Looking to buy a 1.4 TSI Elegance but have a couple of questions before I place the order. I'm putting options down as ESP, audio steering wheel with maxidot and steel spare. Wondering is the tyre pressure monitor worth the money or just another gadget? Does this mean that I then have to get tyres only changed at approved Skoda places in the future or will the old ATS still be able to change them?

Also, wondering about front parking sensors... My wife has a scout with rear sensors and I find them invaluable. Now I have the choice of specifying front sensors I wonder if I will actually find them useful, or if I can probably cope with knowing where the front of the car is!

Finally, I was also planning on getting the 1.8TSI until I test drove the 1.4TSI (my local dealer only has the 1.4 to test drive) - is it worth me trying to find a 1.8 to test drive or is it just overkill? The 1.4 is a cracking engine and I found it had plenty of poke (bearing in mind my current car is a 2.0TDCI focus). Anyone got the 1.8? Whats the view on it? What sort of mpg do you get?

Cheers all.

I have just ordered my car with front and rear parking sensors, but I do have a little difficulty judging the length at the front. I always think the bonnet is longer than it actually is, so this is why I chose the front sensors as well.

I could cope without them (I have done for 19 years without a single scrape), but think they might come in handy.

TPM is well worth the £40 for it, and doesnt affect where you get tyres done.

Ok, cheers. Think I'll probably leave the front parking sensors and save myself the money.

Any views on the 1.4 vs 1.8 question?

Cheers.

I think you need to test them both, I've only tested the 1.8 and found it really good.

I would suggest bigger wheels, too... the car looks horribly under-wheeled on 15" wheels!

Think the elegance comes with 16" wheels anyway.

I think you need to test them both, I've only tested the 1.8 and found it really good.

Ideally yes, but you may have trouble locating a 1.8, they don't seem to be very popular which I find odd given that every review I've seen is very positive about the engine. I've ordered a 1.8 myself but couldn't find one to test drive - my dealer said that almost all Octavias he sold were diesels and he couldn't remember ever having sold a 1.8TSI.

Most people think the TDI is the obvious choice, but a lot of people would be better off with the 1.8TSI

I think you need to test them both, I've only tested the 1.8 and found it really good.

I would suggest bigger wheels, too... the car looks horribly under-wheeled on 15" wheels!

Elegance comes with 16" wheels.

Well, that's a little better!

1.8TSi will definately give you a bit more of a buzz.

Thing is though, if you are more than happy with the 1.4TSi, you'll need to balance that up with the increase in purchase price, fuel consumption, insurance and road tax.

That's why in the end I couldn't justify the 1.8TSi and went for the 1.4TSi. Haven't regretted it either , but everyone has their own priorities to come to the right decision for them.

Well, that's a little better!

Think the 17" would look better, but then I think the ride would become a wee bit too harsh.

19" Bentley rims ftw

ftw?????

What does that mean?

For The Win!

Looking to buy a 1.4 TSI Elegance but have a couple of questions before I place the order. I'm putting options down as ESP, audio steering wheel with maxidot and steel spare. Wondering is the tyre pressure monitor worth the money or just another gadget? Does this mean that I then have to get tyres only changed at approved Skoda places in the future or will the old ATS still be able to change them?

Also, wondering about front parking sensors... My wife has a scout with rear sensors and I find them invaluable. Now I have the choice of specifying front sensors I wonder if I will actually find them useful, or if I can probably cope with knowing where the front of the car is!

Tyre pressure monitor is not worth the money. In my Leon, I had a pierced tyer, but this is TPM not showed. TPM works on the principle of pressure difference in each tyre. TPM is the same in the Octavia and Leon.

Parking sensors front and back are definitely worth the money. My work great.

Greetings

Matjaz

I think the 1.4 / 1.8 question is tricky to answer really. It'll depend on what you're used to and how you drive. My 1.4 TSI slips up to 80 mph all too easily and I haven't yet noticed any lack in torque when I want to overtake or accerate.

But then it has 30% more power than my old Toyota and it's 10 years newer, so I'd hope to notice a difference! It has the same size engine as the Toyota so is resonable on emissions and body wise, it's only really mm larger. But it's a more solid car with better roadholding and I'm finding it to be a very nice drive.

I'm sure a 1.8 will give you better acceleration and if speed's your thing ... but then it'll want feeding more often, plus insurance cost, slightly higher road tax .. !

My guess is that you'll notice a difference from your Focus either way .. the question is .. how much of a difference would you like? And I suspect a test drive might be the only way to conclusively answer that one.

I was torn between being sensibe and ordering a 1.6 diesel or for similar money getting the 1.8 TSi. In the end I decided to go for the 1.8 TSi because I knew if I'd gone diesel, after a couple of months once the new car novelty had worn off, I'd probably get bored with it. If you want performance, the 1.8 TSi seems to be a bit of a bargain - can't think of anything else that quick and reasonably economical for the money.

Other reasons for not going diesel were due to my low annual mileage, I was concerned that I may experience DPF problems and also that it would probably take about 3 years for it to become run in.

I didn't consider the 1.4TSi because due to the popularity of the engine I didn't think it likely I would be able to get one before the end of the year, though ironically when I went in to the dealership to sign the paperwork for mine, there was an unsold one on display in the showroom!

Tyre pressure monitor is not worth the money. In my Leon, I had a pierced tyer, but this is TPM not showed. TPM works on the principle of pressure difference in each tyre. TPM is the same in the Octavia and Leon.

Parking sensors front and back are definitely worth the money. My work great.

Greetings

Matjaz

It will only trigger if a drop of 3PSI develops within a certain period of time/distance. It doesnt know about a blowout/sudden loss (you'd know anyway), or for very slow punctures.

Thanks all for the responses. I went ahead with the order last Thursday - 1.4TSI in the end as I called around to find a test drive of a 1.8 and local dealers mentioned they sell most with the DSG gearbox as its just a bit mad with a manual. I wasn't interested in a DSG and tbh don't think I really want to spend an extra 1.5k for the 1.8 when I found the 1.4 was plenty for my needs (I'm not much of a speed demon these days, and for the journeys I do I won't need all that umph anyway). Ditched the front parking sensors in favour of the curtain airbags, but kept the TPM. With all the extras I've added its gonna be a factory order so 12weeks wait. On the plus side that might mean I get a "10" plate so that'll be nice!

Cheers.

Nice spec groundhog, almost same as mine.:thumbup:

Don't think you'll regret it one bit either.

Thanks all for the responses. I went ahead with the order last Thursday - 1.4TSI in the end as I called around to find a test drive of a 1.8 and local dealers mentioned they sell most with the DSG gearbox as its just a bit mad with a manual. I wasn't interested in a DSG and tbh don't think I really want to spend an extra 1.5k for the 1.8 when I found the 1.4 was plenty for my needs (I'm not much of a speed demon these days, and for the journeys I do I won't need all that umph anyway). Ditched the front parking sensors in favour of the curtain airbags, but kept the TPM. With all the extras I've added its gonna be a factory order so 12weeks wait. On the plus side that might mean I get a "10" plate so that'll be nice!

Cheers.

Congratulations! I think you will be on for a 10 plate - I ordered mid Nov and have a week 6 build date putting it in the 2nd half of Feb.