I was looking at ordering a new 1.5tfsi in sport spec but have spotted a 6 month old 2.0tdi SLine, with 6000miles on the clock, for the same money at my local dealer. Now I'm not sure what to go for! What would you do?
New tfsi or nearly new tdi?
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RichardT
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Chris43
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Both cars will have similar on the road performance, both being 150ps. However, the tsi has torque through the rev range due to the advanced turbocharger fitted.
Benefits of the TDI
More standard equipment including LED headlights which are brilliant
Higher MPG
If its sold as used it will have already taken a bit hit of depreciation from the VAT element
Available now
Benefits of the TSI
You know the cars history
Get to choose options / colour
You can be fairly certain it wont be subjected to additional tax in the future as they tighten the rules on diesel cars.
In your position, I'd go with tdi as assuming I could live with the colour. A better spec car outways a few extra quid of tax (if it happens)
I have the 1.5tsi and the mpg on short journies is not good, something else to consider depending on how you normally use the car.
Benefits of the TDI
More standard equipment including LED headlights which are brilliant
Higher MPG
If its sold as used it will have already taken a bit hit of depreciation from the VAT element
Available now
Benefits of the TSI
You know the cars history
Get to choose options / colour
You can be fairly certain it wont be subjected to additional tax in the future as they tighten the rules on diesel cars.
In your position, I'd go with tdi as assuming I could live with the colour. A better spec car outways a few extra quid of tax (if it happens)
I have the 1.5tsi and the mpg on short journies is not good, something else to consider depending on how you normally use the car.
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A lot of uncertainty about future of diesel cars at the moment.
I’d get the petrol.
I’d get the petrol.
I would avoid a diesel as well . With the new car you can also get the bargain extended warranty for 5 years 90k miles for between £500 and £600 which is worth it if you plan keeping it . Expect you should also get some good discount
If you do less than 12,000 miles a year buy the petrol. And its a new car.
If you do over 12,000 miles a year buy the Diesel.
Plus, if you do lots of short journeys, the DPF on the Diesel won't have time to re-gen.
If you do over 12,000 miles a year buy the Diesel.
Plus, if you do lots of short journeys, the DPF on the Diesel won't have time to re-gen.
I'd say you need to be doing quite a bit more than 12k per year these days due to petrol engines being a lot more efficient these days.
Carefree69
Registered User
Petrol.
The Government are gradually turning the screw on diesel engines, one day soon diesel drivers will be charged to drive in every city in the U.K, starting with London.
Besides, nothing compares to a brand new car.
The Government are gradually turning the screw on diesel engines, one day soon diesel drivers will be charged to drive in every city in the U.K, starting with London.
Besides, nothing compares to a brand new car.
Diesel is here to stay for the time being. Don't be put off buying one. The new rules surrounding emission standards also apply to petrol engines but diesel is getting all the negative publicity. The TDI would be a Euro 6 engine I presume so it meets all the legislation and will be future proof for the time being. The resale value will be based on how much it is worth after the new model comes along next year. My bet would be that they will be worth similar amounts, but the TSI would be a reg newer right? 18 plate instead of 67? Also, even thought the emissions/diesel publicity won't affect you, it will affect your resale value. I would have thought this will get worse as time goes on and publicity continues. If your keeping it for a while then don't worry about it, similarly on a PCP deal.
...but PCP costs could easily get more expensive if diesel values drop.
Even worse, if you want to trade in early the negative equity could be bigger on a diesel.
Even worse, if you want to trade in early the negative equity could be bigger on a diesel.
Got to be honest, no clue how PCP really works! never bought a car using it! I thought that at the time of buying a car via PCP there was a future guaranteed value?
Carefree69
Registered User
There is a future resale value (providing every panel isn’t smashed in) but that won’t protect you from the government plans surrounding diesel cars being charged for city driving.
It’s brand new and it’s a petrol, win win.
It’s brand new and it’s a petrol, win win.
That is true as long as the car is "perfect" when you hand it back and you have kept to the mileage contract.
I imagine most people, for an easy life, will want to trade the car in towards the end of the PCP. If that is the case and it is worth less than what you owe you are in a negative equity situation.
Mate I hate to be picky but there is nowhere in any legislation that picks out ONLY diesel cars, especially the London ULEZ that comes in to effect next year. this is aimed at petrol & diesel. The only difference is that diesel Euro 6 engines are quite recent, whereas to have a petrol car that qualifies for standards like the ULEZ zone in London then you can drive an old banger around. Really any diesel after around 2015 will be fine. Mine unfortunately is a Euro 5 but I don't drive in to central London so im not fussed. When my car tax moves from £0 a year and a petrol engine returns more than my 60mpg then I might consider changing, but just for the ability to drive past Big Ben, really doesn't appeal to me!
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“Future proof for the time being”
Love that line.
I’ll be using that this weekend.
Hope you don’t mind me picking out that phrase
Petrol all day long.
Some say 15k, others say 18k but you're right, 12k is too low.
Carefree69
Registered User
I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong, and I actually didn’t know that it applied to older petrols as well.
Every day is a school day, and thanks for not being a typical pr!ck because someone got something wrong
I’m still saying tfsi though
Afraid I’m going to be a bit picky too, and point out that new legislation does single out diesels in terms of the amount paid do the first year VED bill.
“First tax payment when you register the vehicle
You have to pay a higher rate for diesel cars that don’t meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standard for nitrogen oxide emissions. You can ask your car’s manufacturer if your car meets the RDE2 standard.”
