selectamatic wrote: » You certainly won't get that one for 1500 unless it remains unsold for the next month. But I've seen a few rougher examples still with a long test going for the sub 2k Mark. Had my eye on an ex taxi one in dub with big mileage, decent test and some taxi tax left which was listed at €1400 before Xmas as I knew someone looking for an insurable diesel beater but he couldn't get over the image aspect. Despite the fact that for a 1st time driver they were the cheapest cheap tax diesel over 1.5 to insure by a mile. Liberty were throwing out quotes of €2100 for a driver with 1 year named experience and 2 parents named on the policy which I thought was decent. Obviously there's still dealers looking for 3k for them but they'll never sell them at that.
166man wrote: » Those Octavias are superb cars and I think they're brilliant. Why? Because they're exactly what a Skoda should be. Reliable basic functional transport. They don't pretend to be up market like the newer Skodas with people spending 50k on a Skoda. I had one for a while - thing was a tank.
selectamatic wrote: » I think those cheap tax mk1 Octavia's are a fine buy mind you I'd be aiming for the 1500 mark. Relatively simple, reliable and tunable A series tdi engine Cheap and simple suspension setup A whole raft of super cheap 2nd hand parts and panels (things like nice seats would be a very cheap yet major comfort upgrade.) Competant mechanics can sort any niggley issues with their eyes closed. The dated look is really the only drawback, it is a big one though.
acronym Chilli wrote: » What are they like with respect to water ingress, or any electrical issues?
marklazarcovic wrote: » Would it not have a 2 year cert no? If it's new test
selectamatic wrote: » Relatively simple, reliable and tunable A series tdi engine Cheap and simple suspension setup A whole raft of super cheap 2nd hand parts and panels (things like nice seats would be a very cheap yet major comfort upgrade.)
Toyotafanboi wrote: » I'd agree that those Octavias are hardy and the engines aren't particularly problematic but a petrol Corolla/ Civic would probably be cheaper if/ when something does go wrong as the likelihood of an injector/ EGR/ turbo/ flywheel etc failing in that diesel is still present and these are failures that are far less likely in a petrol engine. I'm not saying I'd let that alone put me off the Skoda by any means but if we are discussing reliability and nothing else, the Jap petrol is probably still a whisker better.
Quazzie wrote: » Petrol Octavia - best of both worlds.
acronym Chilli wrote: » in terms of an easy car to keep on the road (straight-forward servicing, robust design, good general reliability, and ease of maintenance when jobs are needed), how would one compare these with e.g. Corollas or Civics of similar vintage? (I'm hunting for a cheap second car for family)
JohnBoy26 wrote: » No
Duke O Smiley wrote: » I'm going to have another go at selling this if anyone is interested. 2004 A6 2.0 TDI, 6 speed manual NCT 11/17, tax 3/17, four brand new tyres fitted this week 280k kms or 170-odd k miles I don't have any more photos to hand so I don't have an ad to post yet. Hoping to get €1800ish? There are slightly newer cars going for the same money but with the tax and tyres I'm aiming high
1874 wrote: » I only started seeing that mentioned here recently, (that they look dated), I guess Im one for odd looking cars, but Ive always thought they looked ok (after the facelift).
Quazzie wrote: » Thank you for your well rounded, expertly considered, and eloquently put answer. A brilliant contribution to the discussion
selectamatic wrote: » Dated compared to other cars with an 08 reg whereas certain cars with 06/07 regs give the impression they're more modern and more expensive than their reg year suggests (Lexus is250, bmw e60 etc) Again it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if I was after an economical daily beater but it bothers many people. I've recommended a cheap tax mk1 octavia or cheap tax mk1 superb a few times in various threads in the buying and selling forum regarding a cheap reliable commuter car and I've always been met with the same response "dated". Diesel for diesel I'd be thinking the octavia would win out hands down from an economics perspective: better mpg, cheaper parts and cheaper to put right should things go wrong. Honestly those octavia's are probably the most reliable and simple cheap tax diesel available. Dmf and clutches, turbo's and injectors are all robust and relatively cheap to replace. That said I'm a big fan of 1.4d4d e12 corolla's too. If the civics or corolla's are petrol then that changes things slightly as if you dont need a diesel then petrol is generally always the safer option.
JohnBoy26 wrote: » Petrol octavias are dire. Underpowered and troublesome. Not in the same league as the japanese competition and way off the 1.9 as well
Quazzie wrote: » You think a 1.8T Octavia with 180bhp is underpowered? Must take a lot to impress you
JohnBoy26 wrote: » No but the rest of them are which is what I thought you were talking about because the 1.8t is hardly less complex compared the 1.9
Quazzie wrote: » Even the 100bhp 1.6 from the same era, I would've thought was about par powerwise compared to their japanese counterparts.