VAG 1.4 TSI engine, opinions?

NathWraith · 26 Jun 2012 at 11:49

Psymonkee said:
Never had any such issues! Any source on that?

My ibiza cupra 1.4tsi was in the grange twice with in 3 month of purchase for coil pack changes and misfiring. Go onto seatcupra.net and you will see the issues that are present.

Psymonkee · 26 Jun 2012 at 12:19

Maybe I was just lucky then? I only had mine for 2.5 years barely covering 15k though so I might have got rid before any serious problems?

Tute · 26 Jun 2012 at 14:30

I'd take the Leon interior all day, every day over a nice, but badly put together interior or a horrible and badly put together interior.

115K later and all my interior is still there, no squeaks, rattles or loose bits. Sure, the plastic is nasty but you can't fault Seat for making it stay.

In comparison, our Skoda is on 90K and it's already lost about half a dozen bits of trim from the air vents, door, etc. - I was quite shocked about that as it's not a world away from the Seat but feels like it inside.

rossk26 · 26 Jun 2012 at 14:32

Tute said:
I'd take the Leon interior all day, every day over a nice, but badly put together interior or a horrible and badly put together interior.

How about a nice interior that is well put together i.e the golf.

Arguably a nicer looking interior than that of the Leon

NathWraith · 26 Jun 2012 at 14:36

Psymonkee said:
Maybe I was just lucky then? I only had mine for 2.5 years barely covering 15k though so I might have got rid before any serious problems?

Is the 170 1.4TSI the twincharged version though? I'm not 100% sure, a lot of the 1.4 TSI 180 have issues. Look at Skoda Fabia VRS/VW Polo GTI/Ibiza Cupra for misfire issues.

Psymonkee · 26 Jun 2012 at 15:12

My 170 1.4 certainly was Twincharged (windows down, right foot planted sounded ACE!) but they started messing with engine configurations and only using turbos on a lot of the newer stuff.

I looked at the wiki about VW TSI engines and could feel my brain dribbling out of my ear with the amount of engine variations

nichorob · 26 Jun 2012 at 16:00

2012 Golf SE interior

There's no real difference really. All the parts are the same anyway! Bit less plastic admittedly.

rodenal · 26 Jun 2012 at 16:15

There's quite a big difference to my eyes - it's even more profound when you're actually sitting in the cars.

Could I live with the interior of the Leon....yes - but only if it was being bought with my own cash, when there's no benefit in trim level, cost to buy or age of car for the same cash the golf just makes much more sense imo

nichorob · 26 Jun 2012 at 16:23

The FR offers a lot more over the SE though rather than a better interior. I think I'm going to have to do some extensive testing.

rodenal · 26 Jun 2012 at 16:55

Aren't the only real differences the external bodykit and parking sensors on the Leon? ( I don't believe the Nav is standard and I can't actually find an SE tsi golf on the configurator - i'm guessing it's a run out?)

nichorob · 26 Jun 2012 at 19:53

The advantages of the FR to the SE on paper:

18" Iberia alloys
Bluetooth
BTCC body kit
2012 VAG rear LED's (as seen on the GTI/R)
Climate control

The interiors are near enough identical on the 2012 models, I have no idea what people are going on about. It seems a simple decision although I am having both cars for a weekend each.

Tute · 26 Jun 2012 at 21:58

NathWraith said:
Is the 170 1.4TSI the twincharged version though? I'm not 100% sure, a lot of the 1.4 TSI 180 have issues. Look at Skoda Fabia VRS/VW Polo GTI/Ibiza Cupra for misfire issues.

AFAIK only the 120bhp is single charged with just the turbocharger. The 140, 160, 170 and 180bhp versions all have both.

Also i've seen complaints about one/both of the turbo/supercharger going, also the magnetic clutch that decides which one engages is a bit prone to problems too.

I guess it goes with the territory, i'd still have one over a diesel in terms of reliability mind.

rossk26 said:
How about a nice interior that is well put together i.e the golf.

Arguably a nicer looking interior than that of the Leon

Interiors are very "YMMV" but i'd happily buy another Leon as long as it's not got a diesel lump under the bonnet. The materials used really don't bother me as much as being sure it's well put together.