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables
So diesels that fail to comply with the claimed NOx figures in the RDE2 are required to pay a higher rate in the first year. Details are in that table, but basically a diesel with higher NOx pays the same as a petrol in the higher CO2 bracket.
This has been an issue that’s been born out from the dieselgate scandal. Despite even EU6 cars meeting emissions during the test cycle (and not even cheating to achieve it like VAG did...), they still have much higher emissions in real world driving.
https://www.theicct.org/news/road-tested-sep2017-press-release
Ironically most EU6 VAG diesels now have real world emissions at or below the claimed test cycle, so I guess the above is less relevant to Audi’s.
I understand this, but in the context of the OP's situation, it doesn't apply to him as it is a 2nd hand diesel but new petrol he is considering?
Regarding the RED2 figures, is there any way of seeing how much more we have to pay on a new diesel car that doesn't meet it? or is that the 2nd band in the chart? If so then its just £20 more which is ridiculous and makes a mockery of all the negative publicity.
I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong, and I actually didn’t know that it applied to older petrols as well.
Every day is a school day, and thanks for not being a typical pr!ck because someone got something wrong
I’m still saying tfsi though
No worries mate!
I don't think you were wrong as such, the media portrays it as just diesel as it is aimed at newer diesel cars so I guess it affects more people such as ones still on PCP deals, or that have forked out a bit for their new diesel only to find out its a Euro 5 engine. The problem is that no-one is addressing the mass hysteria surrounding this issue. Its a bit like Brexit. People in the Uk seem to follow what the media headlines tell us and become sheep to the slaughter! The amount of people that will be affected by this is going to be very small. People with an old 1995 Astra blowing out smoke down the M5 should be worried, but not a Euro 5 A3 for sure. These cars will be fine until electric takes over which should concern petrol & diesel users alike. If im wrong, we will just have to take the Park & Ride in to Oxford or London and use our legs as they are intended!! 
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Test drive. This week I have drove a 2.0 tdi 150 Q3 and a 2.0 tfsi 210 TT... the Q3 was so much nicer to drive. Felt faster as so much more torque lower down the revs. TT felt gutless when putting foot down.
Is this a wind up? A crappy SUV better to drive than a sports coupe, a classic one as well!
I can only suggest that you were in the wrong gear in the TT. Diesels are only faster for a small part of the rev range when in a higher gear than a petrol. Get in the right gear and it will fly.
I can only suggest that you were in the wrong gear in the TT. Diesels are only faster for a small part of the rev range when in a higher gear than a petrol. Get in the right gear and it will fly.
I think I remember reading this after buying mine and panicking... I used to get 38-40Mpg on the journeys I did in the Corsa I had. I thought it was going to get worse. In fact, I drove the same journey and I'm regularly getting 44-45Mpg. I did a 8 mile motorway trip on Wednesday and got 51Mpg without a hitch - a journey to get me 50Mpg in the corsa took 200 miles. Just don't floor it, try not to let the turbo kick in if you're not in a rush and I've not had any bad MPG's in the car. Even with traffic etc, my journey consists of what I'd class as mostly A roads and approx 10-12miles. Granted, I haven't tried going 2-3miles and stopping but even so I reckon it'd be 33-35Mpg ish approx.
Oh yea won’t affect the OP, just pointing out it’s legislation that only affects diesels.
The extra amount depends on the CO2 bracket it’s in. If it doesn’t pass the RDE2, then you have to pay the rate in the next bracket up.
So a 2.0TDI s-tronic quattro is £165, whereas the 2.0TFSI s-tronic quattro is in the next bracket at £205. If the diesel didn’t pass the RDE2, it wouldnt benefit from the lower VED compared to the petrol, as it would have the same £205. An extra £40 in the first year in this particular case.
Absolutely nothing sporty about the TT in front wheel drive and manual. Handles better than Q3, but he engine is poor. Not sure what torque figures they both have.
A 210 bhp turbo petrol engine cannot be poor. Again I suggest it might be down to the driver.
A poor workman blames his/her tools ;-)
A poor workman blames his/her tools ;-)
RichardT
Registered User
If a 1.8tfsi was gutless it had a fault. I have a 1.4 and it certainly is not gutless by any measure.
RichardT
Registered User
I agree. Almost all my journeys are very short. 3miles to work. I get 42mpg long term.
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Audi loaned me a Q3, 2.0 TDI 150. It was so slow and hateful to drive that I got them to change it the next day.
RichardT
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I don’t think there is any point in comparing an S3 with a “normal” car and calling it gutless.
I’m sorry you’re offended that I called a 1.8 TT gutless, and that you think your 1.4 is fast. Better?
I have never compared my S3 above. I stated two cars and my opinion and you are trying to shut it down. I am sure there are hundreds of cars atm that make a 1.8 TT feel gutless if you drove them back to back.
I have never compared my S3 above. I stated two cars and my opinion and you are trying to shut it down. I am sure there are hundreds of cars atm that make a 1.8 TT feel gutless if you drove them back to back.
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Who did this?
If you're referring to my post I had an A3 1.8 tfsi, 250 lb-ft at the time and hadn't even driven an S3 when Audi loaned me that god awful diesel Q3, so I think the comparison is relevant. The Q3 was a replacement for a much better Europcar Golf 1.6 TDI Bluemotion loaner they took back "because it had been sold".
