Hallo

I'm new to this forum and although I intend to work my way through all the threads on here I need some urgent buying advice as I suddenly need to replace my old Audi Tdi that bit the dust in a car/dog interface situation last week.

Am already a Skoda owner running a 04 vRS Fabia which Mrs drives daily, but have been presented with what appears like a no brainer in the shape of a mid 40k miles Octavia 110TDI Elegance on an 02 at

Someone will be along soon to point you in the right direction. Im running a Octy vRS so im not sure about the TDI range.

Welcome to Briskoda by the way.

Cheers, wish I'd discovered this forum sooner!

I think the cam belt should have been done at 4 years or 60k.

Parkers price for this car is:

Skoda Octavia Hatchback (98-04)

1.9 TDi Elegance 5d 2002/02

Average mileage 40,000 miles

Original Price =£14,155

Franchised Dealer = £5,790

Independent Dealer = £5,550

Private Good = £5,160

Private Poor = £4,150

Part Exchange = £4,730

Not sure if this will help

Many thanks for those tips, looks like they are not doing me any particular favours on price and will check the cam belt history. Aalso going to ask them to check the ecu as have now read on Honest John that all BM part number ecus will fail!

That isn't a bad price, but you need to watch out for the turbo sticking too and the air conditioning compressor clutch just dropping off due to a bolt coming undone.

Thanks for the further tips.The garage are going to sevice and MOT it if I go ahead. So will twist their arm to do a drive belt change and check the turbo and aircon as suggested cheers!

The 110 Cambelt change is £350 at a decent indy garage using genuine parts.

The belt, tensioners and water pump should all be done at the same time.

I used to have a TDI 110 and I would check the following:

- Boot it really hard once it has warmed up if the thing doesn't give you a turbo kick or you get a warning light walk away as you may have a turbo problem.

- If it doesn't feel very quick it might be a MAF problem but get the garage to swap it for a new MAF then test drive again.

- Check the cambelt is done or get about £350 off it or a good price on a belt change.

- Check the wiper operation and that the linkage isn't rusted badly.

- Check the rear wash/wipe works (if this has it)

- Check the CD changer works and the boot floor is dry.

- Run the aircon on "lo" to make sure the air is icy cold, if not walk away as the thing could have an a/c leak or the compressor clutch could have dropped off.

- Run the aircon on "hi" and make sure it blows hot air, if not could be a flap issue (obviously let the engine get hot first).

- The car shouldn't smoke much, with the exception of when giving it a good boot, and even then not too much.

- If you get a coolant light and the level looks fine you probably need a new coolant tank (IIRC not too expensive)

- Check the dials in the dash pod are all good

- Check the seats don't creak from the base, if they do that mean a new seat base.

- Check the mirrors both adjust and the heater in them works

- Check for pink crusty bits on the RHS of the engine as you look at it from the front.

- If it creaks over bumps you need new ARB buses or links or an arb or a combination of the above.

- It is quite a soft ride, but check the shocks for leaks.

Additionally if you do purchase it change the air filter every 10k miles as the 40k interval is a complete joke. (I pulled mine out after 37k when the MPG fell through the floor, and sure enough the think was caked in soot and other solids)

Consider the golf MK IV Aero wiper arms and blades upgrade as this makes the wipers much better IMHO.

Fit 50% brighter H4 lamps if you don't have xenon lights as these are cheap and the lights are pretty poor otherwise.

HTH

Thanks thats a pretty comprehensive list! Looks like I need to make another visit to the outlet concerned....

No problem, there are I am sure things I have missed, but they are the ones I have experience of

Many thanks for the tips guys we are now a two Skoda family! All the potential problem areas seemed fine and the warranty I've been given covers all the major likely parts to fail like the turbo,ecu's and air con. They wouldnt budge on the cam belt but have found a specialist who will do all the work for £200. Although wisebuyers.co.uk say I've paid £700 too much it still was about a grand cheaper than the next nearest car I could find in Nth Yorkshire. I'll now get reading all the threads about how to keep it running properly!

Wisebuyers prices are overly optimistic and IMHO you won't find them at that price.

Make sure the water pump, and Tensioners and Belt are done, and if i were you i would use a genuine tensioner and belt kit as it contains everything that needs to be changed.

I took a Warranty Direct Gold cover out on my car as at £250 for 13 months it was a lot cheaper than paying for ARB or turbo etc myself.