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Golf GT - 170 bhp from 1.4L - yay or nay?

  • 03-10-2012 7:29am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,993 ✭✭✭


    Saw a really nice golf yesterday:
    2007
    60K km
    5 door
    petrol
    automatic
    interior literally as new
    climate control, many toys
    drove really well
    asking 13.5K

    But I'm wondering how reliable is the 1.4L 170 bhp Twincharger engine? Is it an expensive problem waiting to happen? Would I be nuts to buy this car?

    Any suggestions or opinions appreciated


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,825 ✭✭✭Neilw


    I know of 2 of these where the timing chain stretched and needed replacing, vw covered one of them under goodwill.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,993 ✭✭✭Johnny Storm


    Neilw wrote: »
    I know of 2 of these where the timing chain stretched and needed replacing, vw covered one of them under goodwill.

    Thanks. Was that a major expense? I imagine it could damage the valves etc?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 ✭✭✭George Dalton


    Sounds very expensive at €13k.

    The timing chain is the biggest problem with them. Some of them stretch and cause engine management light and running issues but I have seen a few lately where they just failed outright and caused a lot of engine damage.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 866 ✭✭✭renofan


    No way in hell would I touch a small engined car with a turbo attached to bring the power up. The engine has to rev like fcuk and a lot won't be serviced on time or with the correct spec oil and its all going to lead to problems when the car gets older.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,605 ✭✭✭Fizman


    Just to let the OP know, there have been a load of threads on these cars over the years so might be worth a search!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,993 ✭✭✭Johnny Storm


    renofan wrote: »
    No way in hell would I touch a small engined car with a turbo attached to bring the power up. The engine has to rev like fcuk and a lot won't be serviced on time or with the correct spec oil and its all going to lead to problems when the car gets older.

    This particular one has been serviced 4 times at VW garage


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 866 ✭✭✭renofan


    I'm just saying, in answer to your question in the op, that I think these engines are an expensive problem waiting to happen. But thats just my opinion. I wouldn't buy one if it was my own money I was parting with.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 998 ✭✭✭Chriscl1


    renofan wrote: »
    No way in hell would I touch a small engined car with a turbo attached to bring the power up. The engine has to rev like fcuk and a lot won't be serviced on time or with the correct spec oil and its all going to lead to problems when the car gets older.

    With a turbo and supercharger it should produce plenty of torque so I shouldn't think it would need to be revved like fcuk to get her going.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    renofan wrote: »
    The engine has to rev like fcuk
    Does it? I would have thought that with both turbo and supercharging it shouldn't need too many revs to perform.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 866 ✭✭✭renofan


    Chriscl1 wrote: »
    With a turbo and supercharger it should produce plenty of torque so I shouldn't think it would need to be revved like fcuk to get her going.
    Anan1 wrote: »
    Does it? I would have thought that with both turbo and supercharging it shouldn't need too many revs to perform.

    Now ye have got me thinking.....I hired a car in England and was sure it was one of the above and i remember having to rev it to preform. Do they come in 1.2 then? It was definately a petrol with a turbo and I wasn't impressed with it.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,591 ✭✭✭AugustusMinimus


    Renofan, the whole point of having a turbo is that it increase the capacity of an engine in a virtual way by allowing each cylinder to burn more petrol than if the air was not forced into the engine.

    If anything, a turbo version of an engine might be forced to red line at a lower RPM than the same engine without a turbo due to increased stresses.

    I've also driven a Golf with that engine and I can confirm it doesn't need to be revved like fcuk.


  • Posts: 24,713 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    You will be able to get a 2007 GTI for less than that op.

    On the topic of the 1.4TSI, I think there is something cool about the small engine with the turbo and super charger but I would be vary slow to buy one second hand. A new or very nearly new Fabia RS 1.4TSI would be a car I would consider but I would be selling it the minute the warranty was up.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 585 ✭✭✭NobodyImportant


    I would also be of the opinion that this is an expensive breakdown waitin to happen (out of warranty of course).

    I believe some german magazine had a long termer and its turbo failed at 70k miles and would have cost a fortune.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,924 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    Now like almost anyengine it will have some problems, op, but I would not write it off just because it is small engine with a forced induction.

    On the other hand with 13.5k you are looking in to a gti area, which will be a lot more for the money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24 lennie6998


    Was looking at buying one of these a while back but was put off because the reliability is supposed to be shocking. Afaik no significant work has been done to the standard 1.4 engine to deal with the stresses of the turbo and charger


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48 jayc12


    If you like that engine go for the 122 bhp one. It only has a turbocharger and it don't have the same problems as the 140 and 170 bhp ones.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,302 ✭✭✭Supergurrier


    OSI wrote: »
    13.5k will get you a decent specced 08 GTI, if you look around enough.

    Pretty much this if it's a Golf you are set on if not well there's alot out there for that price


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,222 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Get yourself an A3 1.8 TFSi for the same money and dont worry about its tensioners flying apart like a poor build choice in a game of Bad Piggies

    Two mechanic friends have spoken about small twincharging and as regards early examples the answer is nay, walk away and dont look back


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭gollywog


    If fuel consumption is a worry about a gti, its not as bad as I was expecting.
    If driven sensibly 35mpg is very achievable,
    I doubt the 1.4 would be much more economic but I could be wrong


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