Avensis or Octavia

DB_XIII

Dear all,

I'm looking at purchasing a new - used car.

I currently do around 8000-10,000 miles a year so looking at petrol, 5 door, decent sized boot and decent MPG, and of course reliability.

I really like the look of both Toyota Avensis and Skoda Octavia's. I'm looking at around 54-55 plates with roughly 50k on the clock. My friend works as a mechanic for Toyota and has advised Avensis' are good cars and but known issues are oxygen sensor failures, although he advised it's easy enough to sort.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with either or can add to the above?

Thanks.

stueyhants

I'm on my 2nd Octavia now, first one did 114k with no issues. The number of taxi firms using the Octavia gives you a level of confidence in the reliability.

Horizon81

You've already answered your own question. Go for the Toyota, you have a friend who's a mechanic there! If any out of the ordinary problems come up then you can turn to him. And it's not as if Skodas are without their problems.

andygb

stueyhants wrote: »

I'm on my 2nd Octavia now, first one did 114k with no issues. The number of taxi firms using the Octavia gives you a level of confidence in the reliability.

Are you using a diesel, because I find our Octavia really economical - 56MPG consistently.
People also say you shouldn't use diesels for short trips, if that is so then why do taxi drivers use them?;)

steve-L

andygb wrote: »

Are you using a diesel, because I find our Octavia really economical - 56MPG consistently.
People also say you shouldn't use diesels for short trips, if that is so then why do taxi drivers use them?;)

Because they leave the engine running between trips.....or at least it doesn't get chance to cool which is when its inefficient, more likely to damage and on newer cars the DPF gets gunked.

r748spx

both good reliable cars out the two id go with the toyota or if you can find a better deal on the octavia go for that.

out of the ones ive moted they have all passed couple of octavias needed a few small jobs done.

steve-L

Both are fine cars......

As said, if your mate is a Toyota mechanic then this would seem a big factor!

I looked at both when buying my Honda Accord 2.2TDCI and would have been happy with either!

I bought the Honda because the price was right..... and to be honest at the time I quite fancied the Octavia....

In the end its a used car.... so the possibility of it costing money is always there.... so I personally tend to settle on 3-4 models I'd be happy with and let price/value decide.

I base price value on:
Extras.... Honda was a Exec model and came with leather.. (useful with small kids) heated seats and stuff.....
Resale and Depreciation:
What's it going to cost you without unexpected maintenance. Also look at changes to engine.... did one of them get a better/more economical engine that year? Its probably better to get one just upgraded before your model than at the tail end before a new one. When it comes to selling its easier.... same going for an Exec Trim level.. you pay minimally more but its easier to sell....

Cost of unexpected known issues:
Factor in known faults, risk..... and service history/type of use.... (My Honda had 155k but faultless service history and mainly obviously motorway miles).... also has timing chain not belt... and had obviously been well maintained (I often look at tyres... if someone keeps receipts and you see they put on decent tyres then they probably also looked after the rest)
No recurring faults in SH..... if something keeps coming up then its likely to come up again.....

Perhaps widen to include say Passat and even a Rover 75.....

At 8,000-10,000 I wouldn't totally discount a diesel.
Do the economics including resale price....
At that age you avoid the DPF on a diesel..... (check model obviously) but it is usually 2006-

If you do a few long trips and relatively few short ones then a diesel can still turn out more economical... I don't do that many miles on average but they tend to have a lot of bias towards 70 mile trips...

SLITHER99

Any known issues with them Octavias? Considering going to see a 2003 1.6 petrol on 50k miles local to me. Apparently full history etc, but no idea what to look out for on one.

steve-L

SLITHER99 wrote: »

Any known issues with them Octavias? Considering going to see a 2003 1.6 petrol on 50k miles local to me. Apparently full history etc, but no idea what to look out for on one.

I looked into them but was looking at Diesel....
In the search I didn't find any issues that put me off buying one but I wouldn't have looked for anything specific with the 1.6 petrol.....

I think you might find it a bit underpowered for the weight of the car.... but other than that it should be the same as the other VAG 1.6 petrol cars???? Golf/Passat etc. (I think its the same engine, you can find out by a internet search and then include 1.6 Golf/Passat's for known issues specific if it is the same engine)

I'd really try trawling the Skoda forums.... they have a reasonable cult following....
Personally I'd be looking for one with the K&L (Laurin + Klement) Spec.... but I don't think that was available in the 1.6?

Check the Serv Hist.... and be prepared to walk away..... but you know that

patman99

Octavias are somewhat better put together than their VW/Audi stablemates.
I drive a 12 year old Octavia 1.9TD & apart from £375 to have the timing belt & waterpump replaced (I had this done after buying the car as I wanted to eliminate the risk of a failure), have only ever had to put diesel in it. It has the advantage of no DPF, so no need to worry about DPF failure due to town driving.

If I were replacing it, I would consider an Avensis if the price was right. Not sure you would benefit from a diesel when only doing 8 - 10,000 miles a year though. I do 12,000 and go 18 days between fill-ups on a tank-full with a mix of motorway/country/A road driving.

adamc260

I was in an Avensis Diesel before (Taxi) and it was whisper quiet for a diesel... was so shocked!

Toyota's just go on forever... and ever... and ever!!

Got stung with a skoda before, never again!