1.6 TDI vs 1.2 TSI vs 2.0 tdi

[johnaj1]

Hi , I'm new hear and apologies if you've been asked this loads before .
so im a first time driver (18) and recently passed my test and am looking at an ibiza fr about 2013 onwards and have seen 3 different models being the 1.6 tdi , 1.2 tsi and 2.0 tdi all of which are around the same price except the 1.6 tdi which is a little more expensive and am just wondering what are the key differences between these engines and the different costs in terms of servicing and how often would each have to be serviced?
also in terms of how much i will drive its probably around 20-30 miles or so a day until i start at uni where it may be less or more but every 2 weeks or so ill be making a 140 mile round trip home and back.
thanks for any help and advice

 

[R3k1355]

Have you looked at insurance quotes on any of those yet?
I doubt many places would even touch a first time driver on anything remotely nippy, those that do would probably ask well over £2000 a year.

You're lucky to get insurance on a 1 litre shitbox.

 

[KXL]

Hi , I'm new hear and apologies if you've been asked this loads before .
so im a first time driver (18) and recently passed my test and am looking at an ibiza fr about 2013 onwards and have seen 3 different models being the 1.6 tdi , 1.2 tsi and 2.0 tdi all of which are around the same price except the 1.6 tdi which is a little more expensive and am just wondering what are the key differences between these engines and the different costs in terms of servicing and how often would each have to be serviced?
also in terms of how much i will drive its probably around 20-30 miles or so a day until i start at uni where it may be less or more but every 2 weeks or so ill be making a 140 mile round trip home and back.
thanks for any help and advice

Congrats on passing and now being able to buy your first car.

If you are doing 20-30 miles a day (40-70mph speeds & very few of which are short trips) I would say go for the 1.6TDI (or more recently there is also a 1.4 TDI). Diesels don't like short (less than 10-15 mins) slow moving speeds. Constant slow speed short trips, may cause DPF to block up (when that dash light (puff of smoke) one lights up).

However if you are doing the same 20-30 miles a day, with loads of short trips factored in, the 1.2 TSI isn't a bad choice either. Probably prefierable to the diesels.

You will probably find that the 2.0TDI will be more expensive to insure...As far as I know, servicing (if you go to Seat) are all the same cost, off the top of my head £169 for minor service (once a year or 10k miles approx).

Out of curiosity, what is the price difference of the 1.6TDI and the 1.2 TSI you are looking at? As you know, even if the diesel is more economical, might take awhile for the extra economy to offset the extra cost of the TDI over the TSI, by which time, I would be nudging you towards the 1.2 TSI.

Edit* oh yes forgot that insurance for under 25s 1st time driver is crazy expensive...I'm guessing that's a definate no no for the 2.0TDI then...most would start off on their parents insurance with their (parents) cars, and move on from there.

 

[steveemacz FR]

Personally for insurance the 1.2 TSI will get you the cheapest rate for an FR. The bigger 1.6 and 2.0 TDI Diesels are actually on higher insurance prices. By the way prepare for the costs, even for any Ibiza FR at 18.

Those Blackboxes that monitor your driving. Been on them for the first 1 and a half years of my driving and there not as bad as people make em out to be.

The 1.2 TSI will get you around smoothly with a 140 mile trip. Best to see what quotes you get with the 1.2TSI and they could be in your favour.

 

[R3k1355]

most would start off on their parents insurance with their (parents) cars, and move on from there.

Thats only legal if your parents are the cars main driver though, if it's being used by the 18 yr old to get to/from work everyday then they are the main driver.

If you get caught fronting you and your parents are totally ****ed.

It did used to be cheaper to stick one of your parents down as a named driver with the young kid as the policy holder and main driver though.

 

[.-Sam6J-.]

The 1.2 TSI is basically the same power as the 1.6 TDI just the petrol version.

