There was outrage in the comments under the article about the used Octavia under CZK 200,000 that it would be better to set the record straight. Just because the Octavia III is a good car doesn’t mean it’s the best and you should buy it. It’s just a good car, but we can find some good alternatives and some of you will definitely be better suited to it.
However, there is not such a large choice in the range up to ten years, mileage up to 200,000 km and price up to 200,000 CZK. However, we found some acceptable cars on the Czech market. Naturally, the widest choice in this category is found among the Octavios (but you can also buy, for example, a decent Rapid), but this is already the rule in the Czech market, where the Škoda brand sells about a third of all cars . .
If you don’t want a Škoda on principle, but don’t mind a company car, you can buy an interesting and underrated Seat Leon with the same technology. But now let’s take a look at the aforementioned “non-corporate” alternatives to Octavia available on the market.
Opel Astra K
Photo: Dalibor Žák
Astra is unnecessarily overlooked by people in bazaars, because it is a very pleasant, spacious, comfortable and overall good car. Yes, we know that some petrol engines aren’t completely bulletproof, but that’s not a disaster. And the 1.6 CDTI diesel performed well.
The most attractive will probably be the latest generation marked with K, which has been on the market since 2015. But you can also buy the last parts of the previous generation, which can usually be found at a really affordable price. This is a successful car with a simple design, which will mainly appeal to more conservative people. In our budget up to 200,000 CZK you will only find 1.6 CDTI diesel engines in the station wagon variant, usually with manual transmission and a higher mileage, close to our limit of 200,000 km. Opels, however, stand up well to long journeys and their interiors can last in good condition.
The diesel has been improved and, for example, the EGR circuit no longer has the problems it once had, remote control cars will not have problems with the particulate filter either. But already some engines had to have a new timing chain, some owners complain about the poor clutch life, and the question will also be how carefully the car was serviced in company fleets and “by workshops”. An interesting version with a classic automatic transmission and without mandatory AdBlue is rare and quite expensive. The 1.4 Turbo petrol costs from CZK 250,000.
Ford Focus III
Photo: Dalibor Žák
There are focus clouds and you have a lot to choose from. Unfortunately, many cars have had a hard life behind them (you can see it from the interior), service history is difficult to verify and some engines are time bombs. So choose carefully.
In the range from 150 to 200,000 CZK there is a wide range of Ford Focus, especially in the station wagon version. In most cases these are the three-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost and the 1.6 TDCI diesel, then the 1.5 TDCI. The Focus is praised for its driving characteristics and more advanced chassis, although compared to the simpler solution of, say, the Octavia or Astra, it requires regular geometry adjustments and maintenance becomes more expensive. So far, the Focus III is satisfied with decent corrosion protection, it fares a little worse with the fluctuating quality of the interior. But it’s also a question of how many kilometers all those used cars imported without any history actually have…
The three-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost is a somewhat controversial choice. And while it may be a reliable engine, many owners have had to deal with cooling issues, turbos, carbon fouling in the intake, oil consumption, and even a piston can break. But it’s very much a matter of service, maintenance and operation. However, we have no illusions about how drivers treat this car. The diesel will be more suitable for those who travel longer distances. Pay attention to the oil service, the engine still has the unfortunately shaped oil sump, from which it is not possible to drain the entire old filling. Have the state of the diesel checked by a diagnosed specialist to check the injectors and try to estimate the remaining life of the particulate filter.
Peugeot 308II
Photo: Peugeot
The 308 estate is a fairly spacious car and doesn’t drive badly. It is especially popular with diesel. But getting used to it requires a strange solution to ergonomics, and many people will simply be put off by the tiny steering wheel.
The Peugeot 308 in the practical SW version is also a widely used car. Most often you will buy it with a 1.6 HDI diesel, which is basically the same engine as the Focus, albeit with a different emissions control system. Engines can be reliable, just change the oil on time and fill up with quality diesel. Sometimes the turbo adjustment or some sensor here and there fails. It’s worse with history verification, many foreign imports have no records anywhere.
You can also get a three-cylinder 1.2 PureTec, but this is a bit of a risky engine due to sensitivity to handling, service and fuel quality. Cars without history with this engine are a time bomb, because their timing belt can corrode due to low-quality (and still diluted with gasoline) oil. This clogs the oil pump suction basket and the engine seizes. So be careful! However, Peugeots have very good corrosion protection, are quite well made and there are no problems. If you don’t mind the weird, non-ergonomic steering wheel, you’ll be happy.
Hyundai i30 II and Kia Ceed II
Photo: Dalibor Žák
There are more used i30s on the market, the Ceed tends to be quite expensive. Perhaps its “German” interior does the same, while the second-generation i30 is still a rather Korean car. But they are both good cars.
