At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. One key point if your planning to keep for a long time is the resale value ofcourse, at the current time, diesels command a much higher premium second hand, but this may change by the time you want to sell yours due to the government deciding it's not bad. At the end of the day, it shouldn't struggle fully laden, when I had my 1.6 2008 focus fully laden it was completely fine to drive with no significant decrease in power, saying this the focus weighs over 50kg more than the octavia but had 98bhp to the 1.4Tsi octavias 138bhp with the octavia having 100nm more torque, fully laden shouldn't be a problem.

Possble not in the normal life time of current cars (dunno maybe if the OP is gonna keep it 10 years) but, the residuals of diesels will be hit badly by the Polar Bear Squad bashing on about their emmisions, as I've already said Toyota won't be selling diesels from September onwards an entirely petrol/hybrid offering from them and no major manufacturer has any future diesel engine developement programs.

 

So if you really want a diesel, get it soon !!!

I dont know about that. Its not modern diesels which are so much the issue, rather the removal of DPFs (which no matter how its swung constitutes an MOT failure for removal of emissions control equipment and technically not legal) that then leaves a relatively clean diesel spewing soot and micro particulates all over the place.

I was following an 07 reg 530d the other evening, was undoubtedly mapped and if ever it had a DPF doesnt do now as it smoked like nobodies business....thankfully my auto recirc cut in quick enough that the clouds of carp coming out of the back didnt half kill me but my god if it were my car id be sooo embarrased. I am sure the boys in blue would have been quick to pull him for it....where are they when you need them?!

thankfully my auto recirc cut in quick enough that the clouds of carp coming out of the back didnt half kill me

 

Is this automatically enabled, or should i turn it on in the settings?

Is this automatically enabled, or should i turn it on in the settings?

 

There is a button for it on the climate panel. It cycles on/off/auto.

my 2p.

Drove both TDi and TSi 1.4 did the sums and for me the TSi came up best, a lot cheaper to buy, cheaper fuel, quicker to warm up so mpg on shorter runs better, only £30 PA road tax (For the TSi DSG, the manual is £110.00 PA)

Tsi more refined, smoother, quieter, and nicer to drive, a peach of an engine and it is certainly no slouch, on the test run I hit 80+ with 4 up and it didn't want do slow down! The dealer did though!

 

If you keep it for 10 years you should really consider the TSi as a possible future proofed purchase, after 10 year sale prices could be much the same, but, if current trends continue away from Diesel then the Petrol could well overtake the Diesel in used prices.

 

My vote goes to Petrol.

I dont know about that. Its not modern diesels which are so much the issue, rather the removal of DPFs (which no matter how its swung constitutes an MOT failure for removal of emissions control equipment and technically not legal) that then leaves a relatively clean diesel spewing soot and micro particulates all over the place.

Whilst I agree with you technically the Polar Bear Protection Squad can't split hairs that well even, synthetic fur coats get paint thrown over them by the haters.

my 2p.

Drove both TDi and TSi 1.4 did the sums and for me the TSi came up best, a lot cheaper to buy, cheaper fuel, quicker to warm up so mpg on shorter runs better, only £30 PA road tax (For the TSi DSG, the manual is £110.00 PA)

Tsi more refined, smoother, quieter, and nicer to drive, a peach of an engine and it is certainly no slouch, on the test run I hit 80+ with 4 up and it didn't want do slow down! The dealer did though!

 

If you keep it for 10 years you should really consider the TSi as a possible future proofed purchase, after 10 year sale prices could be much the same, but, if current trends continue away from Diesel then the Petrol could well overtake the Diesel in used prices.

 

My vote goes to Petrol.

 

+1 and the servicing is cheaper.

Edited 12 February, 201511 yr by themanwithnoaim

Thanks a lot for all you comments. I just came in from a 100 mile drive in my 3 series 318i. It was mostly windy a roads so quite a lot of gear changing. I did 37 mpg with semi careful driving. This is why I was going for the diesel. I am no racer but I enjoy power at low revs, so I thought the diesel would be good for me.

Re the dpf, on a drive like today, 30 - 50 mph, on a roads, is this good for it? Surely the engine gets warm enough, probably more than motorway driving?

Thanks again

I tend to figure that you buy the car you want, and don't worry so much about a little tax and some trade in value. As long as you can comfortably afford it, will it really bother you that the other car you like less will be a few hundred cheaper over several years?

Very good point hobbie 2k.

I would like to ke low tax because at the moment I have 2 petrol cars and I pay too much. The Ford Focus that will be replaced by the Skoda is nearly £200 a year.

Mpg is all about pump psychology for me as I do not do do many miles.

Most of all is about how it drives and reliability for me.

Once more, thx again for your input. One last question please : is it true that if you have interrupt a regen diesel is dumped into the sump?? Also, do you interrupt a regen by switching off car?

If this is true, I am getting the petrol!

The DPF is happy as long as it gets a 20-30min (post warmup) run with revs above 2.5k most of the time, about once a week, so a single carriageway fast road is best (motorway isn't great as it will sit in 6th/low rpm at 70mph).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, you can safely interrupt a regen by turning the car off. But on the next drive or two try to include as mentioned above.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I tend to figure that you buy the car you want, and don't worry so much about a little tax and some trade in value. As long as you can comfortably afford it, will it really bother you that the other car you like less will be a few hundred cheaper over several years?

