So after owning my current vRS for almost 10 years now, I think the time has come to upgrade. I've looked at various other cars but nothing suits what I want more than the Octy vRS so I think it's going to be a newer version as a replacement. So...a couple of questions if I may 🙂

 

1. I'm aiming for something around 3 years old (would love newer but budgetary restraints and all that!) so I'm currently trawling AutoTrader, etc to find something that fits the bill. Just wondering, for a second-hand MkIII vRS of that kind of age (petrol and manual), what sort of mileage would you think was acceptable? I know it's a bit of a tricky question, as a lot will depend on how it's been cared for, driven, serviced, etc, but I've heard various opinions and just wondering what anyone's thoughts/experiences were? Obviously, a car with higher mileage that's been driven and cared for well would be preferable to a lower mileage car that's been ragged senseless. Other than service history, any tips on determining how it's been cared for?
2. I believe the 230 version arrived in 2015...is that right? Is the 230 worth getting over the 220? I believe the main addition other than the extra 10 horses is the electronic diff...is that right?

 

Thanks!

Edited 20 February, 20206 yr by slicendice

Only the PFL 230 got the VAQ diff along with the FL 245. The FL 230 did not get the diff. It’s a nice extra but not the only thing the 230 got over the 220. The extra interior spec (full leather heated, electric seats to start) and the power folding, auto dimming mirrors make the every day experience much nicer but there are plenty of 220’s with the leather and winter pack but the electric seats are very rare. The FL as standard has a higher spec than the PFL, so they are preferable if you can get one and the diff, though it does make a difference, isn’t a real deal breaker IMO, the standard car with XDS is fine. As for mileage it’s impossible to say, some people have huge issues with 20k on the clock yet my car has 125,000 miles on it now and it’s been faultless in the 2 years and 70k odd I’ve put on it.

1 hour ago, SashaGrace said:

Only the PFL 230 got the VAQ diff along with the FL 245. The FL 230 did not get the diff. It’s a nice extra but not the only thing the 230 got over the 220. The extra interior spec (full leather heated, electric seats to start) and the power folding, auto dimming mirrors make the every day experience much nicer but there are plenty of 220’s with the leather and winter pack but the electric seats are very rare. The FL as standard has a higher spec than the PFL, so they are preferable if you can get one and the diff, though it does make a difference, isn’t a real deal breaker IMO, the standard car with XDS is fine. As for mileage it’s impossible to say, some people have huge issues with 20k on the clock yet my car has 125,000 miles on it now and it’s been faultless in the 2 years and 70k odd I’ve put on it.

 

Thanks for the info - useful to know. Would like to try and get a FL but depends on budget...and availability! There aren't a whole lot of cars out there that meet the spec/budget constraints. Or if there are, you can usually guarantee they'll be at the other end of the country! 😖

 

 

What’s your budget? Estate or hatch? There are few around that are coming off the silly cheap lease deal they threw out a few years ago.

1 hour ago, SashaGrace said:

What’s your budget? Estate or hatch? There are few around that are coming off the silly cheap lease deal they threw out a few years ago.

Most of those silly cheap leases were 2 year deals but, there should be a few 3 year old ex-lease cars around.

 

@slicendice the main difference in normal driving experience you'll find between the pfl & fl is the lights, bi-xenon pfl, led fl.

 

Yeah some bits are a bit nicer on some models but, without knowing what's important to you, it's kinda impossible to say

3 hours ago, SashaGrace said:

What’s your budget? Estate or hatch? There are few around that are coming off the silly cheap lease deal they threw out a few years ago.

 

Hatch. Budget would be up to 16K (incorporating sale of current car to offset!!)

 

Are ex-lease available through specialist websites? 

25 minutes ago, slicendice said:

 

Hatch. Budget would be up to 16K (incorporating sale of current car to offset!!)

 

Are ex-lease available through specialist websites? 

You should be able to find a 245 for that having recently bought one myself. I just trawled autotrader for a while, setting up alerts for new adverts. I ended up contacting the dealer before they actually had the vehicle, advert only had auction pics. 

 

67 plate (Dec 2017) 245 for 16.4k with 22k miles and three services. VWFS on v5 so presume ex lease.

 

 

 

 

 

27 minutes ago, Tazdaz said:

You should be able to find a 245 for that having recently bought one myself. I just trawled autotrader for a while, setting up alerts for new adverts. I ended up contacting the dealer before they actually had the vehicle, advert only had auction pics. 

 

67 plate (Dec 2017) 245 for 16.4k with 22k miles and three services. VWFS on v5 so presume ex lease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wowsers! That's quite a catch you got there!

 

Was it from a Skoda dealership? Or just one that was local to you?

9 minutes ago, slicendice said:

 

Wowsers! That's quite a catch you got there!

