Had the new motor for 6 weeks and 1600 miles now so here are my thoughts on the change from a 2006 1.9TDi Elegance to a 2010 1.8TSi Elegance.

Get the worst bit out of the way first! Fuel consumption! Averaged 51mpg (from fill data not the computer) in the TDi - getting 35mpg in the TSi. That means an extra £50 per month fuel bills for my mileage. :'( But I saved on the purchase price and have no DPF to worry about.

DSG over manual - hmmmm... I like the DSG and for every day driving it is fantastic but you do lose the pleasure of dancing feet when you go for a brisk charge on the B roads. On balance I think I am 51:49 going back to manual next time - only time will tell.

The 1.8TSi is a magnificent engine! Performance is more than enough! I now find overtaking is much much easier than the 1.9TDi. This is where the DSG helps too - no hanging on in 3rd waiting for the gap - just floor the throttle and go! The engine is so quiet I can now hear the road noise that everyone comments on. The refinement and performance gain helps ease the mpg pain!

Some of the improvements for the FL over the old:

The Bolero is a huge improvement over my old non-MP3 Stream

The headlamp washers that fired even when only the sidelights were on with the old one now only operate when the headlights are on.

The climatronic always defaulted back to single setting - now have a button to press that keeps the dual settings for me and SWMBO.

Climatronic fan was always too high - now have auto low and auto high settings.

The auto wipers were a tad too sensitive in the old car - the new one has a different sensor and seems to be much less sensitive. I find that most of the time I have it on the most sensitive and have switched from intermittent/auto to 1st speed for the 1st time ever with this car.

I now have a warning light for the cruise control

The warning light for front fogs has been shifted from the switch (where it is hidden by the steering wheel) to the dash

Wing mirrors are enormous and give a very good view.

The aluminium look trim around centre console helps to brighten up the interior compared to the dour black of the old one.

A few niggles! Some stuff not as good in the new car:

The tinted strip has gone from the top of the windscreen.

The build quality is not as good - have a couple of rattles that need sorting

The rear view mirror is a squarer shape - not as nice as the old one

Not so sure about the chrome "smile" on the steering wheel.

I don't have a spare wheel and jack! The compressor is pretty good though and the pressure gauge on it seems accurate.

Some of the buttons on the climatronic are small and fiddly. The temperature display around the edge of the controls is rubbish with some of the numbers hidden by the control! Nowhere near as clear as the LCD display on the old one. Also lowest controlled temperature is now 18 degrees vs 16 on the old one.

Value for money of the fitted options (I didn't choose them - bought the car from unregistered showroom stock)

Leather upholstery - SWMBO liked this but I was indifferent. Must say that I do like it now but have yet to sample its delights after standing in the sun all day. £1400 extra? Not really! or Maybe!

Heated seats - essential with leather upholstery on a cold morning!

MFSW and maxidot - I could never understand the desire some folk had for maxidot until now. Definitely worth the money!

Curtain airbags - hope I never need to decide whether they were worth the extra £300!

17" Pallas wheels and sports suspension - I really like the design of these wheels over the standard 16" Crateris. The sports supsension is a little jiggly on bad roads and I am not sure I drive sufficiently briskly to gain any advantage over standard. Extra £500 (?) - hmmm... worth it? Maybe!

MDI - I don't have an ipod so I have plugged in a 80GB USB hard drive with around 10GB of music. Don't even think of hunting around to change the album when you are driving!! Worth the £130 plus another £20 for the lead? No! Just use an SD card and/or MP3 CDs

Corrida Red - finding the new car on the car park amidst all the anonymous whites, greys, tinted greys and blacks is a doddle!

So final conclusion - am I happy with the change? Absolutely yes! For the deal I got on this car I am one very happy Skoda driver

Good write up

People always seem to be asking for comparisons between the models and petrol/diesel, so very useful.

I bought a 1.9TDi Elegance on a 55 last Saturday and so far am hugely impressed overall, although I've got it in with jabbasport for a remap from 105 up to 145 next week. I'm interested to know what the engine in your TDi was bearing in mind how happy you are with the new motor (which sounds lovely btw!) in terms of performance?

Hope you have many happy times in the 1.8TSi!

Cheers, Sammy

Edited 19 November, 201015 yr by Sammy Craig

Have you got a photo of the car? I'd like to see a Corrida Red Elegance with those wheels.

Have you got a photo of the car? I'd like to see a Corrida Red Elegance with those wheels.

Me too!

Have you got a photo of the car? I'd like to see a Corrida Red Elegance with those wheels.

