Hi folks, it is looking like we'll be selling our mk1 fabia vrs and we've been looking at the octavia vrs as a replacement. We went to a local dealer who had a diesel hatch and a 230 hatch both with manual gearboxes. As it was the first time I have driven one I was looking forward to how it would feel.

 

As soon as I started driving the diesel I was surprised at how little the vibration from the diesel engine has been refined since the old days of the mk1 fabia.

I think I was expecting more... it went well but felt a little sluggish and lazy... maybe sensible is a more suitable word? I loved the feel of the steering and the brakes and overall thought it was just ok. I think I was expecting more?

 

Then we went out in the 230... having never driven a petrol tsi before I was interested in how it would perform. Straight away I felt like it had more going for it, the engine sounded great and it just picked up so well. After we got back I was pretty much convinced that the petrol 220 or 230 would be the way to go for me as it just felt more like a sporty saloon than the diesel. It almost made me feel like it I could drive it in a similar style to the fabia.

 

The mpg and sensible feeling I got made me think it was just a bit too much of a sensible option for me. Where as the 230 brought out the hooligan in me at times but could still be driven sensibly. We don't do many miles a year these days, maybe 10k or so.

 

Any thoughts? 

 

Has anyone else gone from an old fabia vrs to an octavia? What engine did you go for? 

 

 

 

Not straight away, but I had a mk1 Fabia vRS and a few cars later has a mk2 FL petrol TSI vRS, and after upgraded it with a Shark remap. Thing is what you'll notice with the new diesels - they don't pack as much "punch" as the old PD diesels like in the old Fabia, so they don't feel as urgent, but they're so much more linear and petrol like now, and although it may not feel as fast, the 184 engines Octavia would blow the Fabia into the weeds if it were to face it. I've not driven the mk3 TSI, but my FL was so good - fast, smooth, quiet, and easily capable of 45 mpg on a motorway run, which given the fact I had 250 ish BHP, was great! In hindsight though, if you're only doing 10k a year the petrol is probably your better choice.

Hope it helps anyway...either way you're getting a great car.

I went directly from a 06 MK1 Fabia vRS to the Mk3 Octy vRS TDI manual, since 2013 I've done 28500 miles on the Octavia.

 

The first thing I noticed about driving the demo was the same as you, sluggish and lazy compared with the Fabia.  However the Octy vRS diesel is a beast of two personalities, driving it in normal or eco mode like you would the Fabia (rely on torque and low down grunt) it's calm and relatively refined but take it by the scruff of the neck and really abuse it by sticking it in sport and reving it and its far more aggressive.

 

I can't comment on petrol MPG but diesel is no where near as good as claimed - I can't get over about 42mpg.

I was planning on buying a diesel, and took out a 1.6TDi Black Edition, which I thought had quite respectable torque (considering I was moving from a 2.5V6TDi), but then I took out the 220 TSi, and well, that was that  :yes:   Mine made 233.6bhp at JKM's rollers and another standard TSi made +240bhp.  So I'd expect the 230 to do more, plus it has the LSD.

 

I've found I can actually get 40+mpg out of it with little effort, however that's just not me.  I enjoy driving it too much.

 

I understand exactly what you mean about the refinement of a diesel.  I had cause to drive my old Passat the other day (a '99 110TDi) that I haven't owned for four years, and I was really pleasantly surprised as to how nice it still is at 16 years old.

 

Gaz

Edited 28 February, 201610 yr by V6TDI

My mileage is half yours and I went for the diesel. Why?

- tax disc is £120 cheaper

- will get 35pc better economy

- lower insurance group

- better residuals

- diesels in more demand than petrol (putting aside VW shenanigans)

- monthly PCP payment cheaper although list price of diesel slightly higher

- more likely to get a ticket with petrol as speed picks up very quickly

I guess I have gone for the sensible strong engine that can go quick rather than speeding from 0-60 in milliseconds.

Hope this helps.

Big plus with petrol - no dpf.

When SWMBO takes the car to work for more than a few days it's ~25mpg whilst she's driving and constant regens when I get it back. Also when it's regenning the car is sluggish and down on power.

