Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

afternoon all, facing facts i cant afford a new shape focus st estate, so been looking at the octavia vrs etsates.

see one on a 2011 reg, 61k miles manual but no mention of having a cam belt done

from google i cant tell if it its a TSI or TFSI and has a cam belt or a cam chain, or what the change interval is.
some say 60k miles or 4 years, some say 100k miles...

and what are they like to live with?

i dont like the earlier ones, but the one with sweepy back head lights is not so bad, and again i cant afford the new ones.

and what are they like to tune lol?

and if anyone wants to do me a HPI check please let me know lol

It's Czech Mate

Practical, well screwed together and brisk. I'd say yours will be chain but safer to check reg with a dealer or inspect to check

I have done over 80k in my hatch and nothing spent but services, tyres, brakes and one abs sensor.

Not as nice as equivalent vw inside but very reliable, I'm 95% sure I'm about to buy a new one.

Plenty of tuning options, a simple stage 1 map makes them lively enough for a family motor.

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Cheers mate, ideally i was after something with less miles but it seems there are very few about in my price range!
i also want a manual not dsg, all the newer ones are all dsg and over budget lol

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Hmm, the car i was going to look at was up for Ł8650, just looked on the autotrader ad again to get the phone number and its now Ł9000 ....

It's Czech Mate

I know what you mean re mileage but go on condition and history too, mines just gone 110k miles and honestly feels tight as a drum.

slammedorion

Fraser9764 has one for daily duties...
Remapped...
Goes very well, never wants for anything...

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

so does anyone know what engine it will have?

this is the car in question, all be it with a Ł350 price increase

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...54et&logcode=p

looks tidy enough, but if its due a cam belt then that's Ł500 from the off.

cossynut2

Find out all the information regarding its specc and if it does need a new cam belt use that as a bargaining tool, either get the seller to change it or ask for money off. If he is keen to sell Im sure you should get something sorted.
My Daughters car mechanic partner has his own Garage business and he highly rates the Skoda Octavia petrol or diesel models.

fraser9764

iTrader: (3)

As Chris said, I've had my 2012 vRS estate tdi dsg for about 2.5 years now and done over 50k with no work other than routine services. Although the rear electric windows have just stopped working but I think its just the switch on the drivers door.
I had an evolution chips remap done at about 17k and that made a nice difference to power and economy.

My only criticism of them, is that they tend to be missing some basic luxuries that you would assume would be fitted as standard on such a new car. Such as Bluetooth, Ipod interface, parking sensors, auto lights, wipers etc.
Mine had front and rear parking sensors fitted and rear privacy glass and that was about it.
I retrofitted the OE Bluetooth module and loom for about Ł150, but that was for a relatively old Bluetooth module which has a few drawbacks like it doesn't work with Iphones, and on android you can't use google maps and be connected to Bluetooth at the same time.
My main problem with the manuals is that they don't get the multifunction steering wheel, and no maxidot control from the dash (for adjusting settings etc) although in practice it tends to only be the volume button I use on the steering wheel.

Great cars, and I would highly recommend them, but be careful with the spec so you don't end up with any surprises after you've spent your money.

Fullflush

Should be a chain I think.

Great comment on the spec, make sure it has what you want, you will only regret it

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Cheers chaps, good avice there!
i dont think i will rush into anything as going on holiday soon, so if its still about when i get back ill have a look.
ideally i want a blue one lol

still not sold my A3, so as said no rush.

It's Czech Mate

Good point about spec, I concur

Fullflush

Retro fitting something is always a nightmare

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

If its the engine code CCZA it will be chain driven

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Cheers Matt, do you know much about the tensioner failing on the chain ones?

i think ill give that specific one a miss now. seen there is a grey VRS estate in the next road lol, and another grey non vrs at the end of our road, and another new shape grey vrs at the top of the village lol

although after all that, hoping to have a look at a black focus st estate in bristol on sat!
more money, so bigger loan

It's Czech Mate

For my money the Octy is a better car, the interior is proper nasty on the focus/fiesta these days, very blingy and chrome/plasticky


Still its a good job we don't all like the same stuff, best of luck with the purchase!

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

there's lots of horror stories on the net with regards to the tensioner failing causing the chain to slip, from what i know there was a revised part issued which addressed this issue but of course how many fail compared to how many engines were built is the key, i suspect its a tiny percentage.

there's horror stories for every car manufactured

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

The thing is, that one i posted is on at 9k ish with 60k miles, then there are no other manual estates in between, then next one is 19k for a new shape one.

Matt, that is of course very true, but i have a read a few stories where you drive them fine, turn them off and when you start them next it some how jumps the chain on a cold start.

i have not driven either a VRS or the ST, so will decide once that has happened i guess. the garage that has the ST also has a VRS but its a hatch, not an estate so if i dont like the focus, or they wont come down to what i have to offer then i might as well look at the VRS there lol

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

yeah, something to do with a ratchet sleeve that allows the tensioner to slacken off too much when the oil pressure drops or you switch the engine off, the chain jumps and the next time you start or attempt to start it you smash the pistons into the valves

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Ouch!
sounds expensive!

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Don't worry, ill be back in a ford in a couple of weeks lol

put a deposit down on the focus st estate I looked at today.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Saw phil's picture on Facebook last night, looks really nice dan!

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

Cheers Rich, I wont collect it till the 22nd tho as on holiday.

stuck the A3 on egay with a grand start and no reserve, hopefully get more than the trade in they offered lol.

cash is gonna be a bit tight for a bit lol, but fuck it, you never know whats around the corner - I might die tomorrow

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

well the A3 has not long been collected.
sold on ebay this evening for Ł1800 and the guy came up from Barnstaple to collect it.

had a look round, no messing and gave me the cash.

I have taken quite a hit from what I paid and what I have spent on it, but its better than the Ł850 the garage offered so that's a bonus I guess.

still collect the new one in a couple of weeks

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Great stuff Dan, will feel like a long 2 weeks!

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

will it fuck, im off to spain on Thursday

might have to cycle to work tomorrow tho

It's Czech Mate

Lol at getting the focus in the end, I've just been out and was on my way to close a deal on the skoda and I've bought a 320d msport touring instead, the boot isn't as good but fuck it, it drives really well