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

I want one that does that

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?

no i didnt but it sure still makes my head hurt and im still in limbo which to get,looks like il try and take both out and make my mind up then.

cheers all who had an input

Sorry to add fuel to the fire (no pun intended), but I'm another one for petrol...

My dad has a CR170 Passat, and I've got a TFSI VRS. I've driven both. A lot.

Putting handling aside and talking JUST about the power plants, the TFSI is FAR better. Every time I drive his, it makes me glad I went for the petrol VRS.

The CR170 is a great engine in its own right, and I completely agree that for many people the economy means that the Diesel is a very attractive option. Good for them. It's great for my dad because he likes to watch the pennies and does a lot of distance - and he's not all that bothered about performance.

BUT I don't agree with this 'diesel feels quicker because of the torque' rubbish. My VRS feels quicker, is quicker and is more drivable through the rev range.

Anyway, this is a Skoda forum, so it's to be expected that 90% of people on here are the sort to appreciate 'value-for-money' - WHICH IS FINE - but don't then try and make out that diesel is the best thing since sliced bread. Both have their merits, but if both the petrol and diesel VRS cost exactly the same to buy and run, I bet very few of you would have diesels then...

Drove both the petrol and the diesel vRS, liked both but the petrol IMHO was better.

However, bought the diesel in the end!

The change to the CR engine in the vRS make it a much closer call, as there is less between them in the refinement stakes. The diesel can frustrate in the first couple of gears as they are so short, but from third onwards it is great.

It is interesting to contrast a non-turbo petrol with a turbo-diesel though. I had a Honda Accord Type S (2.4 petrol) before the vRS's, on paper it appeared to have similar performance 0-60 and top end, but in virtually any situation it would have been left for dead by a diesel vRS. It was great to rev it out on occasion, but generally it was harder to access the performance. The economy of the diesel vRS is around 50% better than the Accord as well.

You pays your money and takes your choice!

I don't do high mileage and prefer the petrol my self. One of my main concerns is the cost of diesel in UK. At the moment it is about 2p more around my area than petrol but around summer 08 when the oil price went crazy the difference between the two was about 10p more for diesel. My concern is once the world pulls out of recession and the Chinese open up the factory's again and demand takes off the price will go back being 10p again. This will make it uneconomical to have a diesel.

but if both the petrol and diesel VRS cost exactly the same to buy and run, I bet very few of you would have diesels then...

Hehe odd quote because if both were the same, one or the other wouldn't exist! That's like saying if cheese and onion crisps tasted like roast chicken you wouldn't buy roast chicken!

But in your post, remember that your opinion is just that, your opinion. You can't say that the petrol is better because you have driven both lol!! It is down to personal choice - the petrol didn't do it for me but it does for others! So what?

And you say he isn't all that bothered about performance - we are talking 1 second to 60 here and virtually the same through the gears, so there really is no real difference in performance - its a petrol / diesel Skoda we are talking about, not a De Tomaso Pantera! These are quick family saloons, not rocket ships

Hehe odd quote because if both were the same, one or the other wouldn't exist! That's like saying if cheese and onion crisps tasted like roast chicken you wouldn't buy roast chicken!

I think you miss my point...

What I said was if both the petrol and diesel had the same cost of ownership, then I bet no one would have the diesel. Nothing about the cars being the same...

At the moment, I suspect lower tax, better fuel economy and better residual values are the main reasons why people choose the diesel VRS over the petrol. I highly doubt that so many people would opt for the diesel if they cost the same to run, as with cost taken out of the equation, the diesel has very little appeal.

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by naxtek

I think that is a bit of a presumption saying that if running costs where the same then people would only by a petrol motor. I much prefer diesel to petrol. They are more than capable of matching or exceeding the performance of similar sized petrol motors from the same manufacturers. They do not need to be revved up to the red line just to produce performance, it matters far less what gear one is in. The performance of cars like the BMW 123d are exemplary not that many 2L petrol motors giving out over 200 bhp and oodles of torque or the BMW 335d, 330d or even some of the Audi diesels come to that. I can not see myself buying another petrol and I do not like to hang around.

The diesel will always be worth more than the petrol when you come to sell it as well.

Very good point.

Audi have a 3.0 V6 supercharged... that would give the above mentioned 3.0 diesels a run for their money!

I think you miss my point...

What I said was if both the petrol and diesel had the same cost of ownership, then I bet no one would have the diesel. Nothing about the cars being the same...

At the moment, I suspect lower tax, better fuel economy and better residual values are the main reasons why people choose the diesel VRS over the petrol. I highly doubt that so many people would opt for the diesel if they cost the same to run, as with cost taken out of the equation, the diesel has very little appeal.

