Bought a used 2018 Octavia from Cazoo.  29,000 miles.  Noticed straight away that the clutch wasn't right, it went in my local garage and it needs a new clutch.  While they were inspecting it, they noticed clutch dust in the engine compartment, said "someone has been here before".  So, at 29k miles it's unusual for it to need a new clutch, never mind two, so I'm wondering if the mileage has been altered - the garage thinks it could be dodgy.

 

What I know about the car: 

 

Registered March 2018 .

 

Service history from Skoda's records:

18/12/2018 Used Car MPC 13,299

09/07/2019 Oil Change Service 19,062

29/06/2020 Oil Change Service 23,194

01/03/2021 MOT (passed) 25,858

01/03/2021 Brake Fluid Change 25,858

17/06/2021 Oil Change Service 26,878

 

there is paperwork in the car showing another service, not clear from where:

22/03/22  28,986

 

 

and Cazoo gave it an MOT and service:

29/05/2022  28,993

 

So although it was due an MOT in March 2022, it actually just had a service, and then did 7 miles between then and May when Cazoo MOT'd it  (perhaps sold in March and just waiting around until May?)

 

And it did loads of miles in the first year, and about 3k a year for the next 3.

 

It's had two previous owners: I don't know who or when, but perhaps the MPC/Multi-Point-Check in December 2018 was it being sold to a dealer(?)

 

The car looks in good condition - no excessive wear on the interior, or the steerling wheel. Bodywork in good condition.

 

The rear tyres seem to be the originals - DOT number puts them as early 2018, and they have 3mm tread.

The front tyres are late 2020 and have 6mm.

 

 

 

The tyres are pushing me towards it being legit, but I'm not that knowledgeable about cars or the trade, so...does all this add up?

 

BTW Cazoo should be fixing the clutch as it's under warranty (just waiting for them to get back to me).  My decision now is do I just send it back (I can get a full refund) and not take the risk, or do I let them fix it, ask for an extended 12 month warranty for peace of mind and keep it.

I've never done it but I think it should be possible to obtain the car's correct mileage from the ECU,  using VCDS.     

 

This would suggest that you can... https://www.servicetutorials.com/2018/11/26/how-to-check-verify-the-real-kilometers-mileage-on-vw-skoda-audi-seat-with-vcds-vagcom-in-4-steps/

It worked on my MK2 Octavia but the function was not supported on the later Yeti so I suspect it will not on an even later car.

51 minutes ago, jbeans said:

And it did loads of miles in the first year, and about 3k a year for the next 3.

 

It's had two previous owners: I don't know who or when

That makes complete sense, like most cars it was pre-registered and punted out to anyone with the weakest of connections to VAG, eg a first year university student a distant relative of someone or to any of the fleet operators, car hire companies etc, they get them for 3-6 months and have to do say 6-10K miles & return them for the next one, the car is then sold on to a pigeon who is told it is an ex demonstrator, the sales managers car etc etc etc.

 

The mileage from the services stacks up.

Hey jbeans,

 

I'm no expert, but modern cars have a multitude of different modules, of which more than one may record the mileage/kilometres covered.

My 2014 1.6tdi Octy estate has covered over 240k miles, and is still on its original clutch/flywheel, and it operates very well! The 1st owner is a friend of mine and he drove sympathetically, as I do..

Some folk are very hard on clutches, but even so I would expect the original to last at least 50k miles, unless faulty..

The thing is even if the car runs perfectly well now,  you purchased it with the belief it had covered under 30k, at a price which would have reflected that.

So if it has been clocked, the retailer owes you money, possibly thousands. I would inform them that you are having it checked by an expert who will be able to tell if it's been tampered with,  just to see their reaction.

 

All the best 👍