Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6

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Mon 3 Oct 2016 18:00
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Cartos

I would appreciate any views on my imminent used car purchase dilemma, I'm not quite sure which way to turn.

I am unsure which way to go between:

Skoda Octavia Estate circa 2011/2012 with approx 60k miles (1.4tsi or 1.8tsi)

BMW 3 Series Touring circa 2008 with approx 60-70k miles (318 / 320)

Mazda 6 Estate circa 2010 with approx 60-70k miles (2.0)

All would be petrol engines as not enough miles and the wrong kind of trips to consider diesel.

Does anyone have any strong views on which way to go?

Any help greatly appreciated.

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Mon 3 Oct 2016 19:41
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Avant

Go for the Skoda or the Mazda, the Skoda being slightly more roomy than the Mazda. I'm not sue the Mazda is worth paying more for than the Skoda, if your quotes are tyical.

Both are good cars and much better value than a much older BMW, where you are paying for the badge - and it's also much less roomy and no more reliable than the other two.

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Mon 3 Oct 2016 20:12
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Engineer Andy

If the Octavia 1.4TSi is the twin charger (higher power/performance version) version, then I'd avoid it. The standard 1.4 (the low -spec 'S' model) may be ok, though with VAG petrol engines you need to check if they are chain cam (see general problems with those on the 'Good & Bad' part of the reviews section for this model and many other VAG cars using similar engines) as some have had serious quality control issues resulting in BIG bills via failures. The 1.8TSi apparently use A LOT of oil.

Read up on the review for it and the other cars first. I suspect out of the three, the Octavia has by far the biggest boot, The beemer the best handling in decent conditions, and the Mazda decent on both fronts and reliability, ok (worse than the 1.4 Octavia but probably better than the 1.8) on fuel costs.

Tricky call without seeing all the details and them first hand. See if you can find a friend, family member or work colleague who is technically-minded on cars (more so than the likes of most ofus lot) who can go with you when you check them out/go for a test drive. Either that, or pay to bring along an AA/RAC rep with you to do the same if no-one is available, if you're buying from a small independent dealer/private owner you don't know.

Best of luck.

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Tue 4 Oct 2016 20:57
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Big John

As far as I am aware the 1.4 tsi MK II Octavia never came with the twin charger as the Octavia 1.4tsi was the turbo only 122-125ps EA111 version with a cam chain. (PS the 1.4tsi Fabia VRS did!) Note these respond well to frequent oil changes!

The earlier non turbo satndard 1.4 16v (75-80ps) is a non turbo cam belt - it needs a belt every 4 year/40,00 miles.

The MK III Octavia 1.4tsi has a brand new very different cambelt engine(EA211)

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Tue 4 Oct 2016 22:16
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Engineer Andy

Did the older Octavia have a 75bhp engi e at some point? Wow - that must've been a really slow car! Even the 122bhp version wouldn't be that swift, given how big the Octavia is.

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Tue 4 Oct 2016 23:27
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Big John

Did the older Octavia have a 75bhp engi e at some point? Wow - that must've been a really slow car! Even the 122bhp version wouldn't be that swift, given how big the Octavia is.

Yes, infact this engine was fitted to various cars including Leon and Golf . In real life not too bad - I still have it in a 15 year old Octavia owned from new. Cruises fully laden through Europe at 130kph still averaging over 43mpg. Nippier than you'd think.

The car is semi -retired now(surplus to requirements but too good to scrap - absolutely no rust and always flies through MOT) but still used it to go to France when my son hit 18 as I couldn't insure him on my 2014 Skoda Superb 1.4tsi at the time

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Wed 5 Oct 2016 07:17
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - SLO76

Did the older Octavia have a 75bhp engi e at some point? Wow - that must've been a really slow car! Even the 122bhp version wouldn't be that swift, given how big the Octavia is.

Thousands of taxi drivers throughout Europe were happy enough with 64bhp in the 1.9 SDi. Hardly fast but perfectly able to sit at 80-90mph all day and had little to go wrong. Simple and robust.
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Mon 3 Oct 2016 20:28
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - SLO76
I'd favour the big Mazda. It's a very pleasant big car to drive, has loads of space and petrol engines are pretty bulletproof. They're chain driven so there's no expensive timing belt change to worry about, they must be serviced every year so walk from anything that hasn't got a full history.

We had an early 08 2.0 hatch a few years back and it was a good big car, surprisingly economical too regularly breaking 40mpg without driving like a nun. It's a wide car so parking sensors are a good idea.

The Octavia is a solid bus and should be reliable if looked after but I believe they need a timing belt every 4 years which will set you back around £250-£300. They're hard work to sell on unless they're diesel. Taxi trade and tradesmen lap up diesel estates but tend to ignore the petrol.

I'd forget the BMW. They're troublesome as they age and the 2.0 petrol VVT 4cyl isn't a good unit. They suffer from a number of issues but rattling and stretched timing chains are very common on this engine, usually due to either neglected servicing or garages using the wrong grade of oil. They are very oil specific requiring fully synthetic 5w-30 and will suffer if dodgy Joe's backstreet garage just bungs cheap 10w-40 In.

I had an E46 2.0 with basically the same engine which I had been servicing every year with the local (so called) BMW specialist who it turned out had been putting in the wrong oil which killed the timing chain at less than 50,000 miles and I've seen many requiring expensive timing chains at low mileage and plenty with new engines fitted. It's the worst engine BMW have made in memory, so avoid at all costs. Quick look around online and you'll see plenty of tales of woe.
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Tue 4 Oct 2016 09:48
Skoda Octavia Estate - Which way to go? Octavia v 3 series v Mazda 6 - Cartos

Thank you very much for your replies, very helpful and informative and much to consider.

Thank you.

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