Just got back from a 1500m holiday trip in the 4x4 (Jabba'd, naturally) and wondered if there is a better all-round 1.8 or 2.0 petrol engine than the 1.8T 20v Turbo V.A.G one fitted to the Octavia ?

When I say 'all-round' I mean:-

- Flexibility and ease of driving

- Performance potential

- Fuel consumption

- Noise levels

I had a newly-launched Merc SLK 200 for a couple of hours the other week with a 1.8 Kompressor engine and the engine in the Skoda genuinely feels better (whether we are talking 150 or 220bhp).

Are we being spoiled ?

(The 4x4 averaged 34.7mpg (35.1 on the computer) by the way, touring around with the windows right down or the air con blasting away to keep the dog cool!)

I was doing a little background reading into the Saab 1.8t units to see if the were at all related to the VAG units (I know, different companies, but deals are often made ;-). Turns out they are GM/Saab specific but the review I read (sorry no links I'm afraid), went on to say that the tunability of the Saab unit would far exceed that of the VAG units, due mainly to Saab uses an old, more expensive casting techique which left less impurities in the metal. Basically, It said it would be possible to tune the Saab unit to 400Bhp+ on standard internals (consensus says 300Bhp for a VW/Skoda 1.8t unit).

Rich

shame then that saab put a very low pressure turbo on their cars so you cant even feel it kicking in... and they cant go round a corner without massive oversteer...

I was once tempted by a 2.3 9-5 Turbo and a visit to Abbott racing to sort out the suspension, but decided it was pointless if I could buy something with 4x4 , no wheelspin and less money (Audi). Interesting about the strength of the engine.

I wonder where the 1.8T Skoda engine compares with the Impreza 2.0 flat four in pure strength / acceptance of tuning ? My guess and experience would be 9/10 Skoda 6/10 Impreza (unless you add knocklinks etc etc)

- Flexibility and ease of driving

Poor, the second most irritating thing about the vRS. The engine isn't flexible for town driving. You just can't pull out of junctions or onto roundabouts in 2nd. Every other car I've driven in you can. This makes it a difficult drive around town. +ve side is 2nd is good for 70-80mph.

- Performance potential

- Fuel consumption

Excellent on a motorway run, and around the A/B roads if you take it easy. Not so good if you drive it like you should, but hey thats what its for.

- Noise levels

V.quiet but makes the right noises in the right places.

Overall 3rd best engine I've driven

Oh and the 1st most irritating thing about the 1.8T in my old RS was the damn engine management orange light on the dash that insisted on being on for 75% of the time

Very interesting , because I was thinking along the same lines as I drove my 4*4 back from Devon on Saturday .

I have seen engine reports on a worldwide basis which put it in the top 10 , but then again there is the new VAG replacement FSi series and many new engines from around the world appearing .

But I would suggest that it is the whole drivechain package rather than just the engine which makes me smile .

I have no mods. to the engine but as has been said before , the engine is a delight mainly because of the near perfect gear ratios in the 4*4 , the effortless clutch , the "invisible" Haldex system and the soft Turbo boost to this small 1.8 engine in a relatively heavy car (estate) .

It is the ability to maintain a constant 60 mph for long periods on Welsh roads even around hairpin bends , especially when a V70 police car tries to follow you for 30 miles and cannot keep up unless he breaks the speed limit ... in this speed PC world it is about the only fun left !

I also feel that the fuel economy and noise equation is more than acceptable , in this 21st century diesel world .

Having just seen the new Octavia estate pics. will I be tempted ?

Having just seen the new Octavia estate pics. will I be tempted ?

Nice car, nice in the flesh too

I have no mods. to the engine but as has been said before , the engine is a delight mainly because of the near perfect gear ratios in the 4*4 , the effortless clutch , the "invisible" Haldex system and the soft Turbo boost to this small 1.8 engine in a relatively heavy car (estate) .:

A very good point about the gear ratios - unlike the comment about the vRS above, I also find the 4x4 very flexible at low revs / in high gears, so it must be the gearing that makes all the difference as the benefits of higher boost through the remap are more noticeable higher up.

By the way, two services since the car was remapped a year ago, and the only comment I've had from the dealers is that it 'goes nicely'. No comments about 'has it been chipped' or 'watch your warranty' which to me says that the original set up is very 'kind' and the engine is very capable of taking much more in its stride.

My mate has a 1.8T Ibiza FR and it does seem like a nice engine. Around 30 MPG even when driven properly, torquey, willing to rev (at least to about 6k anyway) and relatively refined.

However, its not the sexiest sounding engine, and maybe its just me, but I've read too many reports of 1.8T's losing boost or going into limp mode, but I would hope its not as bad as I perceive it to be.