The 1.2 TSI they are brilliant engines. I've had mine for 9 months now and I still enjoy it like I did when I first got it. Driving nicely I get around 45mpg doing my 10-20 mile commute a day and I dont have to drive it like a granny to get that either (but dont drive it hard either). They are a nice comfy economical car and are even better when having a spirited drive, they hold the road brilliantly and more than powerful enough for a younger driver. They are pretty quick for saying the insurance is quite cheap. Getting a remap will boost it loads getting around 135-140bhp when mapped stage 1 an they turn into a completely different car.

As a young driver I would say go for the 1.2 tsi, cheapest insurance and a reliable car. Servicing is not expensive, I do mine myself but overall I think its relatively cheap.

 

[lil3520]

Go for the 1.2 Tsi.
Lot of young people round me have them.
Sporty looking.
Cheap insurance
Cheap car tax.

Andy

 

[KXL]

Thats only legal if your parents are the cars main driver though, if it's being used by the 18 yr old to get to/from work everyday then they are the main driver.

If you get caught fronting you and your parents are totally ****ed.

It did used to be cheaper to stick one of your parents down as a named driver with the young kid as the policy holder and main driver though.

Exactly, I was giving an idea that one might be able to start on their parents insurance on their parents cars as the named driver to begin with (and some companies may offer no claims as well to carry over, insurer dependent of course), then move over and buy/insure their own car. This may make the insurance on their own car, a bit cheaper down the line.

Or as you suggest, having a 'more experienced' driver as the named driver may also bring the cost of insurance down.

 

[j.owen]

Hi , I'm new hear and apologies if you've been asked this loads before .
so im a first time driver (18) and recently passed my test and am looking at an ibiza fr about 2013 onwards and have seen 3 different models being the 1.6 tdi , 1.2 tsi and 2.0 tdi all of which are around the same price except the 1.6 tdi which is a little more expensive and am just wondering what are the key differences between these engines and the different costs in terms of servicing and how often would each have to be serviced?
also in terms of how much i will drive its probably around 20-30 miles or so a day until i start at uni where it may be less or more but every 2 weeks or so ill be making a 140 mile round trip home and back.
thanks for any help and advice

I would go for the 1.2TSI. I had a 1.2TSI when I first passed and it's a really good first car, it's economical and cheap to run/maintain. It's also nippy and surprises other cars.

I used to do similar mileage to yourself and it never got less than 40mpg, sometimes even 50+mpg

 

[camelspyyder]

Having driven most of these engines.

The 1.6TDI is the roughest gruffest diesel I've ever driven in 40 years.

You'd have to be
1. deaf, and
2. desperate for high mpg

Its also 100kg heavier so the handling and ride are worse, and the tyres wear out quicker (along with the suspension and steering)

A horrid engine.

The 2.0TDI is much quicker but still heavy.

The 1.2TSI 8V chain drive is creamy smooth - tiny turbo strangles it at 6000 rpm but it gets there so well.

The 1.2TSI 16V belt drive drones at low revs - it's not as nice as the older one.

If FR insurance is an issue for a first timer, have a look at the 1.4 TOCA in group 11 or the SE in 7 to 9

The 1.4 16V is no fireball, but kept above 3000 rpm it gets along OK.

Neither has sports suspension, but the TOCA sits on smart 16s and handles really well whilst riding way more comfortably than any FR.


Servicing, every 9000 for my 1.4 and 1.2, however if doing high mileage the 1.2 I have can go on long life, so 18-19000 instead.

Good luck with your car.

Just saw someone mentioned the 1.4TDi - OK that is one engine that is even rougher sounding than the 1.6, mostly because it has a cylinder missing.

Oh and if your parents are like me... they'll tell you to get lost if you ask to go on their policy. None of my kids have been on mine ever.

 

[lil3520]

Counted 20 young drivers driving a Mk 5 1.2 Tsi Fr today.
Very popular car for young drivers.