 

Was it from a Skoda dealership? Or just one that was local to you?

 

It was from a local one that is part of a group that includes skoda dealerships. They usually shift on the main dealer PX vehicles but started buying their own at auctions to keep stock levels up. Or so I was told. 

 

Depends where you are in the country, but 16k to 17k seemed to be going rate for this type of car, age and mileage in my area (south). Just had a look now and another example here although not who I dealt with:  https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201912275618359?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2017&postcode=rg214hj&model=OCTAVIA&page=1&aggregatedTrim=vRS&radius=60&make=SKODA&year-to=2018&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used

 

 

Mine will be for sale soon....... 18 plate vrs hatch dsg but it's a diesel. Well below your budget though!

As above, £16-17k is about the going rate for a 245 hatch right now. There is someone I know who’s lease has ended and VWFS are offering the car for £17k. This is about right.

3 hours ago, Tazdaz said:

 

It was from a local one that is part of a group that includes skoda dealerships. They usually shift on the main dealer PX vehicles but started buying their own at auctions to keep stock levels up. Or so I was told. 

 

Depends where you are in the country, but 16k to 17k seemed to be going rate for this type of car, age and mileage in my area (south). Just had a look now and another example here although not who I dealt with:  https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201912275618359?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2017&postcode=rg214hj&model=OCTAVIA&page=1&aggregatedTrim=vRS&radius=60&make=SKODA&year-to=2018&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used

 

 

That looks a belting car!! Have to admit, red is almost last on my list of colour preferences, but if it was a cracking car, I may compromise on that. 

Wish it was a smidgen closer too... 🙄

1 hour ago, SashaGrace said:

As above, £16-17k is about the going rate for a 245 hatch right now. There is someone I know who’s lease has ended and VWFS are offering the car for £17k. This is about right.

Sounds like I just need to keep my eyes peeled on Autotrader! Would love a 245 but had assumed they'd be out my price range

10 hours ago, Tazdaz said:

 

It was from a local one that is part of a group that includes skoda dealerships. They usually shift on the main dealer PX vehicles but started buying their own at auctions to keep stock levels up. Or so I was told. 

 

 

Sounds very much like Garlands....  Which is who I got mine from.

 

I paid £15500 for one of the last of the (2017) pfl230s about 8 months ago, so an early 245 for the same money sounds about right.

Maybe someone has a good memory of lease deals from 3 years ago

I vaguely remember the deal rates do tend to change March-April (with financial and tax year), so potentially could be some about to be returned as move into March

 

2 hours ago, Alex-W said:

 

Sounds very much like Garlands....  Which is who I got mine from.

 

I paid £15500 for one of the last of the (2017) pfl230s about 8 months ago, so an early 245 for the same money sounds about right.

Yeh same group but the Solent place. 

 

The winchester group seems to get a fair few Octavias in. 

On 20/02/2020 at 18:13, Tazdaz said:

 

It was from a local one that is part of a group that includes skoda dealerships. They usually shift on the main dealer PX vehicles but started buying their own at auctions to keep stock levels up. Or so I was told. 

 

Depends where you are in the country, but 16k to 17k seemed to be going rate for this type of car, age and mileage in my area (south). Just had a look now and another example here although not who I dealt with:  https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201912275618359?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2017&postcode=rg214hj&model=OCTAVIA&page=1&aggregatedTrim=vRS&radius=60&make=SKODA&year-to=2018&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used

 

 

Most of their Skoda stock is returned leased/ pfp(?) cars obtained from Skoda. They have a Skoda main dealership in Aldershot. Just bought my Superb from Solent.

The used car place in garlands get all theirs from vwfs auctions, not from the skoda dealer. I assumed they would but I think the dealer shifts their own stock.  They told me they cut about 5 or 6 cars a day from the auction...

That may be across both Aldershot and Solent as I'm pretty sure the same guy manages both.

 

FWIW, I found the service pretty decent.  Didn't argue about the fixing the faults I found within 6 months. 

On 20/02/2020 at 18:13, Tazdaz said:

 

It was from a local one that is part of a group that includes skoda dealerships. They usually shift on the main dealer PX vehicles but started buying their own at auctions to keep stock levels up. Or so I was told. 

 

Depends where you are in the country, but 16k to 17k seemed to be going rate for this type of car, age and mileage in my area (south). Just had a look now and another example here although not who I dealt with:  https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201912275618359?advertising-location=at_cars&year-from=2017&postcode=rg214hj&model=OCTAVIA&page=1&aggregatedTrim=vRS&radius=60&make=SKODA&year-to=2018&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used

 

 

Thanks for finding this...it's now sat on my front drive 😁 👍

1 hour ago, slicendice said:

Thanks for finding this...it's now sat on my front drive 😁 👍

 

If only I was on commission!