My Skoda owning friend, who is very happy with his 1.8T 4X4, says he wants to get another one, this time a diesel, to keep at his house in Croatia. He has found an 03 1.9 TDi from the same specialist garage (clearly an excellent place) that supplied the T, fsh and clean as a whistle but nearly 100,000 miles.
Is the 1.9 Tdi unit decently solid or not? I doubt if the car has a DPF, but does it have one of these absurdly fragile dual mass flywheels, and is there any risk of the fuel pump going? It will spend quite a lot of time not being used, and most of the use it gets will be pootling.
I've promised to call him later today so if anyone has an opinion...
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One of the most reliable, robust diesel engines on the planet, as long as it has had the correct oil, and the cambelt change has been done on time.
These engines don't use an injection pump as such, but have what are called "unit injectors" which combine high pressure pump and injection functions into one unit (per cylinder). These unit injectors are electronically controlled, but mechanically driven off the cam lobes. This is where the correct oil use is critical, as these cam lobes are very heavily loaded. VAG have an exacting spec for oil in this engine covering its ability to withstand these loads (505.01), and only this spec of oil must be used, even for top ups.
The unit injectors are anecdotally very reliable. My VW tech friend reckons it's not common to change these units at all, and he services some mega milers. Even if they do fail, you can often get away with changing just one, instead of a complete set.
They also suffer from MAF failure (<£100 for a genuine part and a 5 minute job to fit) and some suffer coking up of the turbo vanes which can be costly in terms of labour, but otherwise they're bulletproof. DMFs can fail, but that applies to any modern diesel. They're no worse than any other in this respect.
This information comes from a VW tech friend who works on them every day for a living. I bought a 1.9 TDI mkIV Golf earlier this year and now it's on nearly 90k. We're delighted with it.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 26/05/2009 at 13:03
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I know that many taxi drivers have the basic 1.9 turbo diesel Octavia, many having done well over 250,000 miles without trouble. The ones know about particularly are in a small town at least 200 miles from the capital and nothing but desert in between. So the mileage is made up of lots and lots of short trips with the occasional long one throw in.
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Thanks to both of you. I thought it would be like that. The garage will give the thing a very thorough going over anyway. I will recommend him to go and look at it.
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My Dad bought a 2003 1.9 Tdi (non-PD 110PS) Octavia top of range Elegance last year with 21,000 miles on. A great car with nice well made interior, no squeaks or rattles and comfortable seats. Outside has no rust and still buffs up nearly new. Very smooth take up in drive and fairly brisk and he gets on his runs to work over 50mpg. Only slight niggles are the usual over boost problem that comes now and then and AM reception (which he likes??) is very poor.
A great recommend to all
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04 1.9 tdi Ambiente h/back purchased 10 months ago with 27k on the clock, now just cracked 50k. two services at 36k and 46k and that's it. 53.5mpg at this time of the year, a little less in the winter. Complaints? Well, its a bit heavy on screenwash that needs regular topping up! Have been thinking of changing for an upmarket estate but losing the inclination to do so, this car just makes so much sense.
MGs
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I live in a seaside town which has several taxi companies and the number of vehicles which they run is easily well into three figures.
I would estimate that at least 80 per cent of them are Skoda Octavias and the drivers love them.
Most are bought from a specialist taxis supplier in the Glasgow area.
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Most are bought from a specialist taxis supplier in the Glasgow area.
Funny you say that. It must just be the thing about the MK1 Octavia's they like. Even though the MK2 came out 2004/05, we have a few 57 and 08 plated MK1's bearing the SA identifier round my way (S Yorks).
Edited by TimOrridge on 26/05/2009 at 23:49
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03 tdi will be the non PD motor. I have an 03 plate Elegance 1.9 tdi just coming up to 70K. It drives pretty much like new. 100K isn't a lot for these cars, well serviced. Check the service history and cambelt change (60K on non PD).
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I have a 52 plate Octavia Elegance estate with the non PD 1.9 110bhp diesel engine. I've had it since new (was my company car, I bought it at the end of the lease). It's done 126,600 miles and the engine is still fine. It has been properly serviced, including cambelt / water pump replacement. The only thing that's broken is the alternator at about 84,000 miles which took the power steering pump belt with it.
I currently run it on properly made biodiesel (with the odd tankful from an enthusiastic amateur producer) and it's fine. I think that it would be pretty much ideal for the use your friend is proposing
Edited by Soupytwist on 27/05/2009 at 15:19
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I have a 1999 110tdi estate. Which I've had 5yrs and done 115000 miles. I've used it well, it's now showing signs of age. Engine is amazingly strong, uses no oil, gets about 55mpg. Some other things not so good. Hot starting takes a few cranks (will start cold -10c no problem). Problem with dashboard in that speedo cuts in and out. this seems to be a common fault due to "dry soldering" in the circuit board. Easily sorted by removing fuse number15 which means clock and trip do not retain memory and no lights on buzzer but perfectly useable.
Wheel bearings, locks, MAF, Cluch pedal, Boot Struts, Shocks, springs, Gear Linkage have all failed, but this may not be so bad due to the use I've had from it. I have serviced it well
I paid £4700 April04 when it had 47000m on it. 1 local retired owner. A wee while ago I calculated that I had done 90000 miles and in total (including writing off purchase price and every associated running cost) it cost me £19000 which is about 21p per mile.
I was thinking of replacing it soon, probably another used estate either Avensis, Octavia or V50 (in no particular order). It is eligible for the scrappage scheme but I am not just convinced I would get the best deal that way.
Edited by loskie on 27/05/2009 at 17:55
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03 tdi will be the non PD motor.
PD????????
Regards...MD
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...PD...??
Pumpe Duse- 4 unit injectors driven off the cam, fuelling each individual cylinder, as opposed to the original TDi, which uses one more traditional fuel injection pump. Others will give a far more detailed description than I!
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Thanks to everyone for this. I think he is buying the car.
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