Hello, Need some advice. We've out grown our motor,a Fabia. Considering getting a used Skoda estate. Wish to stick with a diesel, but the choice of engines is confusing, 1.4tdi, 1.6tdi and 2.0tdi. Any issues with theses engines? Google shows lots for each! Any you would avoid?

 

 

Just out of interest why diesel.

 

Do you do high mileage?

 

Are you wanting to stick with a Fabia Estate or move up to an Octavia?

 

Oh and Welcome to the Forum.

As above. Steer clear of new diesels unless you're doing the mileage. 

 

What sort of year car are you thinking of? ( this makes a difference to which 1.4 and 2.0 engines you're referring too) 

I'd highly recommend a late Mk1 Octavia TDI Estate car for general all round build quality and value. A 1.9 PD130 would be a nice responsive engine to look at. If looking a little newer the Mk2 2.0TDI PD105 - 140's are fairly good too. Regardless of mileage, I would avoid any fitted with a DPF where possible as an unnecessary expensive additional part. For petrol in the Mk2 Octavia consider the 1.8TSI WOW! Elegance spec is a good one to aim for too. 

Edited 7 March, 201610 yr by FUBAR

Thanks for the advice and warm welcome. Do around 25/30k miles per year. Looking at cars between 2010 and 2013. My OH wants some quite new and diesel, she will use it more than I. Maybe worth talking about Petrol again. 

Have compared the Fabia, Octavia and Superb estates. Would love a 'speced' up superb but can't afford it.  So settled for an Octavia estate. 

 

So reliability wise all three engines are good? what are they like to drive and economy? 

From a driveability perspective, the TSI engines, even the 1.2 are now much more diesel like to drive in the low rev range than a petrol engine of ten years ago, albeit with a lot less vibration and noise. They are also not far off the diesels in terms of fuel - my wife gets around 50mpg in her Leon 1.2 TSI and I get about 42-43 in my Octavia 1.8 TSI.

 

However the age you're looking at is about the worst time for the reliability problems with TSI engines, timing chain failures being the most common. There is loads of information on the technical parts of this forum detailing problems people have had, and I personally worry every time I turn the key if my 61 reg car with 60k miles is going to write itself off instead of starting.

 

If you can afford a later car when they swapped to belt cam and improved things (I think for most models this happened in 2014) they would be worth a look, otherwise probably better to stick to the diesel. The best option I think (if the taxi drivers don't snap them all up first) is the lowest powered versions of the 2.0 diesel, which is the 110hp version in a 2012 ish Mk2 Octavia. It's a bit noisy, but generally much nicer to drive than the equivalent power 1.6 diesel with similar real world fuel economy.

Edited 8 March, 201610 yr by Ian

Both the 1.9 and 2.0 ltr diesels are pretty well established. I've owned the 1.9 diesel for the last five years (no dpf) and it's been a cracking engine, still returning 55 mpg on my daily commute.

I'd steer clear of the 1.6 diesel as it's known to suffer problems with the EGR and is expensive to replace owing to the work required to access it.

Whatever you opt for, make sure it's had regular oil changes and the timing belts have been changed at the required intervals.

Good luck.

If you're doing 30,000 miles a year a 2.0 tdi will do nicely .

Just make sure you have a full servicxe history and/ or warranty.

Id say a 2.0tdi in an octy

1.9tdis are good but theyve stopped doing them now. I wouldnt have a 1.6CR tdi personally.

I have a 2.0TDi Passat, 1.2TSi Octavia and 1.2Tsi Fabia.

 

For low to medium mileage and urban driving the 1.2TSi's are excellent, smooth, refined, and economical. 

 

But for 30k miles a year I'd go with a later 2.0 Common Rail diesel. They are less problematic than the 1.6, feel much stronger and there's very little economy difference on the road. Infact in WhatCar's real world test the 2.0 has proven more economical than the 1.6 on some models.

 

Lee

Is it the CR engines that lack low speed 'pull'.

 

I had a one year old Saab 9-3 120bhp. Pleasant to drive but it could easily get you in trouble at roundabouts in 2nd gear. (Fairly sure it was CR Vauxhall)

 

ie, slowing to an island but not stopping, then trying to continue in 2nd. Nearly no acceleration until the turbo kicked in.

 

Pity my 1.9PD is so noisy. Pulls lovely and with the DSG. Would not want a manual though.

Edited 8 March, 201610 yr by Tilt

Is it the CR engines that lack low speed 'pull'.

 

I had a one year old Saab 9-3 120bhp. Pleasant to drive but it could easily get you in trouble at roundabouts in 2nd gear. (Fairly sure it was CR Vauxhall)

 

ie, slowing to an island but not stopping, then trying to continue in 2nd. Nearly no acceleration until the turbo kicked in.

 

Pity my 1.9PD is so noisy. Pulls lovely and with the DSG. Would not want a manual though.

 

 

You wont get that with a 2.0CR Octavia.

 

The power delivery is smoother and more linear than a PD diesel but they pull well from low rpm.

 

Lee 

You wont get that with a 2.0CR Octavia.

 

The power delivery is smoother and more linear than a PD diesel but they pull well from low rpm.

 

Lee 

Good to know, Lee. Cheers.

 

I am considering a swap in the near future. Considering petrol though if I am honest. Probably only doing circa 7 to 8k pa nowadays, but boot full of tools.

 

If diesel, I definitely want a smoother / quieter one.

Good to know, Lee. Cheers.

 

I am considering a swap in the near future. Considering petrol though if I am honest. Probably only doing circa 7 to 8k pa nowadays, but boot full of tools.

 

If diesel, I definitely want a smoother / quieter one.

 

With that mileage a TSi would be my choice.

With that mileage a TSi would be my choice.

Yes, still haven't sold the A4 yet. 2L Tfsi. Fantastic to drive but a little impractical for work.

 

I would like to combine the two. The practicality of the Octavia (auto estate) with the driving characteristics and confidence feel - and build quality and engine of the Audi.

 

Will get sorted one day.

Just make sure they have had 10k-ish oil change intervals, and that if you buy a PD130 engine, you ensure its been run on 5w40 oil not 5w30, because the camshaft wears out using 5w30.

 

Apart from that, check for rattles from the airbox area, pull the air intake hose off, run up the engine, listen for loud knocks or whistles as it could indicate cam wear or turbo issues.

 

The 1.6TDi is terrible in anything bigger than a small hatchback.