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

Johnny Storm

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

Neilw

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

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?

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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