Dear all

Newby poster here. Am planning to replace my wifes ageing Mondeo with a second-hand Octavia TDi Elegance in the next few weeks. This will be our first diesel and I am wondering what are the key trade-offs between the 1.9 and 2.0 engines. The car will mostly be used for commuting to work (~15 miles) and ferrying the kids to football etc but, as the 'family' car, it will also be used for long holiday trips.

So if anyone has experienced both engines, is the better performance of the bigger engine worth paying the extra fuel costs for? And, on a related matter, is one possible solution to get the smaller engine remapped - coming from an Alfa background myself I have used Angel Tuning in the past and I know they also do the VAG engines. Does anyone have any particular recommendations?

Finally, we'll probably be buying a 1-2 year old car (budget is ~£10k): are there any 'known' issues I need to consider.

Many thanks for all your help

Gareth

The 1.9 is a good engine and is more than good enough (105bhp) for most things it will map out to 150bhp and should be fine at that...the 2.0 does use a bit more fuel but starts out at 140bhp so is quite good to start with.....lots of room in the hatch and loads of room in the estate.

Lots of toys in the elegance so a 1 year old for £10,000 may be difficult to find unless it is high milage

I have a 1.9 tdi 105 and a 2l tdi140 both are Passat but the same engines.

The 1.9 is definitely more economical but only has a 5 speed gear box and is an 8 valve so less refined.

I'd say the 1.9 is quick enough just for everyday driving conditions but needs to be worked fairly hard. As you've mentioned that it can be remapped but I'm waiting until after the warranty expires.

The 2 litre is easier to drive and is the least diesel diesel I've driven. It pulls more like a petrol and the power is smooth and quieter (16 valve).

The 2 litre isn't that much less economical but the figures decrease quicker when pushing on or stuck in traffic.

If it were down to me I'd go for the 2 litre as it's easier as standard as come resale time more desireable I would have thought.

If you need to tow anything then go for the 2.0TDi. The extra torque and broader power band combined with the additional gear make it the better choice.

But for most users the 1.9TDi is plenty!

The 1.9 is capable, but the 2.0 is faster and quieter plus gets the extra gear if you go for manual.

It does use a bit more fuel, but only really when you're pushing on IMHO.

The 1.9 uses considerably less fuel.

2.0 Common Rail every time (still only in the VRS at the mo)

IMHO

I would wait for the CR 2.0 143ps

or if the Octy gets the 120 ps CR engine I bet this will beat the 1.9 mpg

Edited 3 September, 200817 yr by inexeng
typo

Just back from a trip to Poland. Did the same journey four years ago in a 1.9 tdi Passat and whilst it returned a few more MPG the 2.0 tdi Octy despatched Germany west to east in an easy day cruising at 110 to 120 MPH (where conditions allowed). Acceleration from 80mph onwards is far superior also.

The only drawbacks I found were a slight "athsmatic" feeling at lower revs till it comes "on boost" but it more than makes up for it with a sweeter top end.

Definitly go for the 2.0 tdi, especially since the price of fuel looks like dropping a little again.

I like many taxi drivers have the 1.9 they return 50 plus mpg loads of room and possibly cheaper rfl than the 2 Lr

1.9 is much better and no DPF

The 2.0 PD TDi 140 also has no DPF in the elegance.

I drove both and went with the 2.0, it drives so much better and the extra gear makes for quiet motorway cruising. At 70mph (indicated) the 2.0 is doing less than 2000 rpm.

My daily commute consists of motorway and local roads and I manage more than 50mpg (real world, not computer) depending on traffic conditions.

I have towed the same heavy trailer (mine) with my 1.9 Superb (AWX engine) and a 2.0 140 PS Passat.

Based on these two individual cars, the 1.9 is easily the better towcar. The 2.0 takes much longer to develop adequate boost from low revs and tends to become "booged down" before pulling away. My Superb has a 5 speed box and the Passat was a 6. There is only 5% difference in the gearing between the two cars' respective top gears which is not significant in a country with a 70 mph limit.

