Hi Guys,

I'm sure this topic is mentioned elsewhere on here but with a newborn baby just arrived I don't have much free time to trawl around! Hopefully some of you will be kind enough to answer a simple question for me;

Has anyone owned/driven both the petrol and diesel variant and experienced the difference in performance? I currently own a new diesel, though I'm really happy with it I'm getting tempted to switch to petrol as I want "a bit more"...I'm probably a bigger petrolhead than i thought!

I'm thinking of booking a test drive in one and I'm interested in the Shark Re-map to 250BHP.

To be honest whilst the cars great I'm not that won over by the fuel economy of the diesel and i feel it may be worth trading even less fuel economy for an even bigger smile on my face on the B-roads!

Anyone any thoughts/opinions? I'd Appreciate it.

James

I will be shot for this , but they should not have made the vrs a diesel, (vw do not have a diesel gti, it is called gtd ) the difference is night and day, especially remapped , they sound cooler too.Diesels have their place and I understand why people buy them , but I was pleased to get back in mine after the tractor

I owned a PD vRS both standard and remapped by P-Torque and as you can see from my sig, now drive a modified petrol. The petrol was standard for about 800 miles, but in either guise, it's in a different league. The only plus of the diesel is the slightly better fuel economy (I can easily get 41 on a run in mine). People will bang on about more torque from the diesels, but mine has so much now I am saving for a performance clutch. If you can afford to switch, do it.

This has been done to death on just about every page. Sorry but drive both and see what you think as it's your personal opinion that counts.

Facts, figures and info are on every page here pretty much

can a petrol match a golf r32 from doing 40mph upto 95mph when we both overtake a car on the A9. and the driver of the golf was not happy, think it was more to do with the skoda badge rather what engine i was running lol. Who cares what engine that car just enjoy it.

I will be shot for this , but they should not have made the vrs a diesel, (vw do not have a diesel gti, it is called gtd ) the difference is night and day, especially remapped , they sound cooler too.Diesels have their place and I understand why people buy them , but I was pleased to get back in mine after the tractor

+1

The Diesel should not have the VRS badge IMO, as on the Octavia same as the petrol.

It's performance is so "average", ie 0-62 in 8.3 seconds according to Skoda, that it does down the VRS badge.

In relation to Octavias the Wiesel "VRS" would not even get on the podium ie the TSI VRS, Mk1 VRS and 1.8 TSI are so much faster accelerating in standard and remapped form, the wiesel is really in family car territory according to Skoda and the motoring press.

Perhaps a "W"RS badge could be brought in?

I am sure we will get a florish of emails saying in the "real world" the wiesel VRS is actually quick but not according to the figures.

We own as TSI VRS, 130 hp Octy 1 wiesel and 1.8TSI DSG, all great general purpose and moderately quick cars.

If you want a quick diesel you have to move to 6 cylinders but then the fuel consumption is pretty poor. VW/VAG are investing most of their R&D in TSI technology and 7 speed DSGs which is where it is at.

Edited 22 August, 201114 yr by lol

I think you will find people going back to petrol now, certainly i did because we were doing low miles and wanted back to a quiet smooth car and dont have to touch that "smelly" pump lol.

The VRS is a great car with either engine. In real day driving there is not much between the diesel and petrol and a lot of the difference will depend on the driver (i.e. a better driver in the diesel will be quicker than an average driver in the petrol). In fact if maybe we should just all get the 1.8TSI as it seems to wipe the floor with everything!!!!

I had a Mk 1 VRS and my CR is just as quick as that was so to say it was in a different league is talking somewhat out of your A$@e.

If you really want the petrol then go get onoe and you may even be able to convince yourself it is loads better but in reality the difference is not going to be huge (and is it worth the depreciation hit you will be taking!!!).

The petrol/diesel VRS debate is a long winded one with a lot of b@ll@cks written from both camps. Pick the one you like the best and be happy.

+1

The Diesel should not have the VRS badge IMO, as on the Octavia same as the petrol.

It's performance is so "average", ie 0-62 in 8.3 seconds according to Skoda, that it does down the VRS badge.

We both know that is not true and you have seen the proof, so why continue on your troll fest. It is past tedious now. You can't even get the manufacturers figures right. Besides which I have a proven 6.98 second figure.

Back on topic, drive both, choose what you want.

