I've had my 2013 vrs diesel hatch for just over a year but I've got a bit if an issue. My wife has just changed jobs and is walking to work most days, unless she's running late or it's to cold to walk with the children and then she uses the car for a 5 minute run.  I am well aware that big dirty diesels dislike these very short runs but at 14 months into a 40 month pcp I'm at a loss what to do.  Do I bite the bullet and take a hit on the negative equity now or keep running and hope it doesn't break? 

Short runs aren't great for a modern diesel with a Diesel Particulate Filter, however the later ones are much better with close coupled(aka hotter!) DPF's etc. Taking it for a run on a weeked should help and can I suggest shorter oil change intervals (numerous active regens&failures can eventually pollute engine oil).

 

 

 

I traded in a 12 month old 16 plate Octy Diesel 4x4 for pretty much the same reason as you... change in milage meaning constant DPF regens, terrible fuel economy and the car not even warming up by the time I got to work.

 

My dealer were kind enough to cover the negative equity when I traded it in for another car, maybe your's could do the same.

As long as you use it on the weekend or a couple of times a month for a longer journey then I don't think it will be a problem.

My wife used the car for short trips (2x12km per day) for 18months & we had no problems.

 

The DPF should give you a pre-warning if DPF is having trouble regenerating.

When this happens it tells you to drive a bit more. Take a longer trip to a supermarket a bit further away or go & visit the in-laws etc etc to give it a good run out & all should be fine again for month or two.

Alternatively why dont you drive the Octavia one day a week to give it a bit of a longer run out when your wife isnt using it?

 

Whilst it might be a little inconvenient to drive you car around if you have a warning light or to swap cars a couple of times a month, I would rather do this than lose several thousand to replace the car.

 

I'm going to see how it goes for now

I'm in a similar boat; factory ordered a TDI Superb then during the lead time we relocated and I was lucky enough to be offered a remote workers contract with my employer so I was no longer doing 90 miles per day to get to work.  

 

I've gone from 20-25k per year to ~12k which is largely made up of fortnightly 400 mile return journey to my works HQ.  The Superb was sitting on the drive for the majority of the week and I was using it for urban driving just to make use of it.   The short around town journeys are playing havoc with the DPF and I was noticing more and more than active regens were taking place, despite me trying to give it a good run and holding a lower gear for longer than usual.  A TDI and DPF in particular just aren't cut out for this type of usage.  Fuel consumption has also dropped massively to the point were it makes no sense at all to run a diesel.  There's also the fact I would run a petrol again in a heartbeat if economy and mileage were no longer a consideration. 

 

I've now ordered a TSI/petrol Superb, near enough same spec but a different colour.  Price to change isn't too bad and I know my car has more 'value' in it now then what it will have in 3-5 years time when there's no manufacturers warranty and diesels have suffered more and more negative press.  My last petrol was a 2006 Octy vRS and I can't wait to start using green filling pump again.  

 

My thought process would be that if your cost to change is less than the price of a 'cheap petrol runaround' for your wife then go for it.   If it's in the several thousands bracket then a second car may make more sense?  (meaning you buy a 245vRS and let your wife cough up for when the DPF goes bang )

 

 

You will be fine! Just change oil and filters every year, and take it for a longer spin for weekend...

Taking it for a longer spin now and again is pointless if you are not in the Regen window, there is no "Forced Regen" without Dealer service kit initiating one I believe.

Had my Octavia for exactly a year today and completed 12800 miles and despite the obvious DPF regens has givens me no problems whatsoever. 

1 hour ago, threadbear said:

Had my Octavia for exactly a year today and completed 12800 miles and despite the obvious DPF regens has givens me no problems whatsoever. 

I'll be lucky if it gets to 5k a year now.. 

Been thinking about this again today, best way out might be to get a loan for 10k, clear finance that's currently sitting at £10,300 and sell it privately for the £10,500, that would make it the cheapest vRS diesel with under 70k on the clock(currently at 50k) by £1000 on auto trader, so should hopefully shift quick. I can then by a new car for 10k and be finance free just incase my circumstances change again in the future.  Only down side would be not being able to afford a petrol vRS. 

