I see mention of the words "genuine performance car" above.

At the end of the day, it's unlikely any Octavia would be classed as a "genuine performance car", due to it's large 5-door family car configuration - the vRS model merely being the warmed over version.

Those who want to turn it into a "genuine performance car" by additional after-market tuning are unlikely to satisfy themselves with the diesel version, due to it's limitations.

I think it's fair to say that either version will make an admirable fast family hatch/estate, and it's horses for courses as to whether you come down on diesel or petrol.

If you are after a "genuine performance car", buy a Porsche

As long as it's not a Boxster

Jesus Christ guys! Don't leave me battling on my own for so long, damnit!

Diesel has it's place. But in a genuine performance car... yeah!

An Audi won Le Mans many times powered by a ....... diesel

That had some performance and beat all petrol comers

lol just because of the extra 20-30bhp you get from the petrol engine, and the 10mpg less, I am not sure that qualifies it as a 'performance car'. Hot family saloon maybe, but that's as far as it goes

lol just because of the extra 20-30bhp you get from the petrol engine, and the 10mpg less, I am not sure that qualifies it as a 'performance car'. Hot family saloon maybe, but that's as far as it goes

I seem to be suffering from déja vu - see post 51 above

lol just because of the extra 20-30bhp you get from the petrol engine, and the 10mpg less, I am not sure that qualifies it as a 'performance car'. Hot family saloon maybe, but that's as far as it goes

Hot family saloon is exactly rightIMO. But as a base car for tuning, what about if you add another 70-80HP on that you can make it perform like one should :p

Edited 4 January, 201016 yr by vRSy

I seem to be suffering from déja vu - see post 51 above

lol!!

And yes, you tune it to 250+, then you are getting more serious - will never be a true performance car because the engine would never be able to knock out really high speeds - but as a 'sprinter', you could have a lot of fun!

Here you go chaps http://www.velorider.co.uk/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/DieselVSPetrol_vRS.zip

It's quick and dirty but it might help you juggle the numbers. Values in red can be adjusted to match your circumstances.

Dave.

Edited 4 January, 201016 yr by Dodgy

I agree with babs,

Petrol vRS is by a country mile the better car, I contemplated a diesel vRS before I got my Tfsi until I drove the diesel, hated it hated it hated it, sounded like a 1990 ford granada diesel!!!

Each to their own though I suppose..........

I agree with babs,

Petrol vRS is by a country mile the better car, I contemplated a diesel vRS before I got my Tfsi until I drove the diesel, hated it hated it hated it, sounded like a 1990 ford granada diesel!!!

Each to their own though I suppose..........

You obviously drove the PD, not the CR

If you think the CR sounds like a 1990 Ford Granada diesel I should have your hearing checked as it's clearly not working as it should be

Edited 4 January, 201016 yr by Brimma

You obviously drove the PD, not the CR

If you think the CR sounds like a 1990 Ford Granada diesel I should have your hearing checked as it's clearly not working as it should be

Yeah was the PD, I know the CR is more refined but I still wouldn't have a diesel vRS TBH,

I'll keep my soot dumping vRS thanks very much. Look at some of the other threads on here relating to mpg - 550/600 to a tank whereas petrol barely gets to 400. It costs the same too, now. QED. And no way does the CR sound like a knackered Ford Granada. I've been in them as taxis and well, frankly that's an insult to the CR.

I'll keep my soot dumping vRS thanks very much. Look at some of the other threads on here relating to mpg - 550/600 to a tank whereas petrol barely gets to 400. It costs the same too, now. QED. And no way does the CR sound like a knackered Ford Granada. I've been in them as taxis and well, frankly that's an insult to the CR.

If you read my post I said I drove a 'PD' not a CR, I still wouldn't drive a CR diesel vRS, I'll gladly keep pumping petrol into my vRS to for the worthwhile thrill I couldn't get by achieving 42mpg or a silly 2 second torque burst from a PD or CR.

I still fail to see this - the petrol is, what, less than a second to 60 and it a less exciting way it gets there as well - so where is the thrill? If it was 250bhp, you would feel it, but as we are talking stock, and having driven both, the diesel gives you the kick you don't get in the petrol. The chassis is the same, so no marked improvement there, so where is this rush that those so fiercely defending the petrol, refer to?

And I would much prefer some torque burst to none at all

Petrol Torque 280 Nm

Diesel Torque 350 Nm

This is where us diesel owners get our thrill from, and the petrol just doesn't do it in the same way.

