I'm ready to order my Leon FR, just got to decide which engine to go with. I'll be having the DSG box, but really am torn between the engines. My driving is probably fairly evenly split between town, country and motorway. Has anyone tried both engines and can give an idea of how they are different to drive? I have only test driven the TDI, dealer hasn't been able to locate a 1.8 with the DSG box yet.
1.8 tsi 180 or 2.0 TDI 184
- Thread starter WaddyX
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Just done the same exercise myself and went for the petrol (manual)after managing to drive both with manual and dsg. Reasoning was my mileage is now fairly low and includes short trips so I wished to avoid DPF issues, the petrol is cheaper and (I thought) nicer to drive with a much more useable rev range though the diesel was obviously gruntier. Had I sstill been doing 25-30k miles a year I think I would have opted for the diesel, however. I preferred driving the manual in both cases but I am not a fan of autos anyway.
Year and something ago I was facing the same decision. I test drove the diesel and liked it a lot although it felt slightly harsh. I almost ordered it. Then I changed my mind due to the fact my previous mk2 Leon was 1.8TSI and I loved it and that my mileage isn't high. I am happy I took the petrol. Diesels seem to be falling out of fashion these days, also there seem to be the usual complaints with the DPF issues on this and other forums on regular basis, and most importantly the TSI is super smooth and is slightly more fun than the TDI.
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I have 1.8tsi and used to have diesels for years. My commute is about 8 miles all in so the petrol was a no brainier. I'm achieving upto 38mpg knocking about. It warms up really quick, is quieter and drives sweeter than the diesel. If your doing high miles then go for the diesel purely for mpg but if not then 1.8tsi all day.
I have a 2.0 diesel, and i wish i had ordered it with dsg. I also did a short test drive in a 1.8 tsi fr, was really nice, though with the household km per year at around 30k km, the choice was obvious. Compared to many of the other diesel engines out there, the vw 2.0 150 was ahead of its time in smoothness at launch, but competition is tight now. I would say that it is up to your driving needs in the end 
I went for the 1.8 petrol and love it. But if I regularly did a lot of miles my choice might have been different.
Thanks for all the responses.
Got to do a test drive in the 1.8 tsi and opted for it over the 2.0 tdi, my mileage is probably around 15k miles a year, the fact the diesel is almost 2k more and would only work out to fuel savings of about £250 a year made it a no brainer as I would never see the money back for the outlay and the petrol just seemed a much nicer ride.
Got to do a test drive in the 1.8 tsi and opted for it over the 2.0 tdi, my mileage is probably around 15k miles a year, the fact the diesel is almost 2k more and would only work out to fuel savings of about £250 a year made it a no brainer as I would never see the money back for the outlay and the petrol just seemed a much nicer ride.
Excellent choice, you will not be disappointed. I love mine and I love the comments from my friends on how it goes Truth be known I've found my youth again
Truth be known I've found my youth again
Hi jcb
What were you driving previously? I just had a great spirited drive in my mk2 petrol fr, which still feels quick, am hoping the 1.8 is comparable, it was hard to really tell in the dsg I test drove.
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