1.4 petrol or 1.9 diesel?

padyjoe

I'm thinking about getting a bigger car. I'm a Seat fan lately. My choice would be the Ibiza 1.4 100hp or Leon 1.9 tdi. Looking at cars between 2006-10. I maybe do 10-12k kms a year mostly commuting. I have a 1.0 petrol at the moment. I'd like to trade up both options have pros and cons. What you reckon?

The_Honeybadger

padyjoe wrote: »

I'm thinking about getting a bigger car. I'm a Seat fan lately. My choice would be the Ibiza 1.4 100hp or Leon 1.9 tdi. Looking at cars between 2006-10. I maybe do 10-12k kms a year mostly commuting. I have a 1.0 petrol at the moment. I'd like to trade up both options have pros and cons. What you reckon?

How long is your commute? I'm guessing it's shortish as you're only doing about 250km a week. At that mileage the petrol is probably the better choice. You won't get the benefit of the Diesel engine if you're doing mainly short runs.

greasepalm

agreed and as with some diesel cars driving on motorway is needed if fitted with dpf.

padyjoe

It's 280 kms per every 2 weeks(not more than 20 kms each way, which takes 20 mins). It's even less during the winter months. Occasionally I go for longer trips, there's a two of us at the moment, no family yet.

Edit: was thinking the Ibiza estate with 1.6 tdi but I heard it's not old fashioned diesel, sluggish and dpf fitted.

Hachiko

you dont need a diesel with that mileage, its just the mentality of everyone going out buying them that is drilled into people.

The_Honeybadger

padyjoe wrote: »

It's 280 kms per every 2 weeks(not more than 20 kms each way, which takes 20 mins). It's even less during the winter months. Occasionally I go for longer trips, there's a two of us at the moment, no family yet.

Edit: was thinking the Ibiza estate with 1.6 tdi but I heard it's not old fashioned diesel, sluggish and dpf fitted.

Petrol without a doubt

Celly Smunt

What about the 1.6 petrol Leon?, it'd be a nicer place to be than the Ibiza and not too much/if even heavier on juice

ComfortKid

With the price of tax on a 1.9tdi and with the small bit of milage you do, I'd say go for the 1.4 petrol.

padyjoe

Insteresting option the 1.6, probably heavier on juice and a bit more road tax. Bigger room alright maybe too big. (I'm not telling you myself being 187 cm tall:-) )

Edit: plenty of nice examples of 1.4's up north, I keep my eyes peeled.

Leonidas BL

Ive driven both cars. I also owned A leon 1.9tdi. The 1.4 100bhp Ibiza was actually a really nice car. I was trying to choose between that and the Leon at the time. In the end the comfort of the Leon won out but I really did like that little Ibiza.
I was doing a lot more mileage than you so I guess the diesel kinda suited me a bit better also.

padyjoe

I know it's nice to have a bit of comfort but I'm after a brisk drive at the moment. Can fit my bike in the boot if needed. Small enough to tackle town too.

Leonidas BL

padyjoe wrote: »

I know it's nice to have a bit of comfort but I'm after a brisk drive at the moment. Can fit my bike in the boot if needed. Small enough to tackle town too.

Well itll have to be the Leon then. I had to fight with it to get a bike into the back. Ibiza is a bit smaller.
Heres another option for ya. Look for a 2008 - 2009 Leon 1.4Tsi 125bhp. Its good on petrol and tax isnt bad but at the same time its faster than the Ibiza 1.4 and the Leon 1.9tdi. They also came very well equipped.

padyjoe

I can get the bike into my Yaris with some fiddling;-) . The 1.4 has turbo bolted on it one more thing to go wrong. I wonder would that engine be a troublefree one? Downsizing comes to my mind, I don't know whether it's a good thing or not. But I have a look.

Leonidas BL

padyjoe wrote: »

I can get the bike into my Yaris with some fiddling;-) . The 1.4 has turbo bolted on it one more thing to go wrong. I wonder would that engine be a troublefree one? Downsizing comes to my mind, I don't know whether it's a good thing or not. But I have a look.

Try out some of the SEAT forums. Im not sure how reliable they are.
Also theres a Leon owners club on facebook. Axe them and see what they say. I know the most thing I see on it is DPF problems.

