Hi All,

I'm currently looking at a (UK) MY19 Superb SE L auto 1.5TSi with 134k on the clock. It apparently has FSSH (TBC as not been to see car yet) with a cambelt/waterpump replacement. (again TBC from paperwork)

Looks like it registered as a taxi with TFL between 2019 & mid 2023 so I'm presuming that it was likely (given the car) some sort of executive airport car.

How much of a risk would you guys consider this sort of purchase to be?

Dealer/Trader is asking £9500 which feels a bit high but that's a separate issue

Hi!

What's the mileage on the car?

I bought a 3 year old MK1 Octavia that had been used as an airport transfer vehicle, it had 188000 miles on the clock, it was the best and most reliable car I have ever had, over the next 13 years it suffered tremendous abuse at my hands being used as a works van and towing stupid loads, I took it up to 325000 miles before scrapping it which in many ways I really regret, had I known of VCDS and the problems afflicting all Skodas of broken wires in the door loom I would not have done so but was tempted by a high mileage MK2 which by then was very cheap, that too was very reliable.

 

They were both manual TDIs as is my Yeti, I dont know that a 1.5TSI and automatic would be as safe a bet.

 

 

Edited 14 February, 20242 yr by J.R.

1 hour ago, EnterName said:

Hi!

What's the mileage on the car?

 from OG post: "134k on the clock"

37 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I bought a 3 year old MK1 Octavia that had been used as an airport transfer vehicle, it had 188000 miles on the clock, it was the best and most reliable car I have ever had, over the next 13 years it suffered tremendous abuse at my hands being used as a works van and towing stupid loads, I took it up to 325000 miles before scrapping it which in many ways I really regret, had I known of VCDS and the problems afflicting all Skodas of broken wires in the door loom I would not have done so but was tempted by a high mileage MK2 which by then was very cheap, that too was very reliable.

 

They were both manual TDIs as is my Yeti, I dont know that a 1.5TSI and automatic would be as safe a bet.

 

 

325k miles!!! wowsers

Personally i would just give a 1.5 TSI DSG a swerve.   Unless an amazing low price which it is not.   Double lottery, 1.5 TSI ACT & a DQ200 DSG.

 

See what that FSSH actually is showing as being done since it is the Full History.

 

Oil& Filter changes how often,was it the Pollen Filter in 2021 and again in 2023?

Brake Fluid @ 3 years, 2022, or any time.

 

Spark plugs @40,000,80,000& 120,000 miles or when?

 

As to the Cam Belt that did show as being @ 50,000 miles /5 years until last July when that was changed to over the 135,000 miles has done now.

The Water Pump was not required as part of the schedule.

The cost without Water pump could be as much as from £650- £1,100 or even more. You want to see who did the work and the parts and prices. 

 

Are the brakes, tyres, windscreen etc all fine. 

Edited 14 February, 20242 yr by Rooted

17 minutes ago, Rooted said:

Personally i would just give a 1.5 TSI DSG a swerve.   Unless an amazing low price which it is not.   Double lottery, 1.5 TSI ACT & a DQ200 DSG.

 

See what that FSSH actually is showing as being done since it is the Full History.

 

Oil& Filter changes how often,was it the Pollen Filter in 2021 and again in 2023?

Brake Fluid @ 3 years, 2022, or any time.

 

Spark plugs @40,000,80,000& 120,000 miles or when?

 

As to the Cam Belt that did show as being @ 50,000 miles /5 years until last July when that was changed to over the 135,000 miles has done now.

The Water Pump was not required as part of the schedule.

The cost without Water pump could be as much as from £650- £1,100 or even more. You want to see who did the work and the parts and prices. 

 

Are the brakes, tyres, windscreen etc all fine. 

Specifically looking for a petrol rather than a diesel simply because I will mainly be using this as a "posh" local(ish) runabout  with a longer motorway run around once a month.

Auto rather than manual as my GF will not drive a manual so when we do do longer trips we can share the driving.

I've yet to go and see any vehicles in person (and no commitments made, simply doing up front research)  so not seen any paperwork so cant comment on who did what and when (other than its advertised as full Skoda main dealer history, presumably somewhere in the Greater London area as was registered with TFL). It's stated that the cambelt/waterpump was changed at approx 122k miles which x-reffing with the MOT history means it would have been done just before the 3 year point (vehicle was registered 30 Dec 19 & mot on 29 Dec 22 was 127k)

1st owner (where it was registered with TFL) seems to have switched at /just after the 3 year point as the 2nd owner acquired it in april 23 although it did remain licensed with TFL until July 23

Hmmm, 2nd owner getting rid fairly quickly?

