The Skoda Octavia. Is it finally time?

Let’s be honest, it was always going to happen. A new baby is all the excuse I need to finally acquire God’s own estate car and STW chariot of choice. The only question is which version?

Today I’m all about the Scout. Rufty-tufty arches, comfy suspension, and it won’t get stuck in a muddy field. I’ve been looking at them all week. Obviously I’d love a newish, facelift version with the nicer interior, more powers and DSG etc, like this one…https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114805081406

But I’d have to borrow money to double our budget and I’ve gone off that idea.

Just before I left work today this one popped up- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265185173831

10 miles from home. Looks fairly clean and straight. MOT history isn’t too shocking. Detachable tow bar for the new bike rack (and future motorbike trailer). Can hopefully carry elderly relatives without them creaking and groaning. Leaves money in the bank for a thorough service, cam belt, water pump and the inevitable first break down. What could possibly go wrong? The last time I bought a cheap vehicle the timing belt snapped after 3 hours and the seller went quieter than mouses fart. No way that could happen twice in a row.

I’m going to spend the night finding my nearest Skoda specialist (Sheffield if anyone has any tips) and finding out how much it’ll cost to make this thing fighting fit.

How I imagine summer 2021;

Had a 2005 vintage estate (dsg ) at 60k, put 40k on it with no real issues ( broken spring was about worst). Just looked and its on 185k now, so if they are looked after it should last you a while.

I like the Scout also- go for it.

Surely the STW approved Octavia is the Tour de France 4×4 special edition…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101087767087?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=FK159HX&model=OCTAVIA&sort=year-desc&page=1&aggregatedTrim=Tour%20de%20France&make=SKODA&include-delivery-option=on

I’ve got a Mk 3 Octavia, standard hatchback. On 110k. Only thing so far is that the aircon seems to have developed a leak and the brake dust shields have both rusted through.

If you could stretch to it I’d go for a Mk 3 rather than the Mk 2, just generally a bit nicer. If you go for one before they added the awful split headlights then you should be able to get something price wise between the two you’ve found. Diesels have water pumps that go and cambelt needs changing every 60k or 5 years.

Always liked the look of the Octavia Scout and the first one is a lovely car but at 81k on the clock. to me it’s a heart over the head.
I bought a pre reg 69 plate 1.5tsi with 15 miles on the clock for a similar price(jan 2020)
Your paying for plastic cladding and the 4×4 whereby a normal estate with all season tyres might be the rational choice.
Sorry to sound like a boring owld fart.
Personally I was torn between the skoda and a Honda Civic (5k more)but at the end of the day if you can run a car without getting debt has to be something these days.

Come on sharky, it’s the VRs that is the forum darling, surely? 😉

Spent a long time looking at scouts, yeti’s etc.

bought a Subaru instead.

I’ve got a 2013 mk3 with the 150 ps tdi engine and have been very happy with in the five and a bit years It’s been shuttling us around . It’s up to nearly 150,000 miles now and the only things to go wrong with it are a leaky clutch master cylinder and the rear parking sensors (though I suspect that might have something to do with the big rear end shunt we got a few years ago). For me the mk3 is worth it over the earlier models simply because of the dab radio but there are quite a few other small
Improvements that would make me stretch to this over a mk2. Not sure I’d ever get anything fancier than this, like the scout or VRS, as it lives on the street (it’s got a fair few scrapes and bumps these days) but it does mean we aren’t to sentimental about it when the kids trash it or it fills up with mud from the forest.

<blockquoteToday I’m all about the Scout. Rufty-tufty arches, comfy suspension, and it won’t get stuck in a muddy field

yes they will. even land rovers get stuck in a muddy field sometimes so a scout will for sure.

I’m ordering a new car through work and I just can’t bring myself to get an Octavia, it’ll be like I’ve given up on life. So monumentally dull and uninspiring, went for a test drive in one and a Corolla estate and just had a Focus estate and there’s no way I’d have the skoda. Dull styling, lacklustre engines, stingy spec, interior like a plastic coffin, stodgy handling. Just naff.

Come on sharky, it’s the VRs that is the forum darling, surely?

