Please help,

Having test driven a Oct 1 Elegance 1.9 tdi yesterday, i noticed that on a by-pass in 3rd OR 4th gear, it took an absolute age to get from 50mph - 70mph, but once at 70 it seamed to pick up again (4th), like it had serious turbo lag problems.

Is this normal??

I walked away from the car in question because there were other issues, but this being the first Oct 110bhp i've driven, im now worried thats just how it is. :'(

Also on another note, the back end felt very light and skitish, is that to be expected unladden or were the shocks foobared on this specimen of dog poop.

Sounds like symptoms of flaky mass airflow meter to me. I remember when my fabia did the same thing - Was poor at slower speeds but something with the flow meant it suddenly kicked in again at faster speeds. Essentially you are in limp mode during the "painfully slow" periods.

VAGcom should verify the MAF is given out dodgy readings.

Sounds like that one was knackered TBH :S

My wife had an X-Reg Ambient TDi that did exactly that.

My 51 plate Elegance TDi (now done over 180K) , or my wifes replacemant (53 plate L&K TDi) did not have the problem.

MAF (or possibly dodgy VVT on the turbo). Shocks could be knackered, worth checking tyre wear.... I changed mine around the 80-90k mark (iirc)

Yeah, it'll either be a dirty MAF or a bust turbo. My Ambiente 1.9TDI was 'laggy' when I bought it (needed new turbo) and then the MAF needed replaced some years later (similar symptoms).

That's not right; even in top at 50 mine is quick enough that the usual problem with overtaking is the idiot in front getting in the way!