Possibly in the market to buy a normal octavia for SWMBO. At the local dealer they have a 1.4 Octavia, didn't know they did a 1.4, i'm quite keen on getting a diesel. going to look tomorrow. Any experience of the 1.4,1.6 petrol or 1.9 diesels. Most of the miles are around town, school run etc, and she drives like Arton Senna. Any help would be great

Personally I would avoid the 1.4 as the ones I have driven seem painfully slow, the diesel is good if she is going to be doing a lot of miles so you can re-coup the initial extra outlay quicker. If not mega mile go for the 1.6, I had one (sold last week :( ) and loved it very versatile car.

I owned a V reg 1.6 (8v engine) which was very sweet, good power, felt like it would last forever. I imagine the latest engine will be much the same though I think it has some more go

I also had a 52 reg 1.9TDI (90bhp) better power and torque and loads better on economy, 60-plus mpg could be done !

I think the 1.4 would feel pretty gutless in an Octy and if the car will live around town most of the time then the 1.9SDI would be a better bet than a 1.4 IMO

hope that helps

Personally I would avoid the 1.4 as the ones I have driven seem painfully slow, the diesel is good if she is going to be doing a lot of miles so you can re-coup the initial extra outlay quicker. If not mega mile go for the 1.6, I had one (sold last week :( ) and loved it very versatile car.

I have the 1.4 75hp in my Fabia, and I'd also reccomend you give it a miss, it's ok under 60, but as soon as 60 appears on the speedo it becomes Incredibly slow, beaten by even the softest of 30cc Twist n' Go's And thats in a Fabia, Octavia Is larger and Heavier, though Admittedley yours will still be faster. As for 1.9 Diesels They are nice, but the SDI,Ill say it again incase you forget, THE SDI, is an absolutle no. I've had the misfortune to be in a taxi one, and on a dualcarriageway, even under full throttle it was unable to overtake a Fiat Panda , Taxi driver was extremley embarrased

I would disagree slightly on the SDI 1.9. OK, so you say your wife drives like Ayrton Senna, but if its getting around town, school run etc then I would have thought the SDI would have been almost the perfect option for car iwth room and economy. It will get dinged and bashed around towns, car parks and schools so it wont matter too much. Ok the TDI 90 will be quicker and almost as economical, but they are also dearer, the upside being that a TDI90 will be easier to sell when the time comes as well as people wont think its a third hand taxi. The TDI 90 will also be better for those odd longer drives you might undertake and will probably be the overall better car.

I wouldnt really consider the performance value of the car really as to be honest round towns and schools the speed cameras and mobile devices can be quite considerable, and it is all to easy to get carried away at the slightest moment.

If its just a second car for local driving, then the SDI or TDI 90 would both be perfect.

My TDi 110 is a cracking car (or was till it got rammed).

Very economical ( I got 60mpg from B'ham to manchester today) and quick enough for most people.

oh, if it's for the wife SDI will do (Whatever happened to that 1.0 VAG unit )