Hi All

 

just wanted to get everyone's views on the diesel vs petrol conundrum (well for me)

 

So the options I have narrowed it down to are the 2.0l petrol 220   or the    2.0l Diesel 190

 

Journey to work and back is usually around 14 miles with start stop traffic all the way

Looking to take family at least once every 3 month out of London to ether visit family or go explore.

 

 

Currently driving a 07 BMW 5series which has a 2.0 diesel which currently gives me around 34mpg

 

I was told if I went for the petrol that would give around 35mpg and the diesel considerably more...

Initially settled on the petrol due to the diesel DPF but I think I could live with that now...

 

 

anyone care to share their views

 

 

How many miles do you currently do a year?

 

For a diesel to make financial sense the breakeven point is around the 12-15k a year point. More than this and it's usually best to get a diesel.

 

But don't forget there are other things to consider.

 

14 miles is a short commute in a diesel. It will probably take more than half of that to even warm up and may cause DPF issues. A petrol will warm up considerably quicker.

 

Phil

How many miles do you currently do a year?

.....

 

 

 

Currently doing around  12 -13k a year

 

yea that was what pushed me to get a petrol but taking those longer trips every 2 -3 months would that resolve the DPF issue?

Petrol. Assume it's the same engine as petrol vrs maybe tuned slightly differently. I do similar journeys to you and get 36-37mpg with ease. Peach of an engine. Even in winter she is at operating temp within 6/7 mins drive and blowing warm air after 2/3 mins

No, it needs frequent longer journeys. Given the new petrol engines are so good, the 2.0 220 would be my choice in your situation, it will be a DSG though as it's only available with DSG.

 

Divide up the lower cost of the petrol engine by monthly fuel cost over time and put that into the equation.... £35 a week in a year based on an L&K

Are you sure the 1.4 act wouldn't do? That will get great economy, ACT (disables cylinders not needed to save fuel) will be good in the start stop traffic.

I seem to recall it was around 25-30k break even. Not done the calcs for a while, got a snippet of code for the new site to 'calculate' it, very very roughly of course. This was before the VED changes, but includes a % loading on insurance etc

No, it needs frequent longer journeys. Given the new petrol engines are so good, the 2.0 220 would be my choice in your situation, it will be a DSG though as it's only available with DSG.

 

Divide up the lower cost of the petrol engine by monthly fuel cost over time and put that into the equation.... £35 a week in a year based on an L&K

So long term I am looking to buy this car and then give this to the wife. I don't think her driving miles would be higher than mine so regardless petrol makes more sense? Just family jumped on the bandwagon of get diesel as you get more miles from the diesel you pump in... left me confused

Diesel a no brainer for me at 35k per year! Even then, I did look at petrol engines but only 1.4 would come close, but I didn't see that engine and 4 adults with full luggage and any hills being much fun.

How do DPF issues manifest themselves?

I've gone for diesel as it seemed to be the cheapest way to get leather seats! (SE Business on PCH)

Edited 12 October, 201510 yr by thewinelake

If you are doing regular long journeys you should be fine. It's short journeys, or stop start traffic where it doesn't warm up and then never gets longer trips that kills DPFs.

For my BMW the recommendation is to do at least 20 mins at 40mph (or more) , or maintain at least 2,000rpm for the same time after the car has warmed up on a regular basis. I do it every couple of weeks, and I know the regen is running because all the fans turn on to prevent a fire being caused by the very hot DPF in the engine bay. The front of mine is plastic - sorry, 'high quality, lightweight technology panels'.

With my new Superb having a DPF and Ad Blue I'll need to watch that too, but my commute is 15-18 miles in steady 60mph traffic.

Edited 12 October, 201510 yr by FelisBengalensis

I am in the same dilema, 2.0l petrol 220 or the 2.0l Diesel 190.

I currently have a 140 diesel and do an 11mile commute and 10k miles a year. I don't have DPF issues at the mo, but I am seriously considering the petrol.

Well I was until I found out I can't have 4x4 with the petrol. So now back to thinking 190 diesel with DSG and 4WD.

Sound I just go without 4WD or got 280 petrol or go diesel?

No brainer ! Go for the 280 ! :-)

Okay thanks for everyone's advice.

 

i did go for the petrol in the end, granted i could of gone for the 1.4 and gained more efficiency i opted for the 2.0 220 for the power.

If you are doing regular long journeys you should be fine. It's short journeys, or stop start traffic where it doesn't warm up and then never gets longer trips that kills DPFs.

For my BMW the recommendation is to do at least 20 mins at 40mph (or more) , or maintain at least 2,000rpm for the same time after the car has warmed up on a regular basis. I do it every couple of weeks, and I know the regen is running because all the fans turn on to prevent a fire being caused by the very hot DPF in the engine bay. The front of mine is plastic - sorry, 'high quality, lightweight technology panels'.

With my new Superb having a DPF and Ad Blue I'll need to watch that too, but my commute is 15-18 miles in steady 60mph traffic.

I love that at least 2000rpm is often noted. I don't do that rpm each way to/from work plus lots of one mile trips near where I work and then another 24 miles back home at 58mph, which is well under 2000rpm with no issues what so ever in 49k miles. My mpg is average 53-57 per gallon, not maxi dot.

Sorry no smiley faces FB as mine will not work of my iPad.

