Folks,

Firstly let me I have used the search facility but would appreciate latest opinions. I have a 2008 PD VRS with 50k miles and I have got a good offer to trade for a new CR VRS. While I like the PD engine car my real concern is the reliability of the PD VRS (or lack of it). My question is: Is the VRS CR more reliable than the VRS PD? Has anybody any web links to reliability tests that can shed light on this question e.g. JD Power surveys etc? Thanks in advance.

Edited 31 May, 201115 yr by Biffo

Folks,

Firstly let me I have used the search facility but would appreciate latest opinions. I have a 2008 PD VRS with 50k miles and I have got a good offer to trade for a new CR VRS. While I like the PD engine car my real concern is the reliability of the PD VRS (or lack of it). My question is: Is the VRS CR more reliable than the VRS PD? Has anybody any web links to reliability tests that can shed light on this question e.g. JD Power surveys etc? Thanks in advance.

Can't speak for all vRS CR owners, but I went from a 2007 PD vRS which had had a fair few trips to the dealers for dpf related issues that were finally resolved after about 18 months of ownership, to a 2010 vRS CR which (touch wood!) hasn't had any unscheduled visits to the dealer in 11 months and 12K miles.

So I'd say that in general the CR is more reliable than the PD. It's also a lot smoother, quieter and more economical with it and so I reckon it's worth the upgrade if the deal is right.

It is newer technology instead of older tech trying to conform to new regs. The previous gen PD was bullet proof but i have seen nothing but issues with the newer PD's and the DPF issues etc.

The CR is a new engine developed on older tech. Most manufacturers are using CR tech now so is tried and tested really.

Had mine nearly 14months now with 15k and has performed flawlessly.

As said before it is a lot smoother and sounds like a petrol!

It is newer technology instead of older tech trying to conform to new regs. The previous gen PD was bullet proof but i have seen nothing but issues with the newer PD's and the DPF issues etc.

The CR is a new engine developed on older tech. Most manufacturers are using CR tech now so is tried and tested really.

Had mine nearly 14months now with 15k and has performed flawlessly.

As said before it is a lot smoother and sounds like a petrol!

I think the present PD engine is also bullet proof, I think it's the fancy things/eletrics they attach to it that let it down

I think the present PD engine is also bullet proof, I think it's the fancy things/eletrics they attach to it that let it down

Yeah thats what i meant really, all the euro regs gubbins is all expensive stuff to fix when it goes wrong....

Folks,

Thanks for the replies and please keep them coming! Like was said above the engine itself is probably reliable but what about the injectors, turbo, ESP, DPF, DMF, aircon units, rear tyre wear, door seals etc. issues...have they been resolved on VRS CR? I thought about other makes of car but very few modern diesels seem very reliable! All input welcome...maybe a KIA with a real warranty is all thats left to me :yes:

To be honest the PD 170 was/is a reliable car and so is the CR. Reading forums like these condense the issues and make them seem a lot worse and common than they really are. I had my PD 170 for 3.5 years with no real issues and had the CR for nearly 1 year with no real issues. What issues I have had with both have been quickly and easily resolved so not complaining. Skoda always come out high on reliability surveys and this would not be the case if any of their models were unreliable.

If the deal is good then change to the CR as it is a nice car. But if you are changing a perfectly good (and reliable) car for no other reason than you think it may breakdown then I would not bother.

But if you are changing a perfectly good (and reliable) car for no other reason than you think it may breakdown then I would not bother.

I'm considering exchanging my pretty reliable PD for a CR because I think it might breakdown. The breakdown I am referring to is the faulty seimens injectors which are a potentially lethal problem. Normally I would agree on your statement but this injector issue with the PD vRS changes everything.

I'm considering exchanging my pretty reliable PD for a CR because I think it might breakdown. The breakdown I am referring to is the faulty seimens injectors which are a potentially lethal problem. Normally I would agree on your statement but this injector issue with the PD vRS changes everything.

This is the reason why I changed from my 2007 PD vRS to a 2010 CR vRS. It was maybe a bit OTT swapping for that reason but the number of reports was worrying so I thought it was worthwhile to change.

This is the reason why I changed from my 2007 PD vRS to a 2010 CR vRS. It was maybe a bit OTT swapping for that reason but the number of reports was worrying so I thought it was worthwhile to change.

I wouldn't say it was OTT really. If the injector fail just put the car into limp home mode I wouldn't really be overly worried about it and it would be something I would take the risk on. However, as I work away for over 10 months a year, it's my partner and 3 kids how run the risk of a serious accident as the engine just shuts off leaving no power steering and extremely limited brakes. The thought of that happening to Gem one day is actually quite worrying :(

As a bonus the CR engine feels and sounds much more like a petrol engine but with the added benefit of much better economy.

