After a disastrous 18 months with an "award winning" :thumbdwn: Corsa 1.3cdti :orb_no_no (spits on floor), I'm in the market for a new car.

I loved my old 04 Fabia 1.2 Comfort - one of the best cars i've ever had, but I just can't get into the new Fabia no matter how hard I try.

So i'm considering the latest Octavia (is this a mk3?) in basic S trim. Is the entry 1.4 litre 80bhp engine camchain or cambelt? I'm told the 1.4Tsi is camchain, but I'm not sure if the entry 1.4 is an older engine block. I'm after cheap insurance and low maintenance costs.

(If the 1.2Tsi were available I would have gone for that)

the 1.4 tsi is chain and the older 1.6 fsi was the rest of the skoda/vw fleet i understand is belt

1.6 FSi is chain driven.

1.4 if it isnt a TSi or FSi will be a belt.

You mean Octavia 2.5

1.4/80hp is a little engine in a big body. It'll be working hard and this is probably reflected in the lower MPG WRT to the 1.6 model. You could probably save the difference in insurance by going for the 1.6 and getting more MPG.

D

"Plain" 1.4 is just too weak engine for this car, take at least 102hp 1.6 MPI engine.

On a side note, I agree with your opinion of the new Corsa. How they won anything with that car is beyond me, I personally think it's a step backwards compared to the previous model which was pretty dire itself.

Thanks to everyone for comments so far.

I checked out the Octavia 1.4tsi - insurance wise, quote not as bad as I thought. (I have 2 kids on policy) So, for now, I've narrowed down my choice to Octavia SE 1.4tsi or Golf 1.4Tsi probably with 7 speed DSG box.

Gonna see if I can get extended test drives with both

I made the gross mistake of an ultra short test drive with Corsa - wrong engine wrong spec - nagging salesman sitting next to me making excuse about Sxi sports suspension is harder than normal - WRONG - they all bounce about like go karts on leaf springs!!!

Q1. How long has 1.4Tsi 122 bhp (no supercharger, just turbo) engine been in active service?

And has there been any suggestion of reliabilty issues or other problems?

Q2. The 1st generation Fsi engines required 98ron petrol to allow engine to run "stratified". What about the tsi engine?

Q3. Does Tsi require special spec oil or anything else that is daft - service wise.

Q4 Any info about longevity of 7 speed DSG box?

Q1 - About a year in VWs, not done anything bar servicing thus far aside from 1 injector.

Q2 - The FSi engines never run in stratisfied, too much sulphur in our fuel, but I think 98 is still required in the TSi,

Q3 - If running on variable servicing then the 507.00 oil should be used, on fixed then your looking at the same kinda spec as the fuel pump is run off the cam and needs a high pressure oil, possible 505.00 (not 100% on that)

Q4 - They haven't been about that long, only had issues with one, so pretty rare.

Skodakid - re DSG do you mean you'll have a DSG in whichever car you choose? If so the Octavia brochure I have states the DSG unit in the 1.4TSi is a 6 speed box, same as the Audi A3 1.4T. IIRC the Golf uses a 7 speed version.

I have the 6 speed wet clutch DSG in an A3 - it had a new mechatronic unit at 20,000 miles. A colleague with a TT 3.2 also had a similar problem with his at 45,000.

Still won't put me off having another as my first A3 DSG was faultless.

Skodakid - re DSG do you mean you'll have a DSG in whichever car you choose? If so the Octavia brochure I have states the DSG unit in the 1.4TSi is a 6 speed box, same as the Audi A3 1.4T. IIRC the Golf uses a 7 speed version.

Yes I noticed the brochure too. However I think its a misprint - the brochure doesnt even have DSG listed as an option for the 1.4tsi in the price list. I believe that 1.4tsi and 7 speed lightweight DSG are compulsory company - backed up by brochure weights data and CO2 data. However I will double and triple check as I will only consider the newer unit. Its more efficient, lighter and the old unit had too many problems reported for my liking.

I might be finally able to persuade the missus to drive with the DSG (Provisional for 30 years!!!)

Only thing that puzzles me a bit - is the creep mode in 1st - does it wear the (dry) clutch?

Also a bit worried about Lummox's comments about "stratified mode"

Phoning around tomorrow to see if any demonstrators available.

Dont worry about stratified mode, its been dropped now hence the TSi instead of the FSi engines.

Q2: Minimum 95 required, TSi runs without "complaints" on 95, tested.

I think you'll find the 1.4 struggles. The car's much heavier than a golf.

You'd be better thinking about a 1.6, certainly ensuring you drive both.