Your opinion! I don't choose diesel only for saving - I prefer the more robust engine, the torque, the drive, the way it feels - just in the same way as you like petrol. Don't be so narrow minded to think that everyone likes petrol! I always get diesels!

it matters far less what gear one is in.

I don't get that. My petrol VRS will happily sit at 30mph in 6th on a flat road. My dad's CR170 judders like mad at anything less than 45mph in 6th.

And rincey, I'm not being narrow minded - I'm completely open to the fact you prefer Diesel for other reasons, but I think you are in a minority. The fact remains that most people who choose diesel do so for economic reasons (might I add there is nothing wrong with that!).

Anyway what sort of driving are you doing to need all that torque?! Towing a jumbo jet? :p

Anyway what sort of driving are you doing to need all that torque?! Towing a jumbo jet? :p

Lazy driving. That's what!

Anyway what sort of driving are you doing to need all that torque?! Towing a jumbo jet? :p

Well, now you come to mention it:-

You know Babs is right!

Yes without doubt as a "driver" petrol is the king and believe me I was this close *holds fingers up to screen* to gettin the petrol version of the vRS but and this is the big but. How often now days do you find the right piece of road, the right time, ideal traffic to make the most of the petrol? To be able to rev it and actually enjoy it? For me it would be once in a bluemoon. Too many idiots around my neck of the woods and too many coppers waiting to pull you over.

The diesel is just not that, its nice to drive, relaxed, refined and yet when you want to be a little cheeky you can, yes not like you can in a petrol but in every day real world terms the diesel is better.

Up until 25 I would have laught at you if you said you should drive a diesel, called you gay, what a plonker or whatever other insult you can think off etc.....but the truth is its actually good......fun........useable....relaxing! Yes there is times when I miss a petrol, miss the revving the guts between every gear shift , but like I said everyday driving it has to be diesel and even now I'm not doing as much mileage I still chose the diesel over the petrol for the reasons I gave above.

So Babs is correct that petrol is best but the the very reasons why it is the best are the reasons why diesel makes so much more sense. Go out there drive them both and choose which makes you happier to drive, not what gives you the most thrills but what feels best.

I am a dieselhead and proud of it!! Why oh why cant we just live in peace! :p

I don't get that. My petrol VRS will happily sit at 30mph in 6th on a flat road. My dad's CR170 judders like mad at anything less than 45mph in 6th.

And rincey, I'm not being narrow minded - I'm completely open to the fact you prefer Diesel for other reasons, but I think you are in a minority. The fact remains that most people who choose diesel do so for economic reasons (might I add there is nothing wrong with that!).

Anyway what sort of driving are you doing to need all that torque?! Towing a jumbo jet? :p

Torque is a shed load of fun - end of really. Since the 330d that I had, I have loved the feel of it - that is one of my reasons. And I don't think I am in a minority - I would say that it is pretty close 50-50 as to who prefers what, but I shall say it again... it is totally down to personal choice. You say petrol is better, I disagree - but that is my opinion *shrug*

Not sure why some are so fixated on saying petrol is better - cos that is just their opinion! :wonder:

Well, minority or not, I drove both and the diesel won hands down for me. I did mention this above, but I found the petrol didn't give you the same kick. I much prefer the way the diesel engines feel and perform. Performance is virtually the same in the real world and you get savings too - pretty big plus for me

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/petrol-vs-diesel/?deriv=42072#manu=10172&model=1437&deriv=42072

dont know if this link has been put in its parkers comparison site petrol vrs diesel

Not to mention the extra 200 or so miles to a tankful of derv that is achievable, disregarding the 0-60 santa pod issue that the petrol lovers keep going on about. Like others, I've driven both - a Golf GTi DSG and my VRS and I bought the vRS because it had economy and power that can only be used occasionally....otherwise plod or the camera will have you.

Couldn't agree more with Babs on this one.....

Buy a petrol car if you enjoy driving and enjoy your cars.

Buy a diesel if you need to tow/carry heavy objects or do a billion miles a year.

People quoting peak torque figures is mildly pointless! It's all about the torque CURVE, not a short sharp spike at low revs.

Commenting on how easy the car is to drive at low revs sort of seals the deal for me. I couldn't imagine anything more boring than easy driving at low revs!

Part of the thrill of driving for me comes from an engine that hurriedly spins up to dizzy revs accompanied with a beautifully singing exhaust note. Anyone that's spent a lot of time at race circuits will know that spine tingling feeling too.

