The reason why I decided on the triple Octavia was very pragmatic. As a family, we needed a bigger car for two adults and two children, and the budget was not for everyone – a modest quarter of a million. The third generation Fabia Combi of the time was on the list, an excellent car, but with a narrow interior. 250,000 wouldn’t be enough for any other new car of similar size, so it was necessary to look around for second-hand cars.
I favored the Ford Mondeo, maybe the two-seater Superb Combi, I wasn’t brave enough for the Volvo XC70, or rather there weren’t many cars on offer that were worth a closer look. In addition, I wanted a vehicle that could be repaired by any village service, and any generation of the “octave” perfectly fulfills this. And the station wagon was a clear choice, on the one hand I like it more than the liftback and on the other hand it is more practical, which you will definitely appreciate when looking for a family car.
The problem is that there are thousands of Octavias lying around in the bazaars with diesel engines and in absolutely uninteresting, basic equipment. I had a small budget for a good gasoline RS, so the second best choice was a gasoline 1200, a fantastic engine that, even if you drive with a brick on the gas pedal, takes up to six liters of gasoline. In addition, it is quiet and has an excellent transmission in almost all models where the concern mounts it.
However, the matching car was nowhere to be found in the bazaars, so it was clear that there would be a diesel under the hood. Which probably shouldn’t be a problem in my case, in addition to urban taxi driving, I drive one to two thousand highway kilometers every month. However, if you drive rather short distances and drive your car only 500 kilometers per month, definitely do not buy a diesel.
Photo: Martin Žemlička
A quarter of a million kilometers will check any car very thoroughly
Thousands of ordinary versions
Distressed versions from bazaars or ads that I looked at during the two months of searching were a risky choice, either because of unclear service history, or perhaps oil leaks or even an exhaust as black as the face of a wrecker. And to be honest, after three months I didn’t feel like looking any further, so when one Friday evening I discovered a nicely equipped silver station wagon with the most powerful 1.6 TDI (81 kW, after the facelift there was also an 85 kW version) for 245,000 at an authorized Škoda dealer, immediately in I ran there on Saturday morning.
A mileage of 182,000 in three years looks threatening at first glance, but the average of 60,000 kilometers per year means that the car was most likely driven on long stretches. Which is ideal, not only for TDI engines, but somewhat in general. The peculiarity was some equipment elements that one would not expect from a mere 1.6 TDI – for example, heated rear seats or a better version of infotainment. I definitely recommend looking for a car with bi-xenon headlights, basic halogens do not shine well.
Photo: Lukáš Kukla, Garáž.cz
The hard life of the car, owned by a leasing company for three years, was shown by a torn cargo edge on the rear bumper, a few visible scratches, or completely dented “hips” on the driver’s seat. The complete ELSA statement showed that the purchased Octavia did not experience many problems during its 180,000 kilometers. She was broken down three times, but it was nothing serious. The front bumper and fender were changed in two cases – 57,256 km (February 2017) and 86,069 (August 2017). Right before the sale (181,470) the rear fender and the left rear door were being repaired – the Octavia crashed for the third time.
And this car didn’t suffer from other “unplanned” faults either – in October 2017 (96,969 km) the spontaneous overheating of the engine was solved, and in March of the following year, oil leaked from the right front shock absorber (it was replaced with a new one). Nothing else. According to my mechanic, who takes care of the car all the time and who also assisted me with the purchase, Octavia IIIs do not have major system problems, and TDI engines have a normal mileage of over half a million kilometers.
One of the few pitfalls is problems with the water pump. A classic is the creaking front axle when crossing bumps – I’ve experienced this in probably all modern Škoda cars. Even here, the solution is not complicated – the service center will remove the problem for you using special petroleum jelly, and if that doesn’t help, then by replacing the silent blocks.
The battery lasted 260,000 km
Right after the car was bought, all operational fillings were changed, including the “lifetime” oil in the gearbox. I changed from a variable oil change (Longlife III 5W-30) to a fixed one after 15,000 km. At 205,000 I had new wiring done (including replacing the water pump), a few months later the humming bearing on the right front wheel was changed. At 240,000, the front and rear shock absorbers were changed together with the stops.
Photo: Lukáš Kukla, Garáž.cz
The engines of the EA 288 series are reliable without major system malfunctions.
An interesting fact is that the original battery (AGM) lasted 260 thousand kilometers, probably not only due to longer routes, but also to the mechanically disconnected stop-start system. It was replaced with Exide 70Ah, which are also used in primary production. And when we were in the service center, the front disc brakes were replaced as well, the rear will wait for the fall.
The biggest asset of the three-seater (and four-seater, there were no more options to inflate the space) Octavia is, of course, the interior space. You also have a huge amount of seats in the back, and there are not many cars of the lower middle class, where the Octavia formally falls, that can take four two-meter people.
There is probably no point in commenting on the trunk, its 610 liters, excellent use of space and low cost margin are among the best that the lower middle class has to offer. Infotainment with buttons on the sides is in terms of intuitiveness the best Octavia has ever offered, and against the problematic solution from the last generation, it is literally a balm for the souls of drivers who are already fed up with digitization in cars.
