Looking to buy Skoda Octavia

Western Pomise

Am looking to buy a secondhand Skoda Octavia.Am only starting to get an idea of prices by looking on Donedeal and Usedcarsni.com.
Have driven one,2009 1.6 Diesel Ambiente model and seemed comfortable and has good fuel economy and a great sized boot.

Budget between 12k and 13k euros.
Would I get 2010 or 2011 Elegance model for that kind of money from a dealer?
What are the main things to look out for when buying a diesel Skoda?.When mileage wise and how much would it cost to get timing belt etc done?
Hope to buy something with not too high of mileage....less than 60000 genuine miles.
Is there value to be got North of the border currently?
Sorry for all the questions:)....any advice much appreciated.

bazz26

You will be hard pressed finding a 6 year old Octavia diesel with 60,000 genuine miles.

CIP4

My parents have an 11 Reg elegance from new lovely car considering what it cost new. Their one has been very reliable other than servicing and tyres it's got front and rear brake pads and one suspension component rear bushings I think other than that literally nothing which is fair going there is 70k miles on their one it's a Dec Reg one though so almost a 12 you will struggle to get a 09-10 Reg with 60k genuine miles on it I recon.

The egr can give trouble on the 1.6tdi but overall they are a great car id have no hesitation in buying one.

jca

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-1-6-tdi-elegance-full-service/12072376

Top end of your budget but it looks nice and clean, brings you up to 2012.

Western Pomise

jca wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-1-6-tdi-elegance-full-service/12072376

Top end of your budget but it looks nice and clean, brings you up to 2012.

Thanks....saw that ad but was a bit put off by the fact it had tow bar...or is that being overly picky?....would be afraid that it might have some heavy towing done.Will ring about it tomorrow to see what's story with it.

Western Pomise

Sorry for the loads of questions but I am not a car person.When looking at prospective Skodas as mentioned what would I want to look out for/ask about them?

When would timing belt need doing?miles wise.Seems to be the 2011 ones on that have the radio controls etc on Steering wheel...is that right?
Quick look would seem to indicate that similar cars in North are up to a thousand cheaper even allowing for the VRT?....is that an accurate appraisal of the current situation?
Finally dealers in North seem to offer only a three month warranty whereas in fairness in South it's at least 6 months and up to two years.Has that always being way up North?

bazz26

Unless you are living in a neighbouring county south of the border where it's a short distance to pop back to a dealer there every time you need warranty work done, then saving 1k can be a small saving given the extra inconvenience involved getting the car back to them imo.

Regarding warranty, a warranty costs the dealer money as well especially when he has to honour it which is added to his asking price on the car. Just like down here you will get different levels of warranty, the most comprehensive tend to be given by main dealers but that is reflected in the selling price of their cars.

Western Pomise

If looking to check out whether a car seems genuine or not what are names of best sites to use to check veracity of mileage etc on car?

Western Pomise

Western Pomise wrote: »

If looking to check out whether a car seems genuine or not what are names of best sites to use to check veracity of mileage etc on car?

Bump on this question and also at what mileage should a diesel Octavia need timing belt done and what does it cost roughly speaking....thanks.

colm_mcm

Far as I can see its every 4 years/130kkm, an independent specialist garage like Daltons in Laois do them for around €450 far as I know, but am open to correction on that.

With that engine you would be wise to budget for a replacement EGR valve too, which is more expensive than a timing belt replacement. Think this comes in a little over €700 from an independent garage or around a grand from VW.

dev100

kerryjack wrote:

Kerry cow you must have some set up with all that staff , agree with some poster's your people management skills must be poor and not property be able to motivate your staff to do a days work as someone that worked on large scale dairy units I have seen them all good and bad. A few simple tips don't get too friendly with them, take 15 minutes in morning with a cup of coffee explaining what you would like to see done and expect to be done and pick the right man for the job ,don't tolerate any lick arsing or bitching any problems staff have give them a time to discuss the issue a time that will suit you, happy employees make good employees.

colm_mcm wrote:

Far as I can see its every 4 years/130kkm, an independent specialist garage like Daltons in Laois do them for around €450 far as I know, but am open to correction on that.

colm_mcm wrote:

With that engine you would be wise to budget for a replacement EGR valve too, which is more expensive than a timing belt replacement. Think this comes in a little over €700 from an independent garage or around a grand from VW.

Are egr valves that dear ?

bazz26

VW charge about €700-800 so I'd imagine Skoda wouldn't be too far off. Indy garage would be cheaper again.

jca

I think the egr on the 1.6 CR engine is part of the manifold which makes it expensive. The 2.0 CR engine has a separate more conventional type egr.

