Looking to get a used Fabia as second car and can't decide between the petrol or diesel. I've driven them both and liked both to be honest. I've had only diesels for past 10 yrs or so, therefore natural instinct is to go with the oil burner. Prefer the petrols 6 speed box, but equally like the extra economy of the diesel. Honest Johns real mpg states 43 vs 63.

Used prices are much of a muchness and my annual mileage will be circa 10/12k.

Suggestions please

Your choice really a civilised Petrol,

or pulling up places and sounding like you have a badly running Taxi. 

Having moved from a Volvo with the lovely D5 engine to the cheeky 1.2 TSI 110 petrol engine I really do not regret it. My annual mileage will becabout the same as yours and I felt it was getting towards the reasonable limit for DPF operation without tears.

I'm happy with the TSI but mpg is my main concern...there's more to life than chasing pennies.

I'm happy with the TSI but mpg is my main concern...there's more to life than chasing pennies.

Please share the mpg concerns. I have twin boys a few years away from entering the world of cars so am thinking this is a long term project where eventually they get to learn and possibly have the car and fund the running costs

We bought the TSI 110bhp DSG last year. We also have a Superb 140 diesel. The Superb is great on a run but for most of our regular driving the Fabia is more fun to drive. The engine is more nippy and is set up so that the revs are still pretty low when you're doing motorway speeds. As a result, it is as economical on the motorway as the Superb. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good a car it is in all departments - idling around town at leisure and mixing it with the sales reps on the motorway. I don't think you'd be disappointed with the petrol engine.

Hi Alski,

                   Petrol or Diesel ? The final choice has to be yours really. I have put my wife's low mileage 2013 Fabia Monte Carlo Tech 105ps TDi up for sale in the Cars for sale section with plenty of pics. Take a look, it may be of interest.

                   Enjoy whatever you purchase. All the best.

Speaking as a long term diesel owner, I have just ordered a 110 petrol rather than a 105 diesel. I suspect diesels will be frowned upon in years to come and governments will shift the tax treatment in favour of clean burn petrol engines. That said, my annual mileage is perhaps 8k so the economics of the diesel's higher purchase price didn't make sense. But look at the torque figures - the diesel produces a very impressive 250Nm as compared to 175 Nm for the petrol so I would expect overtaking grunt to be better with the diesel.

 

I think you can make the arguments for either, frankly. At 12k per year with no purchase price differential you pays your money and takes your choice. The diesel will be noiser but cheaper in fuel costs. The petrol will be quieter, no DPF risks or problems but the fel costs will be higher.

Petrol or diesel is going to be a personal preference thing.

What mileage do you do, if small go petrol. If the diesel costs more initially got to do a lot of miles to recover extra price.

If it only saves you a £1.30 per week in fuel, will take 8 years to recover a £500 price premium, at current fuel prices your 10k miles per year is about £1.30 per week using the real mpg

It is generally expected that diesels cost more to repair years 4-6, but many cars need changes of things like timing belts then so depending on age and mileage might want to check what needs replacing in next 2 or 3 services. Could add up to few hundred pounds extra if you choose wrong one. You might need to look at a service book to get this info.

Edited 25 January, 201610 yr by SurreyJohn

More expensive to buy. Fuel is messy to fill up, sounds like a tractor, smoke gives us cancer and asthma, DPFs block up, everyone thinks your a tight arse.....need I go on?

More expensive to buy. Fuel is messy to fill up, sounds like a tractor, smoke gives us cancer and asthma, DPFs block up, everyone thinks your a tight arse.....need I go on?

 

'More expensive to buy'  - yes if buying new, but no discernible difference on used 6 month old cars.

 

'Fuel messy to fill up' - had diesels over 10 yrs so used to it

 

'Gives us cancer and asthma' - hmm, food for thought, however since I've been inhaling diesel fumes for so long I'm probably toasted already 

 

'DPFs block up' - am I the only diesel owner that's never had a single problem ?

 

'Everyone thinks you're a tight arse' -  well they do already, and I am ! 

 

On 10,000 miles a year using Honest John's current figures of 43 and 63 mpg, the tight arse in me makes that around £27pm cheaper to run the diesel on fuel costs only (based on both being £1 per litre (managed to pay just 97p for diesel yesterday).

 

Think I'm going to have to drive them back to back to see just how much nicer that petrol 1.2 Tsi is as all you kind folks are definitely pointing me in that direction. 