It's a nice engine, but I think I'd like a blown 6 cylinder motor in the next vRS, S4 stylee (fat chance!). Certainly something that's a bit smoother and more torquey.

Only engine I can compare it to is the old Rover 2.0 T-series turbo. Did 80k miles in mine, averaged around 32mpg (lots of short trips!), would happily pull away from rest in 3rd, had a power band of 1700-6500 rpm, hit 60mph in 6.5 secs (standard!), and 30-70 in 5.4 (autocar figures). Seriously quick car, hugely under-rated engine!

- Flexibility and ease of driving

Poor' date=' the second most irritating thing about the vRS. The engine isn't flexible for town driving. You just can't pull out of junctions or onto roundabouts in 2nd. Every other car I've driven in you can. This makes it a difficult drive around town. +ve side is 2nd is good for 70-80mph.[/quote']

Yes, but you can slot the gear stick into 1st without unduly settling the car (with a little matching of the revs) at 20 mph + and still drive it smoothly. I don't see your second gear niggle rating as scoring poor for flexibility and ease of driving around town is valid.

I think youll find most motoring journos now rate the Vauxhall 2.2 16v as the best four pot ever made.... id agree until proven otherwise, my dad has a astra sri 2.2 and its lovely.. very torquey... smoother than some 6 pots, very refined but with a nice rasp when giving it some... and economical too, with over 40mpg on a run.

apparently the VX220 turbo has a smaller version of the same design with a turbo

my dad has a astra sri 2.2 and its lovely.. very torquey... smoother than some 6 pots, very refined but with a nice rasp when giving it some... and economical too, with over 40mpg on a run.

I had one of the 2.2 Bertone's as a hire once, and it was bloomin' useless...used loads of fuel, wasn't any faster in "real situations" than my lard-ass 1.6 Octy, and basically I couldn't tell it was a 2.2 rather than a 1.4 until I checked under the bonnet!

Also the suspension was so hard that I couldn't get it up to a decent speed on the M6 as the front end just started skipping everywhere...admittedly not the fault of the engine, but still...

Rob.

Yes, but you can slot the gear stick into 1st without unduly settling the car (with a little matching of the revs) at 20 mph + and still drive it smoothly. I don't see your second gear niggle rating as scoring poor for flexibility and ease of driving around town is valid.

:agree: Would agree with Leeboy on this - its all about learning to use the car (not engine) correctly. Most other cars i've had / driven didn't particularly like 1st gear and pulled ok in 2nd - the RS slots into 1st very easily and thats what I use pulling away from junctions, roundabouts, lights etc when stationary or going slowly. Its all about the gearing as the 4x4 is nothing like this in 1st whereas 2nd pulls from much lower speeds. Same engine but different characteristics .

BTW - no real idea on how "great" the 1.8T is as haven't driven several other cars that have claims to greatness but the 1.8T is long lasting, flexible and easily tuneable which isn't a bad start .

The 2.2ecotec is strong (my folks have a LWB frontera with it) but I wouldn't list it as an all time favourite, especially after the G50 plastic pulley incidents!

It's a shame about that pulley problem. Whenever Vauxhall start dragging themselves out, they always miss something.

On the other hand, I've heard "inside" info that there's a dealer fit Supercharger kit coming soon for that 2.2 engine -part of the revamp of the image. And the new 150bhp CDTi diesel is meant to be a really nice engine -with 200bhp chipping potential!

Phil

The 2.2ecotec is strong (my folks have a LWB frontera with it) but I wouldn't list it as an all time favourite, especially after the G50 plastic pulley incidents!

Thats the previous gen 2.2. which was a bored out version of the XE engine... new one has balancer shafts, ally head n block. hollow camshafts!! and a timing chain.. oh and 20k service intervals

and i agree with rob on the bertone thing... it weighs over 1.5tonnes, makes even the 150bhp 2.2 struggle

and i agree with rob on the bertone thing... it weighs over 1.5tonnes, makes even the 150bhp 2.2 struggle

1.5 tonnes?! That's a whole lot of shiny silver plastic, aluminium and "special edition" badges...

Vauxhall also seem to favour "long" gears, so you don't get much flexibility at the top end...though the SRi models would probably get close-ratio boxes to make things more lively...

Rob.

Vauxhall also seem to favour "long" gears' date='[/quote']

That's so their economy figures look good against the competition -which reduces the "pence per mile" -which is why so many fleets buy 'em. It also makes for quiet high speed cruising, of course.

Phil

That's so their economy figures look good against the competition -which reduces the "pence per mile" -which is why so many fleets buy 'em. It also makes for quiet high speed cruising' date=' of course.

[/quote']

Also explains why so many of the repmobiles don't like breaking once their "up to speed"...

Rob.