I would not have a DPF at any price as its maintenance overhead can completely nullify the advantage of having a diesel in the first place. If you can get a 1.9 diesel in the car of your choice without a DPF, this is the one I would go for. Unless you drive like a loony, performance is not really an issue.

rotodiesel.

The 1.9 uses considerably less fuel.

Not that I've noticed and I've owned a TDI 110 and a PD140 and spent a lot of time driving a PD105 along the same route.

I have towed the same heavy trailer (mine) with my 1.9 Superb (AWX engine) and a 2.0 140 PS Passat.

Based on these two individual cars, the 1.9 is easily the better towcar. The 2.0 takes much longer to develop adequate boost from low revs and tends to become "booged down" before pulling away. My Superb has a 5 speed box and the Passat was a 6. There is only 5% difference in the gearing between the two cars' respective top gears which is not significant in a country with a 70 mph limit.

I would not have a DPF at any price as its maintenance overhead can completely nullify the advantage of having a diesel in the first place. If you can get a 1.9 diesel in the car of your choice without a DPF, this is the one I would go for. Unless you drive like a loony, performance is not really an issue.

rotodiesel.

Although IIRC you are talking about a PD130 though not the PD105?

Edited 3 September, 200817 yr by cheezemonkhai

Hi,

For just run around trips and long trips id go for the 1.9 TDI, better MPG and seems like you don't need the power to "race" around.

Regards

Steve

Edited 1 October, 200817 yr by sjm

Was just about to go looking for a similar thread and just saw it got bumped!!

Here it is

http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/diesel-1-9-2-0-mpg/112750/

Many thanks to all who replied

The consensus seems to be there isn't one, horses for courses etc. I'm still thinking 1.9 with a remap but will probably try out a 2 litre too. Hopefully the current financial downturn means a bit more 'flexibility' on 2nd hand car prices.

Thanks again

Gareth

I've now driven a 1.9 tdi passat variant for a month (courtesy car from leasing company) and clocked just over 5k kilometers. I drive mostly on A- and B-roads with 160-180km at a time.. have to say the 1.9 is a bít annoying on bigger roads. It just feels so under powered and you have to think twice before passing anyone. Actually had a "white van man" give me a hard time on my last drive, cuz his van had no troubles keeping up with me!! Saying this, I've had a Fabia vRS previously and currently we have a 130bhp megane diesel.. so I do have comparable power to the 2 litre unit. In any case the PD units aren't the most refined ones, but they tend to be fun to drive aggressively (when swimbo & ankle biters aren't around).

Deffo go for the 2 litre unit if you plan on driving larger roads.. it's worth every penny extra.

If you're doing short trips, then avoid the DPF like the plague. Or find a non-DPF 2.0TDi.

have to say the 1.9 is a bít annoying on bigger roads. It just feels so under powered and you have to think twice before passing anyone.

I never have a problem, I am normally on the other side of the road over taking things, possibly something to do with your driving style, sometimes you may have to drop a gear if low in the rev range so the turbo can spool up, and then all hell breaks loose.

"All hell breaks loose". :lol: Think you need to drive something fast sometime.

All hell breaking loose is front tyres spinning up on a dry motorway, the wheel being ripped out of your hands due to torque steer, then your head hitting the dash when the rev limiter kicks in.

"All hell breaks loose". :lol: Think you need to drive something fast sometime.

All hell breaking loose is front tyres spinning up on a dry motorway, the wheel being ripped out of your hands due to torque steer, then your head hitting the dash when the rev limiter kicks in.

Yes even bigger hell broke loose in my Honda Civic VTI, and then my Honda Civic Type R!

Wasn't that just your ears bleeding from the noise? :P

Wasn't that just your ears bleeding from the noise? :P

prolly lol

The 1.9 is capable, but the 2.0 is faster and quieter plus gets the extra gear if you go for manual.

It does use a bit more fuel, but only really when you're pushing on IMHO.

Loving your sig :rofl: