Faults:

Diesel injector problems (expensive, over £500 to fix).

ABS sensors (£160).

Brakes, suspension, all the expected consumables have been replaced at various services / MOT's.

Air con a bit weaker now.

Bonnet release handle broke off, real pain to get back on, but no big deal.

I keep the car serviced on time and had the timing belt changed (£300). Cosmetically the car is looking a bit rough, but it is now 11 years old.

General Comments:

My grey Octavia 1.6 TDi CR (common rail) Elegance has been my daily driver for a while now and has been an excellent vehicle.

When I bought the car I had heard of the car's legendary popularity and reliability as a taxi, and that influenced my purchase. For the most part the car did not disappoint, however I have had my fair share of running costs and problems as you would get with any car as the age and miles rise (see above faults); however apart from that injector problem, I would say the car has been very reliable. Skoda dealer has been OK with me, but since the car is getting much older, you are better finding a local independent garage for your servicing and repairs, it will be cheaper.

The 1.6 diesel engine is a good one, performance is only fair however. But you will average 60 mpg. I would recommend the old 1.9 diesel or later 2.0 diesel - they do close to 60 mpg as well and have much better performance. If fuel consumption is a concern however, then there is a "GreenLine" 1.6 diesel, that can do more than 60 mpg, but I bet it will be slow. Tax and insurance are also very reasonable - it is the repair costs you have to watch out for with this car, so only buy a looked after car with full history. I have heard the petrol engines are also reliable, but obviously not as good on fuel.

Elegance spec is the one to have - near top of range. The only thing this does not have is heated seats and leather. I believe the top "Laurin and Klement" model has those, but you can get those as an option on the Elegance also. I find my car has enough electronic equipment. Spacious also. Climate control is a bit fiddly and honestly would prefer a simpler system. But try and avoid "S" spec cars, those are lower range and you do not get much. General refinement leaves a lot to be desired - the car is a little bit too noisy sometimes (wind and tyre noise) despite the comfortable seats and equipment levels; it is the only thing that ruins an otherwise pleasant car to be in. Suspension can be a bit crashy and jerky as well, no matter how smooth you drive.

Overall this has been a good car. It is not exciting to drive or anything that will stand out, but if you want a generally reliable practical family car and only have a few grand to spend, check out this face-lifted 2009 - 2012 Octavia.

Faults:

DPF light on, cleared out with a long drive and firm acceleration, has not been on since. I have probably done too many short journeys.

Air con stopped working, needs a re-gas.

Passenger side electric mirror a little slow to move.

Brakes and suspension parts needed at last MOT - at the age and mileage I'm putting this down to wear and tear. Timing belt and oil changes carried out in the history before I bought the car. Also detailed in the history is something about the injectors and EGR valve - unfortunately expensive common faults on all modern diesels.

General Comments:

A great car if you want reliable basic transport. The Octavia is not a car to get excited about, but it does the job and ease of ownership is excellent. Diesels are common but they are expensive when they go wrong - I'm glad mine had most of the typical work required at the age and mileage done before I bought it. Petrol version might be preferable if you do only short journeys and do not drive much.

The 1.6 TDi is decent enough, and you will get around 60 MPG if you take it easy. SE model is mid range and has some electrics, nothing fancy, but very well equipped as expected for a modern car. Interior wise the seats and space inside are OK, but the noise levels are only just acceptable. Not the most refined. To drive the handling is very grippy and gives good feedback on corners, though it is a front wheel drive family car, so not a car you would drive like a sports cat anyway. But the torque from the diesel engine is good and it never struggles to overtake.

As mentioned in other reviews on here, you'll notice these are very popular cars as taxis, I believe due to economy and space; there is little to match the Octavia as a good all rounder.

Faults:

None

General Comments:

Bought the car new as part of the Irish scrappage scheme. The dealer was very good, and I got a great deal.

The car is very light on diesel. On a mixed cycle, I am getting 100km for about 4.9 litres. Long distance driving, it can go as low as 3.8. City averages about 5.3. The engine has lots of torque, so while the top speed is not great, it gets there quickly, and pulls well in all gears.

Softer sprung than its Golf/Leon equivalent, but it rides the bumps well, and is very comfortable.

I got the Black/Grey interior, so the inside is nice and light. The boot is huge, and well shaped. Plenty of cubby holes in the cab. Seats are very comfy, and the standard air con is good. The built in Bluetooth works well with my Android phone, and worked well with an iPhone.

The dealer has been very good, until the warranty ran out. Service costs have jumped a bit, but I am now servicing it in a local garage, so the costs have come back down. Insurance costs are also low.

Overall, I'm a very happy customer, and would recommend this car to any family.