Used car for 6-7k, octavia a good shout?

[GeorgeStorm]

Hi all,
As above, I'm looking to buy a new (to me) car with a budget of 6-7k.
I'm coming from an 03 corsa, and looking to upgrade in terms of size, features and general performance.

• Astra sizeish
• 6-8k miles per annum (so petrol?)
• 2010 or newer
• <80k miles on it already
• Probably shortish journeys in the week, but then the odd weekend away camping etc
• A/C and Cruise control
• Bit more oomph than my current car (shouldn't be difficult)!

Having done some looking I've 99% settled on an octavia elegance, 13/14 plate, due to having all the 'features' I'm after, very practical, performance should be fine, not really seeing many downsides to be honest.
In talks with someone about a 14 plate, ~76k miles, full service history and just had the cambelt done for £6200.

Just thought I'd check here to see if there's something I missed as to why that would be a bad move
Had considered an auris hybrid but for my budget seemingly was looking at older models (2010ish) which I didn't overly like the look of.

[stevemcs]

You have missed the Ford Focus or even the Astra. I'd put both above the Octavia.

[jwilco]

An Octavia is probably where my money would go given your criteria (as you've not said you need anything "fun to drive"). I couldn't go with a Focus or Astra, mostly because I think the interior on the Octavia seems more plush. I am sure that's perceived quality rather than much substance... but there we go.

[VR99]

I've never driven an Octavia but (and can't believe I'm saying this given I would never consider Skoda previously) am also considering one for my next car as have similar requirements to you OP.
However I've searched a lot of different forums including this one and it seems that while the diesels are held in high esteem there seems to be a theme of negative reviews and comments against the petrol TSI engines and especially the DSG gearbox....fact or fiction??

[loskie]

Avensis maybe?

[ZX10R NIN]

The Astra is a good pick at this price point.

1,4T SRI Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

1.6T SRI 200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

1.6d SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Again the Insignia is worth a look if you're looking at the Octavia:

2.0t Elite 220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.0d Elite Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

If I was going for an Octavia I'd be going for a similar sized Mondeo as it's the better car:

2.0d Mondeo Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

1.6T Zetec 160

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.6T Focus Titanium Navigator 150 Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Titanium X Estate 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[GeorgeStorm]

Reason for missing the astra/focus is a mixture of not being that much of a fan of the interior, and not wanting a ford (for unknown reasons!) and being told to stay away from astras by friends.

I also agree that I quite like the interior of the octavia is quite nice.

I'd heard good things about the 1.4tsi, but that the newer 1.5 was worse I think?

Avensis/insignia is a bit bigger than I'd like, octavia was already bigger than I was intending but the general size inside/boot are being seen as positives.

Yeah I've got something against Ford, not sure why, maybe because they're so common and I fancy something a little less so? Not sure, also really don't like the vertical vent design of the focus/mondeo.

Edit:
Was also aiming for £125 or less road tax, since my current car is £155 I think and so would like to head in the 'right' direction

Edited by GeorgeStorm on Tuesday 14th April 20:56

[Morry10]

Mazda 3?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

GeorgeStorm said:

Reason for missing the astra/focus is a mixture of not being that much of a fan of the interior, and not wanting a ford (for unknown reasons!) and being told to stay away from astras by friends.

I also agree that I quite like the interior of the octavia is quite nice.

I'd heard good things about the 1.4tsi, but that the newer 1.5 was worse I think?

Avensis/insignia is a bit bigger than I'd like, octavia was already bigger than I was intending but the general size inside/boot are being seen as positives.

Yeah I've got something against Ford, not sure why, maybe because they're so common and I fancy something a little less so? Not sure, also really don't like the vertical vent design of the focus/mondeo.

Edit:
Was also aiming for £125 or less road tax, since my current car is £155 I think and so would like to head in the 'right' direction

Edited by GeorgeStorm on Tuesday 14th April 20:56

I have to be honest those Astra's Iinked to have a nicer interior than the equivalent Octavia:

1.4T TSI SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

There may be a perceived steep up in interior quality but the reality is different I'd say go & sit in a few of the competitors also £155 road tax is a sensible number.