Western Pomise

Thanks...had heard timing belt had to be done after around 70k miles but only off a friend(not mechanic).What does the EGR valve do?....and what are best sites to check mileage from?....thanks .

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

VW charge about €700-800 so I'd imagine Skoda wouldn't be too far off. Indy garage would be cheaper again.

That's for the part alone AFAIK.

Western Pomise

Western Pomise wrote: »

Thanks...had heard timing belt had to be done after around 70k miles but only off a friend(not mechanic).What does the EGR valve do?....and what are best sites to check mileage from?....thanks .

Just bumping question re EGR valve and what' are best sites to check mileage from?

Thanks.

denismc

A thing to check for in the Octavia is signs of water in the boot. This can come from a leaky washer hose which was also common in the Mk4 Golf. It may also be from a bad boot seal.
Signs of rust on the spare wheel may indicate water leaking in.

colm_mcm

Western Pomise wrote: »

Just bumping question re EGR valve and what' are best sites to check mileage from?

Thanks.

It's an exhaust Gas recirculation valve, they get clogged up with shoite from the exhaust gases, apparently it's a bad design and replacement is the only option if they go wrong (which they most likely will)

Re the mileage, you can use the likes of Cartell or Motorcheck, but there's nothing better than a verified service history, ie a stamped service book with contact details of the garage that did the work. A load of invoices inside the glovebox is even better, but rare on Irish stuff. You call the garage and verify that the service actually happened on that date and at that mileage.
Low mileage is lovely, but if the car hasn't been serviced properly you're only kidding yourself that you've bought something better than all the cars you overlooked based purely on the mileage.

selectamatic

A left of field choice would be to get yourself a 2008 or 2009 late reg gen1 octavia. They aren't exactly pretty and resale value is pretty poor but the savings in the initial purchase are massive so if your plan is to purchase and keep for quite a while they make great sense.
They have the old school 1.9 100bhp pd tdi which is generally very reliable and yet they still qualify for cheap tax of I think 390 a year. Parts are plentiful and cheap as many are shared with the mkiv golf/bora/Toledo/Leon. They really are the perfect budget yet reliable post 08 diesel saloon.

bop1977

If you are buying from a Skoda dealer, they are doing finance at a rate of 3.9%.

colm_mcm

Are the old shape Octavia post 08 actually that cheap though, do they use the BXE engine?
I always have the impression that the people that bought them new were pure mean and we're gonna destroy them, a lot of them I see were taxis.

selectamatic

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are the old shape Octavia post 08 actually that cheap though, do they use the BXE engine?
I always have the impression that the people that bought them new were pure mean and we're gonna destroy them, a lot of them I see were taxis.

There's a few dear ones on donedeal alright but cheap ones do crop up and when they do they don't last long. One owner original Irish one sold in Dublin last week for 3k it had low enough milage and was tested for a year and a half and had a good dash of tax too. They have the 100bhp atd/axr engine the bxe is 105bhp and found in the 2nd gen Octavia's.
They're a "mean" aul car alright but as a cheap daily driver they fit the bill perfectly IMO handy enough work on too so a good shout for the DIY mechanic

Western Pomise

denismc wrote: »

A thing to check for in the Octavia is signs of water in the boot. This can come from a leaky washer hose which was also common in the Mk4 Golf. It may also be from a bad boot seal.
Signs of rust on the spare wheel may indicate water leaking in.

Thanks...these are the kind of little things it's helpful to know before looking at one.

jca

Western Pomise wrote: »

Thanks...these are the kind of little things it's helpful to know before looking at one.

Most of the water ingress comes from the grommet around the wiper motor where it passes through the rear glass. Replacement is easy enough but you need a pullers to remove the wiper arm from the splines. There's much more squidge in new grommet I think they've been beefed up along the way.

Western Pomise

jca wrote: »

I think the egr on the 1.6 CR engine is part of the manifold which makes it expensive. The 2.0 CR engine has a separate more conventional type egr.

What year did the 2.0 CR engines start on the Octavia?
I don't do a whole pile of long trips regularly so may try to avoid possible expense of EGR problem.

Want an Octavia from size of boot,good solid car,economical point of view.

jca

Western Pomise wrote: »

What year did the 2.0 CR engines start on the Octavia?
I don't do a whole pile of long trips regularly so may try to avoid possible expense of EGR problem.

Want an Octavia from size of boot,good solid car,economical point of view.

