Hi all

I am currently looking to replace my Roomster with potentially a Superb. The other option is a Yeti, but I think the Superb seems to be slightly more affordable (and possibly be slightly better specced).

I am unsure whether to look at the petrol or diesel. I am wanting to switch from manual to DSG. I have always driven petrol cars, so have no experience of driving diesels. Options are 1.8TSI or one of the 2.0 diesels. We live in a village so driving is a mix of rural and urban. I am currently considering a petrol version, so will need to take a test drive. Is there much of a difference between the DSGs in the petrol and diesels?

Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for with the 1.8TSI? And is there anything else to look for in particular if I do look at a diesel instead of the petrol?

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated!

Sarah

If you get a diesel and do a lot of slow urban driving with no longer motorway/dual carriageway drives, you run the risk of having problems with the diesel particulate filter (DPF) on the exhaust getting blocked. If your mileage isn't very high it's hard to justify a diesel as they cost more to buy and in the UK diesel fuel costs more than petrol per litre too (In Ireland it's about 8c cheaper than petrol per litre, which is why diesel remains the best option for me).

I prefer the way diesels pull from low revs, but I have an older design engine than the current Skoda models where this is particularly noticeable. The common rail diesels and TSI petrols are very similar to drive, the diesels are more fuel efficient and will take very high mileage if you're planning on keeping the car for a long time, the petrols are quieter and rev higher.

The 6 speed diesel DSG gives worse fuel economy than the 6 speed manual, the 7 speed DSG on the petrol models I think is slightly better on fuel. Both are great gearboxes and very easy to drive but try before buying - some people don't get on with them.

there are only two petrol Elegance Superb estates currently in the Skoda second-hand car finder. One manual and one DSG. Both are all-but £15k for an 18 month old car. By comparison there are loads of diesels of the same age at £17k to £20k.

 

I support all Psycholist says above and I've been delighted with my petrol car except it's a bit heavy on fuel, but it was mighty cheap compared with the diesel equivalent when I bought it, and my driving needs would have caused DPF problems.

Thanks for the replies. Sorry, I should have indicated a bit more about my driving, to assist with answering my questions!

I have done very little mileage over the last three years as been at home with our son. I am now doing the Nursery School run three times a week. We live in a small village, so driving is a mix of rural and urban. Sometimes use dual carriageway to go shopping. Some of roads I use each week on the school run are 60mph and others are 30mph. As from September next year, the school run will increase to five days a week. I am planning on keeping the car for a long time. School run is about 20 mins drive (4 times a day, there and back morning and afternoon). I think it is about 8 miles each way. Potentially the car may be used for weekend family trips out too, which would invariably be using dual carriageways.

Yes I am looking at the DSG petrol which is just under £15k. I could possibly go to about £17.5k, so potentially a diesel may be affordable. Don't mind if it a bit older than 18 months old. And there definitely seem to be many more diesels around than petrols for sale.

Potential DPF problems are a slight concern, although maybe I shouldn't be too concerned by that. Better MPG of diesel is appealing, although I don't think petrol will be much worse than my Roomster (expected MPG figures are reasonably similar).

Sarah

Sorry, just to clarify, as not sure I made it completely clear. School run means driving, if I don't go on anyway else, is about 1 hour 20 mins in total each day.

Sarah

I have a 62 plate 170 diesel elegance combi and have done 42k in the 13 months since new.

Mine is a manual but work colleagues have DSG's, as Psycholist said - try both and see which you pefer.

I think now is a good time to buy, there are lots of 62 plate elegance models out there for 17/18k.

Whatever you choose its a fantastic car - no problems in 42k, very comfortable, lots of toys and real world 45+ MPG.

I have just found a Cost of Motoring Tool on the net. Probably with my mileage, whilst the diesel would be slightly cheaper to run, the reduced cost of buying a petrol seems to cancel the saving. I keep talking myself into a diesel and then petrol and then back to diesel, back to petrol and so on... (I used to be indecisive...!).

So, I think maybe I should try to get a petrol one and see how that goes. If I get the chance to look at one of the 1.8TSI estates, is there anything in particular I need to check, ask about, or look out for? Prior to the Roomster all my previous used were purchased with the help of my Dad. This will be my first used car purchase on my own.

Sarah

Ive just run those figures through my spreadsheet (which accounts for purchase cost, yearly tax, fuel costs, purchase price & mileage, but not insurance, depreciation or servicing costs) and you'd need to be doing about 12000+ miles per year and keep the car for six+ years for the diesel to start saving you money!

That's assuming I've got the right base figures and my spreadsheet is correct...

I've been a diesel stalwart since my first car and have only owned one petrol car. But I'm seriously considering a petrol for my next vehicle.

I just need to get over the average fuel gauge reading 35 & not 50...

As well as DPF, consider DMF & cam belt / chain differences and costs between diesel & petrol vehicles.

Ive just run those figures through my spreadsheet (which accounts for purchase cost, yearly tax, fuel costs, purchase price & mileage, but not insurance) and you'd need to be doing about 12000+ miles per year and keep the car for six+ years for the diesel to start saving you money!

That's assuming I've got the right base figures and my spreadsheet is correct...

I've been a diesel stalwart since my first car and have only owned one petrol car. But I'm seriously considering a petrol for my next vehicle.

I just need to get over the average fuel gauge reading 35 & not 50...

Thanks for this. It helps to have someone else confirm that I might not be too far out with my thinking. Will probably keep car for more than 6 years, but I think my mileage will be estimated about 11,000 miles per year. Calculator I looked at seemed to indicate servicing/maintenance costs might be slightly higher with the diesel. Not sure how true this may or may not be.

I am used to the mid 30s or fractionally higher average fuel guage reading, so hopefully won't be much worse than I am used to.

Just got a 21 month old manual 1.8 tsi combi a couple of weeks ago. Fantastic car, spacious, fast and yet quite economical.

I agree that servicing a diesel (long term) would probably work out more than a petrol due to the issues I raised above.

I run a 2.0 TSI petrol and do around 5 to 6 thousand a year. it is obviously DSG as there is no manual option on the 2 litre. I also live in a rural area with a lot of fairly short runs around 10 miles.

 

it is also our longer distance motor. I went for the petrol partly based on the mileage I do and more so for the brisk performance.

 

It is without doubt the nicest car I have owned for many a year and to date has given me no problems at all.

Once again, thank you for your replies. After a 170+ miles (round trip) today, I will be getting the 1.8TSI with DSG. Test drove it and loved it! Deposit paid. Probably collect in a couple of weeks.

Thanks to these forums, I did look at the chrome trim around the windows. Rear window trims showed some signs of milking, so I queried this. This will be replaced under warranty, before I collect car.

I am excited now and can't wait!

I agree that servicing a diesel (long term) would probably work out more than a petrol due to the issues I raised above.

Yes sorry I didn't read the last line of your original reply properly!

Once again, thank you for your replies. After a 170+ miles (round trip) today, I will be getting the 1.8TSI with DSG. Test drove it and loved it! Deposit paid. Probably collect in a couple of weeks.

Thanks to these forums, I did look at the chrome trim around the windows. Rear window trims showed some signs of milking, so I queried this. This will be replaced under warranty, before I collect car.

I am excited now and can't wait!

Nice one! Enjoy your new car. Enjoyed your thread too!