Andy

 

[SwinDan]

I'd go for the tsi you're gonna get screwed as a young driver on insurance that's a given but I'd also be looking at the cost of tax I believe the 1.2tsi falls into the £30 a year bracket the deisels you've mentioned will be considerably higher

 

[camelspyyder]

Ibiza 1.2 Manual gets into band C -£30, So does the hideous 1.6TDi

1.2 DSG doesn't, nor does the 1.4 16V.

 

[JamieLittwin]

Having driven most of these engines.

The 1.6TDI is the roughest gruffest diesel I've ever driven in 40 years.

You'd have to be
1. deaf, and
2. desperate for high mpg

Its also 100kg heavier so the handling and ride are worse, and the tyres wear out quicker (along with the suspension and steering)

A horrid engine.

I've got the 1.6tdi, I've driven a load of different cars and owned quite a few. I'd actually say it's a really good engine, mine has 56k on it and you can't hear it at all whilst driving and sounds like any other diesel I've had on idle. Performance is good and I average around 65mpg with a medium/heavy foot

The gearbox is very tight with a heavy clutch which might make it feel rough during gear changes (mainly 2nd to 3rd) but I've found with every Seat I've had the clutch has been quite heavy. (Apart from the Mii I had for a week which was awful)

 

[camelspyyder]

Each to their own.

When I test drove both TSI and TDI one seemed to be real progress from my £375 banger, and the other didn't.

I just wasn't convinced to part with 14k for a new car that was less mechanically refined than my 13 year old diesel Proton!

So I bought the cheaper petrol model and it's been very good.

 

[camelspyyder]

Back to the OP's question

Its not just the 1.6 TDI, modern diesels are a pain in the butt.

25 years ago they were simple and would run on filtered chip fat if you wanted. My AX's Peugeot TUD engine would.

Now you have Common-rail pumps (which cost as much as 3 years worth of banger motors) EGR, MAF, DPF. There is so much more to go wrong, and the modern diesels I've had have been difficult read expensive to keep perfectly in tune, not too mention quite fussy about what fuels you put in.

Oh and the 1.6TDI has injectors that are known to wear out quickly and cost £££££

Read on: (cribbed form Honest John forums)


VW Golf 1.6 TDi - Ouch!! Expensive! - ah207
Rather than use my original thread from a few days a go, I thought I'd start a new one - for the sheer shock value.

After a thorough diagnostic, the garage informed me that ALL FOUR injectors need replacing. They cannot be cleaned, or otherwise salvaged. Total cost of replacing the injectors, plus a fuel filter, plus labour:

2250 Pounds

No idea how I have managed to fry fuel injectors after only 5.5 years of use and only 59K miles.

Even worse, no idea what to do next.

This quote was down from £2450 since he was a regular customer!!

There has just been a foreign lad on the Skoda forum who was looking at a monstrous bill for the same thing on a 3 year old low mileage 1.6 TDi.

Just looked at autotrader - you can buy a whole, really nice looking, Ibiza Sport for that sort of cash.


To be completely even handed on this , I must say that the Turbo was replaced on my TSI at only 26000 miles too. (still just under guarantee - luckily)

 

[garybuttle]

Had a 1.6 tdi four years and 65000 miles sweet as a nut no problems other than servicing. Had a 1.2 dsg as a loan car when tdi was being service,completely gutless compared to the tdi revs its guts out all the time so very noisy.

 

[lil3520]

Still got my Mk 4 Ibiza 1.9 TDI sport. 2008.
Bought it new.
Just clocked up 149,000 last night.
Best car I have had .
Still got original turbo and clutch.!!!!
Changed battery last Oct.!!!!!

Andy

 

[camelspyyder]

I've had some good diesels too

My AX diesel did 27000 a year commuting, and 170,000 before I sold it on.
1 battery, 1 set of glow plugs only.

The Proton was again an old tech diesel (late 80's Mitsubishi) which was simple and reliable too.

The FIAT JTD was less good - Too many things to go wrong, and completely intolerant of crappy fuels (TESCO in particular).