Hi everyone,

i am new to this forum and have no experience with Skoda. A dear friend and mechanic, now sadly deceased, always recommended high mileage octavias to me as “they go forever, all the important work’s been done and the prices are low as people are scared of the mileage”

 

I am looking for some general advice wrt to these mk2 80k plus miles models. Are there any things to look out for? What trims best to stay away from? Common pitfalls and problems…

 

i am aware this is quite a general question and appreciate all constructive feedback.

 

my budget is less about £5k

 

cheers 

That is a very open question so please tell us if you want a petrol or diesel, and for the particular car you have found, the engine code.

The engine code can be found on a label near the spare wheel.  An example is shown below.

in this example the engine code is CJZC. 

I don't consider 80 k to be a big mileage, but -

 

The bigger the mileage, the more you have to consider service history to be valuable - pref done by someone who knows what they are doing. Partic using the wrong oil is a no-no.

 

Some colours are frankly undesirable, particularly the dull-ish maroon one, although you can spot them from a distance in a car park, which can't be said of every colour.

 

Do not buy one of the bigger-engined petrol ones without reading the sticky thread called something like '1.8 and 2.0 litre engine failures.'

 

I have some concerns with DSG gearbox - nice drive, in a relaxed kind of way, but I'm not that convinced by long term reliability, although that may be largely a preventative maintenance issue.

 

The radio (Bolero, usually) isn't particularly well liked, but you have to remember it is a fairly old design, and a more modern ('unknown' oriental brand) radio could have more features, but some of them are reliable, and some aren't. In my view, the speakers aren't brilliant, in terms of bass. They perhaps do surprisingly well for  their size, I suppose, but are small.

 

If you have more specific issues, please ask. Not sure I'll be able to answer, but if you don't ask,you won't find out.

A 1.8tsi which might have issues engine wise has a DQ200 7 speed DSG which has no maintenance but can have issues.   A 2.0 TSI which could have similar engine issues had a totally different 6 speed wet clutch DSG which does require oil and filter changes at 40,000 miles, so maintenance. 

Thanks for the replies.

 

i haven’t got a specific car in sight yet, just looking at what’s out there on car guru etc.

 

i live just outside the ulez, soon to be inside so I am after a petrol engine.

 

colour, radio, satnav etc i am not bothered about , generally the more extras the more that can break right?

 

 

We paid just over 2k for a 2006 2 litre diesel elegance last year- BKD engine with the DSG box and 90K. This era doesn't have a DPF to worry about. Economy is great- hit 59mpg on our run to Somerset the other week. 

 

 

The old boy who had it looked after it well with lots of receipts etc. Sailed through its MOT this week at 97k with only  an advisory for rear subframe corrosion (which I've treated and hopefully significantly slowed down) 

 

To look at it's boring and plain Jane but maybe the safer bets are the less exciting models?

 

 

 

 

Can't beat a BKD in terms of reliability, mine done 216k before I sold it and had no MOT advisories, shame ulez will probably rule it out though.  Probably 1.4tsi would be the next best alternative if want to be ulez compliant.  Try to negotiate money off a timing chain replacement if it has not been changed.

Edited 23 May, 20233 yr by wiilydog
Spelling

I am looking at two cars on Saturday:

1.) 2011 1.4 SE Estate 147k miles. Dealer states 1 owner, FSH (I have not seen this yet), recent Service MOT until Nov'23 £3,500

2.) 2010 1.4 Elegance TSI Estate 106k miles. partial SH, recent full service, MOT until Oct'23 £4,150

 

My biggest concern is timing belts but unless I can see them as done in the SH I don't really know what to look out for. 

 

Any other advice regarding what to look out for on these two models would be greatly appreciated.

 

Neither have advisories on the the last MOT according to dealer.