At 10 mpg difference (debatable) and 10 pence per litre difference, statistical person doing 12,000 miles a year would save about £340 out of roughly 2 grand annual fuel bill by driving vRS diesel. Difference in tax would be easily nulled by difference in annual maintenance costs. Provided insurance is the same, typical UK driver would be saving £30 a month by choosing diesel vRS at the cost of reaching motorway speeds slower and faking petrol engine notes and dual exhausts.

In regular lineup, picking 67mpg 150hp diesel over 53mpg 140hp petrol at £1750 purchase difference and only £220 annual fuel savings every 12k miles, even before you adjust both for real life mpg, in British conditions diesel never recoups the initial costs and makes no sense.

 

Debatable ? Not from my experience, (admittedly not with all Octys) but easily going to be at least that difference with the same sized engine. The gap tends to grow if you boot it a bit too.

As inaccurate as manufacturer figures are, they should hold some comparison to each other when both are the same make. looking on Skoda's website the diesel has Urban + ~12mpg combined +~15 and Extra Urban +~19 

I did the maths earlier ... even 6k miles a year, at £300 more cost its recouped easily in 3 years on VED alone, let alone MPG. and currently I think its around 6-7p a litre difference.

I worked out at 6k miles around £50 a year extra cost of fuel, offset somewhat by £300 a year saved from the extra mpg. 

 

However, it was a long time since I went to school, and even then, as I spent most of my maths lessons trying to look up Alison Whitbread's skirt, I could be out a bit

I really can't see a valid (head ruling heart) reason to get a petrol one. 

As for the synthetic noise, well I would turn that off anyhow, I don't want extra cabin noise

 

But we can agree to disagree :beer:

 

But back OT is there a difference in rear suspension set-up, or anything else that's makes the VRS diesel price difference a third of what most of the rest of the Octavia range is ?

Edited 27 July, 201312 yr by Mr Grump

Sounds like you dont really want a vRS.

I really can't see a valid (head ruling heart) reason to get a petrol one.

While on the continent TDI offering in vRS is more about fleet users than high street joe, in Britain where diesel fuel is priced higher than petrol and thus does not provide immediate and striking savings comparable to the rest of Europe, to most buyers an idea of diesel hot hatch is a bit like diesel open top car. A bit of a misunderstanding. TDI/TSI price difference in current vRS range is artificially making up for this misunderstanding. It basically implies "what if we made your car sound and look like a 'real thing' while saving you 30 quid a month" (where otherwise you would have to pay extra to drive slower, smellier, louder, heavier and thus less 'warm' hatch). But while this "we can get you some nods from McDonalds parking lot burberry hat crew while on a budget" politics might prompt few rude jokes among petrol heads on the forums there is much more important aspect of it in light of Skoda UK "little spiteful brat" import politics (below)

 

But back OT is there a difference in rear suspension set-up, or anything else that's makes the VRS diesel price difference a third of what most of the rest of the Octavia range is ?

Yes. There is. But not the way you think. Outside of vRS range, the only Octavia that gets proper multilink rear suspension to match handling of the outgoing Octavia II FL is 1.8TSI. The very version that Skoda UK decided not to make available to British public. Which means that for the time being all of the Octavia III's in UK without vRS badge will have the old school agrarian torsion beam at the back (and yes, you can feel it). So even if Elegance TDI is enough for your needs, buying into vRS range TDI gets you completely different handling, grip and safety levels. Plus fake engine note. And fake diff (where inside brakes auto apply to imitate diff behaviour while cornering fast). However, if like me, you need ground clearance, you're screwed, as vRS is lower than stock models.

Edited 27 July, 201312 yr by v0n

Erm ... whether its diesel or petrol, its a vRS Mr. bint 

I fail to see the Clarkson view of the world, the car could run on meths for all I care, but seriously I am impressed with the on paper figures for the diesel vRS for performance vs running costs.

If you want to get picky, its not a proper car anyways, proper cars are RWD and carry a maximum of 2 people    

what it is, is a practical ,spacious family car, with a bit of oomph, which is just what I want as I can't afford an all out sports car, and have 3 kids and a wife to transport around :p

Edited 27 July, 201312 yr by Mr Grump

Yes. There is. But not the way you think. Outside of vRS range, the only Octavia that gets proper multilink rear suspension to match handling of the outgoing Octavia II FL is 1.8TSI. The very version that Skoda UK decided not to make available to British public. Which means that for the time being all of the Octavia III's in UK without vRS badge will have the old school agrarian torsion beam at the back (and yes, you can feel it). So even if Elegance TDI is enough for your needs, buying into vRS range TDI gets you completely different handling, grip and safety levels. Plus fake engine note. And fake diff (where inside brakes auto apply to imitate diff behaviour while cornering fast). However, if like me, you need ground clearance, you're screwed, as vRS is lower than stock models.