Edited 21 August, 201114 yr by jrw

If the Octy 2 vRS was fitted with a 2.0 N/A engine rather than the TFSI/TSI lump, then I'd agree that the 170 diesel is probably not much different . . . but the turbo unit under the bonnet of the petrol vRS is one of the most flexible 'small' petrol engines I've driven; I'd argue it pulls like a diesel until 4.5k, then gets stronger!

My 2ps worth and I've actually not owned either, but I have driven both and if I had the money (and didn't do the miles I do), I'd rather have a petrol vRS.

I'm on my second petrol vRS now - I did have one on a 56 plate and I bought an 11 plate during the "VAT Free" offer.

I honestly never had any intention of even looking at the diesel option.

I wanted something with a fair bit of poke, nippy and in my opinion the petrol is the better of the two for these needs.

If you want the looks and the fuel economy then diesel maybe the way to go - but the ptrol does the vRS badge more justice.

Sorry, but all this talk of "doing the vRS badge justice" is a load of rubbish! The term "vRS" is basically Skoda's Sport trim level nowadays, it doesn't matter about the fuel it takes. And lets be honest, BMW are putting "M-Sport" on cars a lot slower than the Diesel vRS, doesn't mean I think any less of a 335i M-Sport, just because they give the same trim level to a 318d. And as James said, the manufacturer times for the Diesel are on the conservative side if you ask me!

Anyway, back on topic. I've only ever driven the Diesel version, but my general Diesel vs Petrol opinion applies. If you do the miles and want to save money on fuel/tax/insurance, get a diesel. Otherwise, if you want a smoother/slightly faster car, get a petrol.That has applied across all of the petrols and diesels that I've driven, so I can't see it being too much different for the vRS. You really should just get a day off work or on a weekend book a long appointment with Skoda and give the petrol a long test drive to see how it lives up to your expectations

My 2p's worth......

The petrol vRS is awesome standard, mine only has a stage 1 currently but the difference between that and standard is very noticable. We have just recently acquired a Golf GT which is running the PD140, while brute force is available continual there really is no 'fun' factor. I plan on having it Sharked at some point (when the next GB is on) which will take it to approx' 185bhp, while I think that will improve it no end it will still be no match for the petrol vRS.

I do disgree with the badge thing, after all wasn't the Furby vRS one of the first to sport the badge in recent history?? And the diseasel fitted in the Leon wasn't to shabby in the BTCC!

My 2p's worth......

The petrol vRS is awesome standard, mine only has a stage 1 currently but the difference between that and standard is very noticable. We have just recently acquired a Golf GT which is running the PD140, while brute force is available continual there really is no 'fun' factor. I plan on having it Sharked at some point (when the next GB is on)

Check out the Crazy Summer Sale: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/211017-crazy-summer-sale/

Doubt you'll get it cheaper than that with a GB.

At the end of the day it's only money so have some fun and buy a petrol. The TSI at stage 1 takes it into the next league of car. I managed to keep up with the 4.2 S4 from a rolling start the other day, I'm certain the DSG helped with that though as his shifts weren't brilliant but damn was it satisfying.. Buy a diesel and you won't be able to laugh at those BMW and Audi drivers as it just won't have the power.

Basically for power buy a petrol and get it sharked for cost buy a diesel

Even the petrol VRS is hardly a quick car (unless you start to modify it and take the insurance hit). At best it is a warm family car so all this talk about how the VRS whips this or that car are somewhat meaningless. As I said above alot of a cars performance is down to the driver and not the car (anyone see the episode of Top Gear with the Transit around the Nurburgring when it was overtaking much quicker cars due to the superb driver!!!1).

For what you pay and what you get in terms of practicallity, performance and reliability etc. there is not much IMHO to touch the VRS (why I have had 3 now). In either guise, petrol or diesel, it is good but to say diesel lets the badge down is rubbish as even the petrol version is hardly a premium badge/performance. It is a well priced car with good performance not a Porsche etc.

I like my diesel and that's why I bought it.

Others like diesel too. That's why the diesel VRS holds its value more than petrol.

To say one fuel type is better than the other is a nonsense argument. It's all a matter of personal taste. Just enjoy your car, whatever make and model it is.

Also most of us bought Skoda cars because we are not badge snobs (otherwise we would get a VW or Audi) so to then start being a badge snob over the VRS seems a little bizarre.

