Initial experience:

Octavia 1.8 TSI is not as responsive as Yeti 1.2 TSI was! Feels much heavier though it isn't. Needs more pedal pushing to gain the acceleration.

Am I correct in assuming this is because I'm contrasting an engine with 50 miles on the clock with one with 20000? Hope so!

I think I would say they aren't direct competitors.

Tiguan starts at £21K and that is not even a 4WD model..

You've lost me, where'd the Tiguan come in to it?

Initial experience:

Octavia 1.8 TSI is not as responsive as Yeti 1.2 TSI was! Feels much heavier though it isn't. Needs more pedal pushing to gain the acceleration.

Am I correct in assuming this is because I'm contrasting an engine with 50 miles on the clock with one with 20000? Hope so!

Total guess that it will probably be the gearing. The 1.2 will be lower geared to give a feeling of "nippiness".

The 1.8 really comes on song around 2500-3000rpm with "silly grin" acceleration all the way to 6500rpm

Note to self - must try one of these 1.2 Yetis!!

Note to self - must try one of these 1.2 Yetis!!

warning it can be dangerous, I did and placed an order half an hour later !

warning it can be dangerous

+1, I had one whilst my diesel Scout was in for warranty work.

OK, the power delivery was completely different to my 140 PD diesel but I was amazed at how nippy it was, not a lot in it! A joy to drive!

+1, I had one whilst my diesel Scout was in for warranty work.

OK, the power delivery was completely different to my 140 PD diesel but I was amazed at how nippy it was, not a lot in it! A joy to drive!

that's the switch I've made, 140 PD Octavia to 1.2 Tsi Yeti. I was very dubious and the dealer had a 1.2 and a 1.4 lined up so I could compare them back to back. Never even drove the 1.4 as there was no need. Why spend the extra when the 1.2 was absolutely fine for my needs - 10 mile trips around back roads with a once a week trip down the motorway to the airport

Total guess that it will probably be the gearing. The 1.2 will be lower geared to give a feeling of "nippiness".

The 1.8 really comes on song around 2500-3000rpm with "silly grin" acceleration all the way to 6500rpm

Thanks - yes, you're probably right - the gearing .. so is the sense that the Yeti 1.2 was more nippy just illusory? (After all, the 1.8's 0-60 spec is far quicker?)

Anyone have any comment from experience how much more nippy the 1.8 might become when it's not so new, and how many miles it may take?

Also - is running-in really necessary - would, say, not going beyond 4000rpm for 1000 miles be enough before I stretch the revs to feel the power?!! (any previous car I've bought has already had at least 3-4000 on the clock - hence the question)

The 1.8 tsi estate in SE Plus spec and brilliant silver is a beauty; I'd forgotten what excellent brakes are like after a year of Yeti-ing!

Thanks - yes, you're probably right - the gearing .. so is the sense that the Yeti 1.2 was more nippy just illusory? (After all, the 1.8's 0-60 spec is far quicker?)

Anyone have any comment from experience how much more nippy the 1.8 might become when it's not so new, and how many miles it may take?

Also - is running-in really necessary - would, say, not going beyond 4000rpm for 1000 miles be enough before I stretch the revs to feel the power?!! (any previous car I've bought has already had at least 3-4000 on the clock - hence the question)

The 1.8 tsi estate in SE Plus spec and brilliant silver is a beauty; I'd forgotten what excellent brakes are like after a year of Yeti-ing!

No the 1.8 TSI is not nippy, i.e quick revving. I get the impression that it's designed to give a high level of torque at low engine revolutions so you can get good economy and power at lowish revs. However as said get it in 3rd or 4th around 3K revs then it is quite strong. As it's so smooth it can be deceptively quick as well.

Running in is simple. In the first few 100 miles don't use more than 3/4 revs, don't let it labour at too low revs and don't work it hard until it has warmed up. Also make sure that you use a range of revolutions to make sure the rings etc are bedded in correctly. After 500+ miles you can explore the envelope further..

