Interphase

Unexpectedly

I only went in to look at a Leon Cupra (which turned out to have been through the wars a bit), saw a mint looking 51 plate 4x4 hatch with 48k on the clock, took it for a test drive and was hugely impressed. Not quite as quick as the Cupra, but a wonderful surefooted whoomph of power that had me grinning after just three roundabouts It seems a bit steep at £4995 but I imagine that could be argued down a bit.

Thing is, I'd never considered this car (or even realised it existed outside of the estate) although I had been to look at an RS, so I know very little about the things to look out for and the costs and pitfalls of ownership. I've picked up a lot from searching the forums here (cheers!) but I have a couple of questions I could do with advice on.

I've never driven a haldex fitted car before and notices a slight rumble that I could just feel through my toes as the car took up drive - it was almost as if I could feel the transmission shifting power around. Does that bear any resemblance to anything anyone has observed before? I gather the oil has to be changed in the transmission itself as a service item, so what would the service schedule look like for the first 60k or so of a 4x4s life? I might be able to use this as a bargaining point at the sale

I couldn't actually hear the recirc valve blowing as I could with a cupra I drove a whike back, but I didn't notice any ill effects so I assume it's working. Do Octy turbos use the black plastic bosch unit as standard, because it looks like this has been replaced with a metal unit.

Everything else seemed to be pretty solid and I've picked up a few good tips here for the next visit. Anything major I should definitely check out?

Cheers in advance for any tips you can offer - I don't have a great deal of cash to buy grin inducing machinery, so I have to get whatever I buy right

Lummox

Yes the Octavia uses the same DV as all the other std VAG units.

The 4x4 system only activates if the front end looses gripso under normal driving you probably wont feel the 4x4 drive, cant say ive ever felt one 'engage' but then I havent driven them a lot.

Haldex should have an oil change every 20k and an oil and filter every 40k.

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L&KDET

You would notice the difference as I did, when the Haldex packed up, It really is good, and I took it up the Hertz mountains, in the snow and it was outstanding. Intresting, I just got rid of my 51 plate 4x4, and it also had 48k on it! don't suppose it's a cayenne red?

ColinD

Arh well not mine; unless it didn't move for three years...green?

Even in 150 default power they are surprisngly good I had one for a while and enjoyed it greatly. Not wishing to put temptation in your path, but with a remap they are even better...IRC it's 6.1/6.4 to 60 then.

But the haldex and esp really work wonders, although it might feel a bit boaty on sharp turn in's it does actually stick very well...handy for poorer conditions.

The dv is very quiet on them, and as Ross says haldex every 20k or so. You ocassionally feel the transmission shift power in poorer conditions or hoofing it off a line, 3k drop clutch in the wet it should just go...which is what I miss the most.

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jason

that mileage and that price i am gob smacked.if i hadn't gone for the vrs a few years back i would be SERIOUSLY tempted. my mate has a 4x4 and we usually swap jealousies.
i want his interior and haldex,he wants various bits off mine,but mine has been fettled with.
i drove the mk1 leon cupra and tbh it felt to skitish at the back end,but i seem to have bought a bad octavia and my ownership has benn tainted,most recently a 500 quid steering rack
my mates 4x4? 700 quid on clutch and dual mass flywheel OUCH!!

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louder than war

Glider

Price seems steep, I paid less for a 2003 03 last week with 41k and full history.

From Glasses
Skoda Octavia Elegance
1.8 Petrol 5-door Hatchback
5 Speed Manual Four Wheel Drive
Year: 2001 51
Mileage: 48,000

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£3260
Average condition:
£2920
Below average condition:
£2560

But if you like the car

bengie

i have felt my haldex engage in 3 years of ownership and have driven it on snow, ice, wet roads, gravel, wet grass, frozen grass and hot tarmac. what i have noticed it do is virtually never lose traction, ocassionally kicking the back end out on hard shifts or planting it out of bends

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owner of a skoda octavia 4xvrs3

Interphase

That's great, thanks - I know what to look out for on the service history now. It seems fairly complete, but I need to check that the transmission has been pampered. The car itself is a kind of metallic blue-grey which is pleasant enough and adds to the sleeper image a bit

It'll need a couple of things doing - there's a tiny rattle at about 3k that sounds just like a loose heatshield, and I think it's had the NSF wheel knocked out of alignment because there's a slight pull to the left and the Eagle F1 has been shouldered on the outer edge. This is all fuel to my bargaining strategy

The one thing that concerns me is that there's a bracket on the rear for a removable tow hitch, and I can't vouch for what it's been towing. Was that bracket standard or a factory option? There don't seem to be any electrics to support it though, which is odd. I'm a bit worried that this might have put excessive strain on the transmission but it doesn't feel as if it's having issues.

