Due to all the issues I'm having with my Scout (2.0 TDI) I'm looking at alternative Octavia's. one option is an SE 1.4 TSI but I've heard some worrying reviews...

Anyone out there offer any advice / reviews?

Cheers

I had a 61 plate se+ for 12 months. Nice and smooth engine with reasonable low down torque, but lacked mid range power IMO. Suggest you test drive one to see if you like it. If you're not bothered about making 'reasonable progress' on busy A roads it might suit you, if you like to get a move on you'll find it a more tiring drive than your diesel due to the comparative lack of torque. Mine was reasonable on fuel providing I kept between 60 and 70 on the mways and returned around 44 mpg on the maxidot over the 12 months I had it.

Get another Scout, you've been unlucky. Don't let a bad one spoil what is otherwise a great all-rounder.

Cheers Silver

I'd love another scout - FL preferably but finances dictate...

Realistically it's got to be an SE 1.4tTSI or a 1.9TDI PD...... (Unfortunately!)

What "worrying reviews" have you heard about it?

Its a gem of an engine...

No moans about it on here along with the 1.8 TSI

Drive one and I`m sure you will buy

The 1.4 TSI has had cam chain issues, at least up here in the north. This is probably because of the insane longlife oil change intervals combined with our climate. I'm not going to do 30 000 km between oil changes, that's for sure. 

 

I have one and I love it. I came from a 210hp turbo volvo and I sometimes miss the pure passing power the volvo had, but that's all. The 1.4 TSI pulls like an electric motor from almost idle, is smooth and quiet and gets great mileage for an engine with spark plugs. It moves the Octavia very well, too. The 1.8 TSI would've been nice, but I don't regret going for the 1.4. 

 

Last time it astonished me was when I did a longer freeway drive with friends and luggage in the car and noticed how effortlessly it accelerates from 120km/h (our freeway speed limit) to 150-160. I was in the left lane with cruise control set while slowly passing a bus. Noticed I had an angry Audi in the mirror and I figured I'd better get a move on so I gave it a bit of throttle manually. No violent downchange from the DSG, no nothing. Just smooth acceleration. Looked down and realized I was doing 160. Whoops. 

 

Yes, I've owned cars capable of doing that before. None of them have had 1.4 liter 4-pots and 1.4 liter fuel economy, though. 

 

When my Octavia was at the painters from being rear-ended last winter I got a loaner... a brand new Toyota Auris 1.6. 3hp more on paper but it felt like driving a moped powered by a blender motor. 

 

If I'd have to complain about anything, it's the fact that the power delivery is a bit synthethic. But part of that is the DSG box. The engine has to second-guess my every pedal input and adjust power delivery for smooth gearchanges, etc. It would be interesting to drive a manual 1.4 TSI and compare the two. 

Edited 19 July, 201312 yr by Perc

Cheers Perc

That's what I'd heard...

Just want to make double sure that the next car is 100% researched and I'm going in with my eyes open.

Oh yeah, and another thing. The heater is terrible. It takes forever to warm up, even in July if the morning is a bit chilly. My 10 min drive to work isn't enough. When it's really cold in winter (-20°C/-4°F) and you finally got it up to temp after half an hour of driving, it'll cool back down if you coast down a hill. 

 

I fixed this issue by installing a 5 kW Eberspächer auxiliary heater. It wasn't cheap, but I now have what very well might be the warmest 1.4 TSI in the world.