Probably. But I’ve already got one low, stiff, turbo charged, pocket rocket and I need this one to be a bit more user friendly.

bought a Subaru instead.

I really wanted a WRX wagon a while ago but I gave up on them. It was too hard to find a nice one. I got sick of travelling to view cars that were hiding loads of rust or looked nice but ran like dogs.

I’m ordering a new car through work and I just can’t bring myself to get an Octavia, it’ll be like I’ve given up on life. So monumentally dull and uninspiring

I’ll try not to cry and lose the will to live while I’m gliding down the motorway with a newborn baby and a couple of grandmothers in the car or towing the YZ to the MX track. I hope your chosen vehicle inspires you to live your best life.

For me the mk3 is worth it over the earlier models simply because of the dab radio but there are quite a few other small Improvements that would make me stretch to this over a mk2.

On further investigation, I can see what you mean. This is available in budget and might be worth a look, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164817990814

The used car market is strange at the minute. It’s a dream for bangernomics as there’s loads of cheap cars with mega mileages but then there’s a huge jump to nearly new ex-PCP stuff with not much in the middle.

With 134k on the clock that will be needing a new clutch soon and probably coilpacks / turbo etc

Id also be worried about the haldex system if it hasn’t been looked after.

Octavias are good solid cars but I wouldn’t get a scout unless I was desperate for 4wd.

But I’ve already got one low, stiff, turbo charged, pocket rocket and I need this one to be a bit more user friendly.

I’ve had two Octavia vrs’s, they are very user friendly and comfy.

b230ftw
Full Member
I’m ordering a new car through work and I just can’t bring myself to get an Octavia, it’ll be like I’ve given up on life. So monumentally dull and uninspiring, went for a test drive in one and a Corolla estate and just had a Focus estate and there’s no way I’d have the skoda. Dull styling, lacklustre engines, stingy spec, interior like a plastic coffin, stodgy handling. Just naff.

Really?! A mate of mine has just got a brand new Octavia estate hybrid as a company car and apart from perhaps stodgy handling it doesn’t seem like that at all.

It’s something like 205bhp with the electric motor. Spec-wise it is pretty much fully loaded…digital dash, android auto/apple car play, motorised boot, radar cruise control, it’ll even drive itself in a traffic jam.
Oh, and the app allows you to pre-warm or cool the cabin before leaving the house.

Leon Xperience?

Keep trying to link to a car, but it takes you to a general page rather than specific car….

Right, I’ve decided I’m not going to pounce on the one in Chesterfield. I’ve just gone on eBay and sorted Octavia’s by newly listed and 20 cars have gone up since I left work today. So I’m not going to dive in head first when there’s such a steady supply of cars.

This one looks nice, it’s the only one that mentions a Haldex service and it’s got a lot of new parts- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265185462553

It’s a 4 hour round trip to Morecombe so it’ll have to wait. My Mrs. is going into labour any second now. Don’t want it to happen while she’s following me home down the M6!

but we now want a van for biking, not a estate.

Says it all really. Get a van instead, if only for all the prams and god know what else a baby comes with.

Currently got a mk11 1.8tsi and a mk111 150tdi – unless you are doing over 18k pa I would not recommend a Euro6 diesel In the MK111- too many filters and pumps waiting to be replaced.
The 1.8tsi is a nice engine, decent bit of torque and easy to get 34mpg in average mix of driving. However they have a fundamental design fault on the piston rings and unless its had a warranty replacement walk away. Had a MK11 diesel in the past and overall it was very reliable As long as it has had a full history with regular Haldex (including filter) changes. Apart from that all versions have the common traits of being comfortable, easy to drive and oddles of space in them.

just can’t bring myself to get an Octavia, it’ll be like I’ve given up on life

Meta-satire? 😉

Says it all really. Get a van instead, if only for all the prams and god know what else a baby comes with.

Going to bang my Berlingo drum as usual . The perfect vehicle for baby’s -having just about ditched the pram our selves ….. Sliding doors for carpark baby depositing and tailgate for wheeling pram in unfolded……do not underestimate how good that is when baby is having a tantrum and your fighting with an origami pram

The Mk2 eBay link – that’s pretty much my car, but mine shows a glimpse into the future in terms of age and mileage.

