Just to make a change from all of the new VRS posts I thought I'd share my first impressions of my new 1.8 TSi.

I collected my 1.8 TSi SE hatchback in Rosso Brunello on Sunday and first impressions are very positive though I've only done 60 miles due to the weather. Compared with my 11 year old 1.4 Almera, the Octavia is a whole new animal, much more solid and refined and the performance is in a different league. Also when compared with a 1.6 Golf I bought new in 2001 (for a similar price), the Octavia is superior in every way except fuel economy.

The first time I put my foot down on a section of dual carriage way, I was initially disappointed as it didn't feel very quick but then I realised that the car I had overtaken was miles behind - its actually very quick but just doesn't feel it due to being so quiet at speed (in comparison to the Almera anyway).

Its early days still but I suspect the only downside might be fuel economy. So far my impression is that you need to have quite a bit of restraint to see 35mpg which is a bit disappointing (had hoped for 38mpg in daily driving) and I'm sure if you make use of the power it will be more like 30mpg. Still its nothing I can't live with as I only do about 5000 miles per year.

Likes:

Lovely engine, quick, quiet and smooth

Handling seems to be good but not pushed it yet

Comfortable ride

Level of equipment is good

Bolero stereo (the best factory fit I've come across)

Love the colour

Great value for money

Dislikes:

Poor rear visibility for parking

Electric PAS is somewhat lacking in feel

Fuel economy - only 35mpg so far and thats with careful driving due to the snow.

I have 1700 miles OTC now and get ~28MPG* on a 7mile run up and down a couple of valleys to pick up Jnr.

I got 38MPG* on a run from Bath to Portsmouth last w/e.

* Dash readings.

Hey, dont forget the engine will become much more efficent when its broken in, thats particulary common in the VAG engines, I reckon you will get 38mpg average by the time you have 5k on the clock

Sounds nice, enjoy

Had mine about 14 months, (hatch, Elegance, manual) only about 8K miles, love it to bits, goes like a kitten or a rocket according to mood and conditions (of course), get mid thirties to the gallon of 99 with mixed driving, or over 40 on a long cruise at 60-70.

Boot size (with rear seats down and shelf out) is like owning a truck. Can't think of a fault (hopefully not famous last words), no squeaks, creaks or rattles.

Heating and general climate control is A1. Handling, brakes and gearbox A1

Not much else to say really!

Thanks for reminding me about the gearbox, its excellent. Almost every other car I have owned have had gear boxes with an 'awkward' 2nd gear, particularly when the oil is cold, this one is just fine - hope it stays that way.

Hey, dont forget the engine will become much more efficent when its broken in, thats particulary common in the VAG engines, I reckon you will get 38mpg average by the time you have 5k on the clock

And it's winter don't forget (as if you could ) so the heater's blowing away and the headlights are on all day, etc… That's all going to bring down the mpg

Had my 1.8TSI Elegance with Pegasus wheels and sports suspension since September 2007 (probably one of the first ones around).

Its been a great car and as yet haven't received a speeding ticket lol.

You will easily average 38mpg overall once run in, get it out of first gear and it will perform well.

Only small niggles I have is Sometimes get misted up rear screen and the usual drivers door wind noise.

Am sure you'll enjoy.

Edited 23 December, 200916 yr by patches

Fuel economy - only 35mpg so far and thats with careful driving due to the snow.

I've been driving the 1.8TSI O2 for the last 40kkm and my average is somewhere in the 35mpg range. I think that's very reasonable figure.

The car weighs nearly 1.400 kg and has got a 1.8 litre turbocharged petrol engine with 160 hp (factory figure, in real life approx. 180 hp). You can't trick the physics & you don't buy that kind of car to save the fuel.

1.8 litre turbocharged petrol engine with 160 hp (factory figure, in real life approx. 180 hp).

Is that really so? I must say it feels like it but I thought I was kidding myself!!

The car weighs nearly 1.400 kg and has got a 1.8 litre turbocharged petrol engine with 160 hp (factory figure, in real life approx. 180 hp). You can't trick the physics & you don't buy that kind of car to save the fuel.

I know, I could have gone for a 1.6 TDI CR for about the same money but chose fun over fuel economy. As you say 35mpg isn't terrible.

Where did you get the 180 hp figure from?

Check the picture "note" for 1.8 TSI and charts:

Revo technik

Another chart from dyno test (Superb 1.8 TSI): Click

Have seen some more of them (dyno charts, non-modified 1.8 TSI) and all of them peak at approx. 180.

Edited 24 December, 200916 yr by slick123

Poor rear visibility for parking

Electric PAS is somewhat lacking in feel

Fuel economy - only 35mpg so far and thats with careful driving due to the snow.

Mine took 15,000km to get better economy

You'll get used to parking it

37 mpg today so improving already.

The steering feel is also adjustable, you just need a dealer or someone with VCDS and the steering weight can be made lighter or heavier if you wish.

