Hi, I'm just wondering before recomending an Octavia as a second hand purchase, as to how bad they rust?

I've seen a bit of rust on a 3yr old estate, but I think that was an exception.

What has been your experiences?

Exceptional, usually due to scratches / damages not repaired properly. An immaculate history should mean the car shouldn't be rusty at all after 3 years.

Exceptional, usually due to scratches / damages not repaired properly. An immaculate history should mean the car shouldn't be rusty at all after 3 years.

Afraid it was, 60000 miles and being parked meters away from the North-Sea hadn't helped it at all.

It was on the rear tailgate...it started in the lip where the glass met the metal and had progressed to a size of about 50mm*50mm.

They have a 10 year corrosion warranty IIRC and the shell is galvanised.

iirc the corrision warranty only covers rust that is not caused by damage to the paintwork (or something similar)

The corrosion warranty applies to rusting from the inside out. The terms are here:

Paint and Body Warranty

All new vehicles supplied by

Yep, thats true.

I was just trying to get across the fact they are pretty rust resistant if the paint is kept in good order.

the estates are notorious for rusting around the rear window and the number plate light surround as water sits there but that is the only place that i know of.

My 1999 hatch has no rust at all (visible that is) and is left outside all the time. At 77k, apart from tyres and front brake pads, its still on original everything - even exhaust.

Andy

I've never seen a rusty one, not even a 1998 car that was being taxied.

There was a "chip" just under the tailgate glass on mine where the paint had "bubbled" loose. It took a while (I suspect about 3 months) for me to notice it, and it wasn't rusting in that time, so I would steer well clear of any that have visible rust on them, since they've clearly been neglected, but they seem to be the exception anyway.

Yeah, I mean, the rust that I mentioned is the only rust I've ever seen on an Octavia. I'd of thought by now that you'd be seeing rust around the rear arches, but you just don't seem to.

My ones five years old - with lots of stone chips, and sits in a great deal of salt laden air and the only rust has been on the brake disks.

Really amazing when I think about it

Mine rusted where there was a scratch to the metal on the boot. Sadly I didn't touch it up quickly, but it took several months before any rust appeared, which suprised me - is this because it's galvanized?

Hi 4 year old estate with 80,000 miles, rust on the tailgate next to the window was repaired by the dealer before i got the car, apart from that the rest is ok

My slx tdi estate was first registered Jan99(8yr old) and has 106500m. Has had a hard life with me for the last 60000 and has stone chips but no rust. Things are starting to get worn though I expect to have to fit new shocks before the next MOT. It is still the original exhaust though which is surprising.

I travel on a lot of dirty rural farm roads and were not that far from the sea.

Mine rusted where there was a scratch to the metal on the boot. Sadly I didn't touch it up quickly, but it took several months before any rust appeared, which suprised me - is this because it's galvanized?

Long ago, some undesirable keyed the side of mine down to the metal, it was a number of months before I eventually had this sorted - no rusting whatsoever in the intervening time, as you say, so long as the galvanised layer is not broken, there shouldn't be a problem.