Octavia vRS

[J1mmys]

Hi All,

ANy of you had experiences with Octavia vRS?? Are they as reliable as people say? Common problems?

Looking at 5k max, but at that price i think im looking at the last of the old shape probably more like 4k with say 60k (defo checking they've had the belts done). Is that a 60k job?

Thank

[VRSAndy]

I have an 02 vrs. It's not one let me down, I've replaced two breather pipes and that's it. I've had it three years.

ETA
with 5k I probably wouldn't buy one though. I paid 3k for mine with belts done and 80000 on the clock in immaculate condition.

[Defcon5]

5k will get you a new shape one

[anonymous-user]

I've just sold mine for £1800. 96k and I did the belts last year. Full Skoda history. I had it 3.5 years and only thing that went was an ignition coil. I loved mine and when I sold it, it drove very well indeed so the chap that bought it got an absolute bargain IMO.

Find a nice one (like mine) and spend 2 k on it. I wouldn't spend 5k on an old shape.

[blank]

As above. Get the mkII.


I sold a mint, low mileage one a few months ago for £6.5k (was offered £4.5k trade in) so £5k should get you a good 'un.

[kambites]

You can just about get a mk2 for 5k, although it'll have a few miles on it. As above, spending 5k on a mk1 would be madness, IMO. You'd get a very good one for half that.

[blearyeyedboy]

Funny, this is groundhog day for me since I've commented on a similar thread this week.

Mine isn't for sale, but if it were I'd be looking for £4500-£4800 privately. It's a 56 plate petrol hatch with 70,000 on the clock and the oily bits are well cared for, if a scuffed alloy and some small stone chips along the way. You can easily get a decent Mk2 on your budget.

The important thing is the cambelt change, at 80,000 miles or 4 years, whichever is first. It's better if the water pump is changed at the same time. They use a relatively large amount of oil. This is fine as long as the owner realises and tops it up but if they don't you might have a duffer.

They're reliable cars. You will get the odd duffer but there are enough out there at sub £5k that you shouldn't feel pressured into buying a poor one.

Briskoda is a fantastic forum/resource for these cars.

[vrsmxtb]

Get over to Briskoda.

ABS unit is one of the biggies on the Octavia I believe.

[Chicane-UK]

I've got a MK2 Octavia VRS petrol estate - '06 plate. Mine seems pretty good but has already been through a few annoying problems but thankfully when I bought the car I took it out with an extended warranty. Problems with the car (and the purchase of the car):

Dealer Issues:

• Dealer was completely unable to setup my extended warranty properly - I've had to call them several times since buying the car to amend details and have been sent through various configurations of policy document now about 6 or 7 times. I'm still convinced that the second year I purchased has not been added on and should I come to claim next year they'll say "What warranty?"

• Alloy wheel "smart repair" done prior to purchase by dealer is already flaking off and looks horrible after only a few months of owning the car..

• Dealer forgot to send on various piece of paperwork (MOT, etc)

Car Issues:

• Bearings in the alternator shot - sounded like the car was supercharged or something! Was (eventually) replaced under warranty.

• Has just this week developed a ridiculously loud vibration from somewhere behind the dash when the car is at idle in the morning. A minor issue really but darn annoying.

• Interior lights (front and back) have at various points dropped out from the headlining - last time whilst driving, which was entertaining. Reading up on forums it seems there may be some screws missing as a result of aftermarket bluetooth kit installation (which mine does indeed have).

• Fag lighter socket doesn't seem to work despite having replaced the fuse.

• Thirst for (expensive - ~£16/litre!(Shell Helix 5w30) oil! Common issue apparently with this engine?

Despite all these though, I have to say it's one of the most awesome cars I've owned. Very spacious and comfortable on a drive, and aside from the afore mentioned rattle, the interior is incredibly solid and rattle free. It goes really well with the 2.0 TFSI engine, but if you want to settle into a cruise it'll return respectable figures.. I can just about squeeze 450 miles out of mine on a tank of Super Unleaded (will take approx 54 litres when empty so about £74 to fill). I think it's a pretty handsome car too on the optional 18" alloys and in shiny race blue

[blearyeyedboy]

vrsmxtb said:

ABS unit is one of the biggies on the Octavia I believe.

Google Teves Mk60. Most of the duff ones have been replaced but if there's an ABS warning light, walk away.

To be fair, it's on a lot of VAG cars, BMW 3 series and Volvo S40/V50s so it's not just an Octavia specific issue. A good reason to make sure your car's ABS warning light hasn't been disconnected by an unscrupulous seller though.

You will see repair costs of £1500. There are now companies who will repair it for about £400 instead if you have a problem.

[gaz1234]

i was going to buy one some years ago, cheap, shame about the badge. Test drove it and was dull and seats were horrid

[jez-m]

I'm on my second. Both have been utterly reliable and a joy to drive & own. First one was a 07 petrol, the current one is a late 09 CR TDI. Would recommend either. The latest models are better looking IMHO but essentially the car is the same and it certainly feels that way from the driver's seat.