40 minutes ago, Boundy123 said:

Been thinking about this again today, best way out might be to get a loan for 10k, clear finance that's currently sitting at £10,300 and sell it privately for the £10,500, that would make it the cheapest vRS diesel with under 70k on the clock(currently at 50k) by £1000 on auto trader, so should hopefully shift quick. I can then by a new car for 10k and be finance free just incase my circumstances change again in the future.  Only down side would be not being able to afford a petrol vRS. 

 

If you're buying a car with the money from the VRS sale (where the finance was cleared by a loan) it doesn't really make you free. You still have a loan to pay, though I do understand you'd have greater flexibility Vs the PCP.

 

Also what will you buy for 10k and would it be significantly worse than what you currently have with the diesel VRS?

Edited 28 February, 20188 yr by ahenners

I understand I won't be completly free from a finance product but it not being secured against the car will give me greater flexibility if I find myself needing it again in the future. I would also not have a balloon payment to clear at the end of the term, the trade off being a slightly older car to start with. 

 

As for what i would buy, Audi A4 avant, 1.8 s line, around 2010-2011 fall just under 11k.  Seen a few 2014 Leon ST tech pack 1.4 tsi's for just under 11k, mabey a BMW 318 touring 

22 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

If you're buying a car with the money from the VRS sale (where the finance was cleared by a loan) it doesn't really make you free. You still have a loan to pay, though I do understand you'd have greater flexibility Vs the PCP.

Bb

Also what will you buy for 10k and would it be significantly worse than what you currently have with the diesel VRS?

13 minutes ago, Boundy123 said:

I understand I won't be completly free from a finance product but it not being secured against the car will give me greater flexibility if I find myself needing it again in the future. I would also not have a balloon payment to clear at the end of the term, the trade off being a slightly older car to start with. 

 

As for what i would buy, Audi A4 avant, 1.8 s line, around 2010-2011 fall just under 11k.  Seen a few 2014 Leon ST tech pack 1.4 tsi's for just under 11k, mabey a BMW 318 touring 

 

Personally I'm not sure those make the swap worthwhile; the A4 has a lovely cabin but the 1.8 of 2010/11 wasn't particularly reliable. Oil consumption issues and Timing chain tensioner issues aren't uncommon. The Leon is a side step and very similar to the Octavia but with a slightly inferior cabin. 10k doesn't seem to be enough to get an F30 318i, and 10k is too much to spend on an old E90.

 

Best of luck whichever decision you come to 

Edited 28 February, 20188 yr by ahenners

2 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

Personally I'm not sure those make the swap worthwhile; the A4 has a lovely cabin but the 1.8 of 2010/11 wasn't particularly reliable. Oil consumption issues and Timing chain tensioner issues aren't uncommon. The Leon is a side step and very similar to the Octavia but with a slightly inferior cabin. 10k doesn't seem to be enough to get an F30 318i, and 10k is too much to spend on an old E90.

 

Best of luck whichever decision you come to 

Is it the 20v engine in the Audi? I had a passat sport with the 1.8t 20v and also had the issues with oil pick up getting blocked and dropping tension on the variable valve timing chain, don't won't to got there again. 

 

I don't think I can improve on what I have with my limited budget but can't see my DPF lasting another 2 years if it continues with its current driving pattern, might be able to stretch to 12k budget

Have you thought about leasing? 

5 minutes ago, penguin17 said:

Have you thought about leasing? 

Not really

On 2/28/2018 at 21:24, Boundy123 said:

Is it the 20v engine in the Audi? I had a passat sport with the 1.8t 20v and also had the issues with oil pick up getting blocked and dropping tension on the variable valve timing chain, don't won't to got there again. 

 

I don't think I can improve on what I have with my limited budget but can't see my DPF lasting another 2 years if it continues with its current driving pattern, might be able to stretch to 12k budget

Early direct injection engines (found in the mk2 octys) had issues around oil consumption, intakes clogging up, chain tensioners failing and the engines then munching themselves.

 

I'm looking at replacing my 1.9tdi octy in the near future, but will run it as long as I can to get these prices down and try to save for a deposit.