Would buying a 2.0 tdi 2016 manual with 190k be a moronic idea or not? It's got excellent service history and it's exactly what I want. I know I'm running a risk regardless but is there something known that is common and catastrophic? TIA

Welcome.

Is it cheap enough?

What is the History of, actually servicing and maintenance and part / consumable replacement, annually or bi-annually & not just Oil & Filter servicing?

Is everything as should now, good tyres fitted, brakes, windscreen without chips & the car ready to roll.

No DPF issues?  Suspension all good?

I bought a MK1 Octavia with 188K on the clock and took it to 325K without any problems whatsoever, aside from oil & filters it cost me £5 for a coolant temperature sensor, £8 for a cambelt alone (no pulleys, tensioners etc) and maybe £30 on brake discs, I also replaced the rear shocks and front struts with uprated ones from a Police car in a breakers yard but that was an upgrade rather than the originals failing.

 

Had I invested in VCDS it would never have been scrapped.

 

My 2006 Octavia was mote troublesome electronically but armed with VCDS it was manageable, 2016 is in my view the latest year I would want to own as there is simply so much complication and unreliability from the later emission spec vehicles.

 

I say go for it but budget for a clutch & DMF if it hasn't already been replaced, also try and get some DPF figures from VCDS to get an idea of  how much life it has left, hopefully it will have been motorway miles and not short journeys.

DPF would be my worry.  If the car is cheap enough then maybe a replacement unit is not out of the question.  If it's genuinely the spec you want etc then could be worth chucking a few quid at to get it up to standard.

If not done already I'd be looking at the following:

DPF

Cambelt

brake fluid (and a good look at other break parts)

oil flush

coolant flush

shocks all round

 

Granted that could be a potentially big bill for all that but should bring it up to a standard that will keep it going for quite some time.

18 hours ago, MarkyG82 said:

DPF would be my worry.  If the car is cheap enough then maybe a replacement unit is not out of the question.  If it's genuinely the spec you want etc then could be worth chucking a few quid at to get it up to standard.

If not done already I'd be looking at the following:

DPF

Cambelt

brake fluid (and a good look at other break parts)

oil flush

coolant flush

shocks all round

 

Granted that could be a potentially big bill for all that but should bring it up to a standard that will keep it going for quite some time.

Coolant should be flushed while cambelt is replaced if coolant pump is replaced at the same time.  

BTW, coolant pump replacement is a good investment on a TDI, since several overheating issues are related to coolant pump failure (pump stuck).

 

Otherwise, nothing to add to posts above.