Hello all,

Trying to decide between these two engines for the wife's possible next car... (it'll be the hatchback).

She does approx 10-11k per year (driven daily, so daily commute isn't much, but she does the odd longer trip during the week), so I guess in pure economic terms, the petrol will just edge it, but I'm wondering if the diesel might still be the better choice, because diesels seem more desirable these days, which if anything looks likely to continue and increase with time.

I'm wondering though if a petrol might be better due to the short nature of many of her trips? Will the fact that the diesel only just warms up on many of her trips be an issue? Or is it not worth worrying about?

It'll be mostly just her in the car, so load lugging isn't much of an issue.

Whichever "she" picks, I'll probably have it on fixed servicing, given her mileage/usage.

What does everyone think?

Cheers,

Richard.

I can confidently say you won't notice the difference around town too much.

Moreover, a diesel will take forever to heat(not that the FSI is that much faster at it), is a bit more expensive to service and driving it mostly around town might cause the turbo to fail prematurely.

For that sort of usage I'd get the petrol.

id agree petrol as much as I am pro diesel

Drive both and buy the one you like.

There won't be huge cost savings either way but the diesel will be cheaper. It's more than 10% more efficient than the petrol and any price premium that you'd pay to buy the car would very likely be retained when you come to sell the car on.

AFAIK, 1.6 FSI is phasing out: if going petrol, I'd rather the 1.4 TSI.

AFAIK, again, short trips aren't an issue for non-DPF equipped diesels and the 1.9 is very well respected, so, I'd choose either the 1.4 TSI or the 1.9 TDI.

100% right... why not TSI ?

100% right... why not TSI ?

Because the OP might not be buying a new car?

I assumed OP was considering second hand cars.

As suggested, not looking at a new car so the TSI is unlikely to be an option.

A slight confession actually; she's actually looking at a few cars, the Octy II is only one of them. She's also interested in the Golf and the Leon. But I figured this question was relevant since the Octy II is one of them and the engine is the same anyway... So whichever car she ends up with, the engine choice is actually still likely to come down to these two engines!

She also likes the Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic, but I'm trying to steer her towards the VAG stable, so I can better justify buying VAG-COM when my warranty runs out

Leon's horrible compared to Octavia imho. Civic's a decent enough car. My mate's had one for last 3.5 years with no problems at all. He's been very pleased with it and has had good economy from the 1.8 vtec petrol.

Civic's a decent enough car. My mate's had one for last 3.5 years with no problems at all. He's been very pleased with it and has had good economy from the 1.8 vtec petrol.

He's been very very lucky then, speaking as an ex owner - check out the civinfo site to see all of the problems.

A friend of mine drives a civic 2.2ictdi and isn't happy at all. Thirsty, noisy, not comfortable.

Leon is really small inside and doesn't share the same interior quality.

The 1.6FSI isn't a smart motor, IMHO. I'd go for a 1.9TDI. AFAIK this engine has plenty of low rpm torque and this may be a characteristic really liked by driver

She also likes the Mazda 3

She has fine taste.

Those are all very different cars, I've got a decent amount of experience of driving the 1.6 petrol Mazda3, 1.8 Civic and Golf 1.6fsi and 1.9tdi and they all offer something different. I think you're going to have to get a few long test drives to decide.

Would you really consider a civic? With all the problems, lack of rear view (actually none!) and no wiper on the back - for round town use???

Whats's wrong with the Octavia? - one of the most practical reliable cars on the market, good residuals (whichever variant you choose) and great space for the longer trips. I'd prefer diesel over 1.6 petrol any day though!

If I was buying for my wife, for < 10k / year usage I'd get the petrol. OK, so here comes the sexism (sorry).... In my experience, though they might be statistically safer drivers, most women just don't drive with mechanical sympathy, especially if they're not interested in cars. I hate my wife driving my car, especially around town, DMF, clutch and brakes get so much hammer. In her own little 1.2 Corsa though, she's fine.

Leon's horrible compared to Octavia imho.

