Proper newby here, not a mechanic. Just sold my 2016 Octavia estate, so began a love affair. I’ve got my eye on Mk1s but obviously most are pretty high miles now. Any advice RE: how long I can expect a regularly serviced 1.8T petrol engine to last? And how expensive/difficult an engine replacement would be, if the worst happened?

 

Thanks in advance folks!

Like any car, if serviced regularly if can go on and on and on. Many now I've seen are over 200k. But, you can have some under 100k with the engine gone. It's just a risk at these ages now.

 

The best you can do is find an unmolested one with service history, stay away from the lowered or modified ones if you can.

Late answer but perhaps it's still useful.

 

1.8T is relatively reliable engine, mine has 215k miles now and list of faults for the 50k miles I've owned it, is relatively short.

 

- broken thermostat, the reason PO was selling it, it didn't warm up. Nasty, nasty place, so a PITA to change.

- intake leak in one of the hoses (shop replaced it while replacing cam belt, no idea which one it was)

- coolant leak from distribution block o-ring at right side of the engine. Probably my own fault as the o-ring didn't like oil at all and valve cover was leaking, directly above it. ~2h job to replace the valve cover seal and no special tools required.

 

And, as maintenance: Cam belt, rollers and water pump changed in shop as i had no documentation of previous change and PO didn't remember. That wasnt' cheap, about  800 euros.

 

I'm using normal  (semi-synthetic) 0W40 in winter and 10W40 in summer and replace it every 6k miles or so as  oil is cheap insurance against engine failure. "Long life" oil does not mean long life for the engine.

 

Other stuff:

 

- Both lock cylinders dead as a dodo as PO used only remote: Couldn't even insert a key, so I bought new ones.

- Driver door window lift cable rusted so badly it broke(!).  New one wasn't expensive though.

- Driver door and rear hatch lock microswitches sometimes work, sometimes don't.

- Rear driver side door central lock broke, leaving the door deadlocked. Absolute bonkers idea. I had to rip door panel by force and literally cut the lock mechanism into pieces just to get the door open.

- Rear hatch central lock does the same sometimes, but at least you can remove it with 2 screws and operate the lock manually.

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