Hi,
Never had reason to venture into the MK3 section before, don't eat me!

 

I'm looking at a MK3 4x4  Estate, 1.6D manual with 144k on the clock for around £3.5k. It's slightly over my budget but probably attainable.

I just wondered what kind of issues this would be likely to have or develop in the near future, what to look for if I go and check it out and whether it's worth it?

I'm particularly concerned about having a car with a DPF for the first time.

 

Also, on the MK2, you can't fit a towbar without getting a special wiring loom fitted that costs about £600 (unless said loom was specified as an option when it was ordered). Is that the same for the MK3 4x4?

 

Thanks v much!

 

 

You can get a wiring loom modification for your 1.6TDI 4x4; there are plenty of third parties who will sell you one.  Worth asking your Skoda dealer as well to find out what they will quote you for a tow bar fitting kit and toe bar.

 

DPF's are fine; generally as long as you take the car on long fast blast occasionally (once a week) and don't do too many short journeys you will be fine.  DPF's do have a finite life-span, but it is worth finding out what the current state of the DPF is (indepedants or Skoda dealer can tell you).  When you take it for a test drive, also see whether the auto-stop/start works (if that is an option in that car) after a long fast test drive.  DPF's need heat and lots of it to make them work properly....there was somebody who kept on getting DPF issues on this forum; ignored it and took the car on a European tour (and forgot about the MPG etc)....DPF never gave him a moment's problem after that.