Here are a couple of pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54637581@N03/5191373773/in/photostream/

My WIfe bought a "showroom special" with what sounds like exactly the same spec back in July, I wonder if Skoda did a batch of them as a dealer special. Unfortunately due to DSG problems we rejected the car and the dealer took it back after having it for one day. She has now had the replacement car for a week and I have to admit it is one hell of a car, the sports suspension definately helps the handling and the wheels do look so much better. We did add Bluetooth and a Columbus system to the new one and so far we have been impressed with the car.

And the red is so easy to find in Tesco,s car park

My WIfe bought a "showroom special" with what sounds like exactly the same spec back in July, I wonder if Skoda did a batch of them as a dealer special. Unfortunately due to DSG problems we rejected the car and the dealer took it back after having it for one day. She has now had the replacement car for a week and I have to admit it is one hell of a car, the sports suspension definately helps the handling and the wheels do look so much better. We did add Bluetooth and a Columbus system to the new one and so far we have been impressed with the car.

And the red is so easy to find in Tesco,s car park

What problem did you have? Hope they didn't just botch it and ship it north.

Was it registered or did you reject it before you got it on the road? Mine was unregistered and had 12miles on the clock - they told me it was from a cancelled fleet order but I took that with a pinch of salt!

Agree it is one hulluva car! And just as easy to spot in Morrisons

1.9TDI, with 130 hp, was the best of all the Skoda diesels so far, had it in our Fabia VRS SE and have it in the octy 1 estate. Both huge fun. In dry conditions both out accelerate the 140hp Octy 2s by quite a margin and give A6s 2.0D, 320D a real fright as they take off.

My 1.8 TSI DSG should be hear next week end and I am sure it is going to be great. Been driving SWMBO's FL VRS TSI but the low fuel range is annoying and the TSIs should be awesome on both acceleration ie 7.5s to 60 and fuel consumption ie 40-45 mpg. Hope I am as happy with mine as you are with yours.

OE tyres were a bit poor ie the Dunlop Sports Maxx GT so I hope I get Contis. Now VRS is on Michelins it is more useable.

1.9D -130 hp best Skoda diesel and 1.8 TSI best Skoda petrol IMO. Great performance andf economy, have your cake and eat it to coin the phrase.

lol

Good luck getting 40-45, I drove 120 miles today like a granny and only managed 41mpg in a 1.8Tsi

lol

Good luck getting 40-45, I drove 120 miles today like a granny and only managed 41mpg in a 1.8Tsi

I got 40.4 on an 80 mile trip but that was on the maxidot that reads around 3-4mpg high compared to brim-to-brim. Best I have had brim-to-brim is 37; average is 35

1.9TDI, with 130 hp, was the best of all the Skoda diesels so far, had it in our Fabia VRS SE and have it in the octy 1 estate. Both huge fun. In dry conditions both out accelerate the 140hp Octy 2s by quite a margin and give A6s 2.0D, 320D a real fright as they take off.

My 1.8 TSI DSG should be hear next week end and I am sure it is going to be great. Been driving SWMBO's FL VRS TSI but the low fuel range is annoying and the TSIs should be awesome on both acceleration ie 7.5s to 60 and fuel consumption ie 40-45 mpg. Hope I am as happy with mine as you are with yours.

OE tyres were a bit poor ie the Dunlop Sports Maxx GT so I hope I get Contis. Now VRS is on Michelins it is more useable.

1.9D -130 hp best Skoda diesel and 1.8 TSI best Skoda petrol IMO. Great performance andf economy, have your cake and eat it to coin the phrase.

Ah, but you're not going to get 40mpg when using the 7.8s to 60 acceleration are you?

I'd have said the CR170 is performance and economy, even driving with a heavy right foot you get close to 40 mpg, I bet that won't be the case with the 1.8TSI, even if it is slightly quicker in a straight line... I'd have said the 1.8TSI is performance or economy

Ah, but you're not going to get 40mpg when using the 7.8s to 60 acceleration are you?

I'd have said the CR170 is performance and economy, even driving with a heavy right foot you get close to 40 mpg, I bet that won't be the case with the 1.8TSI, even if it is slightly quicker in a straight line... I'd have said the 1.8TSI is performance or economy

The difference is I have gone for the 1.8 TSI DSG and not a manual 1.8 TSI. The 7 speed DSG is considerably more economical than the manual 1.8 TSI. I average 40 mpg out of the TSI VRS ie 5-10% better than advertised combined MPG and therefore reasonably can expect to get 45 mpg out of the 1.8 TSI DSG I reckon.

The Wiesel VRS is not a performance car, do you see police diesel VRS? No. If there was a podium for quickest accelating Octaivas then it would be Octy2 TSI VRS, then Oct 1 VRS and then 1.8 TSI with diesel VRS an "also ran".

Yes full expect to do 7.8s 0-100 kph sometimes, if can get the DSG launch control optimised, no mean feat, and still get 45 mpg in mixed driving. And as a bonus the 1.8 TSI DSG is only 155g/km CO2 and because it does not get the 3% diesel loading it is cheaper on company car tax than the diesel VRS too. And diesel has to be imported where as petrol is from the North Sea so I am helping British industry.

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by lol

I got 40.4 on an 80 mile trip but that was on the maxidot that reads around 3-4mpg high compared to brim-to-brim. Best I have had brim-to-brim is 37; average is 35

Where and how are you driving?

Most of my driving is motorway which helps. I use cruise where I can. Have tyres fairly hard ie 33 psi front 37 psi back on average, higher on the back when 5 up and luggaged.

I use freewheeling ie stick it in neutral down long hills, easy to do in the DSG but do it in the manual TSI VRS and wiesel estate. Had quite a bit of driver training in my previous government jobs which helps I think. As Clarkson said he has "never braked on a motorway" cannot quite say that, pain on M25 when drivers dive in to a 5-10 metre gap.

I will eat my 1.8 TSI manual if I cannot average 45 mpg. I have seen 570 miles range on the TSI VRS so expect to see well over 600 miles appear on the 1.8 TSi DSG!

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by lol

lol

Good luck getting 40-45, I drove 120 miles today like a granny and only managed 41mpg in a 1.8Tsi

But if you have a manual 1.8 TSI you would be 1 or 2 mpg less than the DSG. The EA888 short stroke engine in the 1.8 TSI is an absolute marvel and combined with the brillant 7 speed DSG which lowers CO2, and therefore car tax, and improves mpg, I full expect to get the 43 mpg shown in the brochure and if the fuel consumption we get in our TSI VRS ie average 40 mpg ie 3 mpg better than advertised combined, then 45 mpg is logical and near 50 mpg on the A road trips through Wales.

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by lol

What problem did you have? Hope they didn't just botch it and ship it north.

Was it registered or did you reject it before you got it on the road? Mine was unregistered and had 12miles on the clock - they told me it was from a cancelled fleet order but I took that with a pinch of salt!

Agree it is one hulluva car! And just as easy to spot in Morrisons

No It was registered and we did about 140 miles in it, the problem was a control module accoring to the dealer but they were on back order and the dealer was quoting 3-4 weeks delivery, so after only having the car for 22 hours we decided we weren't happy with that and rejected it. Must say cant fault the dealer for customer care and service (might be due to the fact that we had ordered 2 cars, I had ordered a Superb 170 elegance estate with DSG and my wife started looking at the Octavia as I was doing the paperwork). I was in the motor trade for 30 years and was very impressed the way the dealer (Wayside Milton Keynes) handled the problem to our satisfation without any arguments. We got the new Octavia last Saturday and it has been brilliant. Looking forward to picking up the Superb on Wednesday 24th.

The dealer was using the original car as demonstator, but would love to know what the stary was on how my wife and not them was first registered keeper!

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by kensym

FreeWheeling is first of all illegal and secondly will increase fuel used.

FreeWheeling is first of all illegal and secondly will increase fuel used.

Don't think freewheeling is sepcifically illegal. If you are sure it is thern quote me the Section of the partilcular Traffic Act that says specifically freewheeling is illegal?

Also to say that freewheeling uses more fuel is non sensical. Try to consider the car as having a system boundary around it. From top of hill to bottom of hill the engine is kept going at tickover and the potential energy of the vehicles drop of height is converted to kinetic energy minus the aerodynamic and rolling resistance. If you leave it in gear some of potential energy is lost in the spinnng the engine around a 2 or 3 thousand rpm ie you will be travelling at a lower speed at the bottom of the hill having left it in gear than if you have freeweheeled hence energy lost. Fuel computer says it is a good idea as does logic. Cannot remember if it was O level Maths, OND Mech Eng, or BSc Hons 2:1 that covered this in the Thermodynamics section or all 3 but I have yet to hear I reasoned argument as to freewheeling using more fuel it is just not logical.

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by lol

Don't think freewheeling is sepcifically illegal. If you are sure it is thern quote me the Section of the partilcular Traffic Act that says specifically freewheeling is illegal?

Also to say that freewheeling uses more fuel is non sensical. Try to consider the car as having a system boundary around it. From top of hill to bottom of hill the engine is kept going at tickover and the potential energy of the vehicles drop of height is converted to kinetic energy minus the aerodynamic and rolling resistance. If you leave it in gear some of potential energy is lost in the spinnng the engine around a 2 or 3 thousand rpm ie you will be travelling at a lower speed at the bottom of the hill having left it in gear than if you have freeweheeled hence energy lost. Fuel computer says it is a good idea as does logic. Cannot remember if it was O level Maths, OND Mech Eng, or BSc Hons 2:1 that covered this in the Thermodynamics section or all 3 but I have yet to hear I reasoned argument as to freewheeling using more fuel it is just not logical.

