I think you're right, and the 1.4 TSI petrol in VW group cars is as torquey as a diesel, with plenty of oomph, and not far off it in economy. An Octavia or Leon will be cheaper than a Golf of the same vintage. Go for a manual as some DSGs can be unreliable.

I currently do 12K miles per year, of which about 8K miles is journeys of less than 10 miles in urban limits. My daily commute is 4 miles to work, and 4 miles home.

My past 3 cars have been modern DPF-equipped diesels (a Mondeo IV and two Volvo V60s). None has had any DPF problems at all.

The caveat is, they've all been company cars so I've had them from brand-new, and they go back after 3 years. This may not be long enough in my ownership to highlight problems.

I'd say, for heavens sake please don't buy a car "...which I can just about stretch to within budget...". Buy something you are comfortable with financing, and leave yourself a decent float for 'problems'. The more I read of Honest John, the more I see of massively expensive problems with cars outside warranty.

Absolutely, I urge a petrol for your mileage, preferably non-turbo. You've had bad experiences in the past with a diesel you say; you'll kick yourself if you go wrong again this time. I know past performance is no guarantee of future performance, but I’d be sick as the proverbial parrot every time I turned the key, and that is a poison that can’t be underestimated.

Ultimately - financial borderline as you are - which do you prefer to drive?

Last year I changed to a 1.4tsi Superb ii after 10 years with my fantastic Superb I 1.9 PD. Hard shoes to fill

I was wanting to avoid a DPF as even though my commute is long you never really get up to speed

Tsi/PD comparison:-

Economy - With my mileage I had calculated a 10year diesel/petrol payback comparing the cheaper petrol purchase price (1yr) to the difference in economy. I estimated (courtesy of HJ real life mpg) 42mpg petrol & 52 mpg diesel (my old Superb did 50mpg on my commute). The surprise has been the Superb 1.4tsi has been doing about 46mpg

Performance - The tsi hasn't got quite the same low down tourqe. However keep it spinning above 1500rpm and it tugs the bus along surprisingly well and keeps going as the revs rise. Just remember the 6th gear is tall 60mph = 2000rpm (must be a mega overdrive - at 6000rpm you'd be near 180mph if it could do it - er no)

Refinement - This is the tsi trump card, under most circumstances its very quiet. So much so that I've been confused when the stop start hasn't kicked in for some reason (wrong type of rain?) - when setting off I haven't heard the usual starter relay click/motor and semi panicked only to realise the engine is still actually running

Mine is the EA111 can chain engine. I'm aware the more powerful twin charge versions have had major issues (latest revisions sortred) and some early versions have had cam chain /tensioner problems. So far so good (33k miles) and it's never been topped up with oil.

The later EA211 engine is totally different (turbo/exhaust on the other side of the engine near bulkhead, low mounted oil filter, cam belt) - initial reports good

Remember no EGR and DPF on tsi (NB beware the GPF on some petrol cars from about 2017)

Edited by Big John on 08/07/2016 at 00:03