Don't get me wrong I love my vRS but the dpf and poor fuel economy takes the shine off a little.

Another thing to watch is the 230 has a diff which the 220/tdi do not. This I suspect will significantly help with one of the tdi's big issues, pulling out of a junction quickly without leaving 90% of your front tyres on the road.

Edited 29 February, 201610 yr by gullyg

The TDI 184 is quick...does take some miles before they start to give their best...both performance and MPG. If my Mk7 GTD is anything to go by drives alot better in Sport than Normal too.

Id have liked a GTI but its a company car and had to be diesel....though in fairness I wouldnt want to have to fuel a TSI as they arent that economical if you use the performance...whereas the TDI can do 40+ MPG all day long.

On the assumption you are keeping for a long time (based on currently trading a mk1 Fabia) then the petrol is bound to be better bet, as there are stories of £2000+ repair bills on emission equipped diesels in years 4-6. Might not happen, but if it does will claw back a great chunk of any fuel savings. I suspect the real mpg of the diesel are much less than the arbitrary EU figures and will take years to get the extra initial cost back from fuel savings. If you are keeping 8 or 9 years residuals will probably be same for petrol and diesel (both not very much)

Haven't driven the Octavia as a VRs, but tried the 220 TSI DSG in a new Superb as a demo and it is lovely engine, and if you want a few seconds of being a hooligan can do that as well (more than a few seconds of heavy foot and you will be breaking speed limit). However it was so quiet you would need to use the instruments to know when to change gear if you opt for manual,as most of the time you cant hear the petrol engine running (But Superb may have better sound insulation than Octavia)

You'll know when to change gear in the VRS - more so with the sound generator set to sport

 

I've just gone back to a 220 petrol VRS - had one about 9 years ago and since then have been in various diesels inclduing VRS.

 

If cost of running isnt your overriding factor then the petrol sounds so much nicer, the power just seems to keep coming and it puts a smile on my face like the diesel couldnt quite manage.

 

My engine is fairly new but even on cold mornings I'm averaging 35-40 which is a mix of constant cruising and the occasional moment of fun

 

The diesel is a great compromise as they are much more linear than the old big bang engines used to be - but - in my opinion - the petrol is a different level of fun.

I drive around 8-10K miles p.a. and moved from a 320D to a VRS TSI. What I lose in tax disc and fuel costs (£1000 p.a.) is more that made up for by the refinement and added performance. If my mileage was higher I may well have stuck to diesels, but with NO2 emissions becoming headline news recently, I expect diesel TAX and fuel costs will be adjusted upwards to force the move to electric, hybrid, or "cleaner petrol" counterparts. My next car will probably be a hybrid (C350E on PCH). 

Yes the current vehicle tax scheme is going to be changed a lot and you can bet the new one won't favour diesels (even though they do deliver the intended CO2 reductions). 

 

Probably if you do a fair bit of motorway bashing the TDI makes more sense, otherwise the petrol?

Yes the current vehicle tax scheme is going to be changed a lot and you can bet the new one won't favour diesels (even though they do deliver the intended CO2 reductions). 

 

Probably if you do a fair bit of motorway bashing the TDI makes more sense, otherwise the petrol?

 

The next lot of changes coming into effect next year were announced last July. They only effect vehicles registered after 1st April 2017 though.

 

Basically after the first year anything apart from Zero emission vehicles will be charged at £140 unless the car's list price is over £40,000 then it's an extra £310 per year for the first 5 years.

 

First year charges are higher too but still based on CO2 emissions.

 

See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-excise-duty/vehicle-excise-duty for full info.

From remapped Fabia vRSmk1 to Octavia MK2FL 2.0CR vRS DSG.

 

You first comment, about it not feeling urgent, that because how it delivers it's power. From the remapped fabia the Octavia never felt fast, although it was.

 

I've now got the MK3 2.0TSi vRS (DSG). It's rapid, maybe too quick as you're up to silly speeds very quickly (that's before you've remapped it). If there was downside to the TSi it would be consumption, don't get me wrong for what it is, it's very good on fuel but if you are used to diesel you will notice a big difference.

 

For me and my mileage petrol made sense as I've only just clicked over 5200 since Mid September last year, no DPF to worry about and a better sound track.

