Hi All,

 

I'm looking at getting a used Skoda but with my budget i'm looking at the early MK3 which have high mileage.

I have come across 2 cars that i'm at cross roads with. I would welcome the opinion of anyone here.

 

1) Skoda Octavia 2013 - SE Estate -   has 70k miles, great service history and has the Water Pump and Cambelt changed ay 48,000miles. (2018)

2) Skoda Octavia 2014 - Elegance - 104k miles-  great service history, and has the water pump and Cambelt changed at 91,000 miles (2021)

 

The 2014 elegance is 1k cheaper.

I am ultimately looking for car that i can get the most lifetime out of it.

 

What do people think here? is the 2013 lower mileage - the better option. Or is the 2014, higher spec trim but with much higher miles ( but very recent cambelt and WP) the better options.

 

Id appreciate anyones thoughts here.

Horses for courses IMO.  Not much to choose between them.  Maybe show us the adverts?

 

I'd suggest you inspect and drive both, then make your mind up from there.  Should become apparent which you prefer.

 

Gaz

Edited 9 July, 20241 yr by Gaz

2 hours ago, WillB1994 said:

1) Skoda Octavia 2013 - SE Estate -   has 70k miles, great service history and has the Water Pump and Cambelt changed ay 48,000miles. (2018)

2) Skoda Octavia 2014 - Elegance - 104k miles-  great service history, and has the water pump and Cambelt changed at 91,000 miles (2021)

What engines do they have?

Both are 1.4Litre TSI Petrol.

22 minutes ago, WillB1994 said:

Both are 1.4Litre TSI Petrol.

Looks like whoever had the cambelts changed made the classic mistake on an EA211 engine of thinking that changing the cambelt and water pump at the same time was required - on the EA211 they're on opposite ends of the engine so in reality there's no need to change them together.

 

I had to "remind" the Skoda dealer in Barnstaple this when I had a 2015 1.4TSI Elegance estate.

What do you think between the two options?  

3 hours ago, WillB1994 said:

2) Skoda Octavia 2014 - Elegance - 104k miles-  great service history, and has the water pump and Cambelt changed at 91,000 miles (2021)

So why did the annual mileage of this car drop so dramatically after someone spent out on a cambelt change?

Sorry  91,000 was @ 2022.  Dealer Took are on 19th June with 104k so its in-line with the previous annual usage i'd say.

There's not a lot between them on paper, so I'd go on condition of the individual cars.

 

Personally, I'd generally avoid any small turbo'd petrol engine, particularly in a bigger car. I'm not convinced about their reliability. 

Interesting - but it does seem the markets at going to  Turbocharged petrol , I read an article that c75% of European market is Turbocharged

The reliability of these 10 plus year old 1.4 TSI,s has been well proven so i wonder what @StevesTruck is on about.

The Timing chains / tensioners of the earlier 1.4 TSI,s were an issue. 

 

PS

1.8 & 2.0 TSI,s from the same sort of age are a liability, and that is to do with the timing chain among other issues.

Bigger was and is not necessarily better. 

Edited 10 July, 20241 yr by Ootohere