Excuse me if this question has been asked a million times but im new to the forum and looking for a bit of buying advice.

i desperatly want a mk1 Octavia Vrs and although every review ive read on the internet has nothing but praise for the car, i have just beeen informed by a friend that hes heard that the 2001 model had quite a few problems engine wise. :confused:

Can anybody clarify this? my budget doesnt allow me to get a newer version of the car and pricewise im looking at the 2001 and 2002 models possibly.

Are there any things in particular i should look for in the mk1 octavia? having never owned a skoda of any kind im really uncertain on what things to keep an eye out for.

im guessing service history is a must. Were there any recalls with the mk1?

Any tips, problems,issues to keep an eye out for would be invaluable.

Your help in this matter would be very much appreciated.

cheers, Andrew.

As a fairly new vRS owner i can raelly praise this car. I love it to bits, puts a smile on my face every day.

Did the same, read loads of reviews, found out the comment faults.

Little pointer, im sure if im wrong ill get corrected.

Cambelt 60K or evey 4 Years

2 types of servicing available, Fixed or Variable, can be switched.

Early ones have 16" not 17" alloys

Problems ive had with mine.

Radiator bracket broke, replaced under warranty. Give the radiator a wobble, it shouldnt rattle.

Centre Exhaust mount weld broke, sorted at quick fit £15. Rattle heard whilst pulling off.

Maybe your 'friend' can be more specific? My previous Octavia vRS was a 2001 model and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. In the past there have been lots of coilpack failures, but these should have been replaced pretty much by now.

The only thing I can recommend is to check the service schedule for the cambelt change. These are required every 4 years/70K miles (in contrast to what the owners manual says).

Good Choice of car! I have had my 53 reg vRS since September 2006 and cannot praise it enough. The engine makes some unusual noises that are perfectly normal, check out the section about engine noises on one of the Octavia pages. Other than what has already been mentioned, I don't think thereare many other issues with the 2001 car. Find a good one and enjoy it.

ok. cheers

should i be worried if mileage is high? im guessing quite a few of them will have been "ragged" by now??

would i get sumthing decent for £7k??

I am also pondering about a VRS, but possibly also a diesel Octy.

I can't comment from experience on the cars themselves, but the engines, gearboxes and clutches are renowned for being absolutely bombproof and understressed. I happen to have one in my Elise for that very reason. As others have said, make sure that the cam belt has been changed at the right time.

Coil packs are a known issue on 1.8t VAG engines to the extent that I know people who carry around 2 spare coil packs in their boots (you should replace them in pairs) as if they fail, it will leave you stranded.

Jez

Mines a 2001/Y with 70k now on it and not had any engine issues with it at all.

7k should get you a very good 2003 one. My 2001 with 43k on cost me £5400 3 months ago. Had a coilpack go, in the end got all 4 replaced for £30 a pop + fitting.

Don't ever pay for a dealer to replace coil packs. It's a piece of cake if you have a socket set & I'm no mechanic!

I paid

Don't ever pay for a dealer to replace coil packs. It's a piece of cake if you have a socket set & I'm no mechanic!

Hindsight and the fact I had no tools. :thumbdwn:

Only paid £7600 for mine 6 months ago (2004, 53 Plate), Im sure you could pick up a 2003 or 2004 for £7000

Thanks for all your input everyone. i certainly feel a lot more positive about a mk1 now after listening to your comments. havent started shopping around much yet so i didnt think £7k would get me sumthing as new as a 2003/2004 plate. saw a lovely black one in a skoda garage just outside pontypridd for £10k and that was on a 54 plate so i was guessing when i thought i could only afford a much older model for £7k!! now i feel so much better! The racing blue colour is a brand new model i take it? coz i havent seena mk1 in that colour??? i love the colour! and thats the one i want.........but i guess im gonna have to wait a few years to afford one of them!

You save a hell of alot of money going for a private sale.

Thanks for all your input everyone. i certainly feel a lot more positive about a mk1 now after listening to your comments. havent started shopping around much yet so i didnt think

yeah maybe i will just wait a while and get the racing blue colour.....

saying that.........im not too sure i can wait that long. they still look great in silver or black!

My old vrs is up for sale at a Honda garage it

on a test drive listen out fo sqeeking suspension from the front of car,and also when braking in reverse listen out for the dreaded mooing brake noise ,other from that the car is superb Ive had mine for 3 years now and it still brings a smile to my face .I prefer the look of the old mk1 it looks agressive than the mk2,mine still gets looks to this day as I live in london and they seem to be very rare here.I think its the best value money can by in terms of preformance ,comfort and styling.I had a civic type r for a year and every time I got out and in the into the vrs ,it actually felt that the vrs was the better car.

The only issue i have with my 51 plate is that I needed a set of seat covers for the seats to protect the cream farbic that the centre of the seats is made form.

AFAIK there was a coil pack issue, it is possible to check if this is someting to worry about by looking at the part number that is on them, this involves using a screwdriver, or mayby a penny would do, to remove the plastic engine cover, then if you remove the coil pack, and unplug it you shoud see a part number stamped on it.

If it is a J number then these are the ones that had the fault, If it is an L number then it should be the VAG replacement part, and therefore pretty much ok.

The only Vrs octavias that came with 16" wheels on was the estate, the Hatch came with the 17".

Don