and the unpopularity of the diesels in the current climate could mean you can cut a nice deal.

Just now, SashaGrace said:

1.4 TSI also has the DQ200 box. Some stuff can be retrofitted, depends on your experience and what you want. A facelift SE-L is a great standard spec IMO, lovely seats, LED lights and nice glossy trim and the unpopularity of the diesels in the current climate could mean you can cut a nice deal.

 

Is facelift 2017 onwards?

What is your annual mileage?

 

Anything less than 20,000 miles a year and I'd be looking for a 1.4 TSI. An absolute peach of an engine, and pretty bulletproof too...

 

 

Edited 12 October, 20196 yr by silver1011

The one we are looking at is a 1.6 diesel auto 17 plate SEL with 17k on the clock from a Skoda dealer for a hair under 14k

1 minute ago, Jetpac said:

 

Is facelift 2017 onwards?

Yes. Some pre facelifts snuck in on a 17 plate though. You’ll tell the facelift apart as it has split lights. They are one piece on each side but appear to have 4 lights. You’ll know what I mean when you look at the car.

2 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

What is your annual mileage?

 

Anything less than 20,000 miles a year and I'd be looking for a 1.4 TSI. An absolute peach of an engine, and pretty bulletproof too.

 

 

Around 12 tops. We test-drove a 1.4 two today and it was real nice. It just missed some features we would have liked from the SEl spec (like a bigger infotainment with AA, controls on the steering wheel)

SE’s have SmartLink too, you can retrofit the MFSW if needed. FL SE-L 1.4’s are available under £14k though.

I've edited my post above, it now includes an example from Autotrader.

 

Under your £14K budget, a 1.4 TSI, DSG, SE L, facelift (LED headlights), main dealer approved used car warranty, sensible mileage.

 

Edited 12 October, 20196 yr by silver1011

5 minutes ago, SashaGrace said:

SE’s have SmartLink too, you can retrofit the MFSW if needed. FL SE-L 1.4’s are available under £14k though.

Yea the one we looked at today was 13k with 25 on the clock so for 2k it seems silly not to drop 10k miles and get the extras we are after is my current thoughts, but we haven't actually driven an SEL yet so want to see if we definitely need those features.

If you are going FL the lights alone are worth it. You get MFSW, LED lights, half leather and alcantara seats, auto lights/wipers, driver personalisation through the key, 17 inch wheels, cruise control and a few other things over the SE so deffo 100% worth it. I wouldn’t consider anything but an SE-L, L&K or vRS myself unless you are towing or need the ground clearance of the Scout.

1 minute ago, SashaGrace said:

If you are going FL the lights alone are worth it. You get MFSW, LED lights, half leather and alcantara seats, auto lights/wipers, driver personalisation through the key, 17 inch wheels, cruise control and a few other things over the SE so deffo 100% worth it. I wouldn’t consider anything but an SE-L, L&K or vRS myself unless you are towing or need the ground clearance of the Scout.

 

What is driver personalisation via the key? That sounds interesting!

When you get in it’ll say Welcome Driver 1, 2 or 3 and you can change the name in the settings and store certain settings to each key. Not sure exactly what yet as I don’t have it on my car being a PFL but I have an FL BCM waiting to go in just have to get the old one out and do the swap.

How desparate are you for a dsg? The 6sp box in the more powerful cars will likely last a lot longer than the 7sp in the 1.6tdi or 1.4tsi. If you can go manual I'd go for the 1.4 sel.  I have the elegance which is the old name for sel and the spec is great. Auto lights and wipers are worth the extra on their own.

Or just get a vrs and you get it all...

I'm a little surprised about the price of the models mentioned above as I know you can get a sub 25k and under 3yr old auto vrs for under 15k, which seems a lot more for not much more money.  

For 14k you can get a manual.

 

Just a thought.

42 minutes ago, MarkyG82 said:

How desparate are you for a dsg? The 6sp box in the more powerful cars will likely last a lot longer than the 7sp in the 1.6tdi or 1.4tsi. If you can go manual I'd go for the 1.4 sel.  I have the elegance which is the old name for sel and the spec is great. Auto lights and wipers are worth the extra on their own.

 

Unfortunately both me and the wife have only driven autos for the last 10 years for several different reasons, so looking to stick auto

30 minutes ago, Alex-W said:

Or just get a vrs and you get it all...

I'm a little surprised about the price of the models mentioned above as I know you can get a sub 25k and under 3yr old auto vrs for under 15k, which seems a lot more for not much more money.  

For 14k you can get a manual.

 

Just a thought.

 

What do you get extra in the VRS that makes it worth it? Tbh I haven't looked at anything other than the SE and SEl!

