Buying / inspection advice Octavia vRS 2007

[Smiley_Walsh]

Hi,
Have you got any advice when looking at a vRS manual Octavia? I'm also looking at a 2007 with around 100,000 kms.
How much should I pay?
Should timing belt be changed at 105,000 kms, as I believe?
Anything to look out for when test driving / inspecting?
I'd consider having it inspected and may call Camden GTI in Campbeltown to discuss service needs.
It's pretty clean and straight. Has decent tyres and brakes all round. Gearbox seems good.
Any personal advice you can give from experience is appreciated!
Thanks.

[Lucas_R]

Timing belt and water pump are due at 6yrs OR 105,000km.

Given the km's travelled and year model, there are a few items which i would suggest you replace as a preventative measure - all are common failure points on the 2.0TFSI engine.

- PCV valve. Known to fail and leak causing rough idle and engine noise. Approx $80
- diverter valve. Known to rip internally and leak boost. Approx $100
- ignition coil packs. Wear out and cause misfires. Approx $120 for all 4.
- high pressure fuel pump cam follower. Wears out over time and can cause major engine issues if it fails completely costing thousands. Approx $80
- front suspension control arm rubber bushes. Will crack when worn causing unresponsive steering. Approx $150 to replace.
- check brake disks for excessive wear

Apart from general wear items, the engine is very reliable and generally robust.

[brad]

Hi,
Have you got any advice when looking at a vRS manual Octavia? I'm also looking at a 2007 with around 100,000 kms.
How much should I pay?
Should timing belt be changed at 105,000 kms, as I believe?
Anything to look out for when test driving / inspecting?
I'd consider having it inspected and may call Camden GTI in Campbeltown to discuss service needs.
It's pretty clean and straight. Has decent tyres and brakes all round. Gearbox seems good.
Any personal advice you can give from experience is appreciated!
Thanks.

Timing belt, water pump & pullies should have been done or will need doing ASAP.

Look for a full service history of oil/filter changes at least every 15k/12m.

Make sure the AC is icy cold & work s on both sides - this model had an unreliable compressor.

Have a good look at the suspension, esp the rear console bushes on the front lower control arms. The dampers will be shot by now so count on doing something there in the near future and also getting a quality wheel alignment.

look for corrosion / damage in the sills and if it's a hatch on the join line on the vertical part of the boot (just below the badges).

A sedan will be about $9k with no money needed to spend, wagon about $10k.

edit: Lucas gives some good advice there

[woofy]

The belt and hopefully the waterpump should have been replaced on it already, it's 7yrs/105kms. Depending on how quickly it got up in kms originally the changeover date for the belt was much earlier. They don't replace the waterpump as well unless people ask for it. Should be done if not.

Our PCV went a year back but Skoda covered it under goodwill, charged around $500 though from memory.

[Smiley_Walsh]

Great advice so far guys. Thank you all.
I like the preventative suggestions, which don't appear too costly. Lucas, are those cost estimates parts only or labour inclusive?
97,000 km on odometer to be more accurate.
I am going to investigate service records re. Timing belt and water pump, plus oil change regularity.
Woofy, when was the timing belt changeover date originally scheduled by Skoda? From memory there is a Skoda service history until 65,000km, then some non-logbook servicing records.
I am looking to negotiate downwards from $9000 for this VRS wagon - depending on the timing belt information I can establish. With that in mind, as well as the other work suggested, there should be room for negotiation. I'm aiming for $8000 ��. Thanks for the pricing guide, Brad.
Any further advice is appreciated. I will update if there is any result!

[brad]

The belt and hopefully the waterpump should have been replaced on it already, it's 7yrs/105kms. Depending on how quickly it got up in kms originally the changeover date for the belt was much earlier. They don't replace the waterpump as well unless people ask for it. Should be done if not.

Our PCV went a year back but Skoda covered it under goodwill, charged around $500 though from memory.

The PCV are only about $100 delivered off ebay and there are 4 bolts that hold them on - it's would be 2 hours work for the most careful person in the world with no prior experience. Lord knows how Skoda get $500 to do the job.

Better than the OEM PCV, trawl the forums & buy a 2nd hand catch can with the African / Sahara block off adaptor. Forge, CTS & a few others do complete kits with hoses, brackets, etc. They are worth about $200 2nd hand - I've seen a few lately. It will reduce oil sludge around the inlet valves.

Offer them $7k - they are worth SFA but one of the best cars for the money on the road.

[woofy]

Yeah I said as much to the Skoda dealer when they quoted $500. In the UK a lot of people the minute they saw the symptoms I did just went and got the genuine from their dealer at under $100 AUD and did them themselves. We really do get ripped off here.

From memory there was originally an inspection at 90k or 4yrs but most dealers just replaced the belt then as you had to do 90% of the work to "inspect" anyway. It was revised to replace at 105k/7yrs just before I was about to get the 4yrs option. If it has not been done, it's a must do. Same with the waterpump. I was surprised in Nov last year that the dealer charge for that and a major service was around $1k, it was double that previously. Ours is due in Nov this year due to being 7yrs, we are still only 65k.

The valves aren't a big issue and are pretty obvious if they are needing to be replaced, it drives roughly. The high pressure fuel pump cam follower I have not heard anyone in Oz seeing this. No idea when it's recommended to be checked or replaced, or how easy it is to check.

[Smiley_Walsh]

Update: my offer of $8000 has been accepted - conditional on an independent vehicle inspection report.
Any recommendations for vehicle inspection businesses in Sydney?
The '07 vRS has 98000 kms on it, and has had the timing belt replaced at 96,000 kms. Good news. Servicing has been reasonably regular from what I can see.
I will definitely look into replacing the PCV valve, as it seems simple, likewise with the Diverter valve - as long as I can get underneath to replace that.. Is the suggested alternative of a catch can worth the extra money? What are the benefits?
I'd plan to have a wheel alignment in conjunction with an inspection of the dampers & bushes. Minor service is due I believe - oil, filters and plugs (?) to be thorough. I'd like to speak to Camden GTI about that.
FYI Brad, it is a wagon.
So far, so good. I'll be even happier if the inspection report is positive. ��

[brad]

Wouldn't the oil service have been done with the timing belt?

Ask to see proof the timing belt was done - a receipt of some sort.

A minor service is just oil & filter. You need to look at the service history to work out what else needs doing. If it isn't obvious what has been done then do everything - plugs; air, cabin & fuel filter; brake fluid.

The plugs are usually done at 60k even though the service guide says 90k - so they might have been done anywhere inbetween.

Fuel filter isn't specified in the manual so if there's no record of replacement do it now.

Do the gearbox oil as well. It's supposed to be a lifetime fill but it isn't.

Don't bother with Repco, SCA, etc for parts. There are some reasonably priced local sellers or buy off ebay - you'll save about 50%

I can't help with an pre-purchase inspection provider. Where is the car?

[Smiley_Walsh]

It's in Girraween. I've booked State Roads to inspect.
Yep. Receipt for timing belt is there. Didn't specify water pump unfortunately- seems a shame. I'll check to see if the oil was changed with the timing belt.
Thanks for the advice.