I'm looking for a little advice. I own a MY 13 octavia 1.4 tsi combi. I drive roughly 26 miles a day, 5 days a week, driving to work and back. I have to refill my tank every 2.5 weeks or there abouts. So I've been thinking of downsizing to a fabia. Either a 1.2 tsi 110hp or the 1.4 tdi 105hp. The thing is, will I really notice much of an improvement. My journey to work can be fairly congested and I currently can average between 38 to 48 mpg. So I'd hope to see an improvement.

Why not get octavia with 1.2 TSI? Fabia is a small car.

IMO Yes

Are you happy with your Octavia???????????

 

If not then swap, otherwise not. I would not go for your (or any) diesel option though, based on both your limited mileage and the discussions about diesel and its future (although it's future is years away imo).

Sorry to any Fabia owners, but I had an almost new one as a courtesy car and I did not like it one little bit.

I've gone the other way from a Fabia (top spec) to an Octavia. 

 

Whilst the difference internally is slight, the whole ride feels more refined and comfortable. The suspension is harder with much less role and it is quieter all round. I cannot see you gaining a significant increase in fuel efficiency that would negate the loss off space/comfort.

I wouldn't change just for possible fuel savings on 7000 miles a year. If the car isn't giving you problems and you are happy with it, I would stay with it.

 

for the ultimate in fuel bill reduction, your circumstances sound ideal for running a Electric car - but this would also be a huge change in terms of initial outlay

You'd be nuts to change if it's only because of the fuel economy. If you could improve the mpg from 40 to 55 (which I don't think you'd get anyway) then it would save you about £200 a year. Considering your current car has taken the bulk of the depreciation hit then swapping is going to cost way more than you could ever save in fuel.

 

Of course, if you dislike the Octavia, or you just really want a different car then that's fine, but it can't be justified on fuel cost alone.

Too be fair my octavia 09 plate, drives nicer feels sturdier with a better build quality than the mk11 Fabia ( both were 1.9 tdi upto 62 in the Fabia upto 58 in the octavia on my 13 mile journey to work , country B roads little traffic average mph 35 ) I upgraded from ( but so does my wife's mk1 Fabia feel so much better than that mk11 Fabia ) I can't comment on the mk111 Fabia 

Wouldn't have thought your journey would suit a diesel with a DPF but if you could find a 1.9 tdi engined Octavia or Fabia as it doesn't have a DPF you would certainly see better mpg, but the car would be at least 7 years old, I have had 3 1.9 tdi  and will possibly run the 2 we now have into the ground ( noisey compared to your petrol though, but that's what the sound systems for ! ) but dreading having to replace them

However in your case as quoted above to change your car on mpg related fuel costs alone doesn't really make financial sense

Edited 27 February, 20179 yr by davidwhite

If you wanted a smaller car than an Octavia and were considering a Fabia, look at a Rapid?

 

They're like a halfway house between a Fabia and an Octavia, the hatchback looks very like the Octavia whereas the Sportback is a little like a Focus-sized Fabia.

 

They're a little narrower and so should be easier to park, squeeze through narrow driveways, lanes etc.

The cost to change car more than wipes out any fuel saving for many years..

 

You'll miss the refinement of the Octavia, the Rapid and Fabia are cheaper and feel it, good for what they are, but like riding a motorbike...

i can't stand the plastic feeling on Rapid or Fabia . not worth to change just for fuel economy.

 

 

I sat in a Toledo, Seats version of the Rapid, before getting the Octavia and there wasn't much difference.

 

The Octavia to me isn't the last word in refinement, the doors are vanlike with visible painted metal on the inside frames and the bootlid vibrates especially on bumpy roads. It is what it is, an honest workhorse, and I reckon the Rapid is too.

Yes, keep the Octavia unless you really want to get rid. The small return in fuel savings will be small compared to the cost to change. The 1.4tsi in the Octavia should be pretty economical and I don't think the diference with the Fabia will be night and day. I had the Fabia 1.2 110 tsi as a dealer loaner while my Octavia had warranty work done. My 23 mile motorway commute got 47mpg - compared to 42mpg in my VRS. The Fabia fared better in stop/start driving, but still low to mid 40's really.

You already have an economical car in the 1.4tsi and as stated by others you won't get much better in a stop/start commute unless you swap to something like a hybrid or PHEV.

They are less attractive on an open road though.

For that distance you could consider an E-bike for summer at least. Need to charge at work but some businesses actively encourage it.

The important info you did not supply is the average speed of your journey.

Edited 27 February, 20179 yr by Gerrycan

If you want to downsize I personally would consider a 1.0 TSI 110 SE-L/R-Line or better still a BlueGT.

 

From personal experience having had a Mk3 Octavia Elegance 2.0 TDI estate, a succession (well two) MK7 Golf GTD's and now a 3 door Polo GTI 1.8TSI, I can vouch for the Polo and say its not a bad way to go.

 

IMHO I think the Polo exudes an air of solidarity the Octavia can only dream of and much like the Mk7 Golf you can tell where the extra money has been spent.....NVH.  The Octavia was a really good car...so far my favourite Skoda ive owned and didnt give me an ounce of bother in the 3 years we had it....but it did feel quite tinny and the road noise and firm damping (even on normal suspension) got on my nerves.

 

The BlueGT would be cool I think......updated engine with ACT, more performance, probably slightly better economy (due to its size) and better refinement.  At least this way you'd be arguably be getting something more fun and interesting and helps to justify the move.

 

Though I acknowledge at about 18.5k starting price they arent cheap.....still probably get a good deal on a nearly new/ex-demo.....

 

Think its a bit of a shame that VAG dont let Skoda use the 1.4 150 TSI ACT in the Fabia to produce a warm one....be a good car but dont suppose it will ever happen.

Edited 28 February, 20179 yr by pipsypreturnsagain

Unless ive worked it out wrong (maths was never my strong point) your covering 130 miles a week & yet you have to refill your tank every 2.5 weeks so how small is the fuel tank in the octavia?? 4 months ago i went from a mk2 petrol octavia vrs which i got around 380 miles to a tank of fuel to a Volvo V60 D2 & now get 700 miles + to a tank of fuel so for me the change to diesel works for me.The economy figures you say you are getting are good for a petrol so if your only covering that low mileage then id stay with petrol but surely you shouldnt be having to fill up your tank every 2.5 weeks with that mileage & economy figures??

To be fair the Octavia fuel tank is surprisingly small, even compared to my old Saab 93.

 

Claimed 50 litres, though with expansion tank I'd say a little less, Saab was 58 litres though seemed to hold a lot closer to that full amount.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think I've decided to keep the octavia. I've owned it for 3 years now and it has been great. The only issues I've had are a charge pressure actuator replacement, creaky drivers seat which still rears it's head from time to time and the old possessed bolero touchscreen which seems to have calmed down. Thinking back to when I changed from a yeti to the octavia, I was very impressed with the quieter ride and better mpg. It is a great car.