From The Daily Telegraph Car Clinic, Saturday February 13, 2010:

Q. I might change my 2006 Ford Focus 1.6 for a new Skoda Octavia with the 1.4 turbo petrol engine. What do you think of small turbo petrol engines, this one in particular?

A. It's an excellent engine. Renault, Vauxhall and Fiat now produce 1.4 turbo engines too. I'd be interested if you can actually get the Octavia with one - potential VW Golf buyers are being told they face a long wait for models with this engine. I should add, however, that readers are not finding it brilliantly economical (37-40mpg is typical with a DSG transmission).

Oh yeah... why not just accept it, and become part of the UK properly?

Or on the other hand he join up with his southern Ireland Buddies , seeing as he likes our number plates

On the topic of Petrol v Diesel, in ROI I think diesel is the way to go, Diesel cars are now cheaper than petrol due to our VRT system being based on emissions, this also affects the road tax. Comparing vRS

Octavia vRS II 2.0 TDI 170HP DPF RS 149 g/km € 27,965 Road Tax Euro 302

Octavia vRS II 2.0 FSI RS 2.0L 175 g/km € 29,920 Road Tax Euro 630

so Diesel is €2,000 cheaper and €328 a year cheaper to tax

I also think for example that on our roads a Diesel is way easier to drive quickly more of the time, low down torque for the twisty roads. And a lot better fuel consumption.

Edited 14 February, 201016 yr by GAFF

I recently bought a new Octavia. I have previously owned a 1.9 PD Octavia.

The dealer told me about the 1.4 TSI engine and I was impressed enough with the "on paper" performance (bhp, 0-60 and torque) to take a test drive.

Unfortunately I was not converted and went for a 2.0 PD (I say unfortunate as I really wanted to be convinced - the TSI is three grand cheaper)

I found the TSI to be very refined, but it needs to be worked a lot harder than a diesel to get the performance and just seemed to lack the solid low down grunt of a diesel car. At motorway speeds it seemed to lack guts (this is a comparative rather than absolute statement). I am also not convinced that a 1.4 TSI will have the longevity of a diesel (modern units may be as complex as petrol units, but you cant get away from the fact that diesels operate at lower revolutions and this will make a massive difference to the engines life expectancy)

I remain convinced that the diesel powerplants are "better" powerplants, but then they cost more, so its a bit like saying an L&K is better than an SE spec car (depends if the extra benefits outweigh the costs in your mind). If you do enough miles to recoup the additional purchase price (not forgetting the higher residuals on the diesel car when doing the sums) then it is a no brainer, go diesel. If you do not do as many miles, then work out how much more the diesel will cost you in your circumstances and weigh this against how much you would prefer driving a diesel.

However, you should probably drive both and make up your own mind

GAFF, I'm with you there, I think the constitutional future of the North of Ireland should be decided on the basis of the cost of VRT for an Octavia. sb1171 has worried me however. I drove a Fiat Uno Turbo without any engine problems a long time ago. Is there any research to indicate that diesel engines do bigger miles than petrol before collapsing (notice I don't say 'last longer')?

Incidentally, my corrida red Octavia 1.4Tsi is apparently arriving next Tuesday 23rd February, so I am cleaning my trade-in Fiesta to within an inch of its life - does anyone do this anymore or am I an eejit?

From The Daily Telegraph Car Clinic, Saturday February 13, 2010:

Q. I might change my 2006 Ford Focus 1.6 for a new Skoda Octavia with the 1.4 turbo petrol engine. What do you think of small turbo petrol engines, this one in particular?

A. It's an excellent engine. Renault, Vauxhall and Fiat now produce 1.4 turbo engines too. I'd be interested if you can actually get the Octavia with one - potential VW Golf buyers are being told they face a long wait for models with this engine. I should add, however, that readers are not finding it brilliantly economical (37-40mpg is typical with a DSG transmission).

Doen't surprise me on the mpg front. Even at 1.4 litres, it still needs more revs to sustain the potential performance and plenty of fuel to develop that power of 122 bhp. Just because it's 1400 doesn't automatically infer it's going to be economical, especially in a relatively big and heavy car like an Octy.