I shall say it again, it is very much a 100% personal preference. The petrol didn't do it for me but the diesel did. Sure, there is like 1 second to 60 difference, which you wouldn't notice, so rather than saying that diesel is crap, just say its not for you, the same way petrol isn't for me or other diesel owners? :wonder:

0-60 times are the most irrelevent. in gear acceleration is where its at.

also it may only be an different engine differing the two, but the diesel is also renowned to suffer wheel hop(especially in the rain), and more understeer than the TFSI due to the extra weight of the diesel lump. TBH probably not somethinkg you would notice in everyday driving, but i do frequent track days so it does matter to me.

the ability of the TFSI Vs TDI is even more pronounced in the wet. having this massive hump of torque might feel like its great, but it'll just light up they tyres. This for me was the main reason i chose the TFSI as it was so much more tractable and progressive to use in the rain.

I do agree, there are petrol heads, and there are derv heads. ETTO and that. Im not saying the diesel is crap by any means, far from it. in standard from im not a fan of the engine. I would be keen to try a remapped one though, as from what ive read, it widens the powerband and stops it feeling breathless, so id imagine that would be good.

this sums up my thoughts on the vRS TDI http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Skoda-Octavia-vRS-TDi/

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by vRSy

0-60 is somewhat irrelevent I agree. The 30-70 and 50-70 times are more important and the difference is the same if not less so. Tfsi owners might not know or forget that the soot chucker actually kicks out 180 to 190 bhp as standard. (see revo or superchips)This explains why it is nearly as quick as the tfsi.

I'll dig out some figures I had for both.

And see the lots of threads about Revo over-estimating "standard" figures. It makes them look better

I also found the CR I test drove was still a bit... agricultural...

And see the lots of threads about Revo over-estimating "standard" figures. It makes them look better

I also found the CR I test drove was still a bit... agricultural...

You are a self confessed diesel hater - course you gonna say that lol!!

Diesel by its very nature is not as quiet as petrol - end of the discussion there really

im going to have to add my two pence worth, diesels sound like tractors END OF!!!! even the new cr still sounds noisy, i like petrols!!!

Petrol engines sound like sewing machines a bit flaccid and limp. They generally perform that way also unless you wring their necks. I have a Jaguar 3.0 L to achieve reasonable performance it has to be revved like crazy. If it is anywhere outside of the power band it is slothful, it only produces a little over 200 ft/lbs. On paper it is theoretically quick 0 - 60, 6.5s and just short of 150 mph but it is a pain.

Wouldn't describe my car as sounding like a sewing machine, or being flaccid or limp

I drove both before I bought. There really isn't much in it.

When you factor in costs remember the TFSI really does need super unleaded and from personal recent experience that means good fuel (Vpower et al) and supermarket fuels won't give you the mpg that can be achieved with the petrol. I have a 30 month old TFSI and I can get 37mpg on my 15 mile commute with VPower but it's down to low 30s with Tesco SU.

Performance of the derv is very good, there is not a lot between then in normal driving. Actually I'd say that in normal driving the derv probably has the edge with the greater torque. But on the days you wish to work the engine the petrol makes sense and really does fly. I found the petrol surprisingly torquey, in fact so much so I wouldn't have bought it if it had been any other way.

Petrol reliability seems to be slightly better.

On paper for 9k a year the derv doesn make much sense but a low mileage derv will have good residuals.

But dervs don't seem to like short trips and you may have DPF issues as mentioned.

Drive em both and make your own mind up. I don't think you'll be unhappy either way.

lol just because of the extra 20-30bhp you get from the petrol engine, and the 10mpg less, I am not sure that qualifies it as a 'performance car'. Hot family saloon maybe, but that's as far as it goes

What if you add about 124bhp and brings the top speed to a easy sat nav speed of 173mph (180 speedo)

Well it looks as if nutcracker has had his question well and truly answered by Bezzy, M_at and Dodgy for which I'm sure he's grateful.

Did he realise he was opening the proverbial can of worms with his initial post?

It's a funny thready, people getting quite defensive over their chosen cars I couldn't care what anyone else thinks about what car I chose, just like I wouldn't expect them to care what I think.

But as far as the financials are concerned, you might be surprised by the figures. You quite often hear "you need to be doing 20,000 or 30,000 miles a year to make derv pay off", but my calculations show the break even point is way waaaaaaaay less than that. There are many factors to take on board, residual values, servicing costs, VED, insurance blah blah blah. Now I didn't choose my car based purely on the output of a spreadsheet (I'm a human being - not an accountant :yes: ), but it did influence me a little.

Test drive both cars and buy the one that suits your circumstances, it's just as simple as that.