Cheap Octavia tale

[stripped fred]

I saw a 2000 Octavia estate 1.9tdi SLX local to me on eBay yesterday with a starting bid of £350 so texted the owner and went along yesterday evening to have a look. See relisted item:

 

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=271913523513&globalID=EBAY-GB&alt=web

 

I asked for the address and he gave me a postcode only. I duly arrived about half an hour before the auction end and tried to call him as he'd said but as we were in the sticks there was no reception. Ended up driving away for 4 miles before I could call him. Anyway, he came to meet me in his transit and said to follow him to the caravan site. Cue some fear on my part. Well I thought, I've come this far. Turns out it wasn't a traveller site as such but he did live in a caravan. Friendly bloke too. The car itself was very dirty on the outside but the inside was tidy. He went to start it and it took a few goes but he said it had been standing for a while and was also low on diesel and we also noticed some air bubbles in the fuel supply pipe. I drove it up and down the lane a few times and it felt pretty tight although I did detect a strange rattling noise from underneath. The main thing that put me off though was that all the instruments were dead. I've since googled it and it's a common problem which can be a bit tricky to fix. Also he told me that the cambelt had been done at 174k but couldn't find the paperwork. And it wasn't his car but a friend's who didn't have the space after he'd bought his new car. All in all I decided to give this one a miss as it wasn't looking as cheap after you'd fixed everything that needed fixing. I am now on the hunt for another one though. Probably worth paying a few quid more I think.

[Tamworthbay]

Caravan park, not his car, dodgy rattles, no instruments and you DIDN'T buy. Can't think why not.........

[Lacquer Peel]

The problem with the instruments is a fairly easy fix if you have access to a soldering iron.

 

The rattling is probably the exhaust heat shields.

[stripped fred]

I have a history of convincing myself to buy a lot of cars when I should really walk away but I managed to resist this one. I still think there is a good car hiding underneath and if he was the owner, had washed it (showing a bit of caring ownership), it started a bit easier and he could prove the history I might have been tempted!

[carlo]

Says it's his car in the ad.  Tw*t.

[Rusty_Rocket]

What's with this 'sellin for a frend' BS? Does it mean that when said car expires two minutes after you've bought it, the Arfur Daily wannabe can blame it on a mythical person?

[Bren]

I bet said gent was a safer bet than carcraft.

[stripped fred]

What's with this 'sellin for a frend' BS? Does it mean that when said car expires two minutes after you've bought it, the Arfur Daily wannabe can blame it on a mythical person?

It was definitely his friend's car. Showed me all the paperwork and he'd signed the v5. I'd just rather deal with the actual owner!

[stripped fred]

I bet said gent was a safer bet than carcraft.

He was pretty honest in person as opposed to his listing which was a bit misleading. Still rather that than a slimey salesperson.

[sierraman]

A lot of the old Octavias end up heading back to the Czech Republic from the migrant workers for either parts or to take back home as the ones here are better spec/condition. A lot you see that the Czechs have brought over are the base spec 1.9 SDI usually on 14's.

[oldford]

The problem with the instruments is a fairly easy fix if you have access to a soldering iron.

 

 

You can do a quick temporary fix by removing the fuse for the instrument panel, you get dials but will lose the clock and trip data when the car is switched off.

[stripped fred]

A lot of the old Octavias end up heading back to the Czech Republic from the migrant workers for either parts or to take back home as the ones here are better spec/condition. A lot you see that the Czechs have brought over are the base spec 1.9 SDI usually on 14's.

When I broke my 2001 Audi A4 a lot of the parts went to eastern Europeans living here and abroad, also some Russians. They must like German metal over that way.

[320touring]

Yay! Octopussies are for Winnahs!

 

sounds lik you had a close shave with that vendor..

[stripped fred]

Yay! Octopussies are for Winnahs!

 

sounds lik you had a close shave with that vendor..

I'll tell you what though this car had 188k but felt really good to drive even the few hundred yards I did in it. I know they have a reputation as being a bit boring but as a reasonably well made, dependable, practical family car I think they take some beating.