Hi guys,

Little background:

My aunt is looking for a new-ish car, she had a 1.0l Corsa C? for a good 10 years and she is on a lookout for a new car in the coming week/s. Shes a person who will happily keep a car still it stops working (which in this case the corsa is on its last legs). Shes looking for something a little more 'funky' and less 'mum' figure, she likes the colours and the lines but she has no idea about anything else nor does she car about much else except for the fact it has 4 wheels and drives (she did have a Corsa for the past 10 years). Mostly driving on her own down motorways fortnightly to visit family, not alot of milage. originally she "liked the look of those lower down roadster cars" (what she meant was a VX220 ). Interesting as that may sound she thinks with her head more than her heart. She poodles around 65 on the m/way.. so.. vrs is out of the equation.

So we went to the showroom today and she quite liked the Fabia Monte Carlo (red/black), probably looking at the 1.2TSI but personally i'm skeptical it's going to last till the end of time without major work done to TS bit of the engine. I suggested alternatives like the Civic 1.8 and the Mazda 3 1.6, but cost wise it may be more than shes wanting to spend.

I would basically like to know if the owners of the TSI range what possible expensive bills that can be seen down the road? Hows the car been generally? Any unexpected surprises? What to get what not to get in terms of extras?

Im sure I can read many shining comments from the forums on here but I'd like to know the bad points so at least she will know what shes getting herself into (worse case scenario etc).

Some early 1.2TSI engines have had the odd issue or two, however the engine design has been in production for three years, so hopefully most bugs should have been ironed out by now and hopefully the Skoda TSI will prove as robust as their HTP.

We have also recently placed an order for a Monte with the TSI 86 motor to replace our 2010 Elegance TSI 85; purely because we like the more sporty design. Options wise went for ESP plus, Cruise control and Headlight washers and will transfer across the spare wheel kit and mats from the current Fabia. Also asked the dealer to include as an after thought the extended 2 year warranty.

TP

Why not a diesel? The supposed DPF gremlins (if they exist...) should be held at bay by regular motorway trips, even if she is just pooling between. She would get good economy with gentle driving (better than petrol) and good performance (not that it sounds like she'll use it!).

Why not a diesel? The supposed DPF gremlins (if they exist...) should be held at bay by regular motorway trips, even if she is just pooling between. She would get good economy with gentle driving (better than petrol) and good performance (not that it sounds like she'll use it!).

Have what you could call a 'gremlin' with the DPF on our Yeti; it goes into active regeneration overdrive in periods of cold weather (sometimes producing daily cycles :S ) and the vehicle covers over 70 miles a day commuting on free flowing A roads. SUK and dealer have no answer, as there's no fault codes or warning lights, so have brushed it off as NFF.

Stick with petrol if the running costs are acceptable is my philosophy from now on; until DPF's vastly improve or are done away with.

TP

DPF is going away about as fast a catalytic converters will Plumber. Sorry to hear you have an issue, but we both know that thousands, even tens of thousands of others don't. I have now owned 3 DPF equipped cars, with my wife now in another, so 4 in the family. Zero issues in over 100000 miles and total ownership time of 5 years. I never knew what regen was, as I hadn't noticed it happening.

I'm a diesel convert, there isn't much difference these days between a normal petrol and a normal diesel, in fact I feel that a normal diesel will edge it on in gear pull. High performance is different, as you need to be up with Audi bi-turbo or BMW twin turbo areas to get closer to equivalent petrol.

I'm a diesel convert, there isn't much difference these days between a normal petrol and a normal diesel, in fact I feel that a normal diesel will edge it on in gear pull. High performance is different, as you need to be up with Audi bi-turbo or BMW twin turbo areas to get closer to equivalent petrol.

I have to agree, I couldn't be happier with my Monte 1.6 TDI (105), 65mpg, £20 per year road tax and packs a nice punch when you poke it.

Edited 13 October, 201213 yr by MediaJunky

1.2 TSI, job done. None of that crappy derv nonsense!

DPF is going away about as fast a catalytic converters will Plumber. Sorry to hear you have an issue, but we both know that thousands, even tens of thousands of others don't. I have now owned 3 DPF equipped cars, with my wife now in another, so 4 in the family. Zero issues in over 100000 miles and total ownership time of 5 years. I never knew what regen was, as I hadn't noticed it happening.

I also like diesels (owned quite a few over the years) and yes catalytic converters had their issues early on but the DPF is different in forcing the engine to work harder to clean it out. Sadly as you suggest more than likely here to stay but I'm avoiding diesel where I can afford to, as neither DPF equipped VAG diesel I've owned has worked 'as advertised' in regard to the filter but I'm pleased you have been issue free.

TP

1.2 TSI, job done. None of that crappy derv nonsense!

i can vouch for the 1.2 tsi

Had mine just over a month now done 1000 miles in it and love it, has plenty of power, see 40mpg round town driving sensible 35mpg having abit of fun and had over 50 on the motorway!

What more do you want? :-)

Thanks for the comments guys, there seems to be some debate about the diesel vs petrol lol.

When shes thinking of buying new there is a £1k difference in initial outlay which Im not sure if it can be recouped by road tax, mpg (in her case) and resale values (think shes intending to keep it indefinitely like her corsa).

So whats going to really make the TDi vs TSi worthwhile is what things are likely to break more often? especially if its not going to be driven that often.

Id enquire in to how much a DPF cost to change, as this would be an extra outlay on a tdi if you keep till it kicks the bucket.

Id enquire in to how much a DPF cost to change, as this would be an extra outlay on a tdi if you keep till it kicks the bucket.

The AA quote 1k as an average :S

TP

Thats what i expected, and as it techinally fiter it will need doing at some point tsi would be the route i take

Well, thats seems pretty straight forward choice, what about the Turbo supercharger bit on the TSI? sounds like few things to go wrong there, or is it that they just don't due to minimal stress?

If she is only using it occassionally and doing less than 10000 per year, then I would point her the way of petrol - for the reasons you state - she wont recoup the fuel costs, the tax thing is once a year and if the diesel is more to buy, even used, then what's the point?

10mpg difference (petrol 40mpg, diesel 50mpg)over 10000 miles...? (maths head on) = 50 gallons = 227 litres = £320 @ £1.41 per litre (diesel price).

That's my monday morning maths - no account of "real" economy, or the cost difference in fuel (10p/litre?).

So, if it's £1000 more for diesel and she saves £320 in fuel and £180 in tax, she's still £500 down before you factor in possible component failures. :-( for derv...

That was painful...I am just happy in the knowledge that I got a good deal and my mileage is increasing beyond 10k!

the 1.2 Tsi is only turbo charged