Mine has 150k on it and had the cam belt/water pump done at 85k by a previous owner, than last year I bit the bullet and went to a VW group specialist and had it done again, as well as full service, including Haldex.

It runs really well, with no significant issues*

Things I like:

Lots of space, lots of handy cubby holes/cargo hooks/rear power socket. Can confidently drive over rough ground/through fords/on snow**. Comfy ride. Feels solidly built.

Things I’d change:

I’d prefer the wing mirrors to dip automatically when reversing. Mine doesn’t have the Bluetooth module installed.

For what it’s worth, aesthetically I like the Mk2 and Mk4, but not the Mk1 or the Mk3.

* the adjusting wheel to recline/adjust the passenger seat is dodgy and requires one to push in as well as rotate. Mrs CB can’t do this, so I need to lean over with my face in her chest to do it. I don’t mind this.

** luckily it came with four new 4 season tyres. These are wonderful, except they cost £120 a corner to replace

You don’t have to try and sell vans to me, I’ve had more vans than cars. I love vans but I just sold one as it was a 2 seater and I’m ready for a change. I’ll get another van when we can afford a new shape, crew cab Tranny or similar but they’re way out of budget for now.

The Mk2 eBay link – that’s pretty much my car, but mine shows a glimpse into the future in terms of age and mileage.

Thanks for the info. I’m going to try and drive some this week and get a feel for them. I just found out there’s a highly regarded Skoda specialist about 3 minutes away from my house so I’m going to check with them for service prices.

The 140 CR TDI is a cracking engine, and you can easily and reliably mod it to 180 with a mild tune for about £200. Also if I recall correctly the timing belts on these are chunky enough, so whilst they can still go I think they are generally low risk.

The one thing you will probably find is that it’s actually a 2WD. VAG group were generally poor on servicing the haldex oil and filters with the result that the filters usually blocked (common to yeti, Tiguan, golf, Audi TT etc) and the high pressure pump burned out, alternatively the rear haldex ECU can corrode and fail. That said either are relatively easy and cheap fixes (a couple of hundred) and you can do them yourselves on the driveway if you are half competent.

Getting a copy of vag com/vcds and an old laptop would be handy, or borrow one to see what fault codes are present.

Also if you have a copy of vag com it makes upgrading the stereo easier ( if you choose to do so). The bolero on that likely won’t have Bluetooth handsfree or streaming but you can pick up a Skoda rns315 amundsen unit cheaply enough that will give you music streaming, sat nav and hands free phone use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363354011305

#notavan.

Hnmph. As much as countzero will try and convince you it’s a van….it’s not a van 😉

Also if you have a copy of vag com it makes upgrading the stereo easier ( if you choose to do so). The bolero on that likely won’t have Bluetooth handsfree or streaming but you can pick up a Skoda rns315 amundsen unit cheaply enough that will give you music streaming, sat nav and hands free phone use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3633540113058

Interesting. How easy are these to fit?

I’ll try not to cry and lose the will to live while I’m gliding down the motorway with a newborn baby and a couple of grandmothers in the car

I know you were saying that to make a point in response to something else but don’t underestimate how much space a rear facing baby seat takes up and how little room you’ll have left for two adults in the back seat if that is genuinely the plan

@cb200 Took me about an hour including routing the cables.

The head unit you can do in 2 mins. Pop off the central fascia with your handy plastic tyre levered. Undo 4 torx bolts and slide out the unit. Disconnect the quadlock connector by moving its built in lever and remove the aerial. Replacement is opposite of above. You might need a new fascia surround from Skoda as the dims might be different from your existing but bolt holes are the same. The fascia is literally around £25 + vat from a main dealer so no point faffing on eBay.

For gps and handsfree you need to run the cables. If you unbolt the glovebox and remove the LHS ‘A’ post trim then you can run the gps lead up that then stick to top corner of windscreen glass, the microphone takes the same run but gets tucked under the headlining and fits into a custom shaped spot in your centre roof panel. If you look up you will see a rectangle with horizontal slots in it and that where it sites behind.