She has an Ibiza at the moment, admittedly it's a lower trim level than my Octy, but I think the Ibiza is nowhere near as nice as my Octy. From reviews I think the Leon is more of the same. BUT it is cheaper than a Golf (which is the benchmark against which the others will probably be judged).

He's been very very lucky then, speaking as an ex owner - check out the civinfo site to see all of the problems.

I spent a lot of time on civinfo doing my research, put me right off the Civic. Loads of problems. I know forums tend to be this way, but civinfo was above and beyond what I would normally expect from a forum. Low quality paint, suspension problems, handbrakes failing, batteries running flat, you name it...

(That said, we know someone who is on their 2nd and loves it!)

Leon is really small inside and doesn't share the same interior quality.

I can well believe this, from what I know of the Ibiza!

She has fine taste.

Those are all very different cars, I've got a decent amount of experience of driving the 1.6 petrol Mazda3, 1.8 Civic and Golf 1.6fsi and 1.9tdi and they all offer something different. I think you're going to have to get a few long test drives to decide.

Apart from the fact that I wouldn't be able to VAG-COM it, I'd be perfectly happy for her to get the Mazda 3. I had an MX-5 before the Octy and found the Mazda experience to be a very good one.

Would you really consider a civic? With all the problems, lack of rear view (actually none!) and no wiper on the back - for round town use???

Whats's wrong with the Octavia? - one of the most practical reliable cars on the market, good residuals (whichever variant you choose) and great space for the longer trips. I'd prefer diesel over 1.6 petrol any day though!

Civic is extremely unlikely, I'd do my best to put her off it, but it was on her list, so...!

Good point about "round town" though, it's pretty unsuitable for that.

I would love her to get an Octy because I think they are great, the biggest issue is she thinks they are just a bit too big for what she wants. I think she wants something "small family hatchback" sized, the Octy is argueably more "family hatchback"!

The Fabia is a non-starter, she doesn't like them at all. For that matter, I'm not that keen either (I thought the previous generation were fine though).

One other option I've thought about, but it's too early to look at properly, is a 2WD Yeti...

If I was buying for my wife, for < 10k / year usage I'd get the petrol. OK, so here comes the sexism (sorry).... In my experience, though they might be statistically safer drivers, most women just don't drive with mechanical sympathy, especially if they're not interested in cars. I hate my wife driving my car, especially around town, DMF, clutch and brakes get so much hammer. In her own little 1.2 Corsa though, she's fine.

Whenever she drives my car, I'm sitting next to her like a driving instructor, struggling not to comment on her revs in x gear, etc etc. She's quite good though, for a girl

I would love her to get an Octy because I think they are great, the biggest issue is she thinks they are just a bit too big for what she wants. I think she wants something "small family hatchback" sized, the Octy is argueably more "family hatchback"!

The Fabia is a non-starter, she doesn't like them at all. For that matter, I'm not that keen either

I was in the same situation a couple of months ago.

The best car was an Octavia L&K by a long way, but in the end it was bigger than she wanted so she bought a MK5 Golf (1.9 TDi 105) and is really happy with it.

I would go for the petrol as well based on your needs but the Diesel is the better engine in my opinion. I have driven both engines in the Octy 2 and I found the 1.6 FSI totally gutless.It didn't feel like 115 BHP and I had to rev the nuts off it to get it to shift. The 1.9 TDI 105 BHP is no ball of fire but its strong low down torque makes it an effortless drive.

As others have said, drive both and see how you feel after that.

If you can stretch to a new Octy go for the 1.4 TSI, it sounds like a terrific little engine.

Edited 28 April, 200917 yr by Matt Bodycombe

I'd be swayed for the 1.6FSI personally

It's a bit of a mixed bag though as i have heard that some engines don't like supermarket unleaded....

I don't drive as much nowadays unless its to do a few town trips or long distance.

Zoidberg has the best answer. Test drive both engines.

It also depends on the car. Golf 5 will handle differently than the Octy and Leon even with the same engine and base chassis.