First Car. Skoda Octavia vs others

hefferboi

Well.

I want to get my first car this week but don't know what to get. I'm 20 and male. I was insured in my fathers 2003 opel frontera. I think it was a 2 litre engine but not too sure. Didn't think much of it but was happy to be insured in something.

Now I want my own. I was looking at polo's and 206's and other small cars. But we have a 2002 skoda octavia out the back with a new engine and 1.2 litre so its ideal. But he said he put 1500 into it in the last year and its still f*cked. He said he'll give it to me for nothing if I can fix it.

I don't know much about cars so just wondering should I buy something or try fix the Skoda? All I know thats wrong with it is the timing belt is gone? What do ye reckon?

n1ck

Would an Octavia body not be quite heavy with only a 1.2 engine?

If you could get someone who knows what theyre doing to give a estimation of how much it might cost to fix then it might be but with only a 1.2 engine in a heavy body i'm not sure it'd be worth it.

hefferboi

hefferboi wrote: »

............. But we have a 2002 skoda octavia out the back with a new engine and 1.2 litre so its ideal. ............. All I know thats wrong with it is the timing belt is gone? What do ye reckon?

I reckon it's a 1.4 anyway.

Weird how it's a new engine and the belt is gone, better off buying a car that works really.

Francie Barrett

I really hope that they haven't put a 1.2 engine from the likes of a Fabia into that car.

Jimbob 83

My 1st car was a 1.4 Skoda Octavia, it's abit big around the backside but over time it will make you a better driver anyway, not the most powerful yoke but it's a nice place to be for cruising along.

Best of luck with it

EDIT: Watch out for potholes on the Octavia though as it's heavy enough and has fairly cheapo suspension whish will give abit of trouble if treated roughly, also electric windows will eventually break

It BeeMee

hefferboi wrote: »

Well.

I want to get my first car this week but don't know what to get. I'm 20 and male. I was insured in my fathers 2003 opel frontera. I think it was a 2 litre engine but not too sure. Didn't think much of it but was happy to be insured in something.

Now I want my own. I was looking at polo's and 206's and other small cars. But we have a 2002 skoda octavia out the back with a new engine and 1.2 litre so its ideal. But he said he put 1500 into it in the last year and its still f*cked. He said he'll give it to me for nothing if I can fix it.

I don't know much about cars so just wondering should I buy something or try fix the Skoda? All I know thats wrong with it is the timing belt is gone? What do ye reckon?

Why don't you do both?
Buy yourself a little runaround, and in the meantime take on the octavia as a project. If it works, you'll have the choice of 2 cars.
If it doesn't, at least it'll be a learning experience.

Please Kill Me

As already posted, I doubt it's a 1.2 unless the engine was donated from a Fabia. I had the 1.4 2002 model and it was a heavy car to be pulling around with a small engine. It had a fine big boot but that was the only thing I liked about it. TBH, I think it's physically a bit big for a learner driver and I don't mean that with any disrespect.

I think you'd be better off using your money to buy something that's running.

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

EDIT: Watch out for potholes on the Octavia though as it's heavy enough and has fairly cheapo suspension whish will give abit of trouble if treated roughly, also electric windows will eventually break

....and the coils, and the central locking, and the electric mirrors.... It's why I got rid of mine, too may things going wrong in a short period of time.

hefferboi

Sorry lads its a 1.4. All I want it for is driving to work and just driving around for the craic. Don't really mind how powerful it is. Would be more worried about cost of running it and insurance.

If the timing belt is gone there'll be bent valves, could be looking at €800+ to sort that. Still, if the car is free otherwise and there's nothing else wrong it mightn't be a bad idea. Shop around for insurance, here isn't the place to get ballpark figures for it.

hefferboi

RoverJames wrote: »

If the timing belt is gone there'll be bent valves, could be looking at €800+ to sort that. Still, if the car is free otherwise and there's nothing else wrong it mightn't be a bad idea. Shop around for insurance, here isn't the place to get ballpark figures for it.

Well if I was looking at that sort of price to get it done I'd rather buy one myself. I'm getting it checked out tomorrow hopefully so I'll see where I am then.