Hello chaps,

New to the forum, but not new to the VAG world, I've had my trusted 1997 Passat TDI Sport (186k) for 3 years now and I'd love to replace it with a Skoda in the furture. I think the Octavia estate and Fabia estate are fantastic cars, I especially like the look of the Octavia, but I'm also drawn to the PD engine in the Fabia. The engine in the non PD Octavia is virtually identically to my Passat engine, same torque, bhp, displacement, fuel pump etc so I'm wondering whether it would be enough of an upgrade (although £120 road tax & insurance group 7 compared with £185 road tax & insurance group 12 certainly is!)

I suppose I really need to drive both before I decide, has anyone driven both engines? I expect the PD engine to be a little more punchy and pokey drive? The Octavia is great as it shares so many parts with the Golf Mk4 and I see from pics on the forum that someone has popped a lovely Golf interior into their car. With the Fabia being so light, I would assume its pretty nippy and fun to drive. Also, it must be the most understated and overlooked PD engine out of the entire VAG range?! Obviously not here, as we all know what great cars they are.

Feel free to sway me either way, I want to know what you guys think of these 2 models, if there are any members local to Southampton or Swindon that wouldn't mind me having a look around their cars, that would be great too!

The fabia tdi's arent as light as you might think although the fabia vrs is quite nippy.

Don't forget you can get the PD engine in the octavia if you are after something with a little poke although the normal tdi 110bhp is qutie pokey anyway.

If you are after the space go for the Octi, If you just after something to run around in go for the Octi.

Both myself and SWMBO have the PD130 engine, mine in the Octi and hers in the Fabia, hers feels much nippier and quicker around town but mine feels much more of the cruiser

Firstly, you've just demonstrated the unfairness of the current VED system.

I've got a 52 reg Octy TDi110, and it's on £140 VED IIRC, with the same engine as your Passat, and I don't believe there'd be that much between them on fuel.

Secondly, with your quoted mileage on the Passat, I'm guessing you do regular long trips? If so, I'd go for the Octy, because no matter what anyone says, a physically bigger car is more relaxing on a long drive.

Yep, I was given a Fabia whilst my Vrs Octy was in for servicing, and as nice a "little" car it was, I would much prefer to be sat in the Octy to eat up the motorway miles

I'll be looking for models between 2001 and around 2003 (as new and as lower mileage as I can afford!) so if its an Octavia it'll be a non PD 110bhp, I'd like to try one and compare it my Passat.

In response to KenONeill, I do longish trips, not as regularly as I used to, but never the less want a comfortable motorway cruiser and something with a bit of presence, ideally with cruise control. (planning to drive to Germany this summer in the Passat, so cruise control may be on the cards for this one) I think its easier to install CC on the Octavia rather than the Fabia, although it can be done to either car. I've added about 37k to my Passat over three years, so its not mega mileage but I just much prefer the VAG diesels, buckets of torque, cheaper tax and theres also an environmental aspect to for me.

The Tax bands are getting better, but it is still very unfair, my Passat only emits 143g/km which is better than some modern diesels, but with it being a pre 2001 model I'm put straight into the higher tax band, and as of next year the tax will be over £200 per year which is ridiculous!

Am I right in thinking that only the very late Octavia mk1s had the PD130? And they're way out of my price range.

KenONeill - why is your 52 plate Octavia in the £140 tax band?? All the ones I've looked at (and checked via the DVLA vehicle enquiry site) have been £120 for a years tax, the only one that was higher was the auto?

Edited 21 May, 200917 yr by TDi_B5

Hi TDI B5, I maybe able to shed some light on your choice for you.

My last VW was a Passat TDI Sport Est 110 a great car that was a pleasure to drive. Just recentley I owned a Fabia TDI PD 100, it was a fantastic car & the engine was great & a little smoother than the non PD unit,but thats just my opinion. I have recentley sold the Fabia & now I'm driving an Octy Elegance TDI with the 110 engine. Admittedley the Fabia & the Octy were & are hatchbacks, but I can say I prefer the Octy everytime. It's a more relaxed & comfortable cruiser, I get out of it feeling less tired than I did in the Fabia & the cabin is also a tad quieter & alot plusher. As for the MPG there is virtually nothing in it, the tax on my 2002 Octy is the same as the Fabia £120 this year dropping to £110 next year.

It all depends on what you really need, but Octy is the one I would go for.

I think there might be a few 03 PD130 octavia's out there, mine is an 04. They only came in the Elegance and the L&K spec which should you choose to look for one will help you narrow your search down, the PD130 in the Octavia also has the 6speed gearbox for those long lazy cruises down the motorway. My average MPG since last November is 50.5mpg, I do mainly motorway milage but there is a fair amount of country roads and town driving thrown in for good measure.

Thanks Rustle, thats very helpful indeed!

Thanks Rustle, thats very helpful indeed!

Glad I could help

the 6 speed box makes no difference to high speed cruising.

whats your budget, oh and welcome by the way

Haven't thought too much about budget yet, althought I've seen several good Octavias go on ebay lately for anything from £1500 to £3k so something around there. I would aim for as lower mileage as possible, but as long as it had a FSH it should be okay. I shall keep a look out for early PD's.

Surely a 6th gear would make a difference at cruising speed?? I thought that was the idea, to keep the revs nice and low??

Haven't thought too much about budget yet, althought I've seen several good Octavias go on ebay lately for anything from £1500 to £3k so something around there. I would aim for as lower mileage as possible, but as long as it had a FSH it should be okay. I shall keep a look out for early PD's.

Surely a 6th gear would make a difference at cruising speed?? I thought that was the idea, to keep the revs nice and low??

70mph in 6th gear is just a little less than 2,000rpm, I'm not sure what the 5speed equivilent is but I'm sure my mum n dads old tdi (90bhp) model was around the 2,300-2,500rpm mark at 70mph which was a 5 speed box

KenONeill - why is your 52 plate Octavia in the £140 tax band?? All the ones I've looked at (and checked via the DVLA vehicle enquiry site) have been £120 for a years tax, the only one that was higher was the auto?

My rotten memory; I only think about VED properly when it's due, in September!

As for the gearing; the Octy TDi110 has near enough 30mph/1000 rpm.And the Octy PD130 was available normally in Elegance or L&K specs, plus some run-out Ambiantes.

on the petrol boxes 5th is the same as 6th so assumed it was the same on the diesel boxes.

the Octy TDi110 has near enough 30mph/1000 rpm

in which gear?

in which gear?

Top, amazingly enough. ;)Also, what is the point of a gearbox where 2 gears have the same ratio? :confused:

Top, amazingly enough. ;)Also, what is the point of a gearbox where 2 gears have the same ratio? :confused:

as in 5 and 6 speed boxes

as in 5 and 6 speed boxes

You said "on the petrol boxes 5th is the same as 6th ", which I took to mean that 5th and 6th on the 6 speed are the same ratio.I think 5th (top) on the Furbie vRS is the same ratio as 6th (top) on the Octy 130 L&K, but it's a higher gear than 5th (top) on the Octy 110s.

^^ isnt the furby vRS 6 speed? ^^

90bhp TDI in 5th gear

30mph ~ 1000 rpm

60mph ~ 2000 rpm

70mph ~ 2200 rpm