Hi

first post for me, so i would like to say a big hi to everyone,

after your opinions really as i haven't drove one yet. maybe tomorrow

i am debating on buying an Octavia VRS estate, its a 2003 model with 120k on it( is this high for one of these ?) , but the price is good,

are these generally a good engine, i dont want to be buying into something that has a short engine life say,,

especially compared to my other choice which is Volvo V70 T5, or even the R if i can find one at the right price

looks wise, i like them both, and i know the volvo engine is a strong one, i will be going looking at my 1st VRS tomorrow,

is there anything in particular i should be looking for on the octavia ?

many thanks for any advice, comparisons, opinions

cheers

Hi and welcome

Worth posting this question in the octy section coz the first time visitors isnt always as well read. Should be decent enough if the price is right, but some owners of that model will be able to give you better feedback then me

You should check out the obvious sort of things for a 120k motor. Suspension is likely to be well worn, front anti roll bar bushes.

Hope for a good service history.

120k miles should be ok engine wise. They do suffer with split hoses which cause boost or vacuum leaks.

Sadly a fact of life when you buy a highish miles car you will have to spend money.

Are any of the cars you are looking at (both Skoda and Volvo) ex police cars?

Varying opinions on these - worth doing a search on here if this is the case.

the skoda i have in mind is ex police,

i understand the fors and againsts etc, yes they can be driven hard at times, ( this is what they where designed to do after all )

but generally are serviced above and beyond what is required, so apart from suspension/discs being tired, if they haven't already been replaced, i wasn't sure what else dould be a potential problem

as for volvo haven't really seen one thats right yet, and most ex police are obviously white

and i dont fancy a white one:thumbdwn:

i think if i do get the volvo i would probably be getting the pre 2000 ( classic shape)

V70 AWD R, rather than the T5

cheers for the welcome guys,,

i will see if i get any more info here, if not will post in the Octavia bit...

But it was meant to be more of a hello thread,,,but i get carried away:rolleyes:

the skoda i have in mind is ex police,

i understand the fors and againsts etc, yes they can be driven hard at times, ( this is what they where designed to do after all )

but generally are serviced above and beyond what is required, so apart from suspension/discs being tired, if they haven't already been replaced, i wasn't sure what else dould be a potential problem

There is a recent thread about an ex-plod Octy vRS hatch - http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/ex-police-octy-ebay/87880/

Other issues discussed include the fact the car may have been driven hard from cold, holes in dash and other places, and possibly repaired/replaced body panels.

All of which may not be too big a problem if the price is right.

Cheers Andy

i am going to have a good read now,

but from what i have seen so far, it looks like the marmite situation

It's often a case of you get what you pay for with the ex Police cars. A newer car than you might normally be able to stretch to but with higher than average miles.

It'll for sure have a service history and been spared no expense, it will however more than likely had a hard life. Then again many privately owned cars have a hard life too.

If it's the right motor for you then buy it, if not wait for the next to come along.

cheers Stu

i wouldn't mind going for a slightly older one, but i dont think they made the estate before that ( could be wrong usually am..lol)

and i have a budget of prob max 5k, that i am willing to spend on a car

and from what i have seen average price for same model, either from dealership, or private, has been around 7k..maybe more from dealers,

obviously with much less mileage

not sure that a car being drove hard all the time is necesserily bad for it

I have been a biker pretty much all my life, and all my best bikes have been the ones that have been leathered straight out of the showroom,,none of this breaking them in gently anymore with modern engines...

but have to agree suspension and brakes will have had a pounding,,but then again if i'm saving a couple of grand on retail,

I agree that nannying a car from new does it no favours at all.

When I meant hard life I was more referring to interior and bodywork.

i haven't seen it yet, but hoping that it may have been unmarked car,,so no holes in roof

hopefully then maybe a couple of small holes near h/brake lever, and maybe a couple in passenger well,

i know its a lot of hoping...but i'll soon find out

welcome

I am now on my second vRS combi, so I must like them

Welcome to Briskoda