All the 1.4TSI manuals have ESP as a factory fit option, whereas all of the DSG versions have the 'dry' 7 speed transmission ( not 6 speed as the brochure reads) and include as standard fit both Hill Hold Control and ESP

[quote name=gadgetman;1659493

You'd be better thinking about a 1.6' date=' certainly ensuring you drive both.[/quote]

The 1.6 is dead - replaced by the more powerful, better performing, cleaner & more frugal 1.4 TSI.

The 1.6 is dead - replaced by the more powerful, better performing, cleaner & more frugal 1.4 TSI.

From the Skoda UK brochure :-

Value 1.4 1.6

Power 80bhp 115bhp

0-62mph 14.2s 11.2s

Max Speed 107 123

Max Torque 113/3800 155/4000

Fuel mpg 29.4 32.5

50.4 52.3

40.4 42.8

Emissions g/km 167 158

based on that, I'd say the 1.6 is "more powerful, better performing, cleaner & more frugal"

D

From the Skoda UK brochure :-

Value 1.4 1.6

Power 80bhp 115bhp

0-62mph 14.2s 11.2s

Max Speed 107 123

Max Torque 113/3800 155/4000

Fuel mpg 29.4 32.5

50.4 52.3

40.4 42.8

Emissions g/km 167 158

based on that, I'd say the 1.6 is "more powerful, better performing, cleaner & more frugal"

I'm afraid you are getting confused with the 'weedy' normally aspirated 80ps 1.4 - the 1.4 TSI is turbocharged and a totally different beast altogether.

The 1.4 TSI figures are 122bhp, 0-62 of 9.7secs, top speed of 126mph, max. torque of 200Nm between 1,500 and 4,000 rpm, fuel consumption figs. of 32.1, 53.3 & 42.8 and emissions g/km 154. ( The DSG has emissions even lower of 147)

It is those splendid 'diesel like' torque figures that make the real difference.

That is why it has replaced the 1.6.

I'm afraid you are getting confused with the 'weedy' normally aspirated 80ps 1.4 - the 1.4 TSI is turbocharged and a totally different beast altogether.

...

It's my age - I get confused easily :P

D

It's my age - I get confused easily :P

D

In that case I'll let you off - keep taking the tablets!

As for Q2 and 98 RON. The answer is now all UK petrol sold from Jan 09 has to be near sulphur free. The problems came when direct injection started to come out with the UK high sulphur thus the only petrol which had near no sulphur was 98 RON.

See:

http://www.ukpia.com/industry_issues/fuels/sulphurfree_petrol_and_diesel.aspx?referrertabid=2107&linktext=Sulphur-free+petrol+and+diesel

James.

Thanks very much James26 for valuable info (How do you "thank" a poster?)

TSi does stand for "Turbo Stratified injection" . So I think "stratified mode" is still applicable here and is a major reason for the high economy potential (ultra lean burn, direct injection to cool the charge and reduce Nox). I do think VW no longer publicises the "stratified" bit because of the complexity - it only works given the right conditions - correct fuel, light throttle, medium speeds, low loads etc. Too complicated to explain to Joe Public that sometimes its there, sometimes its not.......some driving syles benefit, others don't.......

Hope that 1000 bar petrol common rail is more troublefree than some diesel common rail technology - that was one issue (of many) I had with the Corsa and one reason why I now shun Diesel.

I have done a lot of reading up on 98 ron etc and as today there is no benefit of it now being the 98ron only UK petrol that was sulphur free. The only benefit of is high detergent to clean the engine now - once and while with 98 ron in?

Get any VAG car far far better than any rubbish that GM makes!

James.

TSi does stand for "Turbo Stratified injection" .

Always thought it was Twincharger Stratified Injection, which is a bit misleading, as they are either turbocharged only or turbo & supercharged.

1.4 TSi is a replacement engine for 1.6 FSi.

1.8 TSi is a replacement engine for 2.0 FSi.

"Classic" 1.4 and 1.6 (MPi) engines are still in production.

In diesel area:

2.0 CR TDI is a replacement engine for 2.0 PD TDI.

1.6 CR TDI is (will be) a replacement engine for 1.9 PD TDI.

And yes, it has become a total mess with these names.

First it was only FSI and TFSI for Turbo-FSI. Then a 1.4TSi came out, which was in fact twincharger and was used in some VW cars. After that a TSi is also being used for turbo-FSi engines (formerly TFSI). But on the other hand you've got an Audi 3.0 TFSI engine, which is not a turbo-FSi, but compressor-FSi (supercharged) engine. Go figure... :confused: