What to check when buying a used Skoda Octavia III?

Are you considering buying a used Octavia III? We'll give you advice on which one to buy and which ones to avoid. What to check when buying a Skoda Octavia III? The third-generation Skoda Octavia was launched in 2012, replacing the also very popular second generation. The third-generation Octavia is certainly a modern car, although it lags behind the second in a few small details. For example, the rear axle design. But otherwise it is a really high-quality and well-built car. Its engines are mostly reliable and have low consumption. It has a well-made chassis with good driving characteristics and a large trunk for its class. 590 or 1,580 liters for the liftback and 610 or 1,740 liters for the station wagon.

Why is the Octavia 3 a good choice?

It is one of the largest and most spacious models in its class. It is not at all demanding in terms of maintenance and, moreover, it holds its price well. The biggest benefits of the third-generation Octavia are undoubtedly the interior space, practicality and, of course, the volume of the trunk. As for the engines, the modern TSI engines, except for the later three-cylinder, are almost flawless and the 1.6 and 2.0 TDI diesels do what they are supposed to. With proper maintenance, they are reliable and have low consumption.

The drive can be front-wheel or all-wheel drive, the transmission can be manual or automatic. The car is safe and to a certain extent reliable, but it is certainly not without its flaws. One of the main things that didn't go well with the third-generation Octavia is noise, mainly from the axles and engine. The simpler trailed rear axle and the 1.4 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines are certainly worse in terms of noise. Also, be careful with the petrol versions due to faulty valve seating. We recommend looking at Octavias after 2014, when most of the details were resolved. The 1.8 TSI engine seems unnecessary to us and doesn't make much sense. It has a lot of power, but its torque is dampened to 250 Nm like the smaller 1.4 TSI. We would rather go for the Octavia RS. 

What to check when buying a used Skoda Octavia III?

Again, it depends a bit on what model, with what engine, transmission and equipment you are interested in. I definitely recommend checking the history of the car before you even consider buying it. There are perhaps too many imported Octavias on our market and their history may be questionable. Our complete online vehicle inspection. 

OK, the history is in order and it's time for a physical inspection. The best thing to do is to take an experienced mechanic with you. The mechanic already knows what to check and where to reach, and he also has diagnostics. If you don't have anyone around, you can try our car inspection before purchase and our technician will take care of everything.

The most common faults of Octavia 3

We have already inspected hundreds of Octavias, so we know them almost blindly. So what should you check when buying a used Skoda Octavia III? There are no extra defects in the third generation Octavia. However, it is necessary to check the function of the diesel injectors, especially for the 1.6 TDI engine.. For injectors, it is important to test hot and cold starts, engine smoothness, and evaluate disturbing noises. It is also necessary to focus on the particulate filter and its functionality.

Checking the gearbox on a used Skoda Octavia III

Some models have stronger vibrations that can be transmitted to the body. It could be a transmission silent block that the designers didn't do very well. If you choose a car with a DSG automatic transmission, be especially careful. Cars with more than 200,000 km may already have problems. Test the transmission when it's cold and if the automatic transmission is jerky, you should get rid of such a car or accept a theoretically expensive repair. A DSG transmission can certainly last for more kilometers, depending mainly on the driving style of the previous owner.

During the test drive, also pay attention to the creaking of the wheel, it could be a broken spring. It may sound strange, but it happens in some cars and the three-cylinder Octavia is one of them. I also recommend checking the moisture in the headlights, especially the LED ones. In units that have moisture in the headlights for a long time, their effectiveness may deteriorate over time and the headlight may be damaged. A new headlight is also quite expensive. If you choose a unit that has more than 150 thousand km on the odometer, you must count on basic service. This should be a complete replacement of the timing belt, including the water pump, oil and, preferably, the oil in the gearbox.

But otherwise, we can recommend the third-generation Octavia without any problems. It is a reliable and above-standard car. And if you pay attention to its most common problems in the bazaars, you have a very good chance of getting a good partner for many more kilometers. And now you know what to check when buying a used Skoda Octavia III. We wish you good luck!

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