You need to code in navigation unit ( I think it’s component 37) and remove component 56 ( radio) and that will
Give you nav and phone options on your maxidot dashboard display.

It’s all easy enough with a few tyre levers, torx screwdriver, some cable ties, a bit of flexibility and some patience!

Had a mk2 VRS petrol and driven a mk3 VRS diesel extensively through work, mk3 interior is a bit nicer but you do get a better standard spec for the money. Decide what your minimum spec is for toys first, bluetooth, cruise control, sat nav etc can be had in a mk2, but not always standard spec so you might need to hunt for it, mk3 however that was pretty much minimum spec for the base model.

As for the Scout option, personally I love them (looking for one now)! Bought a Yeti 4×4 after the VRS, wish I’d bought a Scout of the same era. Same engine and drivetrain as the yeti but much more (usable) space. Make sure if you look at mk2 Scout the haldex has been serviced regularly, including the filter. Skoda themselves will try and convince you there isn’t one on the gen3 haldex, but there is. Skoda don’t include it in the service interval but a good indi should.

That model will have the gen 4 haldex which has the filter, later models have the gen 5 that has a different ECU and no filter at all!

Ha! What jonnyboi said! Yep, gen4. The haldex tends to go because nobody changes the filter and they get blocked. Also, I’ve got two bolero headunits in the garage after changing them out of my previous cars. The yeti had the bluetooth module already under the drivers seat so didn’t need any cable connection for that. Easy job, might need a replacement facia depending which headunit you put back in though. Not expensive and easy to get hold of.

You can get £50 each for the boleros on eBay, even without a code..

This is the kind of in depth tech knowledge I like! These cars are a mystery to me so it’s nice to have access to people with experience.

I’ve just asked if I can go and see the black Chesterfield car today. I’ll check the service history for evidence of Haldex filter changes.

One easy way to check is to floor it from stationary. The haldex works off front wheel rotation so will kick in within a fraction of a revolution. It should just grip then go. If you get loads of front wheel spin and chatter, plus the ASR light coming on then the haldex pump or ECU needs done.

When we were looking at Scouts in Sheffield a couple of years ago, I got fed up that they were really in demand locally and prices reflected that.

It seemed like the STW darling was also the Sheffield outdoors-types darling too.

I don’t know if it’s still the case but Scouts seemed really overpriced. We ended up with an A4 for the same money. Nicer interior, more advanced 4WD system, same engines. Ironically perhaps a less desirable ‘image’ around here.

I use Autotecnic.co.uk in Sheffield, Skoda specialist VAG etc. Very honest cheaper than main dealer only use genuine parts – best garage I’ve used ever.
My 1.4tsi has 70k on it.

Thanks, that’s exactly the kind of thing I need to know.

Chesterfield Scout man got upset because I texted him instead of calling and then he never replied when I asked where he lived. I think that one might be off the cards.

I’ve never looked at Audi’s but having done a quick search there’s hundreds to choose from at every price range. The Allroads look good. No preference really between A4 or A6. I might go visit a couple of local ones.

I spent a fair bit of time looking at scouts and yetis.
I bought a subaru instead.
Deja vu, i see I’m not the only one.

Which Subaru though? I only really know the ones that go fast and make choochoo noises. Are there any that aren’t incredibly thirsty and agricultural?

They’re good cars, just wish they did the vRS in 4wd.

I’ve had two large bills though recently, the p2015 fault which is a stupid plastic thing that moves in the intake manifold. Over £700 to sort.

And the aircon condenser is unprotected at the front on UK cars. It got damaged by stones, lost pressure and due to running dry with the previous owner, goosed the compressor bearings. Again around £700 just for the condenser, when the compresser finally shats itself it will be another grand.

Mine has problems with the speakers cutting out, the connections seem to be a bit marginal in the tweeters.

Also the gearbox has become notchy and probably needs the VAG adjustment done. Again, common problem.

Other than that it’s been a very good and reliable car. Quick enough, doesn’t understeer too badly, reasonably handsome. Bit of road noise but not too bad.

Over all, very good family car with a bit of poke.