Hi all, 

 

After peoples thoughts and opinions...

 

Currently own a 2018 Octavia VRS TDI 4x4 DSG. It’s a great car, great spec however being a bit of a petrol head, I’m finding it a bit slow and sluggish, plus I miss the noise of a petrol (previous car was an Subaru Impreza with 300hp)... so a bit of a drop in power. 

 

I am thinking about trading it in against a 245 manual and I wanted peoples thoughts on whether this is a good idea or not, based on your experiences. I get there will be less traction as its FWD... but surely can’t be that bad?

 

Thanks

Matt

4 minutes ago, MTwedVRS said:

Hi all, 

 

After peoples thoughts and opinions...

 

Currently own a 2018 Octavia VRS TDI 4x4 DSG. It’s a great car, great spec however being a bit of a petrol head, I’m finding it a bit slow and sluggish, plus I miss the noise of a petrol (previous car was an Subaru Impreza with 300hp)... so a bit of a drop in power. 

 

I am thinking about trading it in against a 245 manual and I wanted peoples thoughts on whether this is a good idea or not, based on your experiences. I get there will be less traction as its FWD... but surely can’t be that bad?

 

Thanks

Matt

You won't get much noise especially in comparison with the boxer engine. You will however get a quiet revvy engine, which is easily mapped to about 300bhp. If you want to put the power down and don't mind a big comfy specced up floaty barge, buy the TSI 4x4 Superb 😁😁

It really is your choice. I dont know if your car is on pcp but I would see what a garage would give you for it. If you are in negative equity id keep yours for a bit longer. When Skoda release the mk4 VRS the mk3 will drop in price, so you could grab a bargain. However that being said I used to own high powered petrol cars and realised that I only used the power about 5% of the time and the other 95% rest was spent in traffic. So I stuck with my 180bhp diesel.

15 minutes ago, Ecomatt said:

It really is your choice. I dont know if your car is on pcp but I would see what a garage would give you for it. If you are in negative equity id keep yours for a bit longer. When Skoda release the mk4 VRS the mk3 will drop in price, so you could grab a bargain. However that being said I used to own high powered petrol cars and realised that I only used the power about 5% of the time and the other 95% rest was spent in traffic. So I stuck with my 180bhp diesel.

Thanks, I got a trade in price and the 4x4 TDI holds its price better than the 245 as a Skoda dealer offered a nearly straight swap (1000 their way of course)... but i just don’t want to make a mistake if the 245 isn’t as quick or fun or fast as I am hoping! I also own it outright, no pcp 

19 minutes ago, Redboy said:

You won't get much noise especially in comparison with the boxer engine. You will however get a quiet revvy engine, which is easily mapped to about 300bhp. If you want to put the power down and don't mind a big comfy specced up floaty barge, buy the TSI 4x4 Superb 😁😁

I did consider a Superb, but for the mileage I am looking at, they are a few grand out of budget as I’m looking for 10-20k miles max, approved used for less than 20 grand. 245s seem to be between 18 and 20k for 10k miles ish. 272 Superbs are more 24-26 for same mileage and approved used unfortunately. 

*edit, Superbs also seem to be coming down in price with approved used available around 20k... so maybe a better option to keep the Haldex awd... hmm decisions.

 

 

i guess I have a good few months to make a decision anyway! 

4 minutes ago, MTwedVRS said:

*edit, Superbs also seem to be coming down in price with approved used available around 20k... so maybe a better option to keep the Haldex awd... hmm decisions.

 

 

i guess I have a good few months to make a decision anyway! 

My 2019 Superb 272 had 283bhp as standard when I bought it last December with just 4,900 miles on it from Skoda Uk management fleet for £23,840. A further £500 spent in February on a stage 1 custom map and with 360bhp and 514nm with 4WD and the excellent 7 speed DSG it can embarrass most German prestige motors under £50,000. Even got 47.1mpg at one point on my 27 mile commute home. Last tank was 557 miles at 40.54mpg.