My head said diesel but my heart said petrol.I only do 8k a year and it would take a while to recoup the extra cost of buying a diesel, and i have always wanted a petrol turbo since my younger days ,so i bought a tfsi and glad i did.As has been said on numerous occasions diesels of today are pretty quick but didn't do it for me personally at this point in time but i wouldn't rule one out either if my circumstances changed and found myself doing lots of miles ,but until then, the new found fun my tfsi has given me i will stick with petrol.

Part of the thrill of driving for me comes from an engine that hurriedly spins up to dizzy revs accompanied with a beautifully singing exhaust note. Anyone that's spent a lot of time at race circuits will know that spine tingling feeling too.

Yes, on the way into work in the mornings, whilst sat in traffic doing 5 mph, you can hear the note of 2 litre Octavia's singing all over the place lol!!!

You need to think about the real world where you spend (presumably) most of your travelling time back and forwards to work. The thrill of the dizzy revs that can be achieved in slow moving traffic is astounding :p

And this torque thing - I will say it one last time, It is personal preference - I prefer the feel, do the miles and much prefer the ride of the diesel

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by Rincey

The only thing that annoys me about the whole diesel vs petrol thing is this one comment "if you enjoy driving your car then buy petrol" its bullsh*t.

I've bought diesel and I can happy say I enjoy driving it alot far more than what I would a petrol in 95% of my driving time.

Edited 5 January, 201016 yr by polocoupe

Yes, on the way into work in the mornings, whilst sat in traffic doing 5 mph, you can hear the note of 2 litre Octavia's singing all over the place lol!!!

You need to think about the real world where you spend (presumably) most of your travelling time back and forwards to work. The thrill of the dizzy revs that can be achieved in slow moving traffic is astounding :p

And this torque thing - I will say it one last time, It is personal preference - I prefer the feel, do the miles and much prefer the ride of the diesel

in everyday driving there is not much between them TBH. either way id be happy, I do prefer petrol cars though. plus the TFSI is a lot ore tunable which is something i looked for.

i ghave noticed alot of issies with the TDIs though engine wise

DPF issues

turbos failing

cold starting issues

and thats just looking back at the octavia II forum page 1, if you keep looking back to page 2 onwards there are alot of similar probs going on about issues with the TDIs, that to me is a big down point.

TFSI has problems but they areusually the DV and PCVs failing due to mapping and tuning etc

Petrol heads nearly allays think that the extra 2php that they might have over their diesel cousins is inportant but blasting across difficult A and B roads, diesels are so superior so far as performance is concerned. Le Mans and other areas motor sports are now dominated by diesels. If they gave the nod to diesel technology then my guess is that Diesels would soon be dominating in other areas, once the preserve of petrol motors also. Diesel has come so far in such a short time. Outside of the truck industry, little comparative research and development has been spent on diesel. Diesel fuel contains more energy than does petrol, per unit volume. Tt stands to reason that it has the potential. It is the market holding it back. Few manufacturers have been prepared to throw the buck and turn their back on fashion. Why is it that when two cars of the same model, the performance orientated version has been made the petrol while the diesel offering is the detuned version. 2 L diesels could easily be pushing out well over 200bhp without any fuel penalty but they do not because the still want the misinformed, to be shelling out on their petrol ranges. One could turn around the statement above about, if costs were equal that everyone would buy the petrol. I would say the opposite would be true, if manufacturers stopped holding diesel back and allowed it to be developed for performance. Then who would buy petrol, if they were showed to be not only superior in the real world but on paper also. I think that I am right in thinking that BMW started the trend for more sporty diesel motors, with the 123d 330d & 335d. These cars are also so easily tuned to extract even grater outputs. It is possible to have performance and relative economy, so why buy a car that uses such a massive amount of additional fuel just to show an unimportant and marginal bhp gain, unless that is, unless you have shares in the oil industry. What is needed, is an enlightened public, to be demanding even more from diesel and then petrol would cease to exist practically, it is already only showing its head because diesel is artificially being held back. Manufacturers are trying to ring the neck out of petrol which really ought to just be allowed to die out.

However in four years time , the diesel engined version will still be worth more than the petrol engined one , so you need to take that into account too

Quite correct; looking quickly on www.parkers.co.uk at a 2007/07 vRS with 20,000 miles; the TFSI is worth (part exchange) £9,925 whilst the TDI is worth £10,410. That's a difference of virtually £500 clawed back against the £1,000 differential when new. On fuel costs with mpg and cost differences set over 9,000 miles pa I'd be surprised if the difference is more that a few hundred ££s.

More importantly IMHO why base your decision purely on costs? As others have already said you should get a test drive in both (I did) and decide which you would prefer to have as your car!

Good luck.