@nta16 Yeah, i've been looking trough those since you linked them above. Generally the timing belts and water pumps seem to be some of the major focus, i'll keep looking though. So far, both here and in the specific forums; SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE is what i gathered. Being timely with them seems to be a must for Skodas. 

As well as timely the servicing also needs to be thorough, especially as the car ages and cumulative milage, Dealerships, garages and mechanics generally in the UK at least are not always very thorough with servicing even a simple job like changing the engine oil (and filter).  Servicing here basically boils down to engine oil and filter change and a look for other chargeable work, this is not even proper engine servicing let alone proper servicing of the whole car.  Other items and work that used to be part of car servicing, VWŠkoda UK call "Maintenance".

 

In Europe at least you did not have the VWŠkoda UK lie about the rubber cambelts needing changing at 5 years/50,000-miles but that is another thing to consider of you buy a car that is coming up to 15 years old (150(?), 000-miles).  Timely "Maintenance" changes of spark plugs and engine air filter are also important for engine servicing.  Full and proper timely engine servicing is particularly important for diesel engine and as a generalisation even less likely done.  More important of course is servicing and maintenance of the braking, steering and suspension systems and components.

 

On a car of this age personally if I was going to keep the car I would be looking at changing the "filled-for-life" fluids too (some others will disagree with this), caution with this though on those DSC gearboxes.

 

In the UK as a generalisation you would not trust the advice of cars salesmen particularly used-car salesmen unless they were selling in a very specialist market.  I have no idea if or how good  the Denmark 100% Autocheck is but now in the UK generally  "approved" and 180/ 200/300/wotever-point are not very good and can mean very little (even if they are actually done) only a full inspection check by something like The AA has any real reassurance (as much as it does, and can, give).  This should cover the car's condition.  A scruffy car can be in very good or excellent running condition and a very clean and shiny car can be in poor running condition, cosmetic appearance is often only skin deep.

 

If there is any paperwork for the car including servicing, maintenance and repairs put it in reverse chronological order and look for what recent work should have been done and has been done and work required at the various mileage and age points.  Often you find servicing and maintenance and repairs get less priority as the car ages when it is still required and often more required.  Cross reference any information with any other collaborating paperwork.  Some of this "paperwork" may be in virtual(?) digital form.

 

Use your senses (eyes, ears, nose, touch) and brain common-sense when looking at and test driving a car and dealing with those selling the car and a digital camera is good to inspect things close up by zooming in, even on a so-called "smart" phone but looking on a larger monitor/TV screen later when you are not under sales pressure you can sometimes see more.

 

@nta16 cheers for the continuous engagement! The 100% autocheck has got a fair share of requirements, checks and tests done before said car is going on sale. This, at least on paper, gives a better feel of safety when buying a 10+ y/o car, the 100% autocheck is owned by; Autobranchen Denmark. It, besides this comes with 12-24months of guarantee - so there is that. 

As you mentioned, understanding the manual prior to buying the car is important, so that I got a clue when looking at the paperwork. This will be done this week. I've found another Skoda that seems to be fairly decent, with 197.000km/122.000miles, crossing fingers that it checks out when I visit the shop. 

I like your part about cosmetics and not getting fooled by either a dirty or shiny car. 

 

Cheers for the help, Nigel. 

@nta16 yeah the paperwork can be digital too. I agree on the cross reference!

It's the same principle as a house. You can buy a tired-looking 1930s build that will still be standing long after Venice is underwater, compared to a shiny new build that will be flat before the next century. 

 

Ultimately, any car is a money pit, one way or another!

 

The Autocheck thing sounds interesting - will they do private sales too?

 

Regular servicing is important for any cars. With the VAG belt engines, getting the belt done timely is one of the more important things to do, but they require no more servicing than any other car. 

 

I will say though, that for £7500 equivalent, you can get a lot lower than 120k miles. Most of what I'm seeing on sites for that money is 2014-2016 with 65-80k on it.

@Occy245 I cannot find much under 120.000miles, the ones that are under jump up to around 10000BP.

@Occy245 just found a 2017 1.0 TSI 115 with 216.000km (134.000 miles) for 90.000Dkr - that's 10.000BP. 