9 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

My 2019 Superb 272 had 283bhp as standard when I bought it last December with just 4,900 miles on it from Skoda Uk management fleet for £23,840. A further £500 spent in February on a stage 1 custom map and with 360bhp and 514nm with 4WD and the excellent 7 speed DSG it can embarrass most German prestige motors under £50,000. Even got 47.1mpg at one point on my 27 mile commute home. Last tank was 557 miles at 40.54mpg.

Awesome thanks for the info... my current car is a 4x4 VRS but TDI... so the superb seems a good step up and not compromising at all... maybe on handling but that can be fixed with poly bushes and new suspension. 

 

40mpg is also very good... i get 40mpg or less in my current car so seems like a no brainier (if i can get one for the right price of course!)

22 minutes ago, MTwedVRS said:

Awesome thanks for the info... my current car is a 4x4 VRS but TDI... so the superb seems a good step up and not compromising at all... maybe on handling but that can be fixed with poly bushes and new suspension. 

 

40mpg is also very good... i get 40mpg or less in my current car so seems like a no brainier (if i can get one for the right price of course!)

If you get 40mpg from the 2.0TDI, don't expect any more than 30mpg from the 2.0TSI. They can be economic but the sort of driving that sees 40mpg from the 2.0TSI would probably see you getting 55mpg from the 2.0TDI. 

 

Also, if it's noise you miss, any VW Group 2.0TSI straight 4 is probably going to be somewhat disappointing. They're great engines but the way they sound is not top of the list of qualities. They sound better than the TDI, sure, but in general they're nothing to get excited about sound wise. Especially so if you're subconsciously comparing to a boxer engine. 

1 minute ago, Kenai said:

If you get 40mpg from the 2.0TDI, don't expect any more than 30mpg from the 2.0TSI. They can be economic but the sort of driving that sees 40mpg from the 2.0TSI would probably see you getting 55mpg from the 2.0TDI. 

 

Also, if it's noise you miss, any VW Group 2.0TSI straight 4 is probably going to be somewhat disappointing. They're great engines but the way they sound is not top of the list of qualities. They sound better than the TDI, sure, but in general they're nothing to get excited about sound wise. Especially so if you're subconsciously comparing to a boxer engine. 

Thanks for the response, to be honest an avg of 30 would be fine by me... I got rid of the Impreza due to sub 20’s! I would get another but due to having kids and a dog, the latest saloon is not that practical and I do have a soft spot for quick skodas. 

Can't think of anything funnier than flashing a BMW M4 on a German Autobahn at 250kph because they are holding me up in a Skoda.

20 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

Can't think of anything funnier than flashing a BMW M4 on a German Autobahn at 250kph because they are holding me up in a Skoda.

Hahah... amazing love it. 

1 hour ago, shyVRS245 said:

Can't think of anything funnier than flashing a BMW M4 on a German Autobahn at 250kph because they are holding me up in a Skoda.

That would be my wife in her 1.6 tdci B-Max

I think you'll be mid 20s on economy if you're <40mpg in a TDI.

As said, the can be pretty economical and will fairly easily get high 30s to low 40s in good conditions, but can easily drop on short journeys or with a bit of a heavy foot.

It seems to be very good at not using much fuel if you are steady speed between 40-60mpg, but outside of that or with much change of speed etc it soon starts to drink.

I've had anywhere between 15mpg and 50mpg depending on journey/conditions etc.

1 hour ago, shyVRS245 said:

Can't think of anything funnier than flashing a BMW M4 on a German Autobahn at 250kph because they are holding me up in a Skoda.

 

You're obviously not thinking very hard.

2 hours ago, Kenai said:

If you get 40mpg from the 2.0TDI, don't expect any more than 30mpg from the 2.0TSI. They can be economic but the sort of driving that sees 40mpg from the 2.0TSI would probably see you getting 55mpg from the 2.0TDI. 