Starting to kick myself that I didn't get a 1.8TSI...

Met an old acquaintance I haven't seen in a year or so (one of those Tesco moments where you end up talking over the frozen peas for 30 minutes) and he was bumming and blowing about his latest 'brilliant red' Audi A4 SE (he's a long standing Audi fan, God love him) , bought just before Christmas. He fought the dealer down from £23.5k list to £22k straight sale, as 'these cars sell themselves at no discount, you know'. I mentioned my recent purchase of a new 1.4 TSI Octavia SE and after the expected comments of surprise about my 'leaving diesel', he was keen to tell me that his new car had a 1.8 turbo petrol engine on tap, with 160 bhp taking him effortlessly to 140 mph, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Got home, started to wonder and consulted my 'What Car'. I know we're all under VAG, but does the 1.8TSI SE Octavia really have the same engine as the 160bhp Audi A4??? Surely not, although I have to remark that the performance figures for the Octavia amazed me and didn't seem so different. When I was contemplating buying an Octavia I was offered both a 1.9 Tdi SE or a 1.8TSI SE as an alternative for about £800 more than my 1.4TSI SE. I shied away from the 1.8 TSI because of the group 21 insurance and the fact that the 1.4 TSI would serve my needs adequately at slightly less mpg. But the thought that this might be the same engine as the Audi intrigues me. I checked my Skoda pricing list again to be sure and they are offering a 'no-VAT' equivalent deal of around £13.7k on an Octavia 1.8TSI SE. Are we saying his £22k car has fundamentally the same engine ?????????

Do you mean group 12 insurance? As most supercars are group 20, and I doubt a 1.8TSI will be more of a risk than a Ferrari!

Do you mean group 12 insurance? As most supercars are group 20, and I doubt a 1.8TSI will be more of a risk than a Ferrari!

DOn't forget the new system where there are now 40 or 50 groups. I'm guessing it's 21 under that system.

Everyone buying a car soon (whether Skoda or not) should check out the new insurance groups. I don't think there's been a straight arithmetical mapping from old to new, there seems to be slight winners and losers, if you get my drift. Groups for the Octavia petrols are: 16 for the 1.4 TSI, 21/22 for the 1.8 TSI, and 30 for the vRS. Diesels are: 14/15 for the 1.6 TDI, 14 for the 1.9 TDI, 20 for the 2.0 TDI and 28 for the vRS. The Porsche Carrera sitting on your driveway will, naturally enough, sting you at group 50.

All of which set me thinking. Why the slight advantage to the diesel Octavias? We all know in broad terms that cars likely to cost insurers more in insurance claims attract higher groups. A quick visit to the AA website revealed that determination to be based on: damage and parts costs; repair costs and times; new car values; performance and security. In particular, the AA highlights evidence of a direct correlation between performance and frequency of claims. The same AA website says that diesel cars cost broadly the same to service and repair. Given that all other factors appear constant between diesel and petrol Octavias, does this mean that petrol Octavia drivers have, on a proportionate basis, more frequent / severe accidents than diesel Octavia drivers?

Edited 19 February, 201016 yr by Cauliflower

No, it means diesels are slower.

No, it means diesels are slower.

I see. 'Ipso Facto' then. I suspected it must be something as fundamental as that.

Cauliflower..thanks..you raised the very query I had myself...and now having read all the posts, I'm as clear as.....mud!!

In my case it is a choice between 1.4tsi and 1.6 crd (dealer advises me that the 1.9 d will be phased out and that the 1.6crd is c.30% quieter than the 1.9d.

In any event the (non-DSG) prices here in Rep of Ireland for 3 models are €23,090 (1.4tsi), €22,915 (1.6crd) and €22,775 (1.9d) and the annual road taxes 302, 104 and 156 respectively. Diesel is c. 10-15c. cheaper than petrol, per litre.

So overall there is not much difference in costs...but the 1.6crd is more economical than 1.4tsi (60 v 44 mpg, I think)

Dealer tells me that there would be greater resale value for diesel as taximen are always in the market for lowish mileage diesels and it seems appx 75% of taxis here are Octys!!