15 hours ago, Occy245 said:

but they require no more servicing than any other car. 

Probably not but in my experience they require more frequent parts replacements and repairs than say Toyota and Honda so that adds to running costs and hassle of ownership  I do not know if this is the same for the farther brand VW products of VW and Audi but I would also be very careful about a BMW and Mercedes from 2012-15 on given the experience of others I know.

 

Obviously you and others may have different experiences and opinion of these marques, all adds to the overall for anyone to check, follow up or decide about.

 

I have no idea how things are in Demark but personally I would look for and consider older cars than 2012 (less on them to play up and go wrong, though the German marques have always liked to complicate things).  Particular from previous older and elderly owners there are older low or very low mileage cars that have been well looked after or pampered with good or very good service histories and often very good cosmetic condition particularly if kept out of the sun.  Personally I would not worry about minor cosmetics flaws.

 

On 09/12/2024 at 21:54, maxroal said:

@Occy245 just found a 2017 1.0 TSI 115 with 216.000km (134.000 miles) for 90.000Dkr - that's 10.000BP. 

 

I would agree with @nta16 and expand your net a bit.

 

A 2017 with 134,000 miles on it for £10,000 is (in my opinion) insane - at least by our market standards. Here and here are two cars, a year younger, for similar money with 1/3 of the miles - from a main dealer with Skoda warranty too.

 

That being said, I've just had a look at Skoda Denmark and tax rates - holy shi* cars are expensive over by you!!! I even looked at buying outside of the country, but the tax, VAT and registration tax are immense.

 

I've also just looked at new prices and seen the price for a 2024 Octavia with about 5k miles on it - 439,000Dkr/£52,000?! That's what we pay here for a 2023 RS4 or a brand new meaty engined A6.

 

With that in mind, perhaps we should alter our advice slightly. I for one knew cars weren't cheap with you, but not that expensive.

@Occy245 Denmark is known for having very expensive cars due to tax. The so called "register tax" is between 25-150% and needs to be paid with, but not limited to, the cars first registration. Cars like a Skoda, which i'd see as more of a average car brand than an expensive one, is really tough to get. This specific tax has been up to debate many times, partly because people would like to be able to drive newer cars, rather than having to buy old cars with say less safety equipment. You'll see a fair amount of old cars being used, which doesn't equal bad/worse, but it's food for thought. 

 

However, in recent years EVs are way more common especially in and around cities. Diesels are, unless you got very new ones, not allowed in major parts of for example the city Aarhus. It's becoming increasingly more difficult for "regular" cars. 

There is a thought that instead of all the safety equipment there were spikes sticking out from the centre of the steering wheel then drivers would drive more safely.  For many years now modern drivers might be too cocooned in their modern cars with all the driver "aids" and "assists" making them too remote from the driving and feel of the vehicle plus the added distractions of the infotainment.  Having functions and driver's jobs at the push of a button also removes the association and contact with various driving elements like the weather and its effects on the car and driving.

 

The cost of the vehicle is about the market it is in, Americans would find  UK prices to be high so it is relative but the principles of purchasing remain the same so I think all advice given remains relevant, I ignored the prices as I have little idea of UK pricing let alone in Demark (which I too expected to be higher but not that high).

 

The newer cars will be fine whilst they are under warranty but I am sure not have the longevity of older models, buying these cars when they are older I think will be the issue many cars do not have the best computer systems  (I would include VW in this) and cars now are more computers on four wheels than ever before, the expense of keeping these systems going will I think increase car running costs for all of us even if we don't have them.

 

@nta16 i agree with way too much infotainment in cars nowadays, including the new(er) additions to safety removing focus from the drivers job. Maybe my view on this will change with time, but it hasn't trough all the years of me driving - i want to drive and not be AFK while driving. I enjoy it! I do, especially when driving in or around the city, notice tons of people being glued to their phones instead of check the roads. This is not fixed by safety features per se, but even less so with the older cars that are being driven here in Denmark. I don't understand the rational behind their choices. 

 

 

@nta16 can you redirect me to a post in this forum or a direct link to the owners manual that does show when maintenance/services need to be done? 
I cannot find a manual that incl. info about when (after x-km OR years) to do say oil changes etc. 

 

 

@nta16 i've found it