Hey folks,

I know it's been asked a lot of times (I have searched and read a lot of the threads) but I am struggling to make a decision on whether I should opt for a petrol or diesel FL vRS for my next car.

I do approx 12k a year. However, my journeys to work are approx 28miles in each direction, and I lift share meaning I only drive 1 week in 2.

I currently drive a 1.8T mk4 Ibiza cupra with a revo remap, so around 210bhp. I have never owned a diesel.

I have done calculations until I'm blue in the face, and the diesel still seems

to come out on top for running costs (inc tax/insurance etc) but I'm not sure if the difference is enough for me... I think id enjoy the petrol drive more, although I still need to test drive both.

I have a budget of around 12k and am aiming for <40k miles, if I can find one with xenons I'd be very happy too.

So what do you think? Is it still feasible for the diesel for a 28mile journey to work, or will the petrol be the better option? Commuting I drive sedately, but like a spirited drive every now and then when not in rush hour.

Is my budget enough for a decent example?

Cheers folks :-)

Oh yeah, I'd probably revo the vRS whichever one I get.. Eventually

Whatever one you want. Drive both and decide. A sedate drive in the diesel on a roads over 28miles will give you 55mpg+. You'll be lucky to get 40 in the petrol. Factor in higher depreciation and higher road tax too.

I can get 60mpg on a sedate drive on my 20mile commute but average over tank is usually around 47mpg as I rarely drive sedately and get annoyed by other 'drivers' on the road too easily

I always find that the driveability of a diesel car outweighs a petrol one. Plus, it'll cost less over the time you have it!

I did think that'd be the response, thanks guys!

Is 12k enough to find a decent example, perhaps a with xenons? I don't mind dsg or manual, colour-wise anything bar yellow or red I think. Pretty flexible on the rest I think.

if money is the issue diesel will be better, 28 miles is enough for it to get warmed up to be efficient i had a diesel before but its only 5 miles to work so it never even warmed up 

Well I'm used to running a modified ibiza returning 34mpg on average so I think either vRS will be an improvement. Just assessing options and making sure that the diesel will produce the figures on my journey to work, otherwise the petrol would be a good option.

It's not the annual mileage that matters but the total mileage you will do in the car.  How many years will you keep it?  I went for diesel at 12k/year but I keep my cars for 5+ years at least (the last was almost 7 years).  If buying used to a budget the higher purchase price of the diesel rather than a petrol hardly matters as you just buy a slightly older car.

If you are used to a tweaked 210bhp petrol then the diesel vRS will be a disappointment. Quite flat and it sounds horrible when you floor it! Thats why i went for the petrol mkiii, so much nicer to drive

Outside the box and a bit more expensive but a polo BlueGT would be my choice if I could afford one... 140bhp petrol and can apparantly average 60mpg

I didn't read the other posts. So sorry if anyone has already said this.

TDi in a heartbeat. It's relatively quick, cruises at high speeds and returns 55+mpg. I have an estate and it is pretty much the most well rounded car I could imagine. Maybe 200hp would have done it the world of good, but that's nothing a remap can't sort out.

Interesting comments, thanks. I tend to keep my cars for 4yrs on average I suppose - if it's reliable and fun then I wouldn't get rid until I'd almost hit 100k miles. @ 12k/year that's quite a long time.. I think next step is to drive both and go from there.

I do love my petrol cars tho.... Dammit.

No denying the petrol is more fun, really depends what you are after.

Id imagine your Ibiza isnt particularly cheap to run, the TSi vRS wont be either but its in standard form quite a bit quicker than the diesel.

That said the diesel isnt a slow car, drives completely differently mind, quite torquey and not rev hungry like the petrol but will be a damn sight more efficient in nearly every real world circumstance.

To be fair there is only so fast you can drive in the UK and even a standard vRS TDi has more than enough go to lose you your licence or get you in serious trouble at least.

For me personally whilst id rather run a TSi I find it difficult to justify the bit of extra go for what would end up being a considerable difference in day to day running costs so TDi won out for me.

Drive them both and see what works for you, diesel might be a pleasant surprise or you might hate it who knows :-)

Cheers!

Ok folks,

 

Would you expect a petrol vRS to do better or worse mpg than my current vehicle?

 

My Ibiza is averaging 33mpg, journeys are mainly a 30-mile commute to work, mostly 60mph on A-roads with the usual commuting traffic.

I know book figure suggests a 37.9mpg combined for the petrol vRS, but does it come anywhere close to that? (I have looked on fuelly.com etc)

The diesel will cost you less in fuel but a petrol will be cheaper to buy.

 

You really need to drive both and see for yourself which one suits you the best.

Yes I'm aware of that, thanks though!

 

What I'm trying to work out is if the petrol vRS would be worse or better than my current car.... if the petrol can perform better than current car then I may be able to persuade the missus that it's a possibility

I'd imagine it would be pretty similar, if not marginally better.

 

The petrol can be thirsty so if fuel efficiency is a high priority I'd pay the extra for the diesel.