Quick VW Golf TSI GT Sport 140PS petrol review

[david25]

Quick VW Golf TSI GT Sport 140PS petrol review (with pics)

Quick VW Golf TSI GT Sport 140PS petrol review

+ Generally good build quality inside and out, though interior worse than the older MK4
+ Comfy, supportive seats with lots of adjustment
+ Roomy in the back
+ Great supercharger whine and turbo whoosh noises with windows down
+ Quiet & refined with windows up
+ Good body control & steering weight increases nicely through bends
+ Strong engine above 2000rpm, maintains pace all the way to 6000
+ 42-43mpg on my communte
+ You might get a factory remapped version (150ps for the 140 model or 200ps for the 170 model)

- Supercharger lag from idle/stop (alhough not apparent if you are creeping in 1st)
- Use of turbo (from 3500) kills economy, cant have everything!
- Indicator stalk poor quality and feel, why?
- Standard spoked wheels pain to clean
- Expensive expensive expensive

Great all rounder but its abilities come at a price, 57 plate pre-reg £14,500 or £12,500 at the auctions.

Pro review here http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/216804/vw_golf_14_tsi_gt_sport.html#
0 - 60mph here (not me)

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[Skeeter]

Is this the new super and turbo charged engine that meant to provide performance and economy?

 

[( |-| |2 ][ $]

Supercharger lag?

 

[mcc49]

Cant say I am a fan of those alloys, I prefer the 18" Charlestones for the GT Sport. My cousin has the 140bhp version and the supercharger sounds rather rattly at low speed but it sure packs a punch for a 1.4.

 

[MarkDavis]

- Use of turbo (from 3500) kills economy, cant have everything!

Doesn't it have a 6th gear? Haven't driven the petrol version but I had the GT diesel version a couple of years ago on holiday and I'm sure it had a 6th gear I thought that was a good car, the one let down being the hard ride quality, though that might have been the wheel / tyre combination.

Nice mini review BTW.

 

[( |-| |2 ][ $]

Doesn't it have a 6th gear? Haven't driven the petrol version but I had the GT diesel version a couple of years ago on holiday and I'm sure it had a 6th gear I thought that was a good car, the one let down being the hard ride quality, though that might have been the wheel / tyre combination.

Nice mini review BTW.

The GT part is just a trim level, nothing to do with the engine. (so it's in no way related to the diesels.
I don't think the only reason for going over 3500rpm is because it doesn't have a 6th gear. Although it does either way.

 

[Dolph]

Supercharger lag?

170 Version isn't that 1.8?

The supercharger disengages from the drive when stationary via a magnetic clutch to save fuel, there's a slight amount of lag in the engagement if you boot it away from a standstill.

 

[david25]

Is this the new super and turbo charged engine that meant to provide performance and economy?

Yep, I get around 40mpg when using the supercharger only (below 3500rpm) performance is very good (for 1.4l heavy car) if you use all the revs.

 

[( |-| |2 ][ $]

The supercharger disengages from the drive when stationary via a magnetic clutch to save fuel, there's a slight amount of lag in the engagement if you boot it away from a standstill.

Ah, I was under the impression it was 'hard wired' so to speak.
Thanks

 

[david25]

Supercharger lag?

No, its the same 1.4 with more boost http://www.carpages.co.uk/volkswagen/volkswagen-tsi-engine-12-05-06.asp

 

[david25]

Doesn't it have a 6th gear? Haven't driven the petrol version but I had the GT diesel version a couple of years ago on holiday and I'm sure it had a 6th gear I thought that was a good car, the one let down being the hard ride quality, though that might have been the wheel / tyre combination.

Nice mini review BTW.

Yep, its got 6th gear and cruises quietly, 2100rpm at 60. To clarify if you are driving hard using all the revs economy does suffer. I think the ride quality is a good compromise, I find it very relaxed on the motorway.

 

[( |-| |2 ][ $]

No, its the same 1.4 with more boost http://www.carpages.co.uk/volkswagen/volkswagen-tsi-engine-12-05-06.asp

Ah, yes. Thanks though I'd just edited my post to remove that question as I looked it up.
Why must VAG persist in having 20 verients for each engine it's almost impossible to get it right. I'm sure parkers had a 1.8TSI listed on the site last week now it's not there. I must be going mad.

 

[david25]

Ah, yes. Thanks though I'd just edited my post to remove that question as I looked it up.
Why must VAG persist in having 20 verients for each engine it's almost impossible to get it right. I'm sure parkers had a 1.8TSI listed on the site last week now it's not there. I must be going mad.

There is a 1.8 audi unit in the a3/a4 which makes for a lot of confusion.

 

[Psymonkee]

I have the 170 3dr version

I like it a lot

 

[unclelonghair]

I have the 170 3dr version

I like it a lot

snap, and with Charlestons

 

[jongeeone]

Golfs, just don't appeal to me.

Looks tidy tho, aslong as you enjoy it

 

[Sone]

my old man has got a Audi A3 1.4 with 140ps (not sure if its the same engine or just turbo'd) and it is very very quite, rest of the car doesent impress me that much though.

 

[Axeboy]

I thought audi only had the 120bhp version... turbo only iirc

 

[Psymonkee]

snap, and with Charlestons

Couldn't justify those & the Xenons

 

[MarkDavis]

The GT part is just a trim level

The GT has has stiffer suspension, shorter springs and different damping rates. Both the petrol GT and diesel GT also have 6 speed gearboxes which the standard car doesn't have. So its more than just a trim level.

Yep, its got 6th gear and cruises quietly, 2100rpm at 60.....I find it very relaxed on the motorway.

Yep, definitely a good car on the motorway - even when you hit three figure speeds, you don't quite realise how fast you're travelling unless you look at the speedo.