35 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Hmmm, 2nd owner getting rid fairly quickly?

I'll be honest, that was also an alarm bell and part of the bigger picture.

Another one I'm currently keeping an eye on (as not in a position to but at this minute)  is a 2017 ex MOD  1.6diesel auto  (the diesel is less of a deal breaker ) Superb estate (asked the dealer as an MOT check showed the first MOT as being in 2023 which would be late for a 2017 ;o) )

They have the leasing companies service printout from when it was in MOD service (they are the first owners since it came out) and have given it a service themselves including a timing belt replacement

 

correction the ex MOD one is at 127k

15 minutes ago, Winston_Woof said:

2017 ex MOD  1.6diesel auto  (the diesel is less of a deal breaker ) Superb estate

You might want to check the performance on this one is up to snuff, because the MoD used to be notorious for getting detuned engines "to save fuel".

@Winston_Woof  Can you not look at a 2.0 TSI or TDI,  and if it needs to be an Auto then it is a wet clutch DSG and not like the 1.5 TSI ACT and now a 1.6 TDI a 7 speed twin dry clutch DSG. (DQ200). 

 

But then one with a 6 Speed DSG, because the 7 speed DQ381 is another lottery choice. 

 

EDIT.

OK scrub the TDI, but then you are talking about a 1.6 TDI..

Do you need the Superb size, is an Octavia not big enough, an estate?

Edited 14 February, 20242 yr by Rooted

5 minutes ago, Rooted said:

@Winston_Woof  Can you not look at a 2.0 TSI or TDI,  and if it needs to be an Auto then it is a wet clutch DSG and not like the 1.5 TSI ACT and now a 1.6 TDI a 7 speed twin dry clutch DSG. (DQ200). 

 

But then one with a 6 Speed DSG, because the 7 speed DQ381 is another lottery choice. 

So yes primary factor (if I want my GF to share any driving) is Auto
Budget is ideally no more than £9k (which I accept puts me into higher mileage cars)
Agewise would really prefer to stay at 17 onwards
Ideally would prefer to buy a car reasonably local to me

and of course at this point I'm just window shopping

So based on "wot u rote" then how (leaving aside actual condition, price etc etc) does a 1 owner from new MY17 2.0 TDI SE L Executive Estate 5dr Diesel DSG Auto 6Spd  with 182k miles sound?

Or a 3 owner MY17 2.0 TDI Laurin & Klement DSG Auto 6Spd Euro 6 with 170k

Ooh that last one does have all the toys on ;o)

22 minutes ago, Rooted said:

@Winston_Woof  Can you not look at a 2.0 TSI or TDI,  and if it needs to be an Auto then it is a wet clutch DSG and not like the 1.5 TSI ACT and now a 1.6 TDI a 7 speed twin dry clutch DSG. (DQ200). 

 

But then one with a 6 Speed DSG, because the 7 speed DQ381 is another lottery choice. 

 

EDIT.

OK scrub the TDI, but then you are talking about a 1.6 TDI..

Do you need the Superb size, is an Octavia not big enough, an estate?

oh I don't "need" a Superb sized vehicle it's just that I would "like" a Superb sized vehicle (plus it means when the grandkids are in the back they ain't going to be kicking me in the kidneys lol.

I was going to get a bright Yellow Arbarth 536 but SWMBO flatly said no lol .

FYI this is going to be a second car more for my odd foray into work[I mostly WFH] and longer trips [which we plan on doing more of], she has a MY17 Ioniq HEV which she has a fear of putting mileson ;o) 

ah the L&K also looks like its been a taxi/airport vehicle, registered in Feb 17 then 1st MOT in 2018 followed by a series of 6 monthly MOTs ;o)

On 14/02/2024 at 11:46, Winston_Woof said:

 from OG post: "134k on the clock"

Sorry, I missed that.

As @Rooted said, I think I'd give it a miss as the price seem a bit high. Not sure how long the clutch pack on the DQ200's last, but they're not renowned for being great gearboxes anyway.

(That said, I have a DQ381 on my car, which I had thought was a solid box, but am informed that they can decide to take an early bath.)

But your plan to buy a young high-mileage car is sound IMO, so long as the price is right.

7 minutes ago, EnterName said:

Sorry, I missed that.