 

I absolutely agree. I have always bought with a list of criteria in the past, testing lots of options, and tried to get the best deal to the point of making it quite difficult. I've always tried to be very analytical in choosing the "right" car, which has always left me disappointed. This time I test drove nothing other than an Octavia as that was what I wanted, and although I test drove the diesel I ultimately bought the petrol because I just liked it a bit better, whether I could rationalise that or not. I didn't really haggle over the price, and yet I have never been happier with a car purchase.

 

Of course, now I'm looking at this board on a regular basis I find that I have become quite good at rationalising it, to myself at least, even if the rest of you have other ideas!

DPF's realty should not cause an issue unless you are stuck in slow moving traffic for most of the time. Will it last 10 years? who can tell? There is also no guarantee that the Cat within the TSI will last a lifetime.

It seems that OP really wants best possible economy so the diesel is probably best for him. Buying the petrol may leave him feeling that it's not much better than the old Beemer.

Personally, after owning several diesels (the last being a 2011 320D for 3 years), it was a pleasure getting back in to a petrol. Sure the mpg is not as good, but the petrol experience is better, and well worth the small premium for me. I do however miss 450+ miles between tanks.

Edited 12 February, 201511 yr by Orville

DPF's realty should not cause an issue unless you are stuck in slow moving traffic for most of the time. Will it last 10 years? who can tell? There is also no guarantee that the Cat within the TSI will last a lifetime.

It seems that OP really wants best possible economy so the diesel is probably best for him. Buying the petrol may leave him feeling that it's not much better than the old Beemer.

Personally, after owning several diesels (the last being a 2011 320D for 3 years), it was a pleasure getting back in to a petrol. Sure the mpg is not as good, but the petrol experience is better, and well worth the small premium for me. I do however miss 450+ miles between tanks.

Really 450 miles? I do that in the BMW (2.0 n/a petrol).

Maybe it has a big tank

Thanks a lot for all you comments. I just came in from a 100 mile drive in my 3 series 318i. It was mostly windy a roads so quite a lot of gear changing. I did 37 mpg with semi careful driving. This is why I was going for the diesel. I am no racer but I enjoy power at low revs, so I thought the diesel would be good for me.

Re the dpf, on a drive like today, 30 - 50 mph, on a roads, is this good for it? Surely the engine gets warm enough, probably more than motorway driving?

Thanks again

The dpf will complete an active regen at least every 600 miles or sooner anyway no matter how much it gets rid of during the passive phase in normal day to day driving, the key is doing sufficiently long journeys (20 minutes or so at full operating temperature) to allow it to complete these active regens when the ecu decides it's time to do one which is why they are not really best suited for anyone who does just short urban journeys so your trips will be fine.

I wouldnt worry too much about the DPF. I have been driving diesel engines for the last 12 years and I just love them. I currently own an Octavia III Black Edition 1.6 TDI Estate and a 2015 MINI Cooper D, I get around 63 and 78 MPGs out respectively. As you can tell that I have a light right foot hence I always sit under 2K revs. Yes, I dont mostly sit in the slow moving traffic however I only do 1000 miles per month on an average. So far I havent had any problems what so ever with the dpf.

I would highly recomend the new diesel engines.

Really 450 miles? I do that in the BMW (2.0 n/a petrol).

Yeah, but I bet that is not within Central London during rush hour.

Yeah, but I bet that is not within Central London during rush hour.

I see, not I get it from mixed driving.

Just driven to stanmore and back (about 90 miles each way). Return journey saw average of 49mpg . Traffic wasn't great and there is the long stretch of roadworks on the M1 so average speed was only 41mph. Still, very pleased considering its a petrol auto, very comfy and easy to drive.

Once more, thx again for your input. One last question please : is it true that if you have interrupt a regen diesel is dumped into the sump?? Also, do you interrupt a regen by switching off car?

If this is true, I am getting the petrol!

Interrupting a regen by turning the engine off should not cause a problem, the regen should continue next time you start the car and provided the journey is long enough finish.

 

As for fuel in the oil, all cars have some fuel contamination caused by fuel getting past the piston rings. In normal driving where the oil gets up to normal operating temperature for long enough the fuel evaporates off. An active regen adds diesel in to the cylinder after the burn cycle to ignite in the DPF burning the soot into smaller particles stored in the DPF on short runs where more active regens are needed the greater the chance of greater oil contamination with diesel.

 

Diesel is less volatile than petrol and needs a higher temperature and longer time to evaporate from the engine oil.

 

I originally was buying an Auris hybrid because I now do a lot of short town driving, and i got a massive discount, then I went and test drove the Octavia - heart over mind.

 

Philwoodphoto I get very similar MPG in my 1.4 on long runs with four up and around town 37 average.

 

Test drive both and see which you like.

Will try, although local dealer already said that he does not have a 2.0 Tdi I can try. He said either 1.6 or Vrs.

I will now chech re petrol cars.

Thanks

Dave