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My lads considering it.
I see no obvious red flags other than the large milage. Cambelt done in 2022, it has "good service history."
Have at it and thanks for any insights.
I have the non vrs version. Currently on 150k. Only thing I'd be checking for is a rattling DMF. Ours was replaced at about 120k and along with a new clutch whilst it was being done was around £1,000
Other than that just routine service items and consumables, including shocks. Oh and a new rear caliper as the original one had seized.
Don't know anything about this particular model but that's a pretty encouraging ebay ad, it gives the impression of having been very well looked after rather than scrubbed up for sale (though it has obviously also been scrubbed up). Nice extras, nice low tax. Horrible stupid sized wheels but at least one quality tyre, that's nice to see, it'd be nice if they all are, that always says a lot about the owner.
Condition underneath's going to be important, I wouldn't worry about the miles exactly but it does make corrosion condition even more important since you're way more likely to have to deal with worn consumables like bushings etc in its life. I'm always deeply impressed with how my mate ChrisL's slightly older Octavia has managed to rust exactly equally over all of its horrible scabrous underside, nothing's completely failed except for brake pipes but equally every bolt is exactly equally seized and every component equally horrible to work with so while it's not a day to day problem maintenance is harder and treating the rust completely impractical.
I'm a bit out of touch with car values but that seems a bit pricey considering its mileage? Its wheels boost its image but then they are a bit scabby.
However it's MOT history is good and if it has evidence of spending including suspension components that I'd expect to be getting worn at that mileage then it's probably not too bad. I'd see if there's any decent movement on price referencing mileage/wheel condition and anything else found on viewing it.
I'm a bit out of touch with car values but that seems a bit pricey considering its mileage?
Because its a VRS its deemed desirable.
at that milage and age - i wouldn't be too concerned with the spec and the speed and more the condition - i certainly wouldnt be paying 3.5K for a car of that age/milage unless it was a classic . Diesel VRS is not that .
Personally, I wouldn't. We had a Octavia VRS petrol and sold it on with 130k . Bought with full history, good servicing, but it often needed going to the garage for one minor thing or another, often it was a sensor, suspension, exhaust, brakes etc. I can't remember all the exact details but there seem to be a myriad of valves and sensors that often failed or got stuck. It was quite annoying.
I think the EGR on diesels means the inlet manifold will be caked in soot too. Needs dismantling to clean.
The boring Kia that has replaced it doesn't have any of these issues despite similar mileage, jsut routine servicing.
Well it's "only" 11 years old, which is not as old as it used to be in the world of cars.
And I thought the price seemed steep when considering the mileage, but a quick look online suggests VRS asking prices are generally much higher.
Still it'll quickly be a 15-year-old car with well over 200k miles, so don't expect it to hold any value.
Also, I'd honestly suggest looking at the 2.0litre TDi alternatives for less than half the price. I have a slightly older one and it's surprisingly punchy to drive.
Ultimately at that end of the market whatever he gets will be a gamble so if this has decent history and looks tidy it's probably as safe as any other bet. Cars are not cheap anymore and 2.5k seems to get you what 500-1000 used to.
Looks tidy enough but it's a lot of money for a lot of miles. No mentions of anything over and above maintenance work. At that mileage I'd want the bushes, shocks and springs replaced otherwise it'll be pretty baggy.
I've got an non VRS 2.0tdi (150ps) of similar vintage that is sitting just under 190,000 miles at the moment.
It's had a few bits go beyond service items over the years (clutch master cylinder, front nearside shock, and leaky radiator) but nothing that's been too expensive to sort and it still drives the way it did when I bought it at 60000 miles 9 years ago. The only thing currently wrong with it (beyond all the cosmetic damage of years of on road parking and general neglect) are the rear parking sensors, which were probably damaged when we got rear ended years ago. So, baring something unexpected happening, I'd expect to get at least a few more good years of service out of it.
If he does get it, I'd check those wheels very carefully for dents and buckles given all the potholes everywhere!
I have a 2015 Octy VRs Diesel that's only just about to hit 100k, so it's been pretty heavily used (or maybe mine is lightly used).
Owned it for 4.5years, it's been good, reliable, nice to drive, comfortable, I did Poole to home this weekend with no stops in just over 3 hours.
It has a parking sensor that's a bit flaky and at times the pano roof needs resetting to close properly, but aside from that it's cost less in maintenance than my Golf of a similar age which recently had a new radiator, heater matrix and water tank for a not small sum.
It’s a diesel 🙁
They shouldn’t be allowed to have a VRS badge.
Why not? vRS has been on diesels since the branding was first used in the UK. Petrol Octavia appeared in late 2001, with diesel Fabia vRS less than 2 years later. It's just as associated with diesel as it is petrol.