 

Now, someone addressing my original query, thank you sir

Both the Diesel and Petrol vRS mk3 have multilink, or just the petrol ?

Edited 27 July, 201312 yr by Mr Grump

But gaining many free dull miles in comparison.

FTFY.

Talking about standard cars here and not getting into the whole

'Well if i got mine remapped it would go like...' side of things.

I'd say there's a big difference between 'pulls well' and 'goes well'.

Having had a tweaked TDI that pulled so hard (in a really piddly narrow rev range) it cost me a clutch and dmf.  

quickish to say 100-110mph and then a bit meh... So fair to classify as pulls well

.

And comparing that to a standard TFSI with an almost flat torque curve between 2 and 6k and

258 lb/ft on tap, plus a lot more ponies and you constantly find yourself going faster than you

thought. Quick to 110 and plenty beyond until the limiter interrupts at 155. So again fair to classify

as goes well. (Although fair to say also pulls well too with a torque curve and figures like that)

 

I fail to see a similarity. They are very different beasts.  

The diesel has more useable power and grunt in day to day (read slower) driving granted.

But on track standard car vs standard car and the petrols would be victorious. (and lots more fun)

Biggest difference will be floor it in 5th or 6th gear at 2000 rpm and see which picks up speed better - The TDI will leave the TSI for dead.

 

TSI is a load more fun but you have to be in the right gear at the right revs.

 

In any speed between 0 and 150 (oh the wiesel VRS does not do 150 like my TSi Octy VRS or the new one) the petrol will walk away from the diesel if the driver gets to choose the gear and flexibility, what, the petrol has a useable rev range from 2K to 6.5K ie two thirds of the rev range  where the wiesel is 2K to 4.5K ie only half the rev range.  

Now, someone addressing my original query, thank you sir

Both the Diesel and Petrol vRS mk3 have multilink, or just the petrol ?

Both have the multilink and diesels are boring....

Tell that to the driver of the winning lemans Audi R18, bet he wasn't bored

Remember, Mr Clarkson is very entertaining, but often wrong. :p

Tell that to the driver of the winning lemans Audi R18, bet he wasn't bored

 

Not available in a showroom near you.

That car was designed for endurance races really though wasn't it.

I think at the end of the day if you want a true performance car you wouldn't buy either, there are plenty of cars that offer vastly better performance second hand for the same price, like an Audi RS4 for example. I have ordered my VRS as I want a comfortable reasonably quick car which is affordable and I can enjoy on the public road without risking my licence etc. When I want to drive quicker I enjoy doing track day experiences in various cars that I don't have to worry about the speed I'm driving at or running costs servicing etc. (like the Jag F type experience I did yesterday)

I have just ordered the TDI VRS as it offered performance that's adequate for my daily needs and a significant saving on the monthly payments that I just couldn't ignore.

At the end of the day people should choose which car fits their needs and just enjoy the car for what it is without worrying about what others think.

as above - horses for courses.

 

vRS TDI for me - 15k mileage a year warrants it for me.

I think at the end of the day if you want a true performance car you wouldn't buy either, there are plenty of cars that offer vastly better performance second hand for the same price, like an Audi RS4 for example. I have ordered my VRS as I want a comfortable reasonably quick car which is affordable and I can enjoy on the public road without risking my licence etc. When I want to drive quicker I enjoy doing track day experiences in various cars that I don't have to worry about the speed I'm driving at or running costs servicing etc. (like the Jag F type experience I did yesterday)

I have just ordered the TDI VRS as it offered performance that's adequate for my daily needs and a significant saving on the monthly payments that I just couldn't ignore.

At the end of the day people should choose which car fits their needs and just enjoy the car for what it is without worrying about what others think.

 

Nobody really cares what others think do they? Threads already answered, just dieslol banter now. 

Nobody really cares what others think do they? Threads already answered, just dieslol banter now. 

 

People usually mis the points of where the diesel is actually better ie

 

• Better residuals
• Longer distance/time between fuel stops
• Longer time between services
• Cheaper fuel in places other than UK
• Performance, what there is, probably stays nearer optimum for longer.

