Looking at replacing my company car in a few months so trying to get a few ideas together. Currently driving a Passat Estate, doing around 24k miles a year and probably carry around 60kg of 'kit' around with me for work.

Has anyone got an opinion on how capable the 1.6 diesel would be covering this sort of mileage compared with the 2 litre? I'd be keeping the car for 4years so would have a fair chunk on miles on it at the end.

I currently own a 1.6cr DSG mk3 Octavia estate and previously I've owned two 1.6cr Octavia Mk2 estates one manual one DSG, both covered 30-35k per year with a large chunk of motorway driving and carrying a lot of kit. I traded both in just before they reached 80k without any major issues. MPG in the manual averaged around 54-55 and the DSG slightly down at 52-53. Haven't driven the 2,0cr, but the 1.6cr does the job for me.

For your use the 1.6TD engine would be ideal, it really comes into its own on the motorway and will easily sit all day at motorway speeds without any effort, mine transforms the minute it leaves normal town roads and gets onto a motorway. In and about towns the suspension can be a bit harsh to say the least but on motorways it is at its best, seats are comfortable too, you should be able to get high 50's mpg without too much effort, maybe a bit better if you don't drive too fast.

I've driven my car a few times heavily laden, rear seats down and it is slower at town speeds but hardly notice any difference once on the motorway.

If you dont care about acceleration, I think it perfectly capable.

It'd be fine, though I would suggest the Greenline is probably the best option on the basis it gets the slightly higher output 110ps unit and also benefits (Id imagine hugely) from a 6 speed manual box.

Much in the same way the new 2.0 EA211 diesel unit is leagues better than the previous gen CR unit, same can be said for the 1.6.

Needless to say the 150ps unit will be considerably more rapid but many 1.6 TDI Mk7 Golfs Ive come across seem to really be able to hustle on the motorway so I wouldnt be too concerned about performance...in normal driving theres not huge amounts to tell them apart.

The 1.6 is more than capable for motorway use. Yes the 2.0 is quicker as it has nearly 50% more power. Mines done 19000 miles in 11 months, 100% reliable so far. Drove it down to South of France last year fully loaded, 4 adults and roof box and didn't find it wanting at any stage.

Thanks for the replies, looks like it could be a goer then. Worried about it only having 5 gears more than anything else. Don't really want a green line as quite like the Elegance spec.

Thanks for the replies, looks like it could be a goer then. Worried about it only having 5 gears more than anything else. Don't really want a green line as quite like the Elegance spec.

Best bet is to have a go in one before you decide. Personally I prefer 5 speed, I don't know why 1.6's get 5 gears but I've never felt it needed 6.

You could always get a dsg...

If its a company car, the 150CR shouldn't cost too much more as CO2 is still pretty low at 106g and the mpg is probably on a par with the 1.6 in real world. I've averaged 55.5mpg since new and regularly get trips over 60mpg and I keep it in sport mode to make the most of the extra power coming off roundabouts! Go on, live a little, you know you want to!

1.6 with a stage1 re-map will give you around 145bhp, still great fuel economy and cheap road tax, best of both worlds  

I'd be buying the car with an allowance from work so it's just mpg, initial price and depreciation I'm interested in. As long as I break even over the 4yrs I'll be happy.

Don't fancy a re-map as I'd like to keep the warranty intact without any hassle.

1.6 with a stage1 re-map will give you around 145bhp, still great fuel economy and cheap road tax, best of both worlds

Assuming you were buying if going to chip a 105CR, surely it would be cheaper to pay the £20/yr road tax on a 150CR rather than shell out for a mod that will not increase residual and the standard 150CR should also return a good chunk of the extra list price so overall cost of ownership I reckon better to get the 150CR in the first place if you wanted the increased power.

Edited 29 March, 201511 yr by Matt Pez

I'd be buying the car with an allowance from work so it's just mpg, initial price and depreciation I'm interested in. As long as I break even over the 4yrs I'll be happy.

Don't fancy a re-map as I'd like to keep the warranty intact without any hassle.