Photo: Lukáš Kukla, Garáž.cz
On the 17-inch wheels, the comfort of the suspension is absolutely unremarkable.
The 1.6 TDI engine was produced in versions of 66, 77 kW (Euro 5) and 81 kW (Euro 6). it doesn’t get lost on the German highway even at speeds of around 160 km/h. There is no point anymore, the already annoying noise is even more annoying. This version still managed without AdBlue (all diesels have it since 2018), even after 270 thousand kilometers, the DPF is only 70 percent full, and if you look into the exhaust, it is absolutely clean, without a single black soot.
Triples don’t rust anymore
The Octavia of the third generation generally does not rust, and there is a huge leap forward in quality compared to the “two”. But we were unlucky and the described silver Octavia rusted slightly in two places. On the one hand, at the lamps near the fifth door, where the original halogens have been replaced by trouble-free salt lamps. And further between the rear door and the bumper, where the repair after the accident was poorly done. Claimed at once in an authorized service center, where the car manufacturer acknowledged the claim and repaired it free of charge. Since then, the room has been with the exception of small rusted “nuts” near the taillights (under a plastic cover that the previous owners did not clean). Solved temporarily by light sanding and applying paint.
For many motorists, the Octavia is of course the most boring car. It drives passably, but it’s nothing to grab your heart. With heavier diesel engines, the steering and shifting feel harder, and although the “octaves” can go through corners at a solid speed, no one can really expect fun from them, with the honorable exception of the gasoline versions of the RS.
In addition, the engine is noisy, and the noise from the wheels and the giant empty space are added to the unpleasant sounds. Even on eighteen-inch wheels (they are an inch smaller in the photos, which are used during the winter), the Octavia is quite comfortable. Even on long off-road undulations, the car springs beautifully and does not lift the body any more than necessary.
It’s a good car to drive, which won’t blow you away, but in nothing (maybe with the exception of interior noise, but I haven’t measured that exactly) it’s not below average for its class. In addition, the simple rear axle with trailing arms is a service miracle – any workshop can easily handle it. When the Octavia III entered the market, journalists scolded a lot for this simple element, as time has shown, it was a good move on the part of Škoda – tuning of shock absorbers and springs and body stiffness are crucial for good driving characteristics. And this is a discipline that Škoda Auto excels at.
The tank splashes, the only thing that bothers me more is the five-speed gearbox
In four years, you will also notice details that you usually don’t solve during a regular weekly test. One of them is splashing the tank when you fill it up. For example, Golf or Superb don’t do that (they have bulkheads in the tanks). You’ll hear the unpleasant sound while driving (and with the radio off), but once your ears pick up on it, the splashing sound will bother you every time it has the chance.
I also dislike the heating of the front window using visible wires, the more expensive Superb already has a special glued layer. But these are all just details that you will not mind about the tireless worker who takes you to the cottage, to the sea and makes a taxi for children all year round.
Photo: Lukáš Kukla, Garáž.cz
Ergonomics excellent, as well as durability of all materials. Apart from the worn chrome around the shifter, everything looks like a new car.
Of course, only the five-speed manual transmission is a major inconvenience. Only the rare Greenline and 4 × 4 versions had a six-speed (it was a time when even a sixteen-seater could have four-wheel drive and a direct-shift transmission!). The vast majority of versions thus have only a five-stroke (always without a dual-mass flywheel). Changing gears in the city will make you nervous at first. At 50 km/h, you already want to switch to fourth gear, but then the revs drop too much and the engine vibrates. The car is noisy for three, four is not enough. The five will then take anything in the range of 70 – 199 km/h, no problem with that, but you are already driving outside the city.
130 km/h on the highway means 2,450 revolutions at the highest level, which is relatively high. One more level is still missing. It is simply the approval of the concern, which wanted to force customers to buy the more expensive two-liter TDI. Those of us who are more frugal or socially weaker suffer in this way.
Photo: Lukáš Kukla, Garáž.cz
The design matures like wine – this version is prettier than the “Mercedes” facelift.
The 1.6 TDI version is very economical. Consumption when driving at a constant speed of 90-110 km/h drops to five liters, our long-term average is still a great 5.6 liters. During fast highway driving, it is no problem to drive for 6.5, and the consumption in the city is also close to seven liters. You can drive for five, but expect a slightly higher consumption in the normal operating mix.
But as already said – if you come across an Octavia with a petrol 1200 (and you don’t drive more than 30 thousand a year), it is undoubtedly a better choice. Ideally with a manual transmission, the DQ200 with dry clutches was – unlike the more robust DQ250 – problematic with high service costs.
But you can live well with the TDI as well. You just have to drive a little more. The triple Octavia is a mechanically robust car with excellent spaciousness and inconspicuousness. You will be invisible on the road and the classless image is still quite useful here…
2023-09-13 03:03:02
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