So I’m currently in the market for a new car and really keen on a Skoda, need something with space, and the Octavia crops up loads as a recommendation in my budget of around £3k,

 

I live in deepest darkest mid wales and as you can imagine there’s not much choice,

that is until now, spotted This Mk2 1.8tsi 4x4

 

I have two concerns, 

the work done on a notoriously (is that bad of an issue?) problematic engine,

clearly spent the money to make good a wrong, 

move messaged the guy asking for more details on the what’s and whys.

 

my other concern is the potentially low MPG, 

 

I was hoping to get above a 50mpg average of a week that comprises of mostly short school runs of 10 miles round trip and work which can vary from 10-40 miles, 

 

this car on paper ticks many of my boxes bar the low mpg but in reality is the previous work a huge red flag or actually a green flag, are the original engine problems likely to reoccur?

 

would you consider it or not?

 

the way I see it is a car at this budget is almost certainly going to have problems along the way…

 

talk to me you beautiful Skoda lickers 👅 

It checks out clean apart from an anomaly on the MOT mileage which is clearly an error by the MOT tester, no accidents recorded but it has had 9 owners, for such a low mileage that is a large amount!

Not sure how far are you from Mold but this one ticks the boxes, bulletproof PD engine https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501298543708?sort=relevance&searchId=101e58b9-cc5f-4be1-b6ed-b931305dfd8d&advertising-location=at_cars&make=SKODA&postcode=SY232LR&price-from=500&radius=70&fromsra

Depends who did the cylinder head etc. If it was done by a decent engine specialist with a waranty then reckon it would be ok. If it was done by his mate??? I have a 1.9tdi pd which has given me no trouble apart from stuck turbo and a few other age related things. Its done 138k and only reason its off the road is corosion. I used to get 50-60mpg. Now have a 1.6tdi which I struggle to get 50mpg. No problems at all so far. Both had a very good service history. I noticed from a previous post its had 9 owners. For a car with such low mileage I would wonder why its been sold on so many times?  Perhaps quick fix and get rid of. Also he lists it as a 1.8 but also list engine size as 1968? If its got a good service history and the repairs have been done properly with receipts and waranty it may be ok. Price probably isnt too bad considering the price of second hand cars these days but 9 owners would worry me.

I wouldn't touch it unless you got proof of work by a decent garage. 

Is buying off eBay for that price a thing?   Seems very risky.

50mpg jeez my 1.8 Tsi 2 wheel drive does circa 30mpg driven sensibly 90% of the time and never thrashed

11 hours ago, davidbird said:

50mpg jeez my 1.8 Tsi 2 wheel drive does circa 30mpg driven sensibly 90% of the time and never thrashed

Reckon thats the difference with a diesel. Not Ulez compliant but we rarely are in any zones. Best I got with the 1.9tdi was 72mpg on a long careful run. Best I have had with the 1.6tdi is 51mpg although seems to be getting better mpg since I changed oil and filter. No idea why unless it had the wrong oil in it before. Car also running better and warming up faster??

Alasdair