Surprised at performance 1.4 TSi

[ednmra]

So, just back from first fairly long run (100 miles each way.) A good mix of ordinary roads, dual carriageway and motorway, and I have to say I was again pleasantly surprised. 

Car had four adults and a boot packed with luggage. I thought "Oh well, don't expect much oomph, just a steady cruise."

Not a bit of it. Buzzed past nearly everything on the road (not the boy racers doing a ton though))

Pick up on the faster roads to go past lorries etc. felt really good, much like my old 1.8 TSi. Also, just as important, the whole ride was smooth and quiet.

 

Most of the run was, ahem, "good morning, officer" but the mpg is showing low forties, and that is the whole life of the car so far. Probably this trip on its own would read out as high forties.

I wasn't sure whether to put the rear tyres up above 2.2, the sticker suggested an increase only for 5 people on board plus a very full boot. In the end I left it at about 34 psi but I think it could have been left at 32.

So all in all, very happy with all aspects of the 1.4 so far.

[Gerrycan]

No argument from me.

Love mine

[Andy P]

The 1.4 is a cracking engine. It pretty much matches the vrs diesel for performance too. Economy wise I'm getting 36 to 45 mpg through stop start traffic to work. I have had 62 mpg out of it on a very steady drive to the coast. I'm even considering having it remapped if I still have it past its warranty. You can get another 30+ hp out of it.

[lostp]

I enjoy mine but it does feel sluggish when fully loaded compared to lightly loaded (although MPG seems not to suffer too much)

 

Suspect it's the DSG gearbox which keeps revs low to save fuel, but when it's got a few passengers you need to give it a few more beans to get it shifting!

[iriches]

Very happy with mine too.  I've jumped from a Mk1 TDI 110 to the Mk3 TSI 140.  Only measured 2 tankfuls through it so far, but as you can see from my sig it is not doing badly at all.  90% of my miles are on a 20 mile each-way commute with a mixture of town (Bedford), A-road (A422) and roundabouts (Milton Keynes).  The old 1.9 Diesel managed around 52mpg on the same route.

 

Performance-wise, the 1.4 TSI is generally streets ahead of my old TDI - the only area in which it suffers is pull from very low revs.  The 1.9TDI was a little happier trickling along in second gear at walking pace in traffic.

Edited 30 March, 2015 by iriches

[ednmra]

I enjoy mine but it does feel sluggish when fully loaded compared to lightly loaded (although MPG seems not to suffer too much)

 

Suspect it's the DSG gearbox which keeps revs low to save fuel, but when it's got a few passengers you need to give it a few more beans to get it shifting!

Well, mine is manual and, as remarked before, I am probably dropping a gear lower when accelerating, almost without thinking about it. But that doesn't bother me, also I run with engine (only) in sport mode, which seems to get it off the mark better - I certainly don't floor the throttle - no need to.

Re: mpg, the car is now on 2075 miles from new and almost all, except the drive mentioned, has been plodding round Brighton, which is currently like wading through a bog with no shoes on.

So with its mpg read out now on about 41.9 I can't really complain!

[Delboy001]

Tried it and not that impressed. I find in general, bigger the engine, less stress on it. The 1.8 TSI is great. I put it in drive and a gentle tap of the accelerator and off you go. A big tap and your put into your seat. Thus not putting the engine under strain so much. Tried a 1.6 MPI Octavia II whilst mine was being serviced and I can see them engines getting red lined permanently! 

 

Lets not even go to the HTP engines. Worst thing VW / Skoda invented. 

[ednmra]

Tried it and not that impressed. I find in general, bigger the engine, less stress on it. The 1.8 TSI is great. I put it in drive and a gentle tap of the accelerator and off you go. A big tap and your put into your seat. Thus not putting the engine under strain so much. Tried a 1.6 MPI Octavia II whilst mine was being serviced and I can see them engines getting red lined permanently! 

 

Lets not even go to the HTP engines. Worst thing VW / Skoda invented. 

I agree - in part.

If a new version of my 2008 1.8 TSi had been available I'd have bought it like a shot. But it wasn't.

So it was this one or a vRS which I really don't need. Didn't want a diesel either.

So it was  the 1.4 or nothing (from Skoda UK anyway.)

 

As said, for the moment I'm happy with the choice. What will be around in 3 years time (including me !!) remains to be seen.

[Gromle]

I agree - in part.

