VAG 2014 1.4TSI or 2.0TDI - 25k per year

[seismic22]

Anyone have any opinions on the above? Background of question below:

A job offer has landed and it would mean giving back my current company 320ED and taking either a company SEAT Leon SC 1.4TSI FR or 2.0TDI SE.

Total Mileage per year is 25k ish. Approximately 5/6k of which would be company miles.

Some may think a 3 door Leon isnt ideal for 25k+ a year but I have done it in a 118d and I personally have no issue though do prefer the extra comfort the 3 series has offered. Unfortunately the company car list at the prospective new job is far from ideal and the two Leons are by far and away the best of the cars offered (performance, economy and size). I am hoping that in the next year I will be in the position to purchase something fun again for the weekend.

As this is a company car decision then purchase costs etc do not come into it. BIK cost is near enough not to worry me too.

FR is a better spec and looks ALOT better than the SE. Unable to stretch to FR in 2.0TDI form. I estimate I would be keeping this car for 2 years.

Leon SC 1.4TSI FR - 140bhp - 54mpg Combined - Realistic 70mph motorway mpg = 49mpg???
Leon SC 2.0TDI SE - 150bhp - 69mpg Combined - Realistic 70mph motorway mpg = 59mpg???

Daily commute would be 80 miles, 75 of which would be dual carriage way/motorway.

Leon 1.4TSI 18250miles commuting x 128.9 = £2182
Leon 2.0TDI 18250miles commuting x 137.9 = £1925

Its either a company car or car allowance which AFTER TAX works out to a tiny £2650 to buy/tax/insure/mot/service/repair a car that would need to do 45+mpg a year. (forgetting my DIY time on maintaining it!)

Any thoughts welcome! Really stuck.

[va1o]

The new 1.4 TSI in the Leon is a superb drive and performs very well for its capacity. 49mpg at 70mph sounds realistic but I think day to day you wouldn't average much more than 45mpg overall.

Would you be getting the Technology Pack with it? SEAT are currently offering that for free and it includes the spec of both the SE and FR quite a bit, with DAB, Nav and LED Headlights.

[seismic22]

I got the impression from speaking to people and the internet that the 1.4tsi was good for mid to high 40's with a mix of driving.

Technology pack...if its free then maybe but at present I was'nt considering adding anything to the car. Its to be seen more as a A - B car with enough oomph and MPG to keep me quiet!

[seismic22]

Anyone else?

[va1o]

seismic22 said:

Anyone else?

Well is there anything more specific your looking to find out? Mk3 Leon section on SEATCupra.net might be worth a look too.

What else is on your car list out of interest, noting else at all this size with similar power?

[zippyprorider]

1.4tsi is at 70mph about 40mpg at 80mph it goes down to about 36mpg. This is in the 180bhp ibiza though I don't think in the real world with the extra weight the tsi would get your figures

[LasseV]

Go with the diesel.

Edit: 2.0 TDI is much more economical in the real world driving situations. Leon is an ugly car, so it doesn't matter if you get that FR model or not So save your pennies and get that 2.0 TDI SE.

Edited by LasseV on Sunday 23 March 23:05

[Drive Blind]

is the 1.4 TSI the engine that drinks oil for fun?

[iloveboost]

Drive Blind said:

is the 1.4 TSI the engine that drinks oil for fun?

It's a completely different engine on the turbo only ones I think and it was only the early twincharged ones that had issues. VAG initially denied a problem but eventually issued a recall to fix it.
I remember reading that one owner said they got through about a litre of oil every 1000 miles yet VAG said this was fine! Clearly VAG forgot that despite being really powerful for a 1.4 it wasn't actually a two stroke!
Anyway it's all fine now.

[LasseV]

iloveboost said:

Drive Blind said:

is the 1.4 TSI the engine that drinks oil for fun?

It's a completely different engine on the turbo only ones I think and it was only the early twincharged ones that had issues. VAG initially denied a problem but eventually issued a recall to fix it.
I remember reading that one owner said they got through about a litre of oil every 1000 miles yet VAG said this was fine! Clearly VAG forgot that despite being really powerful for a 1.4 it wasn't actually a two stroke!
Anyway it's all fine now.

It is not fine. Almost all of those engine families does suffer too high oil consumption. But it doesn't matter cos this is going to be a lease car.

[motor mad]

I'm averaging 60 mpg in a 2.0 TDi Golf whereas people I know average 35 mpg in the 1.4. With the kind of mileage you anticipate, I personally would not consider a petrol.

[seismic22]

Just had 60 mpg out of the 320ed driving from Bournemouth to Southampton and not at snails pace. Might find it hard to deal with the drop in performance and economy with the 1.4tsi..

[Cupramax]

LasseV said:

Leon is an ugly car, so it doesn't matter if you get that FR model or not So save your pennies and get that 2.0 TDI SE.

??? Are you blind? the Leon's a cracking looking car, way better than the old one

[va1o]

Cupramax said:

??? Are you blind? the Leon's a cracking looking car, way better than the old one

I agree but that's the FR SC with optional 18in alloys.

The 5dr SE on standard alloys doesn't look anywhere near as good:

[Haggleburyfinius]

My Mrs has a 1.4tsi golf cab.

Fuel economy is pretty poor tbh.

Take the diesel.

[seismic22]

Thanks



Yep, imagine that red Leon above but in three door, thats what it'll look like. Bit cack. I think I am going to have to stop whining and either take the allowance deal with the car and enjoy the savings!