Well time for me to report my findings on the new MK2 Octavia 1.9TDI Ambient that I had given to me for my 24hr test drive.

I turned up at the dealer at 9.30am on Friday (26th November). After filling out the insurance form I was taken out to the car. It was Forest Green and would have looked rather nice but for the

I took out the 2.0TDi and was well impressed with the engine and performance, but as you say it is a completely different driving style.

I am used to my Honda Accord 2.0VTEC engine, high reving to get the best out of it 4-6K, got in the TDi started off the same way and flrew out of teh dealers car park wheels spinning/traction control kicking in :eek: Took a little getting used to.

I also meant to mention how the dealer had tried to sell me a car when I returned from the test drive. He offered me a 1.9TDi Classic for

Saying that a really good engine should not require you to drive in a special way, so I still think that the TDI is for the economy conscious only.

But that's only true because most people are more used to petrol engines! If we'd all been driving diesel engines, and someone introduced the petrol engine, we'd all be complaining that you have to rev the nuts off it to go anywhere, it costs too much to run and is slower when overtaking!

Diesels are inherently different to petrol engines. I'm definitely a convert to diesel, but 105 bhp sounds a bit low for a car as big as the Octavia, to be honest. I should think the 1.6 petrol is pretty lethargic, too: the 1.6 A3 I drove was certainly pretty dreary, and I guess that was probably a touch lighter?

When you say you'd choose the 1.6 over the 1.9TDI if you could afford it do you mean the 8vMPI or the 16vFSI. Though I love my car and it's really quiet inside but when you go past other cars in traffic you can hear that 1.6 and It sounds really crude, though luckily you dont get it in the cabin. Mine just hit 1k miles so I gave the engine a 6500rpm stretch, and god is that thing noisy. Actually I think the 75hp 1.4 I had before was quiter, but that only did 5500rpm.

I meant the 115 bhp 1.6 FSI. One of the Octys I drive has the older 8v 75bhp 1.6 that had been used in the Felicia and was the base engine for the Octy from 96-2000. It is a lovely engine and actually sound nicer than the 1.8T as it has a much more throaty growl and for 75bhp is surprisingly lively. It is a torquey engine for a petrol and I know the Octys with that engine had a different gear box than those with the 102 bhp 1.6, so I assume the ratios were different to allow better acceleration from the weaker engine. I have often wondered how the 1.4 16V 75bhp feels compared with that 1.6.

I am more than a little surprised by the lack of interest shown in this thread. I am afarid that it is a symptom that Briskoda is becoming increasingly dominated by the Fabia brigade.

The new Octy is the best car Skoda has produced by some margin, come on more interest please.

I've booked my 24hr test drive over t'internet,, and am awaiting a call from my not so local dealer..

From the brief test drive of the 1.9tdi version of the new Octy a while back the engine was a bit rattly for the first minute or so.. then quietening down after this... I wanted a drive of the new 2.0tdi engined car...

Come now William... Stop having a go at the Fabia... I think its a cracking car.. Much better than the equiv VW or Seat products.. And in some respects better than than the Mk1 Octy.. first of the headlights are better

with H7 dipped + H1 main gives better light both on dipped and main...

+ with seperate fogs as well... the interior is quieter in terms of wind noise...

The TDi engine ... from the 110bhp to the 130 PD engines are also very good..

The 130PD in the Fabia vRS is I would say honestly as quick in real life driving as the Octy vRS... and quicker in some respects...

True the Fabia's dash is a bit bland and spartan but its well built and with the later CD/tuner in the sound system is better than the Octy Symphony junk....

I'll let you all know on the impressions on the 24hr drive...

Ta

Dazz

I am not knocking the Fabia, but I don't want Briskoda being totally dominated by it.