Hi there, I'm new to this forum. I intend to sit using the search as well but here goes.

I currently drive a W reg Focus 1.8 Zetec, at best I get 37mpg but day to day I tend to get 32-34mpg. I do around 19k miles per year, my commute to work is 30 miles each way 20 of which are A road then dual carriageway. Sometimes I do the same commute by motorway which is 38 miles each way depending on the time of day.

Whatever car I get I intend to get something about two years old and run for a minimum of three years.

I've driven a mk2 VRS TDI which I liked a lot. It shifted.I realise that with my mileage it would be ideal however I'm worried about injector and turbo problems etc that are normally associated with diesel turbo engines. Also there was the ever present tractor like sound of a diesel engine which I don't like much.

I was thinking about going for a mk2 VRS petrol on the basis of I think unless I am wearing lead boots I doubt it will use much more petrol than my Focus. Its comfortable (cruise, climate control, well put together), like the TDI it looks good. For some reason the VRS' are reasonable to insure compared to say an ST220.

Am I mad considering a petrol mk2 VRS for the miles I do?

Also in terms of remap am I right in thinking on a standard car I should be able to get a few more bhp and torque without spending loads upgrading other components?

Andy

The petrol VRS is not too thirsty I believe if you do not cane it everywhere and fuel consumption around 30mpg should be achievable. I have the diesel vrs and am sure you will not be disappointed if you got one. Both VRSs have significantly more power than your focus and will be a lot of fun.

Reliabilty of either VRS is pretty good IMHO. You will see some issues in this forum but I believe they tend to be the exception and not the norm (remeber forums often attract people with issues that they need to be resolved).

The petrol VRS will be easier to tune than the diesel as there can be issues with the diesel particulate filter when remapping them. Although there are quite a few diesel VRSs on here that have been remapped with no issues.

Thanks for that.

I was thinking with the petrol one I will expect lower mpg if I am going for it a bit but otherwise if I can get around 30mpg I can live with (and afford) that for the benefit of having a quick ish car.

I'd best sort out a test drive eventually of a petrol VRS.

Am I mad considering a petrol mk2 VRS for the miles I do?

I'm doing around 20k a year, which the lowest I've been doing for the last 9-10, years and I've never had a diesel. So no I don't think your mad.

People that like there cars to sound like a tractors are far madder! :P

The petrol VRS is not too thirsty I believe if you do not cane it everywhere and fuel consumption around 30mpg should be achievable. I have the diesel vrs and am sure you will not be disappointed if you got one. Both VRSs have significantly more power than your focus and will be a lot of fun.

Reliabilty of either VRS is pretty good IMHO. You will see some issues in this forum but I believe they tend to be the exception and not the norm (remeber forums often attract people with issues that they need to be resolved).

The petrol VRS will be easier to tune than the diesel as there can be issues with the diesel particulate filter when remapping them. Although there are quite a few diesel VRSs on here that have been remapped with no issues.

All very sound advice , but let me put my slant on it;-

Two factors to consider; Finance and Fun

Finance;

1. Real world fuel consumption is (from guys on this forum) vRS TFSI average 30-35mpg or vRS TDI 40-45mpg - I'll let you work out the rest for your 19,000 miles pa

2. Insurance; most insurers quote the vRS TDI as 2 groups lower, therefore cheaper, than the vRS TFSI

Fun

No major problems injector/turbo problems associated with the PD170 TDI engine.

Remaps; the TFSI can easily be remapped from 197bhp to 240bhp whereas the TDI, limited by the DPF will go from 170bhp to 200bhp. The TFSI will ultimately be quicker but, in the real world, you'd be hard pressed to know the difference.

Good luck with your decision; either way it will be correct whichever vRS you buy.

Just made the swap you were considering - petrol Focus 1.6 to Octy vRS TDi. Commute is 27 miles each way every day, mostly on motorways and about 10 miles in heavy traffic, the rest easy motorway blasting. Getting average of 43-44 mpg on the commute in those conditions. Love the car after a month and about 2500 miles. I do about 25k per year and thought, like you, that it would be the perfect solution - fast, fun looking but economical and reasonable to run.

So far I am made up with it.

Did consider the petrol, major advantages being that it is cheaper to buy, smoother and quicker, but after test-drives in both I didn't think that the diesel suffered any real world disadvantage - if anything I thought the torque slinging it out of greasy 3rd gear bends was addictive!

As others have said, both are great cars, with very good reputations for reliability. Buy and enjoy!

Oh, and welcome aboard!

Phil

:wavey:

Pretty much all that needs to be said and been said in this thread.

But overall the petrol will drink more fuel than the diesel but it'll be cheaper to fill up and the petrol version is cheaper than the diesel version when comparing like for like.

Just dug this thread back up, cheers for all the replies.

Its next year before I can change cars anyway (I'm putting the money I was paying out on my focus away every month to clear my overdraft), so I have time to look at other cars such as the new Seat Leon.

I do a similar mileage to work on similar roads.

Gentle driving I can get 38-40mpg on the A road and 35mpg on the motorway. Anything shorter than 20 miles and normally it'll be between 26-32mpg. In town you'll be 17-22mpg.

When working out your figures remember the vRS TFSI should be running on super unleaded.

I drove the TDI and TFSI before I made my mind up. There is surprisingly little between them. I worked out they would cost me the same over 3 years so I took the extra 30hp.

Insurance (for me) was surprisingly low. I can get Fully comp with all the bells and whistles for about £300.