sorry for the indulgent posting

RE: Autocars 34mpg, thats worrying and somethnig I dont like, Id want to see a minmum long term of 40mpg+ to live with the TSi 1.4

RE: DPFs, Ive got one in my current vRS and never had a problem with it.

Not sure how they managed to achieved that low a figure, my 11 month old 1.4 TSi DSG easily produces 40 to 45 mpg under mixed driving conditions. They must have worn lead boots and kept it in sport mode! The 34mpg sounds more like an urban only figure to me.

It's an excellent all round power unit with not only decent economy figures but good refinement, good performance especially low & mid ranges and considering that performance, low emissions. Have just re taxed mine - 12 months for £125 .

No wonder it's so much in demand - not certain of Skoda's current position but the Golf using the same 122ps TSi currently has a 4 to 5 month waiting list.

After many years of diesel driving and a recent lacklustre experience of test driving the VW 1.6 CR Tdi engine and given the elephant in the room regarding DPFs, I decided to buy a 1.4TSI Octavia.

Now, after approximately 2k miles, I have to say I'm very impressed by the performance, especially given the size of the Octavia. VW clearly is as well, hence their decision to use this engine in the exact same state of tune to punt their base Scirocco around. Smooth, quiet (pity I can't say the same about tyre roar), not boy-racer fast, but usefully swift when you need it to be, I cannot understand how anyone not requiring sports car performance would find this significantly wanting in everyday driving.

Be warned, though. If you point and squirt it everywhere or spend life in traffic jams, you will NOT regularly achieve 40+ mpg. In normal mixed driving, meaning everything from city streets through country B roads to motorway jaunts, with a modicum of restraint mixed with the occasional and necessary bit of welly, I have achieved on average 41mpg. On individual (80 mile) long motorway journeys sitting at 60mph I have achieved 48mpg. But thrashing it will take you places rapidly, including the low 30s mpg.

I think it's a mindset thing. Some people see it has a 1.4 litre capacity, hear the rave reviews about its modern technology and duly expect the economy to be consistently 45+mpg. But go into your purchase with an expectation of getting usable performance akin to many other manufacturer's 1.8 or 2.0 petrol engines and 40mpg overall and you shouldn't be disappointed.