2010/11 a rare enough beast here. All 2 litres with the exception of one car (2012) that I know of are UK imports. The easiest way to tell is that the 2L is 6 speed. A lot more poke too...

colm_mcm

Isn't there someone here selling a VRS TDI?


Edit
Yep!
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057599330

Western Pomise

What are the circa 2008 2009 Skoda Superbs like?...considering treating myself:)...what BHP are the 1.9 TDI ?....do they also escape the possible EGR problems etc like the 2008 2009 1.9l Octavias do compared to the 1.6l Newer Octavias....considering I mainly do short trips would a 2008 well kept Superb be an option?...I see their tax is 390 euro but that's not too bad?

Thanks for any replies.

Western Pomise

Might be looking at a car or two this evening or tomorrow....so would really appreciate any feedback here in next hour or two...pm if you like.

Basically do the Skoda Superbs from 2008/2009 have same engine as Same age Octavias had?...ie a good workhorse engine?....

as I do mainly short trips have got talked out of going for newer 2011 0r 2012 Octavia as it has 1.6 L engine that Egr valve etc gave grief on.

So were Superbs changed as well to a newer smaller engine circa 2011?....sorry for all the questions but I know damn all about cars!

Might go for a 2008 or 09 Superb with a 1.9l TDI engine.If mileage wasn't excessive are they as good as an Octavia engine.Think Superbs 1.9L TDI is 115 BHP PD engine.Is that right?

What BHP is a 2008/09 Octavia engine?...as matter of interest.

As I said I would really appreciate any responses asap before I go looking at cars,

cheers:)

PS- I know Tax is higher on Superb than Octavia....would spare parts be any dearer for them,harder to come by?

Western Pomise

Any one any advice on this...may be going shopping at weekend:)

Thanks.

selectamatic

windows 7 screen shot

I'm assuming these are the model of superb you'll be looking at. Production stopped in late 2008 so 2009 reg ones will be thin on the ground.
The bls 105bhp engine is best avoided it shares a link with the bxe tdi engine and both have a tendency to throw a rod. The 115bhp engine is supposedly a stronger engine it's code is bpz. Unfortunately I don't think the proper old school Avb tdi(100bhp) or the excellent awx tdi (130bhp) were still included in the production run past 2005.
The 2.0tdi bke 140bhp can be got in them too and these suit the size of the car best however they had a few niggles such as oil pumps and injectors that said by 2008 a lot of these were more or less rectified. I know a few with these engines in a4's and they haven't given much bother at all.
For a 2008 b5 superb I wouldn't recommend sending over 6k the whole draw of getting these older model skoda is the savings to be had compared to other cheap tax diesels.
Parts aren't too pricey except for the steering arms/bushes combination they are the same design as passats and a4's from the noughties that said when they eventually do need replacing they won't break the bank either.
My final bit of advice would be get whatever you yourself like and feel comfortable in be it octavia superb or other after all it's going to be your car. just don't get a bxe or bls engined car!

Western Pomise

selectamatic wrote: »

windows 7 screen shot

I'm assuming these are the model of superb you'll be looking at. Production stopped in late 2008 so 2009 reg ones will be thin on the ground.
The bls 105bhp engine is best avoided it shares a link with the bxe tdi engine and both have a tendency to throw a rod. The 115bhp engine is supposedly a stronger engine it's code is bpz. Unfortunately I don't think the proper old school Avb tdi(100bhp) or the excellent awx tdi (130bhp) were still included in the production run past 2005.
The 2.0tdi bke 140bhp can be got in them too and these suit the size of the car best however they had a few niggles such as oil pumps and injectors that said by 2008 a lot of these were more or less rectified. I know a few with these engines in a4's and they haven't given much bother at all.
For a 2008 b5 superb I wouldn't recommend sending over 6k the whole draw of getting these older model skoda is the savings to be had compared to other cheap tax diesels.
Parts aren't too pricey except for the steering arms/bushes combination they are the same design as passats and a4's from the noughties that said when they eventually do need replacing they won't break the bank either.
My final bit of advice would be get whatever you yourself like and feel comfortable in be it octavia superb or other after all it's going to be your car. just don't get a bxe or bls engined car!

Your a mine of Knowledge!...thanks pm sent to you.

jca

I had a 07 1.9 tdi that I used for short journeys. The short drives didn't suit that engine either as I started having turbo vanes problems. Short journeys really don't suit any diesel engines. Would you consider a petrol octavia? I can't see you ever finding a petrol superb.