After selling my S1 around 18 months ago due to lack of use, I've been embracing shed driving.

I bought a Fiat Panda for £400, got over 12 months out of it before it started to make some weird noises.

So that got swapped for a Berlingo van, I thought it would get me another 12 months of carefree motoring. I lasted 2 months with it and just couldn't get on with it at all. 

I did what anyone would do, open PH classifieds, cars under £1000, filter by distance. 
As chance would have it, the closest car to me was a Octavia VRS estate. 

After a viewing and short drive, it was obvious it was a good example. The seller is a PH member I believe, so hopefully he will see this. 
He had owned the car for 11 years, over the last couple he had replaced all the suspension and brakes, lots of history with it. 
Original turbo, original clutch, original exhaust. Not been messed with. 
I had to have it. 

Pic here the day I collectdd:

|https://thumbsnap.com/kEYnZPJ7

I've had it a week now and nothing bad to report. The climatronic air conditioning works, gets nice and warm. The 20v turbo engine pulls well. It genuinely all feels so tight and smooth, you'd never know it was 17 years old. 

I gave it a good wash today, going to attack the interior this week. 
New plates have been ordered to tidy it up. 
Tow bar going to come off as I've no use for it. 
I said I wasn't going to modify it, but have been reading that these engines respond well to a panel filter, release a bit more turbo noise. 

Pics today after a quick clean:

|https://thumbsnap.com/vxTx4Ydl

|https://thumbsnap.com/cBQRe5FP

|https://thumbsnap.com/M7GsSFSV

Looks like a decent buy. 

 

Glad to see they still still go strong on original parts at higher miles.

 

mine's on over 120000 miles. Mechanically unmodified it still pulls strong and doesn't smoke.

 

It's also had a full suspension refresh (with H&R springs) and brakes all round and generally feels a lot newer than it is. 

 

I keep thinking about getting something newer but then I drive it and both my heart and head say why bother?

 

getting rare on the roads now too.