[RizzoTheRat]

Very happy with my CR diesel despite having had one serios problem. Local dealer could be better though, ended up going in 7 times to sort sensors and minor issues, but Skoda UK are great and paid 90% of the cost when a fuel leak took out the alternator belt which in turn took out the timing belt and lunched the head.

[GoodDoc]

blearyeyedboy said:

vrsmxtb said:

ABS unit is one of the biggies on the Octavia I believe.

Google Teves Mk60. Most of the duff ones have been replaced but if there's an ABS warning light, walk away.

To be fair, it's on a lot of VAG cars, BMW 3 series and Volvo S40/V50s so it's not just an Octavia specific issue. A good reason to make sure your car's ABS warning light hasn't been disconnected by an unscrupulous seller though.

You will see repair costs of £1500. There are now companies who will repair it for about £400 instead if you have a problem.

It's generally called the 'Brake Pressure Sensor Fault' and is limited to cars fitted with ESP.

The are two types of traction control fitted to the MKII Octavia. ASR which just limits power output when it detects wheel slip, and the more advanced ESP system which also applies differential braking. Cars fitted with ESP use a different ABS pump which has a design issue that caused it to fail. Many have been replaced under warranty, but I believe they were replaced with the same unit, with the same issue. Out of warranty repairs at your VAG dealer can cost upwards of £1000+

This was a problem common to all VAG cars based on the MKV Golf platform and was sufficiently common there are companies in the UK who have worked out an proper engineering fix for the sensor so that it shouldn't fail again. As you're repairing rather than replacing the pump it's significantly cheaper.

[blearyeyedboy]

^ What he said, far more eloquently than I put it. Basically, don't be put off by Mk60 horror stories.

[blank]

Chicane-UK said:

I've got a MK2 Octavia VRS petrol estate - '06 plate. Mine seems pretty good but has already been through a few annoying problems but thankfully when I bought the car I took it out with an extended warranty. Problems with the car (and the purchase of the car):

Dealer Issues:

• Dealer was completely unable to setup my extended warranty properly - I've had to call them several times since buying the car to amend details and have been sent through various configurations of policy document now about 6 or 7 times. I'm still convinced that the second year I purchased has not been added on and should I come to claim next year they'll say "What warranty?"

• Alloy wheel "smart repair" done prior to purchase by dealer is already flaking off and looks horrible after only a few months of owning the car..

• Dealer forgot to send on various piece of paperwork (MOT, etc)

Car Issues:

• Bearings in the alternator shot - sounded like the car was supercharged or something! Was (eventually) replaced under warranty.

• Has just this week developed a ridiculously loud vibration from somewhere behind the dash when the car is at idle in the morning. A minor issue really but darn annoying.

• Interior lights (front and back) have at various points dropped out from the headlining - last time whilst driving, which was entertaining. Reading up on forums it seems there may be some screws missing as a result of aftermarket bluetooth kit installation (which mine does indeed have).

• Fag lighter socket doesn't seem to work despite having replaced the fuse.

• Thirst for (expensive - ~£16/litre!(Shell Helix 5w30) oil! Common issue apparently with this engine?

Despite all these though, I have to say it's one of the most awesome cars I've owned. Very spacious and comfortable on a drive, and aside from the afore mentioned rattle, the interior is incredibly solid and rattle free. It goes really well with the 2.0 TFSI engine, but if you want to settle into a cruise it'll return respectable figures.. I can just about squeeze 450 miles out of mine on a tank of Super Unleaded (will take approx 54 litres when empty so about £74 to fill). I think it's a pretty handsome car too on the optional 18" alloys and in shiny race blue

I'm pretty sure you phoned up about mine when it was for sale, think I saw something on briskoda about it. Small world!

[kambites]

Air-con pumps are prone to fail on the mk2 Octavia (and all other cars based on the mk5 Golf platform), too.

[snowen250]

I have a mk1.
Plus points, big boot, economical.
Bad points: consistent engine warning light issues, understeers like a barge. Various little reliability niggles. Its not fast. At all. No rear legroom.
If you are looking for a hatchback with a big boot and an ok mpg figure yeah go for it, if I had 2300 again would I buy one? No. However mine is in pretty good shape as everytime it has an issue back to skoda it goes, who have in fairness, been the best dealers ive delt with.
Simon

[Chicane-UK]

blank said:

I'm pretty sure you phoned up about mine when it was for sale, think I saw something on briskoda about it. Small world!

If it's the one I think it is, yours was a black saloon version and you called me back whilst you were on holiday (in Spain) ? That's pretty much the only other car I enquired about before I saw the one I eventually bought - yours looked a superb example and I was gutted to miss it!

[kambites]

Chicane-UK said:

... saloon version ...

Eh? Since when has there been an Octavia saloon?