But when you are freewheeling and the engine is ticking over it will be using fuel to maintain tickover, whereas leaving in gear and using engine braking while your foot is completely off the gas will result in the ECU cutting off the fuel supply altogether hence no fuel used and the possibility of better fuel economy.

Ian

P.S. Doesn't the highway code mention maintaining complete control of the vehicle at all times

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by countryboy

How much did the DSG box add to the price? Thats a lot of miles to do before you see the savings!

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by bandrew465

But when you are freewheeling and the engine is ticking over it will be using fuel to maintain tickover, whereas leaving in gear and using engine braking while your foot is completely off the gas will result in the ECU cutting off the fuel supply altogether hence no fuel used and the possibility of better fuel economy.

Ian

P.S. Doesn't the highway code mention maintaining complete control of the vehicle at all times

I think some fuel must be used even when you are in gear down a hill else spark plugs etc would go cold, in either case the fuel used is tiny. The key point is the loss of momentum spinning the engine at 2K or 3k revs rather than 800 rpm ie you will be going slower, assuming you do not touch the brake, if you stay in gear rather than freewheel, that is my point.

I would say I am in complete control when free wheeling, you could even argue that you can stop quicker from freewheeling than in gear because you are not braking the engine as well as the car, hmmmm.

How much did the DSG box add to the price? Thats a lot of miles to do before you see the savings!

The DSG is about an extra £1k I seem to remember. It will sound strange but it is not the cost or saving of the fuel that is my primary reason for going DSG. It is that the 1.8 TSI DSG is less tiring to drive. I get stuck on the M25 quite often and the manual is a pain to drive in these circumstances. Also the 1.8 DSG has a 25 mile further range or so which sometimes mean the difference between stopping for fuel or not on a journey. I think the DSG is a group lower for company car tax than the manual negating the dsg cost. I have a fuel card from work so mpg is not so important but the tax and the time to fill up are.

The difference is I have gone for the 1.8 TSI DSG and not a manual 1.8 TSI. The 7 speed DSG is considerably more economical than the manual 1.8 TSI. I average 40 mpg out of the TSI VRS ie 5-10% better than advertised combined MPG and therefore reasonably can expect to get 45 mpg out of the 1.8 TSI DSG I reckon.

The Wiesel VRS is not a performance car, do you see police diesel VRS? No. If there was a podium for quickest accelating Octaivas then it would be Octy2 TSI VRS, then Oct 1 VRS and then 1.8 TSI with diesel VRS an "also ran".

Yes full expect to do 7.8s 0-100 kph sometimes, if can get the DSG launch control optimised, no mean feat, and still get 45 mpg in mixed driving. And as a bonus the 1.8 TSI DSG is only 155g/km CO2 and because it does not get the 3% diesel loading it is cheaper on company car tax than the diesel VRS too. And diesel has to be imported where as petrol is from the North Sea so I am helping British industry.

I'm not claiming the CR vRS is a performance car, I've always seen it as a reasonably quick family car... what I'm saying is I can get performance(maybe not as much as the 1.8 or 2.0 petrols) and economy at the same time

I don't have to drive economically and using the reasonable performance of my vehicle I still average around 40mpg (and I have the old school 6 speed DSG). When taking it easy this figure gets significantly higher, and I'm sure that if I had the skill/patience to really go for economy then I could get figures that were higher still..

Don't get me wrong, I think the current 1.8TSi is a cracking engine and I seriously considered getting an Elegance with that engine and the sports suspension which would probably be quicker than my devils fuel burning car, but with the mileage I do, I prefer the diesel for it's ease in getting economy rather than having to try to get that economy

I also prefer the VRS interior/seats etc. to the other models. So an Elegance with sports suspension just would not cut it with me.

Edited 21 November, 201015 yr by PSM

I think some fuel must be used even when you are in gear down a hill else spark plugs etc would go cold, in either case the fuel used is tiny. The key point is the loss of momentum spinning the engine at 2K or 3k revs rather than 800 rpm ie you will be going slower, assuming you do not touch the brake, if you stay in gear rather than freewheel, that is my point.

I would say I am in complete control when free wheeling, you could even argue that you can stop quicker from freewheeling than in gear because you are not braking the engine as well as the car, hmmmm.

Playing devils advocate, not all situations require braking, sometimes you have to accelerate to get out of a situation and if the car is in neutral, then you can't accelerate immediately...

Also, diesels don't have spark plugs