There are also some Hyundai i30 and Kia Ceed SW station wagons in the adverts, which are technically related cars. Most are cars of the second generation, but sometimes even a modestly equipped i30 station wagon of the third generation drops below 200,000 CZK. The safe bet is the 1.6 CRDI diesel, which is a really good engine. The old version of the U2, with chain drive and robust mechanics, is one of the best small diesels on the market. All you have to do is change the oil, fill up with quality diesel fuel and treat your car in a cool way. Well-maintained pieces can easily travel half a million kilometers.
The mechanics of Korean cars tend to be very durable, but here and there some car hears a hum or a tired suspension knocks. It’s not a rule, but in that case, be prepared for a more expensive repair if you fix it with original parts. However, secondary production is already starting to fill up, so let’s hope it’s not too terrible. Petrol enthusiasts can choose between the 14-litre MPI (pretty good engine, although barely enough for a loaded station wagon) and the 16-litre GDI. The 1.6 GDI engine runs better, but has sensitive direct injection and can grow carbon if you don’t change the oil in time. At least these “Koreans” are not rusting yet, which unfortunately cannot be said about the first generations of Ceed and i30.
Renault Mégane III
Photo: Renault
With the 1.5 dCi diesel engine, the Mégane is actually an excellent family car with low running costs (consumption up to 5 l/100 km) and quite bearable service prices. The younger and less used they are, the better. But it should last up to 300,000 km with routine maintenance alone.
Up to 200,000 CZK there are also a few dozen Renault Mégane of the previous generation, which is not a bad car at all. It has good corrosion protection, a fairly decent chassis and already reliable electronics. In most cases it only takes care of routine maintenance and the occasional small detail on the chassis, but this applies to all decent used cars. They simply suffer normal wear and tear, and owners simply delegate some less necessary repairs to the next buyer. The one thing to absolutely avoid is the 1.2 TCE engine, which is a known high-risk troublemaker. Even if you drive out of town, change the oil “after ten” and fill up with premium gasoline, you never know what is behind this engine. Do not take!
On the other hand, a good choice is the 1.5 dCi diesel, already trained for high reliability in this case. If you don’t bother it with low-quality fuel and delayed oil service (change the oil every year or at most after 15,000 km), it can withstand high mileage. Also remember the belt distributions, so as not to meet them somewhere. Even the simple dual clutch automatic transmissions aren’t bad, they are certainly less risky than the “small” 7DSG of the Octavia and related series cars.
Citroën C5 Tourer in Berlingo
Photo: Lemon
Sometimes you can come across a large and spacious C5 with a budget of up to 200,000 CZK, or even the popular “working” Berlingo. But pay attention to the general condition and history of the cars. You don’t want a bent C5, yet this car can go 300,000 km with a finger up its nose.
Sometimes you may come across a car of a slightly different category that may interest you. You can buy a large Citroën C5 very “cheaply” in a station wagon version with a very good 2.0 HDI diesel and sometimes a classic automatic transmission. But he will have many miles to go. More often, however, you can buy a manual within 200,000. Although hydropneumatic suspension is not standard, there are cars that have it. This is definitely not a bad car, the engine is reliable and the car knows no corrosion. If everything in electronics works now, it will probably always work.
The second interesting option in this budget is the latest classic Berlingo concept (and related Peugeot Partner), most often you can get it with a 1.6 HDI engine. It’s the same proven unit we’ve already mentioned in the Focus and Peugeot 308, so the same goes for it. In Berlingo pay attention to cars following side accidents (sliding door mechanism) and also to the general state of the interior. It says a lot about what the car has behind it. For someone who needs to drive something big every now and then, the Berlingo is an absolutely fantastic car.
Fiat Tipo
Photo: Martin Jánský
The station wagon version is spacious enough to consider it a family car. But it will require a 1.6 Multijet engine for motorway travel. Aspirated 14 liter petrol gets quite hot.
Many compare this Fiat to a Dacia, but it is a good car with quite reliable technology and is also slightly larger. If you take care of it (Italian cars need a more careful lubrication service and quality oil), there will be no problems. Even popular rumors about the naughty electronics of Italian cars avoid the tip-off. Some small things are addressed here, but rather they are “bullshit” in the form of a too cheap and non-functional key or a faulty infotainment system. And this is not just a problem for Fiat, but for practically all modern cars. Just update it.
The 1.6 Multijet diesel engine is reliable and, if you do the necessary maintenance (filters, oils, distributions), it will go a long way. The 1.4 and 1.6 liter petrol engines do not inspire either with dynamics or consumption, but they are very simple and reliable units that are not afraid of short distances and can handle normal petrol. The sixteenth can be purchased with a nice torque converter automatic, but unfortunately such cars are very rare in our market, and when they appear, they tend to be quite expensive.
Of course you can also come across a completely different car, but the cars mentioned above are quite well represented in our selected criteria (up to ten years, up to 200,000 km mileage, up to 200,000 CZK in price) and there is in abundance. to choose from. You decide whether you prefer one of the cars mentioned above, or for example the Octavia III with a 1.2 TSI or 1.6 TDI engine. We don’t impose anything on anyone. You will drive that car, so choose based on your preferences and options.
2024-01-03 04:01:48
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