Balham

Hello all,

First time posting as I'm looking to buy an Octy vrs (coming from an old Leon Cupra). Now, the stumbling point at the moment is do I go for petrol or diesel?? Having read through quite a few threads on here I've noticed that the DPF seems like a potential headache as we only do about 8k miles per year, the majority of which is urban driving. I'm also trying to line up test drives of both variants back-to-back as I gather that the diesel requires a different "style" of driving.

Any opinions would be much appreciated..!

Cheers

bahnstormer vrs

From the threads you have read and the opinions that have been given, you will see that there is quite a wide spread of thoughts and two quite separate camps; TFSI and TDI.

You're going the right route by getting a test drive of both back-to-back; this will tell you loads more than a few opinions here.

TDI 'driving style' - use the torque and be relaxed; the car has a great spread of (close) ratios in the gearbox and kept in the 2,500 - 4,000rpm rev band goes really well. Once moving you don't need 1st or 2nd as 3rd will pull strongly from 15-20mph upward and 4th is good for 30mph to 90mph!

PS> Welcome.

PS> Whilst I'm really hooked on the TDI (great balance of performance/economy and I do 18,000 miles plus pa) - for your mileage/urban driving, much as it pains me, I'd suggest you'd be better with the TFSI and enjoy your occasional blasts in the countryside.

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Mine - '07 Octavia vRS TDI, Superchips BlueFin (210bhp/293lbft) 'Winter wheels' 7.5J x 17" Audi S-line, Ultrac Sessantas 225/45 17, xenons, rear parking sensor, heated seats (driver's Recaro Style full leather), climate/jumbo etc., Koni FSDs, Neuspeed Rear ARB & Short-Shifter, K&N induction kit, RallyFlapZ - Colin McRae memorial decals.
Wife's - '08 Roomster Scout 1.6 Tiptronic, Cruise, parking sensors
Son's - '02 Fabia 1.4mpi, vRS 16" alloys, Michelin Pilot Exalto 2 195/45 16, vRS front bumper, Koni Sport shocks.

Burnsey

On 8k miles a year it's not going to come down to a fuel cost saving. You need to do the sums but if you need to do the sums it probably isn't worth getting the diesel.

How long are you planning to keep it for?

I don't have a dpf in my octy 1.9, however i understand it really depends on what type of driving you do.

I wouldn't want my Octavia back in the garage, since part of the reason for getting a skoda is reliability.... But then I do a bit more than 8k a year, hence the 1.9tdi.

If I didn't do business miles I'd have got a race blue vrs petrol estate.

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Burnsey
1.9 tdi Octy II elegance estate
(gone but not forgotten... 2.5v6tdi Superb, MkI Octy 1.6)

MidVRS

If you're only doing 8k a year I'd say go for the petrol as it probably wouldn't be financially worth your while going for the diesel...I do about 40k a year so it was essential for me but aswell if you're going to sit in a lot of traffic you'l drive the DPF nuts

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Race Blue Octavia vRS TDi

Hit me at 40mph and theres an 80% chance I'll die. Hit me at 30mph and theres an 80% chance I'll live. However, if I stopped playing in the middle of the road I probably wouldn't get hit at all.

rich453

I went through the same just recently and ended up getting the petrol. Had never driven a derv before and found both the noise and the way it accelerated not to my liking. Plus after reading all about the many niggles people were getting and my friend who has an Audi s-line 170 PD TDI which the turbo went last week and the car is only 6 months old I found it hard to change. It's a hard decision but due to your mileage it may be wise to go for petrol?

mikel543

Hi

Although as a satisfied TDI driver it pains me to say this, I would agree with the majority on here and recommend that if I were you I would go for the petrol TFSI engine, given your low annual mileage and mostly urban driving.

One thing to bear in mind is that the 2.0TFSI engine runs on 98+RON Super rather than Standard 95RON Unleaded and costs a few pence more a litre. But even taking this and the lower fuel economy into account it should still work out cheaper to get the petrol version.

Mike

astonbuilder

I'd personally go for diesel as IMO better driveability over petrol engined cars. Once you've had the more useable mid-range torque there's no looking back.....

Unless you're buying new there's no reason to not find diesel and petrols at much closer prices, if not the same, so the age old argument of having to do 1000's of miles to offset the additional cost holds less weight.

However with diesel prices going through the roof the saving on MPG is being offset somewhat.

You're doing the right thing trying both but do make sure you 'drive' them not just pootle round the block for a mile or so

gillywibble

I think petrol would suit you better.

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I drink, therefore I spam.

