The 1.4 TSi is a brilliant engine and in the real world you need no more grunt. Had a 140 PS version in a Leon for 3 1/2 years and currently have a Skoda Superb on order fitted with the 15 PS version. I did not feel the need to try other engine types whan any eatra poke they may have is totally unnecessary.

1 - You're only young once.

Along with huge insurance premiums on higher risk cars

2 - If you encourage him to have the lower-powered one, he'll thrash it to death to prove you were wrong

No need to thrash the 1.4 TSI, keep it between 1500 and 4000 rpm and it flies, thats hardly going to trash it

3 - There is no replacement for displacement

We now live in the 21st century and small engine have turbos making then both powerful and efficient

Try both for yourselves but make sure its a good long test drive. We have tried 3 Octavia estates now and all have been rejected for the same reason, painful amounts of road noise. We tried another one in November hoping things had improved but they hadn't, still unbearable.

The Octavia Estate would be the perfect car for us in most respects but we ordered the Superb because it does everything at least as well with no road noise. The Superb would not have been considered at the old house, it would not have fitted in the garage, it does at the new one

Thanks for all the input so far, as ever up to BR's usual high standard.

2016 or 2017 facelift depends on the deal - internet broker are asking less for factory order than dealers' asking prices for 1-year old models - wityh obviously better residual.

1)- I can't disagree - he works for a car insurance broker so has already done the figures on that.

2)- He'll abuse and thrash it whatever he buys

3)- There's no substitute for torque

Thanks for the heads-up on noise levels, his Vectra has been reasonably quiet - he might just decide to turn the stereo up louder but we'll check out the Superb while we're looking - it's bigger than he needs.

There'll be no trade-in for the Vectra, it'll be be best offers on ebay, and very hard negotiation on the new car's price

3)- There's no substitute for torque

Very true but do not discount the 1.4 TSi out of hand just because (inevitably) it has less than the 2.0 TSi. The 1.4 TSi has 184 ft/lbs which a few short years ago was the preserve of large uneconomical petrol engines. Out first 1.9 TDi only had 148 ft/lbs. My last 1800 petrol only had 112 lbs/ft at 4200 rpm.

The power band of a good modern turbo petrol is so much wider than that of a similarly powerful diesel (such as your Vectra) that the apparant loss of torque is not totally relevant. In diesels it tends to be delivered in large spade fulls in short bursts wheras in the 1.4 TSi it comes in smoothly at 1500 stays until 3500 and even by 5000 had not fallen off dramatcally, probably still in the 155 ft/lbs area.

After driving turbo diesels for almost 20 years I was not convinced until I tried the Leon 1.4 TSi. After 10 minutes at the wheel on good A roads I was totally convinced, a drive back trough town put the decision beyond doubt, I was having one. Now the 2nd 1.4 TSi is on order.

very hard negotiation on the new car's price

No need to negoiate hard. We got out Superb via Carfile, just like we did the Leon. There are possibly slightly better broker deals out there if you search but they may be risky. Carfile are 100% above board and their Skoda dealer was happy to accomodate my specific requirements and confirmed them in writing.

Edited by skidpan on 16/01/2017 at 11:03

Either engine will give him great satisfaction: he'll just need to try both and see whether he wants the extra zing that the 2.0 vRS will give him. The zing is there all right, although I completely agree with Skidpan that the 1.4 does a great job, even in a big car like the Octavia or Superb.

I had three vRS estates (diesel manual, petrol DSG and petrol manual), and the petrol manual was far the most fun. I like to get a move on, although I don't 'thrash and abuse' my cars! (Actually, RT, if he's keeping a 10-y-o Vauxhall going, he can't be that bad a driver).

If he can afford the extra cost and insurance (fuel consumption won't be a great deal worse) then I'd say the vRS every time. But if he finds the 1.4 fulfils his needs, then I'm sure he won't be disappointed.

I'll pass your compliment on - he doesn't get any from me on car care!

I suspect his decision will come down to need vs want.