I can't seem to 'feel' them like I could in my previous normally aspirated 1.4. The car seems to be going ok, then suddenly the power drops off halfway round, so it's now select a gear lower than it seems I need.

It's all in that 3rd,2nd,1st,2nd,3rd zone where it isn't very smooth even on the flat. If it wasn't a turbo I'd say it has 'flat spots' there.

I haven't seen any graphs for the 1.4TSI power output at the lower rpm. I'm assuming it's down to the way the turbo contributes power to the combination. I know the TSI contributes more power at lower rpm than previous tubo'd designs, but presumably below that it needs to rely more on conventional techniques for torque.

Maybe I should be looking at 'boost threshold rpm' and other factors here.

Edited 3 October, 200916 yr by icarusi@hotmail

sounds like you've not quite got the turbo on boost in the higher gear and probly in the next gear down its reving that high you've lost all the low down torque

im assuming yours is DSG if its jumping gears like that, my PD170 DSG i stick in manual and use the tiptronic/paddles for hair pins, tell it to hold on to 2nd

A few test drives over Hardknot Pass, in the rain will soon test that out.

A few test drives over Hardknot Pass, in the rain will soon test that out.

Just did a search to try and find some other hairpin bends closer to me. Most of mine have a large drystone wall alongside, so not conducive to trying different approach speeds. The car hillclimbs seem to be on closed roads but the cyclists feature more open road options.

I think the Octavia (or at least my 1.4 TSI with 195/65 tyres) doesn't transfer the power on full lock like my previous car. I'll try some full lock moves in a local car park to confirm this. Should be easier to check the rpm there rather than risking the drystone walls.