Edited 22 August, 201114 yr by PSM

And to think I moved away from Ford to get away from all the RS badge snobbery !

Even the petrol VRS is hardly a quick car (unless you start to modify it and take the insurance hit). At best it is a warm family car so all this talk about how the VRS whips this or that car are somewhat meaningless. As I said above alot of a cars performance is down to the driver and not the car (anyone see the episode of Top Gear with the Transit around the Nurburgring when it was overtaking much quicker cars due to the superb driver!!!1).

For what you pay and what you get in terms of practicallity, performance and reliability etc. there is not much IMHO to touch the VRS (why I have had 3 now). In either guise, petrol or diesel, it is good but to say diesel lets the badge down is rubbish as even the petrol version is hardly a premium badge/performance. It is a well priced car with good performance not a Porsche etc.

True it does need modifying to be truly quick. Also true about insurance, mine went from £1000 to £1400!

True it does need modifying to be truly quick. Also true about insurance, mine went from £1000 to £1400!

You are clearly with the wrong company mate!! I had the vRS insured with Privilege, once modded I moved to Adrian Flux as Privilege will not entertain any modifications. Quote from AF was cheaper with all mods declared.......

The people who are defending the diesels , have you actually driven a remapped petrol, I have had a 2.0 TDI car it is ok, but I would not buy another unless I did high mileage again, and they keep their price a bit better because when bought used they are a better prospect, ( cheaper road tax and cheaper company car tax) personally , it does not matter what price you get, unless you change cars every 2 years, but since I keep mine for at least 5 years , not changing this time till 8 it will be negligible , and Ash, you said it all ---- "The term "vRS" is basically Skoda's Sport trim level nowadays," exactly the diesel has done this, the VRS Diesel fabia , now this lived up to the badge as it is a great little car, now this I prefer to the Fab 2 VRS petrol, and yes I have driven both at length

The people who are defending the diesels , have you actually driven a remapped petrol, I have had a 2.0 TDI car it is ok, but I would not buy another unless I did high mileage again, and they keep their price a bit better because when bought used they are a better prospect, ( cheaper road tax and cheaper company car tax) personally , it does not matter what price you get, unless you change cars every 2 years, but since I keep mine for at least 5 years , not changing this time till 8 it will be negligible , and Ash, you said it all ---- "The term "vRS" is basically Skoda's Sport trim level nowadays," exactly the diesel has done this, the VRS Diesel fabia , now this lived up to the badge as it is a great little car, now this I prefer to the Fab 2 VRS petrol, and yes I have driven both at length

I am not "defending" my diesel. I just like it and bought it in preference to the petrol version.

The people who are defending the diesels , have you actually driven a remapped petrol, I have had a 2.0 TDI car it is ok, but I would not buy another unless I did high mileage again, and they keep their price a bit better because when bought used they are a better prospect, ( cheaper road tax and cheaper company car tax) personally , it does not matter what price you get, unless you change cars every 2 years, but since I keep mine for at least 5 years , not changing this time till 8 it will be negligible ,

The only remapped petrol vRS I've driven was the mk1 Octavia and I went from that to a mapped PD130 with suspension mods. In the world of the MK1's the PD130 was king, when following SWMBO (her driving the pd130) and me in my mapped vRS it was tough to keep up.

As for the Petrol is better than Diesel or vice-versa there isn't a best at everything. I could have bought a Petrol vRS instead of my current PD140 but after working out fuel/tax/insurance/depreciation etc etc it was more cost effective to buy the Diesel and mod (note.. couldn't afford the Diesel vRS due to them holding their price better than the Petrols).

I'm not a penny pincher but I look for good value for money and to be fair just how much time would a Petrol vRS save you on your regular journey over a Diesel vRS? taking into consideration traffic/traffic lights/round abouts/speed limits.

I've only bought 1 car new and that was our MK1 Fabia vRS and I wouldn't buy new again. I tend to buy Ex-Lease TDI's so they have FSH and highish milage and get them at 3years old, originally this was due to me covering high milage and changed cars often but didn't take much hit on depreciation however I don't do alot of milage now since we've moved house so that still suits me fine as the milage will average out then become a lower milage TDI therefore holding its value a little better but I'll keep the car for longer.

Check out the Crazy Summer Sale: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/211017-crazy-summer-sale/

Doubt you'll get it cheaper than that with a GB.

You are the man, STS + stage 1 is imminent!!!