In that case, 150CR all day long as only benefit of 105CR is lower company car tax.

Hmm, stop it Matt . Have you got any pictures of yours as assuming it's mot a VRs it's the colour I'd probably choose

Hmm, stop it Matt . Have you got any pictures of yours as assuming it's mot a VRs it's the colour I'd probably choose

Have a look at post #60 on the Octy 3 Post Your Photos thread.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/296662-post-your-mk3-octavia-photos/page-2

Edited 29 March, 201511 yr by Matt Pez

Regarding the five speed box, on motorways it is fine as the fifth gear is more like sixth gear really. However, I do feel that there is a bit of a yawning gap in some of the mid range gear ratios on this gearbox, i.e. fourth gear is quite high and often unusable in town traffic circa 30mph. You get used to it but a six speed box should really be standard with this engine, as it is with the Greenline version with the more powerful engine, surely not just a coincidence that it gets better fuel consumption by having slightly more power and a six speed gear box! One thing I would recommend is leaving the car in sports mode, it does make it just a tad more responsive and doesn't seem to harm fuel economy any.

Hmm, stop it Matt .

 

Yes Matt, stop it, whatever you are doing. This is a public forum :no:  :no:

In that case, 150CR all day long as only benefit of 105CR is lower company car tax.

Id agree. Suspect the 150 will have ever so slightly residuals as well (although none are that brilliant at the mo.

150CR is the much better car as well, having driven both. The 1.6 you really need to put your foot down to get anywhere, as you are highly reliant on the turbo. You don't get a lot beforehand. The turbo lag is also a lot more pronounced.

The 2ltr is smoother with its delivery. The turbo is less pronounced and you also get plenty of go even low down.

 

The 1.6 supposedly had similar power to my old Focus (petrol mind), but it never really felt like it.

Yes the 1.6 is a good engine, but the 2ltr is even better. Its a sweet motor, and is perfect on all sorts of journeys. Pottering around town or on the motorway.

I have only tested the 1.6TDI as low-end 90hp with the 5speed in Golf 6 - and that did not sit well with me.

 

I would assume you could somewhat spec a Greenline, but not seats, spare wheel, and so on. I was very surpriced to learn right now about the 6-speed only being there for the Green line - which sounds like a better technical package.

 

Then again, when coming to everyday use, and acknowledging that an Octavia is a purposeful car, a DSG is not a bad thing. I feel spoiled having one in traffic on and off highway on our 1.4 TSI.

Thanks for the replies, looks like it could be a goer then. Worried about it only having 5 gears more than anything else. Don't really want a green line as quite like the Elegance spec.

 

I have the 1.6TDi Elegance which I drove to Denmark and back last summer (fully loaded) without a hitch. With less than 1500 miles on the clock as we set off, we returned around 57 mpg.

 

The five gears are not an issue, you might just need to adust your driving style a bit so you simply move up gears later. The missis tries to drive at 30mph in 4th sometimes and it isn't always possible. Just because you're driving in 3rd at 30mph does not mean it isn't economical.

 

Cruising at 90mph on the autobahn in 5th felt calm and controlled and pushed quite happily up to 100mph without having its b****ocks revved off.

 

(This is the 105 PS engine btw - a lot more ooomph than the 90hp referred to above)

I do 18k a year and did 55k in a mk2 Octavia and nearly done 10k in Mk3 Octavia.  It's fine for motorway cruising - as for acceleration it's fine ,  depending on your speed you might need to drop a gear to get the best out of it. Both average mid 60s driven at legal motorway speeds.

Mine has hit 30k miles now on my 1.6 diesel elegance and I have no complaints at all regarding the engine.  It is very good on the motorway with plenty of grunt for general driving.  

We even tow a caravan with it!  The tall gearing comes into it's own then as you can leave it in 4th at 60mph and it's great up hill and down dale.

My complaints probably extend to the other models too, such as rubbish suspension and poor sound insulation.  It's a little noisy on the motorway for my liking.