octavia vrs diesal compaired 2petrol vrs

[Conor M]

going 2 change my octy vrs petrol mk 2 for the diesal vrs in jan i need some advice' is it worth it or would it be a let down thanks 4 ur input
conor----

[Makefish]

I suppose it depends on what you are looking for in a car, if fuel economy is an issue then of course the diesel will make more sense but I have seen the petrol version make an average of 39.4mpg iirc on a long run which is pretty impressive. My choice would be and is the petrol 2.0T FSI, a cracking engine but owners with the diesel are just as happy

Note: Thread moved to a more appropriate forum.

[Steve vRS]

Surely any saving in MPG would be more than countered by the deprecation loss?

The TDi is a good cruiser and motorway car but I bet the petrol engine is a bit more exciting to cane.

Steve

[bahnstormer vrs]

Originally Posted by Conor M

going 2 change my octy vrs petrol mk 2 for the diesal vrs in jan i need some advice' is it worth it or would it be a let down thanks 4 ur input
conor----

If you are thinking of changing what factors are pushing YOU to the vRS TDI?

For me, as I considered both before buying a TDI, they were (not that I had a vRS TFSI first mind you), in no particluar order;-

1. Lower CO2 emissions to give lower Company Car Tax - saved £850pa
2. Better Fuel Consumption by about 10mpg - I do 20,000 mile pa at my own expense
3. Lower Insurance by 3 groups, meant I could get my 19 year old son covered as an occaisional driver (insurers would not cover him in a TFSI) - Lucky b*****.
4. Lower depreciation

5. I sort of just LOVE diesels anyway. The vRS TDI gives you a tsunami of torque and a growl like a Grizzly Bear on heat on full throttle.

On the down side;

1. The handling of the TDI is not quite as sharp on turn in with a touch more understeer due to the heavier engine
2. The rev range is narrower (2,000 to 4,500rpm as opposed to 2,000 to 6,000+ rpm), but as the 6 speed Gearbox is fantastically good to change gear, with the ratios being close and neatly spread this is not a real issue, and
3. It is a few tenths slower 0-60 and a couple of mpg light on Vmax; but the in gear times are a gnat's apart so in the real world it makes no difference.

Other than that - to look at they are both EXACTLY the same so who else but you will know the difference (and don't anyone give me the "you sound like a tractor as you drive past a bus queue" routine - I couldn't give a monkey's about that).

[bahnstormer vrs]

Originally Posted by Steve vRS

Surely any saving in MPG would be more than countered by the deprecation loss?
Steve

Don't get this!

The TDI has better fuel consumption by around 10mpg AND lower depreciation; so WIN WIN, surely.

[welsh vrs]

All the above reasons Tax, Ins, Mpg etc. Slightly down on performance but still a great car.

[Wild Rover]

I was reading somewhere that to make a diesel "pay" so to speak, you should be driving around the 20,000 miles a year mark. Don't know how this relates to the VRS.

Certainly for the last couple of years Diesel has been more expensive at the pumps than unleaded. Just my luck, when I go back to a petrol car, diesel is suddenly cheaper at my local garage....

[bahnstormer vrs]

Originally Posted by Wild Rover

I was reading somewhere that to make a diesel "pay" so to speak, you should be driving around the 20,000 miles a year mark. Don't know how this relates to the VRS.

Certainly for the last couple of years Diesel has been more expensive at the pumps than unleaded. Just my luck, when I go back to a petrol car, diesel is suddenly cheaper at my local garage....

Off beat thought;

Evo magazine did a road test/economy run with a Toyota Prius Hybrid vs. a FIAT Panda 100hp and. apart from the fact they had a darn sight more fun in the Panda, they calculated that it would take something like 200 - 250,000 miles for the Prius to make itself 'pay'.

Back to the thread;

Would a vRS owner care whether their car 'pays' or not?

[FocusZtec]

The main reason for me not going for the diesel over the petrol was the DPF fault on the 170TDI engine - I dont always get a chance to do the 50 miles or whatever is recommended, a lot of my driving is unfortunatly in traffic. I also only cover around 7,000 miles a year and my insurance is very cheap hence the petrol model for me.

I have driven the VRS TDI however and been VERY impressed.

Lee

[exFiesta]

The DPF fault could well be a large factor as it was for FocusZtec, depending on what your normal driving routine is.

I'm a little concerned (I've ordered the TDI), but we'll see (my driving distances vary massively during hockey season/not). I'm sure I wont mind making a few extra long trips to keep the DPF in order.

[VRS195]

Diesel servicing should be cheaper in theory, as they can go almost 50% further between services if set to VARIABLE.

