I cannot believe my eyes after reading so many conflicting reviews of the 1.9tdi engine fitted to the new fabia. Some car magazines rate it very highly and state that it is a 'responsive and refined engine' while others suggest that it is an example of why people dislike diesels and how it lacks refinement. Worse still in one case (Top Gear) there are two different comments on the engine, one in respect to the estate and the other relating to the sport. One says how refined it is, the other criticises its lack of refinement. Generally autocar, msn car and autoexpress give positive feed back on this engine. Whilst What Car gives a negative report and Top Gear and Parkers cannot seem to decide.

Why is this so? I know it is down to personal preference but it cannot be so far out in so many cases.

Thoughts?

Mark:confused:

I have an old 1.9 TDi 100bhp in a Mk1 Fabia Estate and I can see why the new one gets differing reviews.

The old on is noisy and slightly lumpen so it's not that great on refinement and NVH, particularly when cold (not helped by apparently minimal sound insulation). This is probably the part the bad reviews focus on.

However, tootling round town at low revs or on the motorway it soon settles down and is fine, being relaxed and quiet. It also pulls like a train when on boost and really gives the car some decent 'go'. I'm therefore guessing that this is the part the good reviews focus on.

So I guess it depends on your point of view - hence the disparity.

i've been driving my dads 1.9tdi fabia mk1 today it really does pull well. even after 119k its coarse in 1st gear, but soon settles after the 2nd 3rd etc...just turn the music up! i hardly ever drive in silence so i dont think it would bother me much.

The problem is it's all relative to what they're comparing it to. The 1.9 TDI in the mark 1 is very noisey and unrefined compared to equivalent common rail diesels, but it was fairly economical and due to the delivery appeared to pull harder than the more linear delivery of the common rails.

Have to say I'm a common-rail convert

Chris

The problem is it's all relative to what they're comparing it to. The 1.9 TDI in the mark 1 is very noisey and unrefined compared to equivalent common rail diesels, but it was fairly economical and due to the delivery appeared to pull harder than the more linear delivery of the common rails.

Have to say I'm a common-rail convert

Chris

this is exactly right, when I had the vRS (1.9 pd130) I found it fine , regardless of the press reports saying it was noisey, rough , and vibrated.... I thought it was good for a diesel (I was used to things like the old 1.8 diesel in the fords!) now I have a (commonrail) 1.9JTD multijet, I can convincingly say, mine is miles smoother, quieter, more refined, and no vibration..... After driving mine for a few weeks, i realised what all the press comments were about....

note: skoda have a new commonrail 2.0 diesel, giving 170 bhp on the way, maybe this will head for the new vRS? its going in the ne superb for sure!