Its time to get a new (to me) car. A Skoda Octavia estate seems to be the best option at the mo, and they do seem reasonably priced (£2.5k-£3k for a 5 yo 1.9 diesel).
Is there any known failings on this model that I should look out for? Is the 1.9 engine the one to go for, or is the petrol 2L better?
Thanks Alan.
Cambelt change, engine is Volkswagen and quite tough, easily chippable for plenty horsepower, 2l petrol alright but not as powerful/economical as tweaked diesel :)
Hellraiser..........>
Knackered injectors on TDI's should be changed every 60-80k otherwise bore wash and bore ovality will result, and knackered gearboxes- very well known faults.
Check out
Tim..
I've had the TDi 1.9 110hp lump for a few years now (bought s/h) and has done 90000 hard miles: in that time it's had apart from the usual servicing, oils, tyres, etc:
intermittent engine control relay which would pack in in the most embarrasing places (usually in roadworks and once in the Tyne Tunnel during the rush hour) Before I replaced it giving the dashboard a good thump usually restored power (:
siezed water pump at 60000 miles - replaced with a QH item along with the cambelt and idlers - it didn't kill the engine!
brake servo pipe failed - was replaced by an Escort(!) one - it's a perfect fit.
a set of discs front and rear.
the blaupunkt stereo packed in after the tape eject mechanism died with a tape in it - replaced with a Sony mp3 head
It's lively and economical - our local independant services it well - and'll do a surprising turn of speed if you hit the loud pedal.
I havn't had injector failure - but I suspect that's due to using millers diesel power plus occasionally...
Les
So, overall it is pretty good, just usual service items that needed changing apart from the relay. I keep looking at the small ads and autotrader,I just need to find one for less than 3k within 50 miles of me now, I may leave it until December, when people start to get desparate to sell (is December still the worst time to sell?) Thanks Alan.
Make sure that the waterpump, cambelt and idlers have been changed. The stock VW item is prone to siezure or the drive cog losing teeth. Mine did this and the cambelt, to its credit, didn't break. According to my mechanic the control relay's fairly common too - this bloke services all the taxis in this area and one of the reasons for me buying it in the
1st place is that every taxi driver and their dog uses octavias here so they can't be half bad...I religiously change the oil regularly too with Millers semi - synthetic but at 90000 miles it's just starting to loosen up (:
It's comfy too i can easily do 300 miles without creaking my way out of it but legroom is a bit restricted in the back. The boot in the estate version's like a black hole.
Les
TAXI! That's what I would check it hasn't been in a previous life.
HTH
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