Petrol or diesel?

[aslsw]

I know that when I return to Australia in June that I will be ordering a new Octavia. Although I loved my old RS, I'm thinking about ordering a Scout this time. My reasoning is that we want to buy a light camper trailer (my wife has said no more sleep at ground level in tents) and there were a few camping spots where the RS with trailer really struggled to get in to (anyone who has been to Brou Lake knows what I mean).

So my only real decision is whether to choose petrol or diesel.

I've never owned a diesel car before, and apart from a couple of hire cars in Europe my only experience with driving diesel powered vehicles are fire trucks!

I can read the performance and fuel consumption specifications from the brochure, and see the differences in prices. But what I really want to know is what is the real, every-day impact of owning and driving a diesel. For example:

• will I notice any real difference in terms of performance, particularly when towing?
• is there any difference in the 'enjoyment factor' when driving?
• what are servicing and maintenance costs like?
• are there any specific issues to be aware of with the DPF and/or other systems on the diesel?
• anything else?

Thanks. I'm planning test driving a diesel here in Geneva, but a short drive won't really help to answer these questions.

[sillyboy]

" If you can't decide go for a petrol ".

Someone used to tell me that, and I did not listen, and regreted, So I traded in my Yeti TDI for an Octavia RS(Petrol this time).

[nickd]

I have a diesel Peugeot 407 and a 2.0 TDI mk5 golf. I love the diesels. The torque is amazing and with the DSG it's great fun to drive.
We test drove the diesel and the petrol RS wagons, and both were great fun.... If you're planning to stick to the speed limit, there's not much difference IMO.

The difference for us was on our test drive route, the diesel averaged about 8L/100km and the petrol about 12. Admittedly we were probably having a little more fun in the petrol

I was looking at camper trailers too but the towball weight limit in any of the octavias is too low. I even told this is a problem with many (most?) European cars.


2007 Golf 2.0 TDI Comfortline DSG/ESP
MY15 Octavia RS Wagon 135TDI, Race Blue, 18" Black Pack, Tech Pack, Comfort Pack, Auto Tailgate (on order)

[sillyboy]

Diesel RS doesn't sound as sweet, torque comes slightly later and finish a lot earlier, and it's not as rev happy as the Petrol, TDI also feels heavier, not as agile. I'd say test drive both, choose what ever you LIKE driving

Nothing worse than buying a 40k+ car and tell yourself ' I can make do with the diesel to save a few hundred dollars on fuel a year ' and then regret after a year or two.

If you LIKE the diesel, go for it,just buy what you LIKE best.

[aslsw]

I was looking at camper trailers too but the towball weight limit in any of the octavias is too low. I even told this is a problem with many (most?) European cars.

Oh, definitely a problem. I know that I will be restricted to the towball weight when choosing a camper trailer. Provided you don't want an off-road model, there are a few out there which will fit within the limit.

But I absolutely refuse to compromise on my desire to own a new Skoda purely to drag around a camper that we will use on a few occasions a year.

[aslsw]

" If you can't decide go for a petrol ".

That sounds like good advice. I might make petrol the default option UNLESS there is a compelling case after the test drive to go for diesel.

[Antiplastix]

I went from a MkII RS TSI manual to a MKIII Elegance TDI DSG. 98% of the time love the diesel , effortless cruising, average 6 l /100km. There is only that 2% when you see that gap in traffic put your foot down and there s noise but not the instant acceleration.

[tigger73]

Have a look at the Tiguan. 130TDI has a decent amount of poke, great torque and a 2200kg towing capacity with 100kg ball weight. Though boot in the Octy is a lot bigger...

[aslsw]

Have a look at the Tiguan.

Am I allowed to say that I just don't like the Tiguan? As with any comparison between Skoda and VW, I don't think the Tiguan uses the internal space well, and it has the appearance of the full SUV (ie. taller, upright). What I like about the Scout is that it's the standard Octavia wagon but with a little bit more ability for unsealed roads. And of course it's a Skoda!

[aslsw]

How do servicing costs compare between the petrol and diesel engines?

[tigger73]

Am I allowed to say that I just don't like the Tiguan? As with any comparison between Skoda and VW, I don't think the Tiguan uses the internal space well, and it has the appearance of the full SUV (ie. taller, upright). What I like about the Scout is that it's the standard Octavia wagon but with a little bit more ability for unsealed roads. And of course it's a Skoda!

That's fine. I know car choices are a personal preference and was just giving you some options in your price range with decent towing capability/specs. Though as you say you only tow a couple of times a year so the rest of the time you have to live with/enjoy your car.

Be aware that the diesel scouts towing specs are 1800kg with 80kg towball weight compared to the 132tsi petrol which has a reduced towing capacity of 1600kg and the same 80kg ball weight. So that may sway your decision based on whatever the trailer you're looking at.

[Transporter]

How do servicing costs compare between the petrol and diesel engines?

There shouldn't be much difference between the 2. The diesel could be cheaper, since the engine oil is the same and the TDI oil filter is cheaper than that on the TSI engines. The TDI will be more economical, since you do more kms from the tank.

[brad]

How do servicing costs compare between the petrol and diesel engines?

About the same (IMO).

I wanted a manual diesel when I went Skoda shopping in 2008.

A few car loving friends pointed out that I would miss the broad power band of the petrol. Diesels were a significant premium at the time and Skoda was doing run-out pricing on all the petrol engine models. The sales-lady let me drive the diesel & the petrol & for the price difference (I think it was $3k??) I could buy a lot of 98ron.

The TSI engine is clockwork smooth & quiet from idle through to redline (much better than my wife's Honda). I don't regret buying the TSI and the fuel cost (25,000km/year) is negligible compared to depreciation, insurance, etc.

It uses 40% less fuel than my Liberty did and about 90% less fuel than some of the V8s I've owned.

I think for the 2L/100km I'd save on the diesel it isn't worth it.

re: camper trailers - you don't need a diesel to tow one of them and 80kg ball weight shouldn't be a show-stopper.

[Bob51]

Here is my two bobs worth, Petrol engines are smoother and generally quieter. Diesel has better low speed torque and is more economical although the difference is not as great now with the new breed of turbo petrol engines.

If you plan to travel away from cities and major towns, keep in mind 98 ron petrol availability is patchy. I would not attempt to drive around Australia in a car which requires 98. Diesel fuel is available from every fuel stop.

[brad]

Here is my two bobs worth, Petrol engines are smoother and generally quieter. Diesel has better low speed torque and is more economical although the difference is not as great now with the new breed of turbo petrol engines.

If you plan to travel away from cities and major towns, keep in mind 98 ron petrol availability is patchy. I would not attempt to drive around Australia in a car which requires 98. Diesel fuel is available from every fuel stop.

You can run all these engines on 95ron without issue - it's the std fuel in Europe.

My 1.8tsi has noticeable boost from 1500rpm. I have 250Nm before 2000rpm and 330Nm at 3000rpm. A lot of people on this forum would be asking how to control wheel spin off the mark with those figures.