I am considering purchasing an Octavia Scout or 4x4 estate.  I'm not interested in major off-road capability, just a big car that will cope easily with muddy lanes and ice in winter.

I am unsure whether it is worth paying the premium for the diesel engine, which seems to be about £2,000 more on a 2 year old car.  I drive about 10,000 miles a year - 30 miles along A roads to work & back 4 x a week, maybe 6 longish motorway journeys a year, the rest is shortish journeys pootling around the lanes.

Any advice please?

I do around 7,000 miles a year. Current car 1.8Tsi Scout. Previous car 1.9Tdi Octavia. Given the choice again I would still go for the petrol. It would take a long time to recoup 2k's worth of diesel. Other factor .... The 1.8 is a fantastic engine. It's great fun to drive with loads of torque. It also chain driven so no messing with cam belts. Ours has done just over 11000 miles and is averaging around 24mpg which is not bad considering it's a 3 mile journey to and from work. The cars cold and theirs plenty of hilly bits.

On a motorway run it's doing around 40 to 43mpg.

I've had a 2.0PD Elegance and now a 2.0CR Scout. I think the Scout is excellent with the diesel - the torque is brilliant and low gearing in 1st is almost as good as a low range - you can just roll along on tickover and the car will grind its way out of difficult conditions in snow and muddy fields. It will also do 50mpg+ on longer runs, low-mid 40's on short trips around town. So 600 miles plus range - which is great for a 4x4 estate.

My only misgiving is that the PD began to annoy me with the constant thrum even at cruise of the engine, and in comparison with many other cars, the engine noise on the CR is more noticeable. I've driven a Touran (1.9PD), Passat, Merc E-class and others and the engine noise is better suppressed in the all of them. Worth checking that you can live with that on a test drive. Mine's due for a service, and it might well improve after that.

I've read the petrol handles better with the lighter engine - but I'm happy with mine.

Edited 1 June, 201214 yr by London Les

I do around 7,000 miles a year. Current car 1.8Tsi Scout. Previous car 1.9Tdi Octavia. Given the choice again I would still go for the petrol. It would take a long time to recoup 2k's worth of diesel.

Don't forget you'll have an enhanced residual value compared to the petrol when its time to sell (all other things being equal).

Thanks for the replies.  I had a test drive in an 08 diesel yesterday, which was nice, but have decided it's too old.  Have arranged test drive in 10 reg. 1.8 tsi on Monday.  Are there any questions I should ask or anything in particular I should be checking?

A good check of the underside for any over-enthusiastic off roading...

Delamination / corrosion on the polished surface of the spokes and around the rims on the alloys.