Hi guys,

 

Although my current Skoda Roomster 1.6 DSG has been very good to me and so dependable its just not doing much for me in the excitement stakes! I've got bored with it ... its time to move on.

 

I'm looking for a petrol Octavia DSG with a bit of poke - sub 8 seconds 0-60mph - so I think I'm correct in saying that my choice is then either the 1.8 TSi or the 2.0 TFSi vRS? Budget is £10k tops.

 

I don't have masses of time to spend doing Internet research into the engine issues that may or may not affect these cars. I've had a good read on your excellent forum. And I well appreciate that folk post on forums when they have a problem - well don't we all. 

 

So give me your honest opinion / view / advice - maybe you've owned both these and have a firm favourite? Maybe you'd advise that talk of any engine failures is enough to say 'don't touch one with a barge pole'?

 

Any thoughts welcome.

 

Ive no experience of the 1.8 Tsi engine but ive read on here that its a good engine,however its not fitted to a vrs & id have the vrs model over any other one,mine is a 2008 vrs fitted with the 2.0 tfsi engine which is a lovely engine even in standard form,its got lots of power & pulls really well from low revs in any gear,if your spending 10k then id say you will be looking to buy a facelift vrs which is fitted with the Tsi engine not the Tfsi engine,again its a good engine but there have been a some cases of the timing chain tensioner failing which results in engine damage.Ive had 2 octavia vrs's now & this one ive had for 5 years now which is the longest ive ever kept a car. You may struggle to find a petrol DSG facelift vrs for sale as most of them seem to be diesels for sale at the moment.

If you fancy a petrol Scout Rainworth will have mine from next Saturday.

There's a TSI VRS in the classifieds at the moment, well specced for 8k with a sensible mileage.

I did look at the 1.8 TSIs, they map to near enough the same as a VRS but are quite understated so a bit of a sleeper.

For 10k you can get a really nice vrs , i have had two mk1 vrs,s and two mk2 vrs,s the vrs trim is much more sporty than the stock trim and you get better handling suspension and nicer wheels and more power all as standard,so no need to modify a non vrs.

 

I would advise driving a vrs just to see if you like the suspension and 18inch wheels as it will be much firmer than you roomster this could be the deciding factor that makes you go down the non vrs route for more comfort.

 

VRS    = 2.0tsi harder suspension

 

non vrs = 1.8tsi softer suspension

On the subject of hard suspension,, I have to admit, although I am getting quite "old", I don't find the suspension on my VRS hard at all. I did in the past have a Civic Type R and the suspension on that is what you really would call hard. You will always get talk of some failure or other with most models of car. I would not let it put you off the VRS as it is a fantastic car and the chance of engine failure will be a remote one. What you need on sites like this are all the owners who don't have an engine fault posting their satisfaction comments. What you usually get are the very few that do have an engine problem. Don't let it put you off your choice.

Either would be quite nice.

If you could find a 1.8 TSI Elegance with the sports suspension and 17" wheels it will drive similarly to the vRS just wont be quite so quick. Without the sports suspension be quite comfy but will handle like a barge.

The 2.0 TSi in the facelift is a nice engine...doesnt suffer the coking up issue the earlier TFSI engine did.

Both map well...the 1.8 just over 200hp, the 2.0 260/270hp stage one..get an exhaust and intake ans stage two them you'll probably see another 20/25hp I expect....depends if you are that way enclined.

Both can suffer cam tensioner failure and are known...the 1.8 specifically to drink oil due to piston ring/liner issues. The 2.0 with a known good tensioner revision is probably the better bet.

I know of two people with Audi 1.8 TFSI 180's (essentially the same as the Octavia 1.8 motor but with electronic "valvelift") that have ended up using lots of oil....one was sold before the warranty ran out....the other had to have a 5k top-end engine rebuild though is fine now.

If you are after more performance I wouldnt rule out a 170 CR vRS myself, screw the emissions bull its a good economical motor and makes for a quick enough, cheap to run car.

Hi guys,

 

Many thanks for all the comments - such valuable feedback to get it from people who own / have owned these cars.

 

I read right up to page 8 last night of the very useful sticky on engine failures and the cam belt tensioner. From that I learnt that the majority of failures seem to be on the earlier cars though of course there are some on later ones. To reduce chances then I should go for post May 2010 (revised cam tensioner) or consider changing the cam tensioner for a  newer oneanyway? I didn't see a lot of discussion of this but maybe it was further than page 8.

 

Sadly though the choice of car may not be made by me or the hubby - its usually made by our dog! Yes I did say 'our dog'! Looking at the vRS hatchback I don't think its going to be suitable for him to jump into the boot - boot lip too high .... he's nearly 11 :-(

 

The purchase of the Roomster was basically for the dog - very clever arrangement with the seats in that car - I've removed 2 back seats (there are 3 they just clip out) as I normally only carry 1 passenger in the back. That means the dog can hop into the back through the back door - without a seat there its very low - as usual the boot lip on the hatch is too high for him. I stuff the rear footwell with a duvet and use a dog guard which fills the gap between the 2 front seats. There you have it the perfect safe dog car!

 

If I'm to do something similar in a vRS I need to have a good look at the rear seats. Don't want to go down a mapping route. And yes of course the 18" wheels as you suggest - we have very pot holey roads round here + driving the Roomster is a 'comfortably numb' experience! 

 

There's really no need for 18" we have an SLK 350 that's 272 bhp and 0-60 in 5.4 secs - that's certainlu not numb but very comfortable on 17" alloys!

Oh Jayne, if that is your dog in your profile photo, you could lift the old fella into the car. You know the VRS will be worth the small effort. 

Sounds like your dog prefers another roomster, there are some nice late black edition ones. Does you dog watch topgear? as Clarksons dog in the dog test seemed the most happiest in the roomster too.

I have a 1.8tsi (very early BZB engine that doesn't have cam chain issues). It's been a great car.

I've spent a fair bit of time on it making it go quicker and handle better (because it's a hobby) so if speed & handling are a huge priority & you prefer not to mod then I'd go with a vRS.

If you just want a practical shopping trolley that goes really well then a 1.8tsi will do the job nicely.

Any reason you aren't looking at wagons? I agree, the dog won't be able to jump into the rear of the hatchback.

Try and find a wagon, preferably with the variable boot floor.

Its a personal thing but I think the estate is better looking than the hatch anyway, drive just as well and there are alot of them around.

Certainly wouldnt rule one out just because of the hatch....the hatch is carnivorous but the sloping hatch doesnt make it much cop for the comfort of a reasonable size dog anyway.

I had to stick my former springer x pointer in the back of my company car...a loan vauxhall vectra some years ago and only the once...i remember the first time he sat up to look out the window he brained himself and nearly broke the back window!

Edited 12 October, 201510 yr by pipsypreturns

Yup, estate all the way. Better looking and way more practical. Exactly the same length, just a great sized boot... my 37kg boxer on the left is always very comfortable, even when there's holiday luggage and other stuff in there with him!

 

Also an early BZB engine... fingers crossed eh Brad??

Hi guys,

 

Many thanks for the replies once again. Yes the said dog is the very same one in the profile pic. He might look slim but he's got heavy bones. At almost 5 1/2 stone I can't lift him into the back of anything! Am putting off using a doggy ramp for as long as I can as that's hassle espec when its raining!

 

Yes we do watch Top Gear and we are big fans but ohh the thought of another ice cream van I mean Roomster - if they've got 1 that's sub 8 seconds then I may poss be interested. 

 

Sadly even the Octavia estate or the wagon as you call it is too high for him these days to jump into the boot via the tailgate. I'm thinking hatch as I can dog proof the back seat - fill in the footwells and dog guard for the gap between the 2 front seats - that's what I've done in the Roomster. There's only 1 rear seat in it (behind the driver) so he gets in via the rear passenger door- very van like. My mum's very little and she's the only 1 who I ever have to accommodate on the back seat so there's room for mum + dog.

 

Not heard of a 'variable boot floor' but will check this out not sure how it helps?

 

Just looked on ATrader - its got to be petrol auto - under £10k with under 60k miles - 4 estates, 6 hatch - 2 TFSi rest are TSi

 

If  I look at vRS DSG with upto 60k on the clock ..... in price order .....

1st one is 2011 (11 reg) with 59k at £8995 in yellow (independent dealer - 100 miles away - just phoned it - they calling me back with details)

2nd one is 2011 (11 reg) with 44k at £10k in blue (independent dealer - sadly 200 miles away!)

3rd one is 2010 (60 reg) with 42k miles at £10,495 (independent dealer - 57 miles away)

4th one is 2011 (11 reg) with 18k miles at £10,995 (independent dealer - 58 miles away) .... black ... least favourite colour ..... budget creep ......

 

Nobody has mentioned anything about buying a pre-May 2010 vRS and changing the cam tensioner for the later one?

 

Watch this space - will let you know how I get on. Thanks again.  :clap:

Edited 12 October, 201510 yr by Jayne

Not heard of a 'variable boot floor' but will check this out not sure how it helps?

 

It's a device that helps you to transform your Octavias boot to a VW Polo sized boot Simply - you loose lots of space and you gain...basically nothing Yeah, it costs something as well.

Maybe I'm not taking that thing seriously but somehow I can't find any use of that. Your dog will feel more comfortable in bigger boot.

Thanks Jevpls I see what you mean. Perhaps its meant to divide up your boot into 2 sections? In that you can have the dog in 1 section and bags, shopping, etc. safely contained in a seperate section? If this isn't it then like you I'm missing the point.

Hi guys,

 

Many thanks for the replies once again. Yes the said dog is the very same one in the profile pic. He might look slim but he's got heavy bones. At almost 5 1/2 stone I can't lift him into the back of anything! Am putting off using a doggy ramp for as long as I can as that's hassle espec when its raining!

 

Yes we do watch Top Gear and we are big fans but ohh the thought of another ice cream van I mean Roomster - if they've got 1 that's sub 8 seconds then I may poss be interested. 

 

Sadly even the Octavia estate or the wagon as you call it is too high for him these days to jump into the boot via the tailgate. I'm thinking hatch as I can dog proof the back seat - fill in the footwells and dog guard for the gap between the 2 front seats - that's what I've done in the Roomster. There's only 1 rear seat in it (behind the driver) so he gets in via the rear passenger door- very van like. My mum's very little and she's the only 1 who I ever have to accommodate on the back seat so there's room for mum + dog.

 

Not heard of a 'variable boot floor' but will check this out not sure how it helps?

 

Just looked on ATrader - its got to be petrol auto - under £10k with under 60k miles - 4 estates, 6 hatch - 2 TFSi rest are TSi

 

If  I look at vRS DSG with upto 60k on the clock ..... in price order .....

1st one is 2011 (11 reg) with 59k at £8995 in yellow (independent dealer - 100 miles away - just phoned it - they calling me back with details)

2nd one is 2011 (11 reg) with 44k at £10k in blue (independent dealer - sadly 200 miles away!)

3rd one is 2010 (60 reg) with 42k miles at £10,495 (independent dealer - 57 miles away)

4th one is 2011 (11 reg) with 18k miles at £10,995 (independent dealer - 58 miles away) .... black ... least favourite colour ..... budget creep ......

 

Nobody has mentioned anything about buying a pre-May 2010 vRS and changing the cam tensioner for the later one?

 

Watch this space - will let you know how I get on. Thanks again.  :clap:

I agree with you Jayne, I don't like black either, or white for that matter. You may have to be patient to find the right car. It took me 3 months of hard searching to find mine and then I had to take the train 160miles to pick it up. It was worth the wait mind.

It's a device that helps you to transform your Octavias boot to a VW Polo sized boot Simply - you loose lots of space and you gain...basically nothing Yeah, it costs something as well.

Maybe I'm not taking that thing seriously but somehow I can't find any use of that. Your dog will feel more comfortable in bigger boot.

Brings the load floor up to tailgate lip level...means the dog wouldnt have to jump over and into the boot such as in cars without it...and the hatch.

It can be dropped to the floor taking up minimal space...also the floor can be removed entirely so your point is not entirely valid.

Brings the load floor up to tailgate lip level...means the dog wouldnt have to jump over and into the boot such as in cars without it...and the hatch.

It can be dropped to the floor taking up minimal space...also the floor can be removed entirely so your point is not entirely valid.

I doubt that someone installs/removes it after some while. It's unhandy and it requires space. So, you live with it or without it. Maybe it's handy for elderly people that don't want to bend their backs much while reaching bags. That's all.

The highest point for the dog to cross is the tailgate lip (I hope used the term right). Imagine a door with threshold. When you step over it, its doesn't matter if the floor on the other room is on the threshold level or 10 cm lower. That's how I see it.

I had the floor when I bought the car. I still think that a dog would feel much better in a boot with original floor level.

 

Jayne, the boot floor level difference can be seen here:

 

No, disagree with that comment. My pooch was used to the boot being regular and when I put the false floor in so he could jump straight up as he's knocking on and I wanted it smoother for him, it really threw him cos he was used to the gap on the other side and he sort of fell into the boot quite awkwardly so I took it out again and lift him in nowadays. The dog can only see up to that lip so doesn't know what's on the other side. Dogs remember!

 

Jayne, my one weighs 37 kilos and although I'm a big fella it's still no fun for me, so I don't know if this will help you at all but I distribute the weight/effort by lifting his front legs into the boot first (quite easy and he happily stands there with them flat on the inside whilst standing on his back paws out the boot absolutely fine), and then lifting his back legs up afterwards and he sort of walks forward into the boot with no problem.