Not so good for Skoda 'What Car' 2015 Car of the Year Award before they were even on sale and their predictions of strong residual values if the more expensive RRP Diesels as Used Diesels are being sold at about the same Cash / Money as the petrols.  Like for like Equipped.

 

That might be the VW Diesel Emissions Scandal and the fears people have on Government and City Councils treatment of Dirty Diesels.

Also concerns of those that know many Euro 5 / 6 VW Diesel engines have had DPF Regenerations killing the MPG in the real world use.

 

http://skoda.co.uk/pages/fuel-consumption-statement.aspx

 

http://autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/vw-emissions-scandal-audi-and-seat-deny-co2-cover

They were at it with 'irregularities' in Testing with Diesels and Petrols, just not with Skoda it appears. (so far.)

Edited 26 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Please share the mpg concerns. I have twin boys a few years away from entering the world of cars so am thinking this is a long term project where eventually they get to learn and possibly have the car and fund the running costs

Apologies...should have read; "........mpg is not my main concern......" Puts a different slant on things.

My TSI 110 is currently running at 39.9mpg calculated on tank refills. Rather a lot of that is around town/urban with infrequent blasts on dual carriageways/motorways etc where she is expected to give the execs something to think about...and does. I'm sure the diesel would better that in economy terms but the TSI really is a gem and even sounds quite decent.

My honest opinion is that it would make a brilliant car for your lads, in due course. Presumably in the manual version, as opposed to the lovely DSG version.

Apologies...should have read; "........mpg is not my main concern......" Puts a different slant on things.

My TSI 110 is currently running at 39.9mpg calculated on tank refills. Rather a lot of that is around town/urban with infrequent blasts on dual carriageways/motorways etc where she is expected to give the execs something to think about...and does. I'm sure the diesel would better that in economy terms but the TSI really is a gem and even sounds quite decent.

My honest opinion is that it would make a brilliant car for your lads, in due course. Presumably in the manual version, as opposed to the lovely DSG version.

Yes has to be a manual given I want my lads to learn to drive in it in due course. 

 

Interestingly, on Honest John's Real mpg the 1.2(110) is 43.9 whilst the 1.2(90) is 50.7 - would be interesting to hear if anyone gets >50 in the 1.2 Tsi 90.

 

I know the 90 doesn't have thelovely 6 speed box, but I'm going to have to annoy my local dealer by trying all 3 versions now !

My 1.2 110 is giving me 50-55mpg on my regular commute (10 miles or so on the motorway plus another 10 on A roads). That's a calculated figure from fill-ups, the car is displaying 52.6mpg long-term on the trip computer.

 

Regards Bob

Yes has to be a manual given I want my lads to learn to drive in it in due course. 

 

Interestingly, on Honest John's Real mpg the 1.2(110) is 43.9 whilst the 1.2(90) is 50.7 - would be interesting to hear if anyone gets >50 in the 1.2 Tsi 90.

 

I know the 90 doesn't have thelovely 6 speed box, but I'm going to have to annoy my local dealer by trying all 3 versions now !

Should have qualified my mpg figure with the fact that the car has only done circa 3700 miles from new in Sept '15 and is, undobtedly, still loosening up. Last Skoda I had was a Mk 1 Fabia vRS and that continued to improve until approx 10k miles when it plateaued. I suspect the TSI will do something similar.

Do test all three engines. The TSI 110 with the 6-speed manual is quite delightful, but I don't regret buying the DSG...well, not very often. I guess having a seriousplay with the DSG in 'manual' mode might well scratch that little itch.

I have a 90 ps engine and it depends on how I drive what I get out out it in terms of MPG

Edit: I done 141 miles from my house to Leeds and averaged 51MPG according to the trip computer. That was with the speed limit at 70 all of the way

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

Edited 28 January, 201610 yr by Leprejohn

If you set the maxidot to show current mpg you will see some brilliant numbers at both endsof the speed band. Around 9mpg if leaving the lights in a slightly spirited fashion...up to (IIRC) just about 300mpg on a cruise with trailing throttle, or downhill no throttle. Think it shuts off at that level. Worth doing for a smile, but don't get mesmerised and lose sight of the road. "Sorry officer, but I was only doing 11mpg".

How do you 1.2 TSi 110 driver's max your economy?

My Octavia is on 2k miles now, averages 46mpg but I can get 51mpg on my 10 mile drive home.

Seem to have hit a glass ceiling. Quite a way off the 57mpg combined they quote.

Well, my wife's Polo 1.2TSI 110PS only managed 49MPG today,but the ambient temperature during the 80 miles round trip was only 5.5>7.5C. I get annoyed when I can't achieve 55MPG on average, sad but true!

Loving my tsi - the engines are very efficient. I'm averaging over 46mpg in my 1.4tsi barge (possibly helped by stop/start). If I do more motorway journeys this climbs towards 50mpg -

 

Also has the advantage of being really really quiet however you get less lower down tourque with the petrol but they still pull reasonably and you get that addictive kick further up the rev range - long after you would have changed gear in the diesel

I think if you are buying the TDI to use as a v regular daily driver and are doing fairly serious mileage (enough to really benefit from its better fuel economy) its probably the one to have.

I gather it puts out 184lb/ft peak torque (same as previous 1.6 105ps) which is quite an achievement for a 1.4 diesel...is probably more relaxing to propel on long motorway runs too.

Otherwise I think the TSI is the one to choose and probably the nicer powerplant overall.

One real negative of the TDI 105ps.....its v expensive...also if you look at finance calculations its apparent VWFS dont expect their future values to stack up v well...in that the TSI is seemingly now far more popular in Mk3 guise. I think people are probably a little put off by the TDI with it losing capacity and a cylinder and despite its headline figures probably expect it to be less strong in performance and perhaps noisier compared to the older 1.6....I dont know the facts but id wager thats the issue.

More expensive to buy. Fuel is messy to fill up, sounds like a tractor, smoke gives us cancer and asthma, DPFs block up, everyone thinks your a tight arse.....need I go on?

Must you ? 

What Utter *******s !

More expensive to buy. Fuel is messy to fill up, sounds like a tractor, smoke gives us cancer and asthma, DPFs block up, everyone thinks your a tight arse.....need I go on?

 

"more expensive to buy" - Indeed I got one hell of a deal on a 14 month old Superb petrol - the nearest diesel was many £1000's more

 

"Fuel is messy to fill up" - Agreed but gloves are usually provided at garages - nothing worse than getting diesel on you hands just before embarking on a long journey, it stinks for ages

 

"Sounds like a tractor" - Most of the later CR diesels don't but the earlier 1.4 pd did!

 

"DPFs block up " - That's one of the reasons I bought a petrol, depends on you journey types, later DPF installations better designed and not an afterthought add on

 

"everyone thinks your a tight arse" - I live in Yorkshire, badge of honour around here 

 

 

 

"smoke gives us cancer and asthma" -  Actually if you compare a typical Euro 6  diesel with a Euro 6 direct injection petrol it's the petrol that emits more particulates.  This will change in 2017 with Euro 6 c where some petrol cars will require a GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filter)

Edited 30 January, 201610 yr by bigjohn

So I've now test driven all 4 engines - tsi 90 & 110 and tdi 90 and 105. - and all I've managed to do is completely confuse myself. However my summary below:

 

tdi 90 - sounds like a tractor by comparison with the tsi. A bit of an annoying drive in town as I was constantly looking to change up or down.

tdi 105 - also sounds like a tractor, but lots of lovely low down grunt. This drive was more on dual carriageways etc, and I actually quite enjoyed it. Shame the box is only 5 speed.

tsi 90 - the 'sensible choice'. Smooth quiet, probably pretty decent fuel economy, but..

tsi 110 - pocket rocket. Smooth quiet and pokey. Beats the tsi 90 by virtue of having a 6 speed box. However, I can imagine it could end up thirsty as it wants to be driven.

 

So I'm still no closer to deciding between tsi 110 and tdi 105. I'm guessing the latter could end up being more difficult to sell on if there's a shift away from diesel. Govt will also probably slowly increase tax on diesel to encourage move to petrol (many cities already doing so in terms of their congestion charging strategies). So the head and heart are probably saying 1.2 Tsi 110.

 

All I need to do now is decide whether it's an SE-L (with pana roof) or and Monte. Can't quite get my head around the upholstery in the Monte and wonder if it'll just make me look a bit of a ****** at my age - (just turned 50)

Maybe a SEL with the sports package will be satisfying, Sir?

With that youll have the best seats and without the horrible interieur color scheme.