If a new version of my 2008 1.8 TSi had been available I'd have bought it like a shot. But it wasn't.

So it was this one or a vRS which I really don't need. Didn't want a diesel either.

So it was the 1.4 or nothing (from Skoda UK anyway.)

As said, for the moment I'm happy with the choice. What will be around in 3 years time (including me !!) remains to be seen.

You dont get the 1,8TSI at all in Uk?! Edited 30 March, 2015 by Gromle

[themanwithnoaim]

Mine seems a bit thirsty compared to some of yours mind, there's no motorways and only 2 miles of A roads on my way to work but yeah, that little 1.4 does go.

[Gerrycan]

The characteristics of the 1.4tsi are interesting because it comparable (in some ways) to a 2.5litre normally aspirated engine like that in the Mazda 3 or 6.

The Mazda is faster in a straight acceleration shoot-out because it produces its torque and far more power higher up the rev range compared to the Skoda turbo unit which produces its torque (250Nm) from around 1500 to 3500, which is the sort of rev range most drive around day-to-day.

The Skoda 1.8 produces the same torque but over a wider rev range so delivers more power at higher revs.

You can rev the 1.4tsi up to the redline at 6500 rpm but the torque drops off quite dramatically after 4000rpm, where the 1.8tsi keeps on going.

My previous Skoda was a 1.9PD and Iriches has precisely summed up the differences. So the 1.4tsi also seems like a sports car by comparison to me.

Funnily enough my economy figures both diesel and petrol are almost identical to Ireches.

The 1.8 tsi engine Octavia is available in Australia and in the newly released (here) Scout, but only with DSG as not many Australians now like a manual gearbox. I prefer a manual.

[dave6376]

You dont get the 1,8TSI at all in Uk?!

Only in the L&K as far as I know.

[ednmra]

Only in the L&K as far as I know.

Yes, at about £7000 more !! And it is different to my old 1.8, at 180 ps instead of 160. 

I suspect much more to insure, to run, to road tax etc etc.

It is about 0.8 secs. faster to 60-ish than the 1.4 and 10 mph faster top speed.

 

Nice but no thanks!

[Gromle]

Only in the L&K as far as I know.

I see. We can get it as elegance and Scout aswell.

I chose the 1.8 because I wanted 4x4.

[dave6376]

If we could get a 1.8 TSI 4x4 in the UK I'd be at the top of the queue.  I'm sure others will disagree but I don't think the L&K is worth the money.  If I was going to spend that amount I'd rather have a petrol VRS and some change in my pocket.

[Gromle]

Its not quite the same here. A 1,8TSI 4x4 l&k with almost all options costs less then a stock vrs tsi.

We pay a hefty tax on engines and emissions, so extras is quite cheap compared.

Edited 30 March, 2015 by Gromle

[themanwithnoaim]

Yes, at about £7000 more !! And it is different to my old 1.8, at 180 ps instead of 160. 

I suspect much more to insure, to run, to road tax etc etc.

It is about 0.8 secs. faster to 60-ish than the 1.4 and 10 mph faster top speed.

 

Nice but no thanks!

I think you forgot the most important bit of the L&K Ed, who can live with that much brown in their life ? 

[Gromle]

I think you forgot the most important bit of the L&K Ed, who can live with that much brown in their life ?

Im just glad it aint White or beige, that would be a no no for me.

So to answer your question, I can live with that much Brown in my life :p

[lukey@cz]

I have done about 500 miles in my new (used...other members may frown ) 1.4tsi with 6M and I have to say that it's pretty nippy when I get beyond the 2K-2.5K rev counter, i.e. when the turbo kicks in. I don't I would need a more powerful engine but I agree with the ..."when fully loaded" it may need to be worked a bit harder to get going. Once in cruising speed, I think the 1.4tsi is plenty-full.

 

Since we are talking about engines...could you please help me with identifying exactly what engine is in my octavia elegance build in 07/2013, the manual says CHPA, what does this mean?

And where can I find, please, the engine number to check it matches the V5C documents - I bought it via a Skoda dealership so I am not worried, just curious

 

Also, can you confirm that this engine is definitely cam-belt and not chain with twin turbo as these engines also 1.4tsi by VW AG were (are?!) known for issues.

 

 

Finally, when I listen to my engine on idle from cold, I can hear a distant light chime/ring - is this normal?

