Frugal but faster than walking?

[RizzoTheRat]

Thinking of replacing my venerable 306HDI, but as I'm doing over 500 miles/week commuting I want to stick with something that can do 50mpg or so, but would also like it to be fast enough to actually manage the odd overtake, and ideally needs to be a mid sized hatchback, with reasonably low servicing costs.
Anyone know what real world mileage the VAG PD150/170 engines get in a Golf/Leon/Octavia?
Any alternatives I should be looking at? I'm assuming it's going to be diesesels only to get the mileage with any kind of performance?

[wackojacko]

Push bike ?
Frugal and quicker than walking

[y2blade]

are you open minded enough to consider the D5 powered Volvos? 163 or 185bhp variants

mine has no problem overtaking

[RizzoTheRat]

Looking on Autotrader the D5's are a lot cheaper than I was expecting, but I'd prefer a hatchback to an estate or saloon

[trickywoo]

The 306 can be chipped to give decent power and torque gains.

[RizzoTheRat]

Yeah but after 135000 miles mines starting to reach the point it needs to have some money spent on it. Annoys me they never put the intercooler on 306, Citroen get an extra 40bhp out of the same engine.

[Steve_F]

The 130bph version of the Leon/Golf/Octavia tends to be a lot cheaper and maps to the same for c.£300. Can't comment on them in the real world as my search ended elsewhere after looking at them.

[y2blade]

RizzoTheRat said:

Looking on Autotrader the D5's are a lot cheaper than I was expecting, but I'd prefer a hatchback to an estate or saloon

aye
before I bought mine I was looking at VAG 1.9tdi..UNTIL I saw the D5s on the radar at the same price
one hell of a good car for the money


FYI the boot is massive and the rear seats to fold down if needed, but ultimately never going to be as versatile as a hatch or estate

[RizzoTheRat]

Steve_F said:

The 130bph version of the Leon/Golf/Octavia tends to be a lot cheaper and maps to the same for c.£300. Can't comment on them in the real world as my search ended elsewhere after looking at them.

I wondered about that, it's only the mapping thats different is it? Do the Octavia VRS get any suspension or brake upgrades over the lower spec models?