Have to have a think about this and go back to see them I think - I'd want a few things putting right and a lower price and the dealership is known for offering a good service but charging through the nose. Given the price that Glider has quoted it might be worth pushing a bit or even looking elsewhere.

Damn, I hate being bitten by car bugs - I can't afford this sort of thing

will_

I couldn't afford my 4x4 either ... but bought it anyway (very similar age and mileage as the one you're looking at) and have never looked back.

When I was shopping around did notice that the 4x4s seemed to be considerably more expensive, and less negotiable, than the 2WD equivalents. Mine was advertised for just under £5k but I haggled it down by a few hundred by going over it with a fine-toothed comb and photographing anything below par, then showing the owner the photos.

I've only ever noticed the Haldex engaging on muddy tracks - you feel the front wheels begin to slide, then WHOOSH, you get a swift kick up the backside and you're off.

No towing bracket on mine.

Stuart_J

Re the strength of the transmission, my 4x4 has been tweaked for most of its life, the first remap was at 8000 & its steadly developed to a point where at around the mid 50,000 it was up to 350 bhp, its completed 3 Cannonball runs, 2 Furballs & generally been very well used. The power crucified the std gearbox & the Rs one I subsiquently fitted failed spectacularly but at 70,000 the haldex is still performing perfectly (runs & touches some wood) so I wouldnt worry too much about the car being worked hard on that point. It also toook 250 bhp to destroy the std clutch so that too is fairly strong. If its been used for towing provided the owner was sensible you shouldnt have any problems, Towing can be no worse than a car with 5 adults & loads of luggage

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Speed is an addiction for which thankfully there is no cure

Penpusher

Interesting what Will says about 4x4's being more expensive.

When I went to part-exchange my 4x4 against my Superb, the garage said they hadn't had one for sale before, although I'd bought it from them 5 years ago(!), and they were relunctant to give much on the price as they weren't sure if or how it would sell!

It seems that if you're selling, they are not many around and the price is low, but it's the same reason why the price is high when you're buying!

Lummox

Wouldnt worry about the 4x4 being used as a tow car, more than up to the job and IIRC has won awards for its towing capabilities.

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Unit 18 Automotive Services
www.unit18.co.uk

Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

musky

Had mine since new and I have felt the power being shifted around but only on snow! The clutch was fine until remapped and then slipped causing a £700 bill! The only other gripe was the change to a lower mileage/age for the expensive cambelt - something that seems a con to me. As standard it seemed to suffer flat spots but is much better after map. Buy one but haggle that price a lot - its too much. Then pray for snow!

Interphase

I went back in today to have a closer look over it and it seems pretty straight, so I queried the price. I now have a printout from CAP that shows their retail price for that year and that mileage as £5250 which seems really high compared to Parkers, Glass' and various autotrader searches. It seems that CAP have set the buying price for that condition at not much less that the price a lot of people seem to be selling them for..

will_

When I was looking for a 2001/2 model about 6 months ago, dealers were asking for £7k for a 50k mile car or £6k for £80k miles. This seemed to be pretty consistent up and down the country (although I only found 7 for sale).

The guy I eventually bought mine from said he had originally advertised it at £5000 (50k miles) but lowered it (presumably due to lack of interest) to £4750.

Interphase

I was looking through autotrader the other day and saw an advert for a very similar car to the one I'd tested.. VERY similar, in fact, the same car. It had been brought from a family by another dealer (who hadn't put the things right the needed doing) and this dealer appears to have brought it from him, marked up the price by over a grand and stuck it on the forecourt. Judging by the original advert it would have left the previous dealer for less than 4k. This is the same dealer who told me you can't get them for that money when I pushed them on it. Bugger that for a game of soldiers -the only way I'm touching it is if they bring the price down by a fair chunk.

I also missed a lovely RS last night for a great price - the guy was going to call me back if the buyer he had lined up was a flake, but he would have been mad not to buy it at that price so I assume it went through.

Not having much luck here...

Dr Zoidberg

Don't know where you are , but there's a 1.8T 4x4 at one of my local dealers that could be worth a look.

02 plate - 28k miles - £5750

Savilles Garage - new and pre-owned Skodas

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Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk

crazywolf287

ive had my 4x4 octy since new and can regularily get the 4x4 system kicking in. last car was a 2wd cossie, and the octy showed it up in all aspects of control under pressure. just sadly lacking brake horse at the minute.rpressure. never regreted getting th

MrChris

Considering selling mine at the moment...

Higher mileage than others 64,000. If you are interested drop us a line.

Chris