Hi,  what would you recommend as the safest bet ,  an Octavia estate petrol or diesel  around 2011/12 and approx 15km upwards? Thanks

As you quoted mileage in kms I assume your not in Staffordshire. Specifications vary from country to country.

As you wanted an estate (which was my choice too) make sure you get one with a flat floor in the back. In the UK this was standard in the Elegance trim level but optional on some others and in other countries.

Folding the rear seats and then unclipping and removing the rear back rests gives almost six feet of load length, most of which is level with the bottom of the boot aperture.

Personally I would not entertain any petrol car with a 1.8 or 2.0 TSI engine - see sticky thread above.

For the diesels there is a choice of engine depending on age.

Certain 2 litre diesel plus the 1.6 litre diesel were the subject of the "dieselgate" scandal. New engine control software (plus an air straightener on the 1.6) was found to reduce reliability. The fix was said to be mandatory when in fact it was optional. I resisted the pressure to have mine fixed.

Some owners had the software reversed but the majority did not. Many sold their cars and same waited a few years until VW paid out compensation.

The biggest reliability issue was failure of the EGR valve. Some people had it replaced several times under warranty/goodwill.

The EGR is not expensive but its location requires many labour hours to replace so a big bill.

 

I suggest you spend time reading past threads in this forum. If you find a car you like, then note the engine code on the sticker in or near the spare wheel well. Armed with the code, do a targeted search of past threads.

 

Thanks, any idea how many miles before the Dpf becomes an issue or due a change

@Akin179 Welcome.

Are you talking a 2.0 TDI or a 1.6 TDI, manual or DSG?

 

I would swerve a 1.6 TDI, and probably a 2.0 TDI of that age. 

Also a 1.8 TSI.

 

I would maybe look at a 1.4 TSI. 

1 hour ago, Akin179 said:

Thanks, any idea how many miles before the Dpf becomes an issue or due a change

 

It all depends......

As a guide, my dpf is 43% ash after 76,000 miles.