For 12k miles per year I would opt for the TSI.  Petrol is much nicer to drive, especially when twinned with DSG.  

 

I've had a 12 years worth of VW Group diesels my last two being the current 150PS and 184PS TDI's and whilst both were more refined Vs. previous PD and CR offerings they do end up rather gruff and agricultural after the miles mount up. IME this happened at around 10K miles.  Once this happens the overall driving experience is ruined as you can feel the engine clatter through contact points with the car, pedals, steering wheel, etc.   I would also say the 150PS engine is much nicer than the 184, which always feels lazy and doesn't perform as well as it's numbers suggest.  I'm actually not a big fan of the higher output diesel engine and I'm not alone.  The 240PS BiTDI would have been a more worthy powerplant for the vRS badge but that's another story...

 

For overall running costs the TDI is king, no doubt and whilst it has torque on it's side the usable bandwidth makes it less of an advantage, whereas the TSI engines are relatively torquey and the revs/gears can be held for longer. 

 

I switched to a Superb 280 TSI last year and would have had no issues with going for the 220 but the cost to change between the two was so little I just thought 'in for a penny', after years of putting running costs over my own preference.  Well worth it and I wouldn't go back to diesel unless I went back to doing 25K miles per year and I was paying my own fuel bills.   Though Tesco Momentum 99 is currently 120p per litre which isn't too bad Vs. 'standard' diesel.

 

 

 

 

Edited 24 January, 20197 yr by penguin17

22 hours ago, Crunch26 said:

 

Where have you seen them new for £24k?

Mine was under £23k as standard with DSG. Put a few extras on after that. That was through carwow at the time, waited 8 weeks for a factory order!

My diesel 150ps works out between 10 and 10.6p/mile, and a 16 mile each way commute on country roads each day is plenty to complete a regen, so dpf worries are completely unfounded. After that it's really what you fancy rather than which in everyone else's opinions is better.

On 23/01/2019 at 19:22, Crunch26 said:

 

Where have you seen them new for £24k?

 

I've just seen an advert for Drivethedeal, who are a broker, in this month's WhatCar magazine, for £20775 on a new 245 with black pack. That seems cheap!

34 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

I've just seen an advert for Drivethedeal, who are a broker, in this month's WhatCar magazine, for £20775 on a new 245 with black pack. That seems cheap!

must be the marmite front lights.... cant give them away.... 

8 minutes ago, JohnnyType2 said:

must be the marmite front lights.... cant give them away.... 

 

Are we still doing these jokes in 2019? 

3 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

Are we still doing these jokes in 2019? 

 

It never gets old 

I did look at getting a petrol (the 230 was getting pedalled at the time) but I've my car for the more practical side of my life.

If I want fun, my motorbikes are more than capable of putting a grin on my face.

Depending on where you live the new ULEZ is coming into areas around London, so any diesel over 6 years old has to pay £10.50 per day I think it is. May help with your decision making?

 

Diesels have never been a thing for me, never liked how they drive compared to a manual, manual seems smoother.

Definitely petrol for me, I've had diesels in the past and they were good as long distance, fairly fuel efficient mile munchers, but as my daily commute is generally around 15 miles, with the occasion longer journey thrown in when off work, it doesn't make sense to have diesel.

 

The petrol one is very nippy...