Also allow a cooling off period for the turbo if you have worked it hard before you switch off (1-2 miles of slow driving). Remember to check the oil as well after the initial run in as it will use up to one L in the first 800-1,000 miles.

The warm-up / warm down rules are just good sense anyway.

Edited 24 September, 201114 yr by SBirch

Rev the nuts out of it. Run second and third gear regularly all the way to 6000 rpm, change gears often and dont drive too long in same gear, let engine idle 1 min. when arriving home When 1000 miles done, change oil/filter. Enjoy no oil consuption after that and a very willing engine

Thanks both - though slightly different in the advice given!

SBirch, what do you mean by "use a wide range of revolutions" pse?

Any other opinions out there, so I can take the best of three (my inclination as a cautious soul is to take the gentle approach; however I also want and need a gutsy and willing engine for the next 100000 miles too!)?

Thanks for all the good contributions to this thread.

SBirch, what do you mean by "use a wide range of revolutions" pse?

Basically don't just stick it on cruise at 2,000 Rev's and think it will bed in correctly. You need to have used a good range of revolutions including the red line by the time you have done 1,000'ish miles.

Not sure I would advise the thrash it from new advise as after all you are new to the car and many other components are new, but don't treat it with kid gloves either.

At 500 miles now and ready to start exploring the higher revs. However am averaging only 31 mpg with combined town and open road and gentle driving (well, keeping revs generally between 2000 and 4000 for running in purposes). Is that not very bad mpg for the 1.8 TSI? Rather worryingly thirsty.

You should be on around 35-38 combined and over 40 on motorway but not till you do about 2000 miles.

Also chaange your Yeti in profile

You've lost me, where'd the Tiguan come in to it?

err... a Golf based so called crossover (ie mainly pseudo 4x4) kind of thing? Surely that is more a competitor for the Yeti then the Golf itself?

Edited 3 October, 201114 yr by juan27

At 500 miles now and ready to start exploring the higher revs. However am averaging only 31 mpg with combined town and open road and gentle driving (well, keeping revs generally between 2000 and 4000 for running in purposes). Is that not very bad mpg for the 1.8 TSI? Rather worryingly thirsty.

In the cross town craw I get an indicated 26 MPG. On busy motorways I get 42-44 MPG. This averages to about 41 MPG for me. These are all off Maxi dot. I spot checked it a few times and found it's only 1-2 MPG out (slightly optimistic)so just use the maxi dot readings.

Simon

At 500 miles now and ready to start exploring the higher revs. However am averaging only 31 mpg with combined town and open road and gentle driving (well, keeping revs generally between 2000 and 4000 for running in purposes). Is that not very bad mpg for the 1.8 TSI? Rather worryingly thirsty.

MPG on mine steadily improved over the first 10k miles. Early days it gave me 34 average (brim to brim) now I am averaging 37-38 (also brim to brim). The maxidot tends to be 2mpg or so optimistic but on a motorway 70-80 cruise I see 40-45 on the maxidot; commuting (8 mile mixed town and rural) maxidot shows 34-36. On gentle cross country 50-60mph I have seen 50mpg on the maxidot over a 30 mile run but that was one of those runs where I just kept up with traffic with no point overtaking.

For running in, the only thing special I did for 1st 1000 miles was to stick the DSG into tiptronic to keep the revs over 2000 when cruising along - the DSG has a habit of selecting 7th gear at 40 which is only 1300rpm! I also gave it some moderate beans allowing revs to go up to 5k or so with just a couple or few (just couldn't resist it!) red line overtakes in S mode!

Oil usage so far - up to first service (at 9800 miles) I had added 1 litre of oil in 2 top-ups of 500ml each and level was around 1/4 way down from max when it went in. So say 1.5 litres per 10,000 miles. Done another 2000 since service and the level hasn't moved noticeably.

The 1.8TSI is a BEAUTIFUL engine! I love it!