I test drove the 1.6crd yesterday and found that there are a few moments before the power kicks in...which made take-off seem quite sluggish. They had no 1.4tsi in stock as he said there is no demand for them..everyone is enquiring about diesel. However all the industry mags seem to prefer the 1.4tsi and given that there is such a wait for the VW Golf with the same engine...obviously quite a good few drivers are going for them.

Are there any independent reviews of 1.4tsi and 1.6crd on Briskoda?

I'm not a va va vroom wannabe..but I just dont want to be left standing at the lights when they go green...like the old Hamlet cigar ad...where the horse stays in the starting stalls when the gates open and the jockey onboard lights up a Hamlet....I mean the line "Happiness is a car called Octy" just doesnt have the same appeal...lol

TSI is supposed to be a cracking little engine and VW are struggling to keep up with demand for it. I would definately get this engine at your mileage.

Hullabaloo, I had already ruled out the 1.6 TDI from my consideration for the very reason that you mention concerning the bad press over the performance. The news that the 1.9 TDI PD was to be phased out and it's higher purchase price, together with the rave reviews for the 1.4 TSI, created the dilemma for me.

One of the car reviews I read even talked about the 1.6 TDI engine being 'dangerously' flat in certain circumstances, for example, if one hasn't chosen exactly the right gear when going round small roundabouts. Emotive talk, I know, but until I've heard a more rounded and longer term assessment of the engine, it's not for me this time.

Edited 22 February, 201016 yr by Cauliflower

People seem to do fine with 1.0 litre engines, so a 1.6 turbo derv could hardly be described as " dangerously flat". If there's no power, change down! Learn to drive, ffs

I dont go off magazine/ forum reviews when deciding which car/ engine to go for, I test drive the bloody thing! dont read into too much you read on here either because there are always going to be head up your arse prejudices, decide what you need for your personal requirements, if you cant do that get the bus

Well said that man!

People seem to do fine with 1.0 litre engines, so a 1.6 turbo derv could hardly be described as " dangerously flat". If there's no power, change down! Learn to drive, ffs

My son had a 1.2 Polo. you had to wring the living daylights out of it & be costantly stirring the box to get anywhere. the 1.9 TDi was a joy by comparison

I'm not sure what the outout of the 1.4TSI unit in the Octy is as there are a few versions of it. I've driven the 1.4TSI in a Golf GT (MK.5) which had 168bhp...it felt very lively (not a lot slower than our MK.5 GTI) and easily returned 40mpg over a weeks mixed driving...I was very impressed.

I'm not sure what the outout of the 1.4TSI unit in the Octy is as there are a few versions of it. I've driven the 1.4TSI in a Golf GT (MK.5) which had 168bhp...it felt very lively (not a lot slower than our MK.5 GTI) and easily returned 40mpg over a weeks mixed driving...I was very impressed.

It's the 122bhp variant in the Octy, and I was surprised at how lively it was, and if I did was a few thousand city miles a year it would be on my shortlist

My son had a 1.2 Polo. you had to wring the living daylights out of it & be costantly stirring the box to get anywhere. the 1.9 TDi was a joy by comparison

Never had this issue with any 1.2 Polo I've driven. Anticipate, and carry speed through corners.

Diesel cars have made drivers lazy!

My son had a 1.2 Polo. you had to wring the living daylights out of it & be costantly stirring the box to get anywhere. the 1.9 TDi was a joy by comparison

I had exactly the same experience with a 1.4TDI Fabia compared to my 1.9TDI Octy.

Never had this issue with any 1.2 Polo I've driven. Anticipate, and carry speed through corners.

Diesel cars have made drivers lazy!

Nearly as bad as automatics

Nearly as bad as automatics

Oh, Jesus! At least with a manual you can rev things a bit more!

Autos and small engines do not work! Had a 1.2 auto Vauxhall Agila courtesy car when I took SWMBO's Corsa in for some work. Would only rev to 3.5k even with my foot planted on the floor!