petrol family car

aidanki

on the lookout for a petrol family car as not going to be doing a lot of miles from now on. a lot of 4-5mile short trips at 60-80kmh.

131-161 or thereabouts, what do people recommend. Diesels were more popular back then as new buys. Its an Octavia sized car that I am interested in.

Reliability is the high preference, with a boot big enough for a buggy

CoBo55

If you can find a 1.4 TSI Octavia with decent service history you'll have a super car. I had a 09 one and it was my favourite car of all the cars I've owned.

sunny2012

This looks like a nice car. Low milage and an estate, of which I’m a big fan of for their versatility. I know nothing about the 1.4l engine in this model or the gearbox.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/35059372

2015 VW Passat Estate 1.4 Petrol Auto DSG CL

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121297660#Comment_121297660

That looks lovely. Service history is important with that engine as they suffer timing chain stretch if neglected. Depending on whether it's a dry or wet DSG will determine if it needed servicing. The 7 speed was dry, it was usually used with that BHP of engine and didn't need servicing.

Hurrache

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121297607#Comment_121297607

1.4TSi is a lovely engine, I think they come in two versions, a 150bhp version and the other, more common one, is 110 or something like that.

aidanki

what year was the timing chain problem sorted out in the TSI engine

bazz26

I think it was around 2012 they reverted back to a belt.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121300064#Comment_121300064

I just remembered, you're spot on, cars from 131 were a standard timing belt. It looks to be a nice car in fairness.

aidanki

Anything Octavia size with a chain rather than a belt

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121301531#Comment_121301531

Chains aren't faultless especially the VW TSI range, changing to a belt was a big improvement in reliability. Mazda's chain system was top class.

User1998

The newer timing belts are life time belts too. The interval is something like 130k miles.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121301761#Comment_121301761

Probably not relevant to the OP. The Ford 1.5 ecoboom with the belt in oil isn't enjoying a good rep.

aidanki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121300394#Comment_121300394

any way of telling

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121305104#Comment_121305104

I think the belt engine has a plastic end cover, I can't remember exactly but I'm sure it looks like a standard belt type engine.