 

The 230 is better value if that is the spec you want, otherwise stick with the standard 220 with little options as it will drop in value like a stone.

 

RRP of mine £31k value now £19-24K

The next lot of changes coming into effect next year were announced last July. They only effect vehicles registered after 1st April 2017 though.

 

Basically after the first year anything apart from Zero emission vehicles will be charged at £140 unless the car's list price is over £40,000 then it's an extra £310 per year for the first 5 years.

 

First year charges are higher too but still based on CO2 emissions.

 

See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-excise-duty/vehicle-excise-duty for full info.

 

I am hoping to take advantage of this. For example the 150BHP 1.4 TSI (post July 2015ish?) dropped a TAX band compared to the 1.4 140BHP, so having a JULY 2015 - MARCH 2017 model means (hopefully) £30 TAX instead of £140.

 

VAG did a good job on the emissions testing there :clap:.  No no, I am sure it is all down to the improved engineering of the 150BHP model 

 

It's all a lot nicer than paying £265 for the MK1 Octy VRS

21

I would say Petrol but then I'm only doing 4-5,000miles a year so the difference in potential economy saving wouldn't be that great.  If you're on 15-20k then diesel would make more sense, under 10k then I would go for the petrol DSG.

Yes I did, petrol and wouldn't regret it as sounds like its the better option for lower miles and no regen hassles.

Very smooth and sporty from low speed too.

My mileage is half yours and I went for the diesel. Why?

- tax disc is £120 cheaper

- will get 35pc better economy

- lower insurance group

- better residuals

- diesels in more demand than petrol (putting aside VW shenanigans)

- monthly PCP payment cheaper although list price of diesel slightly higher

- more likely to get a ticket with petrol as speed picks up very quickly

I guess I have gone for the sensible strong engine that can go quick rather than speeding from 0-60 in milliseconds.

Hope this helps.

If it's all about the money, then you buy / lease / whatever the diesel, but if it's about enjoying your motoring, then the petrol trumps the diesel, even in a vRS.

 

We rented a mid-range Octy 3 last summer in Spain& the 1.6 diesel ruined the experience. Diesel is cheaper than petrol, & 55 mpg = cheap traveling,

but it spoiled the holiday for us. 

When we got back home & used SWMBO's 2.0 TSi  for our normal driving needs, it put the smile back again.

 

DC

but if it's about enjoying your motoring, then the petrol trumps the diesel, even in a vRS.

 

 

EVEN in a vRS? ESPECIALLY in a vRS! 

Quite happy with my diesel, got a Manual, it pull's OK and think suits my driving. Driven many Diesels incl. Merc, BMW, Volvo, Vauxhall etc. 

 

And I don't think my license could withstand the petrol, it would be to tempting to listen to that TSI engine. 

 

The sound synthesizer on the diesel does seem a little out of place, maybe would be better if the engine bay was more soundproofed.

The sound generator within the TSI is also pants. I had the dealer turn mine off.

The sound generator within the TSI is also pants. I had the dealer turn mine off.

Oh. I didn't think that dealers knew how to turn it off.

 

How was it done & was it expensive?

 

TIA for any info, DC

Oh. I didn't think that dealers knew how to turn it off.

How was it done & was it expensive?

TIA for any info, DC

Mine rattled occasionally within Sport mode. Initially the dealer turned the volume down to 30% (that's what they told me). It was quieter but I still didn't like the sound so they turned it off altogether. Try telling your dealer that it rattles occasionally and they should turn it down/off for free.

If u want a few seconds of being a hooligan can do that as well (more than a few seconds of heavy foot and you will be breaking speeHowever it was so quiet you would need to use the instruments to know when to change gear if you opt for manual,as most of the time you cant hear the petrol engine running (But Superb may have better sound insulation than Octavia)

The TSI in the Octy is really quiet and very smooth through the rev band, it is a peach. I imagine that the road noise level is probably higher than that of a Superb, the consolation is that it's still quieter than my MkII VRS TFSI.

Love my TSI, wouldn't swap it for a diesel its just so much nicer to drive and has the extra go the TDI really lacks