Also if you want a wider rev band get it chipped, you will get another useful 500+ rpm at the backend of the band ("rev limit" pushed up to 4.75/5k).

Doesn't sound much, but bear in mind the standard band is realistically 2k-4.25k, you are adding 22% flexibility.

You should also technically sneak something off the frontend of the band aswell as chipped output will reach standard output (340NM@2,000) about 200 rpm earlier as well) - giving 31% increase in flexibility.

see here:

http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/vag20tdi170.pdf

I think the Panda stats of 250,000 miles were mostly down to the fact that:
a) they cost about the same to actually run (fuel/tax/servicing etc)
b) the Prius is TWICE as expensive (and 50% heavier!! - not good for the environment) at £16-20k vs Panda's £8-10k price.

[badgersport]

When I was choosing between the 2 last November I spent an afternoon alternating between my local Skoda dealers diesel demonstrator and a used petrol version they had. Ignoring the fuel economy and I still prefered the diesel. I drove both on all sorts of roads and unless you thrashed the petrol the diesel was much faster.

In addition I preferred the handling and feel of the steering on the diesel, the roads were dry but the extra weight made the front end feel a lot more positive with much better turn in.

Each to their own and all that, but I'd suggest finding a good dealer who will let you do what I did before making a decision.

[dibbley]

Hi,

As a relatively high mileage driver 23,000 since September, mostly motorway miles I can confirm my car averages about 43 to the gallon, it now needs new tyres, and it required a service at 18,000 miles which cost £193.00. And yes it is a vRS TDi, I did have a problem with the DPF, but that was sorted within a couple of weeks.

The thing I really like is not having to change gear on the motorway, 6th is fine for almost all occasions, the thing I dislike is 18" wheels, it makes the ride harsh, but then I am comparing it to a Superb or vRS MK1.

Its my own car, I probably paid over the odds as I had the first one in the UK, but am I happy with it, well yes, but I would like a few more MPG, which I can get if I stick to 60-65 on the motorway, but who wants to be a middle lane hugger.

Cheers,
Dwain

[bahnstormer vrs]

Originally Posted by dibbley

Hi,

As a relatively high mileage driver 23,000 since September, mostly motorway miles I can confirm my car averages about 43 to the gallon, it now needs new tyres, and it required a service at 18,000 miles which cost £193.00. And yes it is a vRS TDi, I did have a problem with the DPF, but that was sorted within a couple of weeks.

The thing I really like is not having to change gear on the motorway, 6th is fine for almost all occasions, the thing I dislike is 18" wheels, it makes the ride harsh, but then I am comparing it to a Superb or vRS MK1.

Its my own car, I probably paid over the odds as I had the first one in the UK, but am I happy with it, well yes, but I would like a few more MPG, which I can get if I stick to 60-65 on the motorway, but who wants to be a middle lane hugger.

Cheers,
Dwain

I'm up to 5,000 miles now and not had a squeak out of the DPF. I do a 25 mile each way commute including M'way AND like using full throttle when appropriate (mainly a long uphill slip road each morning) which will probably help.

Harsh, jittery ride is down to the shocks not, IMHO, whether you have 17 or 18 inch wheels. Cured by fitting Koni FSDs.

[Steve vRS]

Originally Posted by bahnstormer vrs

Don't get this!

The TDI has better fuel consumption by around 10mpg AND lower depreciation; so WIN WIN, surely.

I meant that the amount you would have already lost on the petrol car changing to a TDi would not compensate for the better mpg of the diesel.

Steve

[bahnstormer vrs]

Originally Posted by Steve vRS

I meant that the amount you would have already lost on the petrol car changing to a TDi would not compensate for the better mpg of the diesel.

Steve

Ah; got it!! Quite right too.

What you are suggesting means; why does one not just keep the TFSI vRS?

[Steve vRS]

Lemon entry my dear Watson!!

Steve

[Conor M]

cheers for all the feedback i think i will have 2 get a diesal for a feiw hours and give it a lash local dealer says next one in is july i will check it out . my gut feeling is go for the diesal vrs . thanks again. conor.

[s3akr]

I had the same mind battle when I bought my Leon FR. I went for diesel. Chipped it. Love it. In buying the VRS (due in next week) I drove the TDi but bought the petrol version as although the TDi is very flexible and loads of torque, you can't beat the extra revs of the petrol engines and the added "go faster" noises compared against the diesel. I'll be keeping the Leon though as I now do 35k a year commuting to work (which wasn't the case when I bought it).

[Conor M]

thanks again for the feedback drove the tdi 170 the other day very little between them,it seems heavier on the road but it goes like stink going 2 order one for jan just got 2 more dealers 2 go and see who gives best price;