My money would be going on this if I was after a 2.0 tdi estate https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502149109547?sort=distance&searchId=29872d43-eaeb-4808-a81c-72c648ff1963&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&include-delivery-option=on&make=SEAT&max-engine-power=200&min-engine-power=100&model=Exeo&postcode=BB185HE&price-to=6000&year-to=2023&fromsra
^^ I'd have the OP's VRS over that Seat any day.
You could argue it's worse value too - 4/5 years older and only £600 cheaper.
75k miles less, 1 owner and all the services done, I'm not sure I agree. It would be nicer with a leather interior I guess
Exeo was the previous generation Audi A4 IIRC. Looks quite nice but a bit of a different prospect to a vRS.
The SEAT has been run with the same advisory of worn rear discs since 2022! Doesn't shout 'one careful owner'.
Huge thanks guys. I'm reading all the opinions and thoughts. Much appreciated as always. We are likely to go view it at the weekend. Seller seems pretty genuine but as always, "buyer beware" etc.
I personally prefer the non-performance Skodas. I don't think it works that well as a performance car, it's much better as a comfortable load lugger, and you'll be paying a premium for the extra performance that the VRs brings. Maybe that's just me,..
Anyway, as much as I like my Skoda, I cannot say it's been that reliable, especially compared to less desirable equivalant cars from asia.
no idea whether that's an expensive VRS for it's age/mileage, but it does feel like a risk, especially when you could buy something newer/much less mileage for a similar price. Albeit without the looks.
Something with that mileage will be a money pit, which is fine if he's going in eyes open, but expect some potentially bigish bills. Worth checking whether gear box servicing has been done, has clutch been done, any suspension work as that will be very loose.
Had a 40 minute chat with the seller, all seems kosha. Does have an intermittent issue with the parking sensors. Display doesn't come up on dash and no beeps occasionally. That says to me it's a "simple" issue where the car isn't being told it's in reverse, a worn switch linked to the gear change? I was an auto electrician in the 90's BUT it's a different world now. That said, I think my logic is sound on that.
Cambelt done about 35k ago. Not sure what the interval is on these diesels??
Overall, happy with the 1.5 hour drive to view it.
The fault codes on my faulty rear sensors (which started out just as your seller has described his) point to a wiring fault in one or more of the sensors. Once the control unit decides it can’t see them all reliably it stops offering up the sensor display and beeps.
Assuming the belt interval is the same as those on the 150ps (which would make sense as they share an awful lot of parts) I think they are now advising a 125k service interval. So probably good for a while if it was only done 35m ago.
To add a bit more context to my previous comments about our car seeming to run fine at 190k it’s probably worth saying I’ve had two other high mileage VAG group cars in the last. One a mark 4 golf and one a mk1 fabia. Both the golf and the fabia felt far rougher at only 100k than the mk 3 Octavia does at 190k. The fabia needed things like suspension bushes and a new exhaust before it hit 100k and had ongoing issues with things like central locking and boot catches. The golf just generally fell apart by 125k with major wiring and suspension failures. So far (touch wood) there isn’t any sign of stuff like that on the Octavia despite have done well over 50% more miles than either of the others.
The fault codes on my faulty rear sensors (which started out just as your seller has described his) point to a wiring fault in one or more of the sensors.
Ah, that's interesting, thanks for that bit of info. 👍
Check the cills, rear door bottoms and in particular the rear suspension linkages for corrosion. My brother's of that vintage showed signs of age. My dad's previous gen Superb (2010) has had many bits of the rear suspension replaced often not for regular wear and tear but corrosion. There's a horizontal linkage bar that carries the spring which is made of pressed steel that is vulnerable. We've also replaced multiple rear springs over the years.
If the car has lived in Scotland or Northern England, check for underbody corrosion. If the owner has looked after it, it should be clean - regular hose off. If not, expect some crusty nastyness. I've never had corrosion issues on my cars, but I regularly hose off underneath !
£3600/190k miles - simple hard pass from me, whatever it is
Thanks guys.
I'll be taking a torch and giving the underside a good look over. 👍
Id check the rims for cracks like horatio said, and the tyres for bulges, with all those potholes about. I found a crack on mine, when I thought i had a slow puncture. a spare wheel would be useful.
And check for sloppiness etc on the gearshifter, maybe the linkage is worn.
The mileage is not far below my skoda, and its had 3wheel bearings and rear suspension arms in the last couple of years
No real opinion on price/mileage as I have never owned a Skoda, but I'm assuming eBay has squished the picture as I can't believe how narrow the Octavia load area appears to be & with massive arch intrusion!
I was under the impression that the Octavia was the go to estate for bike lugging? Having owned many estate cars & still do I can’t think of any that had such a compromised load area.