As @Rooted said, I think I'd give it a miss as the price seem a bit high. Not sure how long the clutch pack on the DQ200's last, but they're not renowned for being great gearboxes anyway.

(That said, I have a DQ381 on my car, which I had thought was a solid box, but am informed that they can decide to take an early bath.)

But your plan to buy a young high-mileage car is sound IMO, so long as the price is right.

that ones gone down my list anyways lol

At the moment I'm watching :

a MY11 S2  1.8 TSI Elegance DSG with 120k miles, asking price £6k
a MY18 S3 1.4 TSI ACT SE DSG with 125k miles, asking price £8k

Both are estates with the MY11 having leather,sunroof, park assist & electric tailgate but  only standard Cruise & no Apple Carplay whereas the MY18 has ACC & Apple Carplay but fabric and no sunroof,park assist or electric tailgate.

Also on the list (but would mean no drive sharing) is a Hatch MY19 1.5 TSI ACT SE Technology Manual with 93k miles, asking price 9.25k

31 minutes ago, Winston_Woof said:

that ones gone down my list anyways lol

At the moment I'm watching :

a MY11 S2  1.8 TSI Elegance DSG with 120k miles, asking price £6k
a MY18 S3 1.4 TSI ACT SE DSG with 125k miles, asking price £8k

Both are estates with the MY11 having leather,sunroof, park assist & electric tailgate but  only standard Cruise & no Apple Carplay whereas the MY18 has ACC & Apple Carplay but fabric and no sunroof,park assist or electric tailgate.

Also on the list (but would mean no drive sharing) is a Hatch MY19 1.5 TSI ACT SE Technology Manual with 93k miles, asking price 9.25k

The leather is nice, but for me, the sunroof is a problem waiting to happen, and the park assist and electric rear tailgate are novelties, so I'd be looking at the MY18. (And wishing it had a bigger engine. 😄)

22 minutes ago, EnterName said:

The leather is nice, but for me, the sunroof is a problem waiting to happen, and the park assist and electric rear tailgate are novelties, so I'd be looking at the MY18. (And wishing it had a bigger engine. 😄)

I have also seen a couple of 3.6's out there [in budget] but the road tax is "oof" as is the fuel consumption lol

The 1.8 TSI with a DQ200 DSG is a double trouble possible.

 

Obviously many many many have no issues with 1.8 TSI,s.  The problem is the ones that are bad.

I sometimes query the wisdom of getting out of bed in the mornings lol

I mean this is nice. It has the 6 speed rather than 7 speed DSG (which If I've read correctly is the wet clutch model) and only 2 owners from new with Full Skoda Service History. MOT history is also good with the vast majority of advisories being consumable tyre/brake related

Just the small matter of 240k miles, sky high road tax and thirst for fuel to consider lol

Looks like its only been driven too & from the test centre for the last couple of years lol

(also based on the mileage on the AT Ad & x reffing to MOT mileage I suspect they've been sat on it for some tiime)

The day or night goes a lot better if you can get in your car and just drive.

Best look at the KISS principal and get to know which are which and not get landed with someones else's past headache.

 

Plenty good cars about, even high mileage ones that have been looked after.   

2 hours ago, Winston_Woof said:

I have also seen a couple of 3.6's out there [in budget] but the road tax is "oof" as is the fuel consumption lol

I love the idea of a 3.6, but running costs and repair worries would be inhibiting.

I suspect it will come down to you seeing the right car at the right price on the day. You'll get in, have a drive and that will be it.

Even a Nervous Nelly car-buyer like me eventually found "The One" that ticked all the boxes I needed ticking on the day to get me to buy it. (Even if I had to put up with 6 months of buyer's remorse afterwards wondering if I should have bought a vRS instead. 😄)

Good luck! 🤞

12 minutes ago, EnterName said:

I love the idea of a 3.6, but running costs and repair worries would be inhibiting.

I suspect it will come down to you seeing the right car at the right price on the day. You'll get in, have a drive and that will be it.

Even a Nervous Nelly car-buyer like me eventually found "The One" that ticked all the boxes I needed ticking on the day to get me to buy it. (Even if I had to put up with 6 months of buyer's remorse afterwards wondering if I should have bought a vRS instead. 😄)

Good luck! 🤞

Its the roadtax &more than anything is the biggest turn off, I only do around4-5k miles PA so although the fuel consumption is "low" it's not the biggest deal breaker.

Even the insurance isnt too bad, actually its lower than the 1.5's and even than my Ceed would be on a like for like comparison (age & value comes into that I presume)