MuppetCheck

Celly Smunt wrote: »

What about the 1.6 petrol Leon?, it'd be a nicer place to be than the Ibiza and not too much/if even heavier on juice

Having owned one for 4 years they are incredibly thirsty for what they are. As mentioned a 1.4 or 1.2tsi Leon are a lot better to drive and cheaper to run.

padyjoe

Cheers! I look around on the forums. And thanks to all for their inputs! :-)

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd run a mile from those early 1.4 TSIs. Anything with a turbo and supercharger is to be avoided. That said, 1.9 TDIs with the BXE (at least I think that's the one) code should also be avoided (any other code for the 1.9 TDI will be bulletproof).

Leonidas BL

captainspeed wrote: »

I'd run a mile from those early 1.4 TSIs. Anything with a turbo and supercharger is to be avoided. That said, 1.9 TDIs with the BXE (at least I think that's the one) code should also be avoided (any other code for the 1.9 TDI will be bulletproof).

That 1.4tsi hasn't got a supercharger.

bazz26

Leonidas BL wrote: »

That 1.4tsi hasn't got a supercharger.

The 170bhp had both a turbo and super charger.

Leonidas BL

bazz26 wrote: »

The 170bhp had both a turbo and super charger.

The 1.4tsi 170 wasn't available in the mk2 leon. Just the 125 version with single turbo.

bazz26

Leonidas BL wrote: »

The 1.4tsi 170 wasn't available in the mk2 leon. Just the 125 version with single turbo.

True that, I thought we were talking about the 1.4 TSi in general. 125bhp versions can still suffer from stretched timing chains though.

padyjoe

Yum-yum, that BXE breaking connecting rods, 1.4 stretching chains. Those are great lumps, give you excitements without driving them! :-(

Jack015

Don't mean to hijack the thread..

I am doing approx. double the milage that padyjoe does. I do a 40km round trip 6 days a week with a long motorway drive every two months or so (350km).

Would that justify a diesel - would I get the benefit?

El festino

Jack015 wrote: »

Don't mean to hijack the thread..

I am doing approx. double the milage that padyjoe does. I do a 40km round trip 6 days a week with a long motorway drive every two months or so (350km).

Would that justify a diesel - would I get the benefit?

I think you would justify a diesel. I would suggest maybe a 1.6 but to be honest I am not sure if there is much difference between a 1.6 and 2.0 based on your milage so maybe someone else can give another opinion.

Jack015

Could anyone advise on a 1.6 v 2.0? I am not interested in poke really more cost to run and efficiency.

Leonidas BL

Jack015 wrote: »

Could anyone advise on a 1.6 v 2.0? I am not interested in poke really more cost to run and efficiency.

I never had the 1.6tdi. But my new 2.0tdi is slightly better on fuel than my old 1.9

padyjoe

It turned out the one I was looking at has the BXE engine:-( Nice example of Leon. While most BXE's have no troubles but I don't have the nerves for to find out whether this one which group belongs to.

9935452

padyjoe wrote: »

It turned out the one I was looking at has the BXE engine:-( Nice example of Leon. While most BXE's have no troubles but I don't have the nerves for to find out whether this one which group belongs to.

Not worth chancing it . There will be plenty more of them out there

Leonard Hofstadter

Jack015 wrote: »

Could anyone advise on a 1.6 v 2.0? I am not interested in poke really more cost to run and efficiency.

Not sure what a Leon is like, but the 1.6 is horrible in the Passat. Woefully underpowered, and I got only 50 mpg the time I drove one (if it had more power like the 2.0 has it would have done more mpg). I'd say it would be hard enough to find a 2.0 TDI in a Leon, mind.

NorthDublin1

Would have to be 1.9 D.

screamer

1.9tdi Leon has poke it's only 105 bhp but it really can move. I have one I bought from new it's got almost 300kms on it now does serious motorway driving and is 9 years old. Egr did go has been replaced and mapped out. For all the miles it's not been too much trouble TBH compared to horror stories you read about the newer concept engines like turbo 1.4 diesel in a passat body crazy stuff. I can honestly say I am loathe to change my Leon its been a faithful travelling companion.

MuppetCheck

Are you sure it wasn't an EGR valve that went and was mapped out?