Thanks to all who replied . The consensus so far would indicate that while the CR may not be 100% reliable (what is?) it is more reliable than the PD and has other benefits re noise, economy and smoothness. Please keep the opinions coming on the reliability of the CR VRS! I need to make my mind up soon on this one.

The thought of that happening to Gem one day is actually quite worrying :(

Best fit whatever car you buy with run flats then in case they have a blow out. Maybe get a full roll cage and race harnesses fitted and kit them all out with helmets too...

Not wanting to make light of your comment but I'd say that your family has much more risk of being injured in a car through any one of the thousands of different factors that might cause a crash.

If you want to make the change then go for it but doing it because of a "what if" scenario probably isn't the best reason because in time there will be more issues for you to worry about and you will be back to square one.

Take a CR diesel out for a test drive if you're interested - the CR 170 has the smoothest power delivery of any engine I've driven, though I'm not sure it has the same ability to give me 70+ mpg when driven for efficiency as my remapped PD105.

I wouldn't change my PD car just on the off chance it mightn't be reliable though (especially since mine is one of the last diesels Skoda made with no DPF). There's 75k on it at the moment, so there's no reason to suspect it won't be good for another 150k plus.

If your car gets a lot of urban driving be very wary you're not changing a vague possibility of an injector going with the more expensive and (based on this forum) more common possibilty of killing the DPF.

Ours has been fine

Maybe a KIA with a real warranty is all thats left to me...

Kia may have a seven year warranty but each year the level of cover reduces, more so after the third year.

There have also been some pretty worrying stories of dealers / Kia finding any reason to void the warranty, proceed with caution!

PD was never designed to have a DPF attached, so that's really the main issue and cause of DPF problems in my view. Also that the injector technology used with the PD170 to achieve that level of power was pushing it a little bit. Perhaps one of the reasons that standard economy on the PD170 isn't as good as it should be.

I would look to the CR for better DPF performance, smoother performance and better economy.

PD was never designed to have a DPF attached, so that's really the main issue and cause of DPF problems in my view. Also that the injector technology used with the PD170 to achieve that level of power was pushing it a little bit. Perhaps one of the reasons that standard economy on the PD170 isn't as good as it should be.

I would look to the CR for better DPF performance, smoother performance and better economy.

Thanks Wardy and all the others who have taken time to reply.

I have driven the CR and while its a lovely smoooth, quite engine I probably prefer the power delivery of the the PD. However the long term reliability (along with cost of repairs and visits to garages etc.) is my main concern as I tend to keep cars for 5+ years and need to use it every day (no public transport and a 100km daily commute) and hence my main concern is reliability. Maybe this is asking too much of any modern diesel???

Thanks again and please keep the opinions coming!

Edited 2 June, 201115 yr by Biffo

You can always alter the behaviour and delivery of a CR with a remap

Don't think you're asking too much at all, with what you need the car for. Is that 100Km per day round-trip, or each way?

You can always alter the behaviour and delivery of a CR with a remap

Don't think you're asking too much at all, with what you need the car for. Is that 100Km per day round-trip, or each way?

Wardy,

I would be more than happy to to drive the CR as it is set up but what I would like is the reliability and longevity of my old 1.9 110bhp Marque 1 Octy coupled to the performance of my VRS PD (with diesel economy thrown in!). BTW the commute is 100km round trip...all suggestions of a suitable car welcome!

Biffo.

2008 pd here, 30000 miles, 1 trip to dealer in 3 years (aerial amplifier!), no sign of any trouble...

Wardy,

I would be more than happy to to drive the CR as it is set up but what I would like is the reliability and longevity of my old 1.9 110bhp Marque 1 Octy coupled to the performance of my VRS PD (with diesel economy thrown in!). BTW the commute is 100km round trip...all suggestions of a suitable car welcome!

Biffo.

I know what you mean about added complexity. It isn't always welcome!

Well that's say 16k miles a year. No problem for anything modern really, and into the bargain you'll also be giving the DPF something to do on those sorts of trips!

Or a remapped Mk1 PD130 Octy, but they're getting on a bit now I suppose - if the intention is for an everyday working vehicle...

I know what you mean about added complexity. It isn't always welcome!

Well that's say 16k miles a year. No problem for anything modern really, and into the bargain you'll also be giving the DPF something to do on those sorts of trips!

Or a remapped Mk1 PD130 Octy, but they're getting on a bit now I suppose - if the intention is for an everyday working vehicle...

Thanks to all who replied. Think I will go with a new Silver VRS CR...but I am a bit concerned still re reliability. I would still welcome any opinions on this. Thanks again