Hi there. Glad to see the place is still ticking along with all this bookface malarky.

 

Used to be here a looooong time ago and I used to sell Skoda's from a main dealer.

 

Now I'm looking at buying a vRS in petrol flavour. I've been with diesels so long now but fancy a change.

 

So I'm looking at a 2010 octy and 95k on the clock. I believe that engine has the cam chain and tensioner which caused a fair bit of grief for some owners. And unless I can find a receipt for a swap have I got to assume it's the original and need to budget for a new one?

 

Also they can suffer from excessive oil use. 

 

Is there anything else I need to look for with these cars. 

 

Cheers 👍

Short answer is Yes! Longer answer .... Yes!  You could risk it, it has been going for 95k miles is some peoples logic. Not mine having seen those old tensioners!

 

The 1.8 gen 2 seems to me to be far more widespread affected by the oil usage from what I see one here but they are very closely related.  Time and distance (Not long life regime) regular oil changes helps prevent the clogging of the scraper rings which is the start of the slippery slope.  I've had my 2011 for 5 years, it has been very reliable other than the usual maintenance items and a few little extras here and there.  They are a complex engine to work on if it needs anything doing other than ancillaries though! 

Thanks for the reply. I went to view the car and they wouldn't even let me turn it on! Covid rules apparently 😳

 

I've left it for now as I said to the dealer in not buying a used car I can't drive first. 

 

On the hunt for another one now.

Ha ha.  Covid rules?  No engine start.  Bit strange!  Sounds like an avoid.  I listed my estate on here for a few weeks a while back, a few interested parties then at the end, a person in your indicated neck of the woods is now desperate to buy it as he has a new baby and a TT.... Problem is I can't find a car  I want to replace with the right spec and a decent price. Almost zero private ads in the cars I'm looking at doesn't help at the moment!

 

But to cut to the chase, on a FL mk2 vRS with the gen 2 EA888, it is worthwhile finding a good one, and you being as confident as you can it has been looked after and the vendor is honest.  It is never a cast iron guarantee but helps..... a lot to minimise the risks..

The dealer wouldn't let me start any of the cars, he said it's company rules. They can't even come out to talk to people. I got there they were on the forecourt and almost ran back inside. The was a note on the door saying to ring them as they couldn't deal face to face. 

The car itself looked well cared for. Full service history. I wasn't able to find proof of the cam chain and I said unless that was done I'd want it down before I purchase. But it all went no where when they said as they couldn't be out there they couldn't let us have the keys in case we did a runner with the car! 🤣

Edited 4 April, 20215 yr by woodenspatulas

My previous car was a 2011 Octavia VRS TSI FL and it was brilliant. I had a new tensioner and chains fitted at 50k miles, just as a preventative measure, as I heard they can go bang with the old tensioner problem. Cost for the tensioner and chains fitted was around £650, so budget that in if you buy the car. As for oil use, it was not over using oil at all. Around half a ltr every 1k miles. Traded it in on 104k miles for the car I have now. 

37 minutes ago, woodenspatulas said:

The dealer wouldn't let me start any of the cars, he said it's company rules. They can't even come out to talk to people. I got there they were on the forecourt and almost ran back inside.

 

But it all went no where when they said as they couldn't be out there they couldn't let us have the keys in case we did a runner with the car! 

Hmm. Difficult. I guess their attitude and approach will change on 12 April.  But really, stand back 2 metres, outside open air, face coverings on?, surely the car could've been started. Rules are the rules though. Or their interpretation of what they are allowed to do.. 

1 hour ago, roaddetective said:

My previous car was a 2011 Octavia VRS TSI FL and it was brilliant. I had a new tensioner and chains fitted at 50k miles, just as a preventative measure, as I heard they can go bang with the old tensioner problem. Cost for the tensioner and chains fitted was around £650, so budget that in if you buy the car. As for oil use, it was not over using oil at all. Around half a ltr every 1k miles. Traded it in on 104k miles for the car I have now. 

That's about what I've paid for the cambelt and bits for our A6. Bit bad really.

 

 

46 minutes ago, TheClient said:

Hmm. Difficult. I guess their attitude and approach will change on 12 April.  But really, stand back 2 metres, outside open air, face coverings on?, surely the car could've been started. Rules are the rules though. Or their interpretation of what they are allowed to do.. 

Im fully behind being cautious at the moment. Im asthmatic and so is my kid who was with me so I wouldn't risk getting the virus for a car, but as you said they could have stood at a distance we could all be wearing masks and I could have started it up in total safety. I've pinged an email back to the dealer with my feelings and that I was ready to deal upon a drive or even with some assurances if the car drove poorly after purchase. I also said I would happily pay them to have the cam chain work done so I knew the car was safe to drive home. Just have to wait and see. 

So just wanted to thank all that had input into my questions, I'm now the proud owner of a MK2 facelift 2.0tsi in race blue 👍

I went for a dsg in the end with full history and all the needed work done. Drives really nice, did 2 hours of constant driving last night in it and managed a boring 40mpg 😁

1 hour ago, woodenspatulas said:

So just wanted to thank all that had input into my questions, I'm now the proud owner of a MK2 facelift 2.0tsi in race blue 👍

I went for a dsg in the end with full history and all the needed work done. Drives really nice, did 2 hours of constant driving last night in it and managed a boring 40mpg 😁

Nice. Yes, 40MPG maybe 42MPG, (according to MFD) is about the best I've seen on some uneventful driving for me! Reality is overall I'm on about 30MPG mixed driving!  And I don't drive with a lead foot!