In that case I'd be looking at a bigger engine to get the dq250 gearbox as you are wanting something to last. 

The vrs spec wise is slotted between se and sel. Some have been specced up to sel or better though.

I'd be looking at a vrs petrol with maybe a few more miles or or a year or two older. Smart link can be added after for £500+ if required.

 

23 minutes ago, Jetpac said:

What do you get extra in the VRS that makes it worth it? Tbh I haven't looked at anything other than the SE and SEl!

 

More power, nicer seats, nicer, larger wheels, bigger brakes, looks nicer (different bumpers).  

The pfl also has the auto levelling xenon lights rather than the standard halogens I believe.

 

Edited 12 October, 20196 yr by Alex-W

Nicer seats is subjective, I cannot stand the basic PFL vRS seats but the leather ones are lovely. The FL vRS has nicer standard seats but you can’t get full leather. The SE-L always had half leather/alcantara which is a nice combo and that material combo in the vRS was only standard on the 245 and not often optioned on the standard vRS. The main difference in terms of the driving experience isn’t really the extra power, it’s the independent rear suspension instead of the torsion beam the less powerful cars have. This does make the car ride a little better and it’s more refined as a result. You will also benefit from the DQ250 6 speed box and if you do go for a PFL you will get bi-xenon lights as standard which is nice. You also get lane assist as standard so you can enable high beam assist and traffic sign recognition after the fact and if you like autonomous driving tech you’ll appreciate that option on its own.

TBH @Jetpac the 1.4TSI DSG SE L is probably as much of a "nice" as most people need/want/like although, the vRS is a lotta fun in the real world, it'll cost you 10mpg reduction compared to the 1.4.

 

Don't even consider a diesel with your mileage., & don't be tempted by the 1.5TSI it's a total sack of ****e with multiple software issues

 

I've had both cars & the SE L is enough unless you're a total petrol-head whom wants performance 

30 minutes ago, themanwithnoaim said:

TBH @Jetpac the 1.4TSI DSG SE L is probably as much of a "nice" as most people need/want/like although, the vRS is a lotta fun in the real world, it'll cost you 10mpg reduction compared to the 1.4.

 

Don't even consider a diesel with your mileage., & don't be tempted by the 1.5TSI it's a total sack of ****e with multiple software issues

 

I've had both cars & the SE L is enough unless you're a total petrol-head whom wants performance 

Thanks for this, I will def avoid the 1.5!

 

Finding an 1.4 auto SEL seems like it may be a challenge! Fingers crossed!

What's the objection with diesel for that mileage?

 

I hear people saying you need to do 20k to get a diesel but for a dpf to regen you just need to do journeys that include decent length ones to let it regen.

 

You can quite easily do 12k a year and not be at risk of clogged dpf, if all your miles are weekend miles for example.

Just worth checking.

 

I would just consider the vrs TDI if your journeys were suitable and assuming you don't intend on driving into low emission zones.

 

I mean, for example - 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201905168029963

 

That seems a lot of car for the money in comparison.  

However when i shop for cars I find it difficult to not but the top spec one for the age as I can't help thinking I'll regret it when I see a better one on the road otherwise

 

Personally, I have zero plans to go into any emission zones and many many people I know have diesels, do short journeys mixed with the occasional longer ones and I've not known a single person have a dpf issue.  Of course they could all be time bombs waiting to go off, or just keeping it quiet when they do but I also can't help thinking it's not quite as bad as reading online suggests.

 

1 hour ago, Alex-W said:

What's the objection with diesel for that mileage?

 

I hear people saying you need to do 20k to get a diesel but for a dpf to regen you just need to do journeys that include decent length ones to let it regen.

 

You can quite easily do 12k a year and not be at risk of clogged dpf, if all your miles are weekend miles for example.

Just worth checking.

 

I would just consider the vrs TDI if your journeys were suitable and assuming you don't intend on driving into low emission zones.

 

I mean, for example - 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201905168029963

 

That seems a lot of car for the money in comparison.  

However when i shop for cars I find it difficult to not but the top spec one for the age as I can't help thinking I'll regret it when I see a better one on the road otherwise

 

Personally, I have zero plans to go into any emission zones and many many people I know have diesels, do short journeys mixed with the occasional longer ones and I've not known a single person have a dpf issue.  Of course they could all be time bombs waiting to go off, or just keeping it quiet when they do but I also can't help thinking it's not quite as bad as reading online suggests.

 

Working as an MOT tester i have found the current crop of diesels to be terrible, DPF issues are very common (in city's anyway, stop/start driving is not good for them)and the cost of fuel at about £1.40 a litre it make them uneconimical to run at less then about 15-20 thousend miles a year.