  That is about the main things and they are worth considering but need more than 4 cylinders to get enough power for long term road use and then thy start to cost silly money but at least stop sounding quite so course. 

For what it's worth....................last weekend I drove down to Goodwood in my 57 plate (Mark II)TDI VRS which I really enjoy driving. I went to Goodwood as a guest of Skoda UK to have a test drive in the new (Mark III) VRS. I ended up driving the TSI (petrol) version and I can honestly say (IMO) the Petrol mk3 is quieter, smoother, more responsive and considerably faster than my mk2. So much so that I am planning to get the TSI in the very near future. For me, the biggest difference was the ability of the driver of the car. I think I am good driver, but after I did 4 laps of the circuit in the TSI...the Pro' driver took me around for 2 further laps and TBH he made me look like a 'numpty'. He took bends/corners at 100mph+ that I thought I was being 'adventurous' at 70mph - I was 'amazed' (and incredibly impressed) at how the VRS was able to stick to the track at the speeds he was driving. When people start 'wittering on' about Golf GTI's versus Skoda VRS's versus whatever else you can care to mention it makes me wonder how important any of this is compared with the ability of being really able to drive like a properly trained driver is able to do - just a thought! For the record I currently have 2 other Skodas (the first one I bought (and still own) is an Octavia Ambient SE (04 plate) - 130bhp and I also have a 2.0L, 170 bhp Yeti Elegance (2011 plate) so I guess I am a convert to the Skoda brand and believe they are excellent value for money (important to a Yorkshireman). At the end of the day, we all want slightly different things from our cars and we are all in slightly different financial situations and need to consider what we want so we eventually get whatever is right for ourselves. Personally, I would prefer the VRS to have 4 wheel drive or my Yeti to have an 'Octavia-sized' boot:)

Lol love people trying to persuade themselves their own decision is a gd one! Lol

Owned mk1 & 2 vRS octys, the mk2 diesel was ok but was not that quick and slightly asthmatic lol

Buy what car suits u not other people

Edited 28 July, 201312 yr by kenny

The Wiesel VRS performance is more similar to 1.4 TSI rather than the 2 litre TSI and I would rather have a Elegence (or L&K) TSI than the lamb in wolf's clothing. Hopefully Skoda will bring the 180hp 1.8TSI to the UK which would demote the Wiesel VRS to drawing third (with the 1.4 TSI) quickest Octy 3 behind the proper TSI VRS and the 1.8 TSI superior quickness.

If diesel fuel was much cheaper in the UK as it is in the rest of Europe migh connsider as a motorway muncher but then why not have the 2 litre 150 hp wiesel, at least it does not pretend to be something it is not.

Still struggling to think of a 4 cylinder diesel engine I would enjoy driving (Ibiza Cupra diesel?, no shocking handling). Needs to be a V6 diesel at least to get decent performance from what I see.

Same as a 1.4 tsi such bull! I think ur forgetting the huge torque difference.

Anyway lets settle this like men,the diesel and petrol in a tug of war I know we all know who will be pulled backwards

Torque is only really useful if you want to pull a caravan along behind you.

Nobody who isn't clinically insane uses their car for tug o war.

So... Really cool vehicle ability then?? Erm... No, it's not... 

One thing (tongue in cheek) does the high horse come as standard with the tsi or is it an optional extra as I can't find it in the brochure. LOL

Surely you mean high horsepower? :p

LOL

Torque is only really useful if you want to pull a caravan along behind you.

Nobody who isn't clinically insane uses their car for tug o war.

So... Really cool vehicle ability then?? Erm... No, it's not...

Or when u want lots of usable power down low. Only useful when towing lol

and yes the petrol vrs is also missing the diesel engines noise (thak thak thak thak thak)    

People still debating performance (diesel vs petrol), this has already been discussed at length and by the manufacturer's own numbers: TSI is faster off the line and in gear than the TDI. End of... The tug of war would end in a TSI win probably, as the torque is almost the same, with a bit more hp for the TSI when the cars start moving.

 

Regarding fun, it's not the car, it's the driver. There was a really nice Fifth Gear episode where they get this TV lady and ask her to do some laps with a track car (first stock, then improved ECU, then tires, then she gets a racing driver course). Improvements were about 2 seconds with the ECU, 4-5 seconds with better tires and 15 (!) with better knowledge of how to drive. You get from this what you want.

I agree with TudorM. Also an important factor is the quality of the fuel...