Edited 12 October, 201510 yr by Danny 57

I'm also seriously wondering what to buy, the 190 diesel 4x4 auto or the 280 petrol 4x4 auto. As I understand from the dealer in Iceland the prices should be up next week, not sure if they will be offering the petrol version here but I am hopeful as that will atleast give me a choice.

I in a small town about 5 hours drive from the capital one way, a trip I need to take about once every two or three months. I do about 15k kilometers a year, so which is the more sensible buy? Petrol or diesel?

I would say what do you prefer ? Petrol or diesel ? Why does sensible have to come into it ?

I'm also seriously wondering what to buy, the 190 diesel 4x4 auto or the 280 petrol 4x4 auto. As I understand from the dealer in Iceland the prices should be up next week, not sure if they will be offering the petrol version here but I am hopeful as that will atleast give me a choice.

I in a small town about 5 hours drive from the capital one way, a trip I need to take about once every two or three months. I do about 15k kilometers a year, so which is the more sensible buy? Petrol or diesel?

 

Welcome

 

I would say what do you prefer ? Petrol or diesel ? Why does sensible have to come into it ?

 

+1

 

Drive them both and pick which one you prefer

Thanks for the quick replies and the welcoming. 

 

I suppose you should always pick what you want and my inclination is to buy the petrol though with reservation since I have not had the chance to drive either as the first cars will arrive next month in my country. 

 

Regarding sensible I am thinking about a host of issues including driving costs which I don´t think will factor really much in the end to be honest. But what I am also wondering is repair costs in the future should the car break down in any manner after the warranty is up. I expect that I will likely be one of only a few petrol owners in Iceland as diesel has historically been a lot more popular here. If my car breaks down will that mean added expenses for parts since the supplier will likely stock mostly diesel parts? 

 

Also resale value will most likely stay higher for the diesel over the lifetime of the car but I do plan to own the car for at least five years so maybe I shouldn´t really worry about that? Buying the 190 diesel though makes me wonder about the adblue and the dpf issues. 

 

What I am also thinking about is engine noise, is there a noticable difference for the occupants when driving the 190 diesel vs. the 280 petrol? Is the added expected quiet of the petrol engine offset by wind and road noise? Just this last week I drove a 1,4 petrol Octavia in France and was impressed by the low engine noise but the road and wind noise was really loud. 

 

So many thoughts and worries I hope I am not boring or going overboards with questions.

 

Best regards from Iceland.

Daníel.

Dan budget for the 5 year warranty ! Parts expense worry gone :-)

No brainer ! Go for the 280 ! :

+1!

 

Nice easy drive, 4WD, very civilized to live with, quite economical if driven sensibly, with just a little extra go when the red mist descends.....

 

My own remapped Superb 2 does most of the above, apart from the lack of 4WD,so the 280 would be a nice choice.

 

The the new 220 is a little slower but seriously cheaper, & would be my choice over any of the diesels.

 

I've driven the 190 ps diesel & the 220 ps petrol, & I'd not even bother to worry about the overall running costs, the petrol is so much more refined.

 

DC 

Thanks for all the replies guys, I think I will budget for the extended warranty Nick_H, thanks for the rec...

 

DC, what did you think about the engine noise between the diesel and the petrol?

 

I am seriously leaning towards the 280 petrol now:)

 

Best regards.

Daníel.

In the cabin I bet theirs not a lot in it ..

Thanks for all the replies guys, I think I will budget for the extended warranty Nick_H, thanks for the rec...

 

DC, what did you think about the engine noise between the diesel and the petrol?

 

I am seriously leaning towards the 280 petrol now:)

 

Best regards.

Daníel.

For you & also Nick H, in the cabin of the 190 I could hear that I was driving a diese, in the 220, just road noise.

 

The diesel test drive was around the Colchester area, a nice mix of suburban roads, a divided highway (A12) & urban traffic in Colchester itself, so probably a fair test.

The usual diesel noise is most noticeable in the urban environment, where road noise is much lower, it's OK, but annoying, at least to me.....

 

The 220 was driven just outside London,(Watford & Moor Park) on a mixture of suburban housing estate roads, town traffic, motorways (M1 & M25) & through about 5 miles of 1 car wide

muddy country lanes.

It coped with all of the above in a calm & relaxed manner, unlike the totally lost sales guy who was given the wrong post-code to get us back to the Moor Park Golf club, (the location of the Citygate Superb Driving Day, so we spent quite some time driving very, very slowly until we could find some paved roads with space to park & reset the sat nav!  In all fairness he was from their London Skoda dealer & we

live 70 - 80 miles away so none of us really knew where we were!

 

It's your money, therefore your choice but I feel that today's petrol cars are more economical, possibly kinder to the environment & much more fun to drive than the diesels.

We currently own 3 cars with VW 2.0 TSi engines & have no intention of replacing any of them with a diesel!

 

HTH, DC.

l

We currently own 3 cars with VW 2.0 TSi engines & have no intention of replacing any of them with a diesel!

 

HTH, DC.

l

 

Do you know if the MKII Octavia vRS uses this TSi engine?

 

One thing that has concerned me with a couple I have seen is how much timing chain rattle they get once there is a few miles on them (louder than a CR diesel!) not to mention the timing chain failures (not sure if that is on the TSI or TSFi engine??)