Hi guys,

I've fallen into the pregnant wife trap, and I'm started thinking about buying a diesel car to save my pennies. But before I consider selling I thought it best to understand what my car might be worth, so I know what I'd be able to replace it with.

So

My car is a Skoda Octavia VRS 53 Plate,

Just coming up on 90,000 miles.

Shark remap roughly 200bhp (pre intercooler).

Turborevs side mount intercooler

Silicon boost hoses and all silicon oil breather hoses.

The car's recently had a lot of respraying done courtesy of DM Keith Leeds on the 10 year corrosion warrannty so is very pretty good nick, few stone chips on the bonnet, scuff mark on front bumper from a kerb. The car is literraly my pride and joy, she drives like a dream and I'm sure I will miss it, but if I can save money then I have to look at the bigger picture

Thanks in advance for all your responses

Hi matey. Hate to say it but you'd probably be lucky to get £2k max for it. There are so many about for sale and some at really silly money.

Do the maths on buying a diesel first dude, it usually comes out at a max saving of £150-200 a year which given the price of a decent diesel car will take you ages to break even unless you do big mileage.

I'd look at LPG if you had no choice.

I get your point on Diesel some of the more recent ones are very good mileage though, I might just get a more economical petrol, what I'm looking for is a more economical car, hot hatches are amazing fun, but to easy to use petrol in

I like the idea of LPG but I don't like the idea of doing it to a car of mine. :think:

I'd say that the Mk1 Octavia RS is a very cheap car to run. It's old enough to still be relatively simple and the massive parts commonality means super low servicing costs.

Easily achieving 35+mpg in a large 5-door petrol car with room for 5 and an enormous boot is nothing to be sniffed at. It's big enough and safe enough to be an ideal child transporter!

Your cheapest option is to stick with what you've got. But if you're looking at the long term, then get a Nissan Leaf. I can't wait to have a full electric car!

If you want an unbiased idea of how much your car is worth then just look on Autotrader/Ebay/Pistonheads.

I agree on parts, I agree on safety, I really agree on size it's perfect. and I have a great garage I use who really knows the car, I'm generally happy price wise. However, on a run to work, If I drive very reserved I get maybe 28 mpg. I work 4 miles from my house, I hit a few traffic lights I guess. I had a Skoda Roomster with the 1.6 tdci engine in it recently as a courtesy car during paintwork. It was giving me roughly 50mpg on the same trip regardless of how I drove it.

I remember after my shark remap that I didn't notice any benefits from my Shark map MPG wise, anyone know what difference the shark map gives MPG wise, if they do tune it for economy instead of performance? Maybe I remove the SMIC and get the map modified as a starting place.

When I do 40/50 mph I can get a really nice MPG figure in the VRS and on motorways runs at 70 she's fine. It's the day to day drive that is hard on me. And I know that it's very easy to put your foot down in a hot hatch

With the peanuts you'd get for the Octavia, along with the cost to change you'd be better sticking with what you have. The vRS is a big car, and my brother had no problems running his 2 kids around in my old one. Plenty of room in the back for buggies and all the baby bits and bobs you end up carrying around.

Mondeo ST TDCI.

Mondeo ST TDCI.

Nice but 44mpg if you go easy. Not really worth changing to

for what its worth i dont really think its worth changing. the diesel will never get up to full temperature this in turn will affect the MPG. It will only return good mpg when hot. I sold my A4 TDI 130 to buy my vrs and its costing me only £20-£30 per month more to run with an 8 mile commute each way.

At least if you keep the vrs you can still have fun ;-)

As has already been stated above - better the devil you know! The bigger picture is that to change the car will cost you money. You know your current car and it's issues/defects (IF it has ANY!), with a new car (unless bought from a friend/family) it may well have problems with it! Diesels won't like your daily commute - they like to be ran warm and the engine is unlikely to even get to proper running temperature on your commute - let alone maintain it!

Keep your MK1 - best cost saving advice!

Also a modern diesel will have DPF trouble if you only do 4 mile journeys with it. I don't mean it might have trouble I mean it will.

Unless you do something like 18-20+ k a year mate a diesel is not worth it.

As said they are worth nothing no lw these cars so best off sticking with it. They are a doddle to maintain. Just keep it in top condidtion and its even easier.

I am breaking my octy as i have a fabia vrs too which is ace. I do 22k a year jus going to work let alone personal miles to huddersfield or cornwall.

A standard car tho is not worth breaking neither. I got lots of goodies on mine lol so ill get most of the cash for them bits

Good luck mate

ive just bought a octavia diesel and do 8 miles a day,its not very good on diesel because it does not get hot wish id bought a vrs tbh

Keep the car . Push bike it to work . Keep you fit . Ring insurance up and take going to work of . Save there and save on fuel each week m win win

Don't sell!

I managed perfectly well with two children including all their clobber and only sold when number three came along. I looked ionto the diesel option but it just didn't add up. It would have cost money to change and then it would have taken years to make that back in the fuel saving. In the end, I got a diesel but had to get a loan for £5k to make up the gap. That's me stuffed for the following three years with no vRS, a boring diesel and a personal loan to add to the pain.

I have dulled the pain somewhat with my Rallye, but on long hauls I miss the Octavia and curse the day I sold. One child isn't a death sentence in car terms and to be honest they don't cost that much. Wait 'till youn have three and then think about selling. Until then keep the car and enjoy it.

I bought my vrs AS the family car lol. I wonted something fun fast big and safe and for my budget of about £2000 this was leading by miles. As everyone has said its good on fuel when you consider what you get. And I can guarantee you that your fuel bill will go down once little one comes along I know mine did. When there's I wee one in the back your right foot gets lighter lol.

I just chopped my vrs in for a mk1 leon fr tdi

Pro's

50+ mpg on a run

Tax is half the price

Insurance is half the price

I can get 500+ miles to a tank (octy 350 at a push)

Cons

Slow

Tractor noise

Extra 1k for the car

LOL. Well thanks everyone for your responses. I guess what your all trying to tell me is don't sell her. I'll see how the mileage goes, our baby isn't due till May 1st so I have some time, cycling to work is a very good idea, though I'm a fair weather cyclist