I'd rather pay a little extra on tax so I could have a nicely spec'd car, look at the SRI Nav I linked to & tell me the above Octavia has a nicer interior.

[defblade]

Have a look at the Skoda rapid, if the Octavia is a bit bigger than you were aiming for. Try and look for the (from 2016) updated 1.2

[Trevor555]

defblade said:

Have a look at the Skoda rapid, if the Octavia is a bit bigger than you were aiming for. Try and look for the (from 2016) updated 1.2

That's a good shout.

The 1.2 Tsi 109bhp engine is good.

Also the Fabia estate may be in budget. (same size as a MK3 Golf estate)

Monte Carlo spec is nice. Has a speed limiter rather than cruise, but I prefer that over cruise.

Again, go for the 109bhp over the 90bhp and you'll find that quite nippy after your Corsa.

And they're both £20 RFL

[anonymous-user]

Civic ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293496647730

Reliable cars.

[GeorgeStorm]

Really like the look of the mazda 3 from the outside, not so much on in the inside

I forgot to mention the model I'm looking at is an elegance model, like this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
That was actually the octavia that convinced me the size was ok, and I liked the inside etc.

Astras I've looked at often have the 'tall' vents which for some reason I think look weird, and the steering wheel looks just a touch busy for me (coming from having absolutely nothing on the wheel!)

I did consider the rapid as I assumed it would be cheaper for what you get since it's widely regarded (based on my googling of reviews) to be a worse car than the octavia, but I found it didn't seem to be cheaper enough type thing.

Hadn't considered the fabia estate as I haven't been looking at estate cars in general due to thinking they'd be over the top in size. Whilst my corsa is definitely small and a right faff whenever we want to go away for a weekend camping (boot and back seats totally full depending on what we're doing), I think an estate is more than needed.

Civic was actually high on my list, before I'd seen an octavia, but I found a lot of them whilst I liked the outside, was less keen on the inside and often had high road tax.

I know I'm coming across as already having made up my mind 100% and I had, but I am trying to use this delay to reconsider some stuff. Garage I was going to buy the octavia from has said due to the delay happy to give deposit back etc due to the change in circumstances (was originally going to get it a couple of weeks ago)

[dunc69]

Just buy the 1.4 TSI Elegance. Great engine, nippy but frugal, a very solid car with a few toys. Seems you like the look of it, so go for it.

You’ll love it.

[GeorgeStorm]

Haha I'm definitely leaning that way, one question I would ask is, if I was after heated seats as well as the other requirements, what kind of options are there, the one thing my other half said she'd quite like

[dunc69]

GeorgeStorm said:

Haha I'm definitely leaning that way, one question I would ask is, if I was after heated seats as well as the other requirements, what kind of options are there, the one thing my other half said she'd quite like

If you keep looking you might find one with heated seats that have been optioned.

[MC Bodge]

I had a 66reg Mk3 Octavia 1.4TSI 150 Estate.

Great engine. Really good.

Terrible chassis. The ride was awful, there was a subtle booming resonance that was unpleasant, steering around the centre vague and handling was inconsistent.

I'd go for a Focus.

[GeorgeStorm]

I drove one with 96k miles on it and thought it was nice, but then again coming from my car maybe anything would be nice hah.

Really dislike the interior of the focus, and my other half doesn't like fords either so no way we'd go that way.

I will do some browsing of other options just to see if anything else has come up that I didn't look at previously though.

[MC Bodge]

GeorgeStorm said:

I drove one with 96k miles on it and thought it was nice, but then again coming from my car maybe anything would be nice hah.

Really dislike the interior of the focus, and my other half doesn't like fords either so no way we'd go that way.

I will do some browsing of other options just to see if anything else has come up that I didn't look at previously though.

The Mk2 Octavia, in non vRS form, had better suspension than the Mk3 apparently.

The Mk3 hatchback rides better and quieter than the estate.

[GeorgeStorm]

I have heard some people say the mk2 was better built than the mk3, but I preferred the styling of the mk3, and since the intention was to try and keep the car for a while, going slightly newer was the right move.