PSM

For your mileage I would suggest there is no cost advantage to getting the diesel. However, since you are doing so few miles you should at least enjoy them! I agree that test driving back to back will tell you more than 1000s of opinions on here. Do the test drives and then pick the one that gives you the most smiles.
I did the same about a year ago and ended up with the diesel. I prefered the driving style of the diesel and managed to get a good deal on a nearly new one hence cost no more than a petrol one. I do 10-12k a year and have had no problem with the DPF so do not worry too much about that. It has been said before that forums do tend to give a slightly negative view since most people will post if they have a problem but will not always post if everything is going well.
Which ever you pick I am sure you will enjoy.

billybskoda

Hi Balham.

I'll be struggling to do 6000 miles in my vrs this year, even with some road trips planned in.

I confess to being an absolute petrol head, getting the most from each gear, the diesel wont offer the rev range that the petrol will. I would go for the TFSI personally, (well, I bought one), and try the estate version as well as the hatch.

And with the money you save, get a chip to further increase the pleasure of the infrequent miles.

Just my opinion....

__________________
Mk2 Petrol octy rs estate, black magic, 18s, sunset glass, variable boot floor, maniac behind the wheel...

Previous: Rapid 130 Coupe in white
Mk1 stage 1 magic Octy Vrs Hatch
Mk1 std Furby 1.2

bahnstormer vrs

That's only true until you change gear; as any drop in revs between gears will be around 1200rpm at most (2nd to 3rd). Both cars have an excellent set of close ratios in the gearbox with IIRC different final drive ratios.

Most likely scenario will be 'running out of revs in 2nd gear' (only being able to go to 4,500 rpm in the TDI vs. c. 6,000 rpm in the TFSI) and having to upchange on, say, the exit of a bend or roundabout.

Simple solution; be in 3rd gear and let the torque do the work.

__________________
Mine - '07 Octavia vRS TDI, Superchips BlueFin (210bhp/293lbft) 'Winter wheels' 7.5J x 17" Audi S-line, Ultrac Sessantas 225/45 17, xenons, rear parking sensor, heated seats (driver's Recaro Style full leather), climate/jumbo etc., Koni FSDs, Neuspeed Rear ARB & Short-Shifter, K&N induction kit, RallyFlapZ - Colin McRae memorial decals.
Wife's - '08 Roomster Scout 1.6 Tiptronic, Cruise, parking sensors
Son's - '02 Fabia 1.4mpi, vRS 16" alloys, Michelin Pilot Exalto 2 195/45 16, vRS front bumper, Koni Sport shocks.

Balham

Many thanks to all for the useful replies, which pretty much backs up my gut reaction that petrol is probably the one for me. However, I shall reserve judgement until I've driven both then I look forward to hunting around...

IJWS15

Th comments about lack of torque in the petrol cars surprise me since they are talking about the TFSi

The Turbo petrol cars have loads of torque unlike the plain FSi which are awful.

I have a diesel due to company car tax based on co2 but the VW petrol turbo cars are very diesel like - but quieter and rev higher.

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Currently Honda Accord Diesel Tourer, Octavia 1.9 Elegance on order.

billybskoda

Agreed, that was my point, you get everything with the tfsi, power and torque and over a longer rev range....

Even my old Ducati 748R could rev to 11 1/2 k

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Mk2 Petrol octy rs estate, black magic, 18s, sunset glass, variable boot floor, maniac behind the wheel...

Previous: Rapid 130 Coupe in white
Mk1 stage 1 magic Octy Vrs Hatch
Mk1 std Furby 1.2

Balham

At the weekend I drove them back to back, and I have to say that I preferred the way that the petrol delivered its power (sorry to the sootys out there!). Maybe it's because I haven't driven a diesel before, but due to the miles I'll be covering TFSI here I come...

Cheers.

FocusZtec

I also drove them back to back and came to the same conclusion. No doubt the diesel 'feels' fast with all the torque bunched low down over a smaller rev range but after 8 months of ownership Im happy I made the right decision.

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Thanks to JKM:
REVO STAGE 2+ remap, Evoms CAI, Piper Turbo back Exhaust, Autotech Fuel Pump, Torque Arm Insert, Forge Recirc, Neuspeed Turbo & Intercooler pipes, APR FMIC, Iridium plugs, Koni FSD's, Eibach springs, Eibach F + R anti roll bars. VF short shifter. 345mm Brakes. 280BHP & 330LB/FT - enough room for a proper trip to B&Q and 36mpg on a run!!!

PSM

I am glad you were able to test drive both and come to the right choice for you. I prefered the diesel which was the route I went but everyone is different. Hope you find the right one soon and get to have the fun and pleasure we all have,

Taxi 219

Don,t you just love that 3rd gear on TDi,s ? soo much power

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Car now: 56 Octavia MK2 1.9TDi Ambiente-Debadged-Metallic Flamenco Red DMF Reqiured soon
Previous: 06 Octavia Mk1 1.9TDi Classic with + pack-Diamond Silver
Sadly missed: 97 Nissan Primera 2.0TDi SLX- Red
Paul