 

Also, if it's noise you miss, any VW Group 2.0TSI straight 4 is probably going to be somewhat disappointing. They're great engines but the way they sound is not top of the list of qualities. They sound better than the TDI, sure, but in general they're nothing to get excited about sound wise. Especially so if you're subconsciously comparing to a boxer engine. 

The launch 245 (17, 67 or 18 reg) gets a slightly noisier exhaust which does add to the appeal over the diesel. My dad has a new 245 and is almost silent! 

13 minutes ago, Swirly182 said:

The launch 245 (17, 67 or 18 reg) gets a slightly noisier exhaust which does add to the appeal over the diesel. My dad has a new 245 and is almost silent! 

The early 245's also benefit from a full Milltek stainless exhaust system with sports cat downpipe but at £1,800 this is not a cheap option but does sound incredible.

9 hours ago, Swirly182 said:

The launch 245 (17, 67 or 18 reg) gets a slightly noisier exhaust which does add to the appeal over the diesel. My dad has a new 245 and is almost silent! 

Thanks, can you cut out the mid silencer on the newer ones to give it a bit more noise? Don’t fancy a silent petrol!

10 hours ago, Alex-W said:

I think you'll be mid 20s on economy if you're <40mpg in a TDI.

As said, the can be pretty economical and will fairly easily get high 30s to low 40s in good conditions, but can easily drop on short journeys or with a bit of a heavy foot.

It seems to be very good at not using much fuel if you are steady speed between 40-60mpg, but outside of that or with much change of speed etc it soon starts to drink.

I've had anywhere between 15mpg and 50mpg depending on journey/conditions etc.

Thanks, to be fair, I’m not too bothered about the fuel economy side of things... life’s too short and as much as I have a long commute to work... If i dont enjoy the drive what’s the point! I think I’m more torn between losing the 4x4 aspect - although I’m not a fan of the haldex system at all.. if it was a rear bias system i would stick with it... but the haldex doesn’t inspire much fun. 

39 minutes ago, MTwedVRS said:

Thanks, to be fair, I’m not too bothered about the fuel economy side of things... life’s too short and as much as I have a long commute to work... If i dont enjoy the drive what’s the point! I think I’m more torn between losing the 4x4 aspect - although I’m not a fan of the haldex system at all.. if it was a rear bias system i would stick with it... but the haldex doesn’t inspire much fun. 

 

Of course it's not AWD, but I've found the VAQ "limited slip diff" on my pre-FL 230 adds a bit of fun and sets it apart from most FWD cars I've driven. It's insane just how quickly you can go round a corner in the dry - it just grips and goes. It can actually be a little terrifying when it suddenly kicks in mid-corner - you have to quickly open the steering as it suddenly shifts from light, predictable understeer to pulling you into the corner MUCH tighter than you wanted.

 

I believe the 245 also got the VAQ as standard. Maybe this will give you the fun factor you're after?

Edited 9 April, 20206 yr by theandywaite

4 minutes ago, theandywaite said:

 

Of course it's not AWD, but I've found the VAQ "limited slip diff" on my pre-FL 230 adds a bit of fun and sets it apart from most FWD cars I've driven. It's insane just how quickly you can go round a corner in the dry - it just grips and goes. It can actually be a little terrifying when it suddenly kicks in mid-corner - you have to quickly open the steering as it suddenly shifts from light, predictable understeer to pulling you into the corner MUCH tighter than you wanted.

 

I believe the 245 also got the VAQ as standard. Maybe this will give you the fun factor you're after?

Thanks, and maybe! Once we get passed this coronavirus lockdown I will plan a test drive and see if I fall in love... if not then maybe not for me and a remap instead but only a test drive will tell! 

Consider Passat 240 if you want better refinement and suspension but still drive 4x4 diesel.

Edited 10 April, 20206 yr by toni8b