Hi all, firstly I apologise for starting another "buying advice" thread as I've seen there are lots on here already. I've done a fair bit of reading on here and there's lots of info to take in. 

 

I'm having to (reluctantly) buy a family car and have seen a 2018 67 plate fl octavia estate SE 1.4TSI with DSG. The car has only done 13k and the price isn't terrible. 

 

Unfortunately due to covid I may end up buying this car blind as it appears the dealer isn't open but will offer to buy online and deliver with the usual 7 day option to return if I'm not happy... again I can see them trying to wriggle out of that one. I've had a few videos of the car but just wanted to get some advice on what to look out for and people's personal experiences. 

 

it's just had it's first MOT and there are no advisories on the history. I think belt and pump should be done in about 18 months which isn't a big issue.

 

Many thanks in advance and all opinions/advice will be welcome. 

 

 

I am not keen on buying a car unseen either but can understand your predicament of needing to purchase a car. The cam belt change interval is an old chestnut on this forum, but it’s nornally at 5 years on Octavia. Octavia’s are solid built cars and I have had no significant issues with mine in 50000 miles. 

 

When looking at cars online, and I spend too much doing that, I always scrutinise the interior! If the interior looks good, the chances are it’s been good after well. That’s my theory anyway. 

thanks for the reply. yeah good shout re interior wear. I'm the same, I get stuck in an auto trader worm hole and spend hours on there 

How about asking for a video walk around with close ups of wheels, interior etc?

1 hour ago, weyland said:

How about asking for a video walk around with close ups of wheels, interior etc?

yeah they've sent me one butbtbh the quality isn't great.... and they've missed the whole top part of the car. you can only just about make out the make of the tyres.

 

I'm contemplating getting an AA/RAC inspection done and asking them to take it out for a run. The garage does a 136 point check or something ridiculous but it's hardly independent if they're doing it.

Ask for another. Tell them what you want to see. You should be able to get a decent video, if not walk away

yeah I think that's fair. spending 11k which I appreciate isn't new car money but surely it warrants a half decent video

Other websites to waste plenty of time on are Cazoo and cinch. Plenty of good quality photos of the stock including any damage to the vehicles and tyres etc.  Of course again, you can’t drive them, but show the service history. But it is surprising how many cars have odd tyres, 3 Michelin’s and a Goodyear or whatever. 

 

There is is so much choice you should be able to find exactly what you want. 

By the way, I think it's a 14 day return period for a distant sale. Could be a temporary thing for the current situation though. Anyway we've just made use of it having bought a Tucson that had been smoked in and there was no fuss, just a very easy and straight forward returns process (Car Shop Manchester). Also if you are part exchanging, don't change ownership of it until you know you are keeping the new one! I'm learning from that mistake now... 

Edited 7 March, 20215 yr by Swirly182

thanks all, yeah seems like buying cars this way is going to become more of the norm. A decent return period sounds like it'll be worth taking the risk. 

 

Hopefully you get your px issues sorted. I sold my 1 series at the beginning of lockdown. wasn't using it and it was just sat depreciating on my drive.

Hi all, thanks for your help. I didn't realise that the one I was looking at was from a citreon dealer rather than a skoda one. 

 

I gave that a swerve and have put a deposit down on a manual estate FL 1.4 SE L. Took it on finance to get the two years warranty and intend to pay it off within the cooling off period. (read lots on here about that so thanks again).

 

If anyone recently traded in a blue Octavia estate at Marshalls in Reading then I'm buying your car .

 

 

 

 

 

Congrats 

 

 

I bought mine on Skoda (VWFS) finance - in with the paperwork you'll get the details if you want to pay off within cooling off period (I paid mine off next day). You'll also get to keep any incentives that may have been offered.