I've got a 1.8TSI on order and I'm really looking forward to collection. Why is it that Skoda advertises 160 bhp for this engine and someone now claims that it is more like 180 bhp ? Not that I'm moaning, I'd just like to etsablish why Skoda haven't advertised this.

The car certainly sounds good though.

I've got a 1.8TSI on order and I'm really looking forward to collection. Why is it that Skoda advertises 160 bhp for this engine and someone now claims that it is more like 180 bhp ? Not that I'm moaning, I'd just like to etsablish why Skoda haven't advertised this.

The car certainly sounds good though.

There are always variations in output between engines of the same type , so manufacturers give a conservative figure so nobody can complain that theirs is underpowered.

Also some rolling roads are pretty optimistic , so if you get a car that's 5% over spec and a rolling road that has a similar margin of error you've got someone with a printout for 180bhp

Don't get me wrong - it is not my own claim, I'm just posting stuff I've found somewhere else, as I haven't tested mine so far.

The whole VW group advertises this engine under 160 hp figure. Maybe that the owners would think how well the engine performs for 160 hp... No idea, really.

I've managed to put a few miles on mine over the last couple of days and had a chance to see what it will do, though still not gone above 4000rpm. I've never had a car with 180 hp so can't compare but I've had a couple with 150 hp, and in comparison my octy has way more low and midrange grunt but seems to lack the top end shove I'd expect. Its not that its lacking top end power, more that there doesn't seem to be any point in reving too high as its at its best in the mid range - maybe it gets a new lease of life at the high rpm's I've yet to explore?

In some respects it feels more like a diesel than a petrol engine, albeit a silky smooth quiet one with a wide power band. Starting to wonder what it would be like with a re-map...

Fuel economy was 38mpg today, so quite happy with that.

Funny you should say that,we had some skoda engineers last year at our workshop and speaking to one of them,he told me that the 1.9 PD engine delivers more than 77kw,can't remember the figure he quoted,so you might be right about incorrect performance figures ....

I love the quietness of the petrol engine compared to the PD engine of the Golf, however I do feel that it lacks Ooomph!

Whether that's down to the DSG box, I don't know, the car's build quality is great, very happy, it's just I feel it's lacking somewhere!

The fuel economy is quite good with just over 300 miles on the clock, its been averaging around 32-34mpg on the short trips to/from work, I expect it'll improve as the mileage increases & I'm waiting to see what mpg it'll return on a trip to Exmoor in the spring via the A331, M3 & A303. :think:

I love the quietness of the petrol engine compared to the PD engine of the Golf, however I do feel that it lacks Ooomph!

Whether that's down to the DSG box, I don't know, the car's build quality is great, very happy, it's just I feel it's lacking somewhere!

The fuel economy is quite good with just over 300 miles on the clock, its been averaging around 32-34mpg on the short trips to/from work, I expect it'll improve as the mileage increases & I'm waiting to see what mpg it'll return on a trip to Exmoor in the spring via the A331, M3 & A303. :think:

With only 300 miles up I suspect the engine has yet to loosen up. The book says to go easy for the first 1000 miles or so. Then you can give it some to see if the Ooomph improves!

I am really enjoying my 1.8 TSI / DSG wagon now that it has over 3000miles up. But then I dont really push it much. I have a motorcycle for when I feel the need...

Hi: had a 1.8TSI (HB) since dec 2007 now on 22,00miles.

Initial fuel average was about 32-4mpg but increased noticeably at 3-5k. I have noticed a marked difference when the temperature drops below 10c - summer mpg generally 38-39 average but I reckon its down to 34-35 at this time of year(december, jan) seems to drop about 10% and its not just cold starts, it returned 37mpg today comming back from Sheffield - Norfolk at 70 -80mph indicated: in summer exactly the same trips gives over 40mpg.

Other comments - similar - engine is more a little like a good TDI with loads of low down grunt available, but wider a power band and certainly much smoother than the equivalent 2.0TDIs. I agree it seems to progressively run out of torque much above 4500rpm but dosn't do so suddenly like dervs, so you don't get caught out of revs during an overtake. Good unit generaly & pretty economical considering its performance & asking price.

Last car: 2.0 Honda Accord - no comparisom in performance & fuel consumption - despite the acclaimed VTEC etc.

yOne irritation - quick getaways in first gear are not easy. Engine bogs down if not enough boot applied & takes off like a scalded cat if you give it too much & turbo comes in(with attendant wheelspin , tramp etc.) getting it right is a fine line!

One irritation - quick getaways in first gear are not easy. Engine bogs down if not enough boot applied & takes off like a scalded cat if you give it too much & turbo comes in(with attendant wheelspin , tramp etc.) getting it right is a fine line!

Would agree with that, tried it for the first time today!

Would agree with that, tried it for the first time today!

Everyone's found that - you do get used to it though. It is almost as if there were a switch, just between "no throttle" and "a bit of throttle", that turns the turbo on or something!

Re: bhp, my first Octy was a Mk 1 vRS, (180 bhp?) and my TSi certainly doesn't feel any slower - probably a good bit heavier too. Far better low down that my last car (2.0 FSi) - much less down-changing on hills now.