Skoda Octavia 1.4

PukkaStukka · 13-03-2015 1:54pm #1

Am thinking of buying an Octavia 1.4 petrol from around 2006 onwards. Anything to watch out for and what is the fuel consumption like? I'm not expecting it to be fast and I don't do really big mileage at all (8k miles a year max).

Comments please?

MuppetCheck · 13-03-2015 2:37pm

They are underpowered - that doesn't bother you but they can be harder on fuel as a result which is something to be aware of. The engine can have issues with age too and the gearboxes are weak.

Loads of room in the boot but the rear seats can be tight enough.

The 1.4s for the most part didn't have much in the way of spec - no air con or multi-function wheel. There was an option pack with alloys and climate control from 07 on. The air con compressor gives trouble though, particularly when people switch it off to save a few cents on a fuel refill.

If you want trouble free, reliable family motoring I'd rather spend 8k on a civic. Superior car in just about every regard.

PukkaStukka · 13-03-2015 3:17pm

MuppetCheck wrote: »

They are underpowered - that doesn't bother you but they can be harder on fuel as a result which is something to be aware of. The engine can have issues with age too and the gearboxes are weak.

What issues do the engines and boxes succumb to, and from what age / mileage? Are you talking from an informed position (i.e. work with or own one) or just what you've heard by the way?

MuppetCheck wrote: »

The 1.4s for the most part didn't have much in the way of spec - no air con or multi-function wheel. There was an option pack with alloys and climate control from 07 on. The air con compressor gives trouble though, particularly when people switch it off to save a few cents on a fuel refill.

If you want trouble free, reliable family motoring I'd rather spend 8k on a civic. Superior car in just about every regard.

I'm not into bling and gadgets, just comfort for a sore back and room to carry my stuff around in, and like everyone else, I'm on a budget. On paper, this car ticks most of the boxes.

A Honda Civic would be nice yes, but its too small and overpriced for my needs.

MuppetCheck · 13-03-2015 3:30pm

I owned a car with that engine, and two with that gearbox. I also owned that model Octavia VRS. Those are common faults on all the VAG cars built on that platform.

8k will get you an 08 or 09 civic 1.8 which is more reliable, a lot lighter on juice and the hatches boot is deceptively spacious relative to other cars in that class. Also has more space in the front of the cabin too.

PukkaStukka · 13-03-2015 3:50pm

MuppetCheck wrote: »

I owned a car with that engine, and two with that gearbox. I also owned that model Octavia VRS. Those are common faults on all the VAG cars built on that platform.

8k will get you an 08 or 09 civic 1.8 which is more reliable, a lot lighter on juice and the hatches boot is deceptively spacious relative to other cars in that class. Also has more space in the front of the cabin too.

It's still over my budget and if I was spending that kind of money I'd be looking at something else instead! But I'm more interested with the faults and what happens with the engines and gearboxes in the Skoda?

MuppetCheck · 13-03-2015 4:42pm

Apologies, I put 8k in my head as opposed to mileage. The bearings go in the gearboxes, the bones of a grand to rebuild. Engines start to burn oil, but not all.

Msrob · 14-03-2015 7:32pm

Have this 2002 heavy on petrol, needs new battery starting to use oil other than that been very reliable only do bout 10k per year have had it 4yrs

Mac Taylor · 14-03-2015 10:05pm

Have a 05 1.4 for almost 2 years. Not the fastest or easy on petrol, like others have said very little gear in it. apart from a set of tyres and regular service nothing else spent on it. If it's boring predictable driving you want, it will do the job fine.

PukkaStukka · 15-03-2015 11:32pm

Comments about the fuel consumption are interesting. I was led to believe these weren't too bad, but obviously you know otherwise. Thanks for the heads-up!

MuppetCheck · 16-03-2015 8:12am

What's your budget?

gooner99 · 16-03-2015 9:01pm

Have this 1.4 75hp engine in a mk5 04 golf.gearbox,clutch and fuel pump went in the last 6 months, but it does have 160k Miles on it.have it from new.no engine problems so far.but I did service it every 10k miles and used castrol edge.drinks a wee bit of oil, but thats no bother once u keep an eye on the levels.not the fastest, but does the job. the civic 1.8 does sound good.

PukkaStukka · 16-03-2015 10:28pm

MuppetCheck wrote: »

What's your budget?

Around €3500.

PukkaStukka · 16-03-2015 10:29pm

As an aside to my OP, do the 1.9 TDI's in the newer shape have the fragile BXE engine?

MuppetCheck · 17-03-2015 7:13am

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Around €3500.

Mazda 3 maybe?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8882167

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8918100

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8860465

PukkaStukka · 18-03-2015 4:49pm

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Mazda 3 maybe?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8882167

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8918100

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/8860465

Wouldn't be a fan of Mazda's. Previous one's I've owned were generally reliable but thirsty, and what bits I did need were expensive.

I've a Fiat Stilo at the mo which has been very reliable and cheap to run, and I'm thinking now of sticking with Fiat and getting a Bravo (1.4 Petrol). A diesel one I drove some time ago was very good indeed.