 

Many thanks,

 

Lukey

[Minimoke]

I have done about 500 miles in my new (used...other members may frown ) 1.4tsi with 6M and I have to say that it's pretty nippy when I get beyond the 2K-2.5K rev counter, i.e. when the turbo kicks in. I don't I would need a more powerful engine but I agree with the ..."when fully loaded" it may need to be worked a bit harder to get going. Once in cruising speed, I think the 1.4tsi is plenty-full.

 

Since we are talking about engines...could you please help me with identifying exactly what engine is in my octavia elegance build in 07/2013, the manual says CHPA, what does this mean?

And where can I find, please, the engine number to check it matches the V5C documents - I bought it via a Skoda dealership so I am not worried, just curious

 

Also, can you confirm that this engine is definitely cam-belt and not chain with twin turbo as these engines also 1.4tsi by VW AG were (are?!) known for issues.

 

 

Finally, when I listen to my engine on idle from cold, I can hear a distant light chime/ring - is this normal?

 

Many thanks,

 

Lukey

 

CHPA is just the VAG engine number/type. Your V5 should show CHPA as the engine number prefix for a 1.4 TSI followed by numerical digits to uniquely identify your particular engine. Don't know where the number is on the actual engine.

 

A CHPA engine is cam belt.

 

Don't bother listening to the engine noises. If you lift the bonnet its a really noisy engine (but fairly quiet from inside the car). The injector chatter alone frightnened the life out of me when I first heard it on what was a brand new car !!!  

 

Just completed 6K miles in mine. Came from an Octy 2 2.0 PD 140bhp. No complaints from me about the TSI.

[Delboy001]

I agree - in part.

If a new version of my 2008 1.8 TSi had been available I'd have bought it like a shot. But it wasn't.

So it was this one or a vRS which I really don't need. Didn't want a diesel either.

So it was  the 1.4 or nothing (from Skoda UK anyway.)

 

As said, for the moment I'm happy with the choice. What will be around in 3 years time (including me !!) remains to be seen.

 

I didn't know that in the UK you can not get the new 1.8 TSI unless in L&K. Understand now. 

 

Only in the L&K as far as I know.

 

As in Norway, we in Czech can get the 1.8 TSI in Ambition, Elegance and Scout too. Which is I think correct. That you can only get it in the L&K version in the UK is very wrong of Skoda. Its bullying you to buy a more expensive car so you can have the top engine. 

 

If we could get a 1.8 TSI 4x4 in the UK I'd be at the top of the queue.  I'm sure others will disagree but I don't think the L&K is worth the money.  If I was going to spend that amount I'd rather have a petrol VRS and some change in my pocket.

 

 A lot of people here in Czech who want a Diesel go for the VRS Diesel as it works out cheaper then a well specced 2.0 TDI Elegance model. For starters you get Xenon's in the price and the higher powered diesel. 135 Kw. Which normally in the Elegance is a big extra to pay for. 

 

My neighbour got a new Estate VRS Diesel in November and it was 50,000 CZK / £1,351 cheaper then my Elegance. OK I have the 1.8 TSI DSG which is a large price increase to the 1.2 TSI perhaps. I have not got that many optional extras. The Plus package, which gives, tyre pressure, MAXI Dot, Front and Back Parking sensors, Hill assist, 17'' wheels, heated front window. Keyless entry and starting, extra airbags and other various little things. Not got Xenon headlights and sat nav but still more then the VRS and he does have sat nav. 

[Delboy001]

Mine seems a bit thirsty compared to some of yours mind, there's no motorways and only 2 miles of A roads on my way to work but yeah, that little 1.4 does go.

 

That does seem thirsty. I done a 62 Km trip today and the comp showed an average of 8.1 Litres to the 100 Km, which works out 8.1 liters/100 km = 34.8741897 miles/gallon(UK) This was around town to start then on a roads and was no traffic thus lot of it cruising at 50 Mph constant and then on the way back A roads again, this time not so consistent speed and ended with a short motorway blast. Took her up to 110 Mph for a bit and then back into Prague and to the office. 

 

I have of course had worse consumption then this when in town stop starting all the time and if outside stuck behind lorries and having to open her up to get by. Then go over 10 liters/100 km = 28.2480936 miles/gallon(UK). 

 

Looks like you like to use your right foot a lot  or as I said before the 1.8 I only have to tickle for it to go and the 1.4 you have to give it more. My friend's 1st car was an Escort 1.4 Ghia and then he went to the 1.6 Ghia and found the 1.6 was more economical.

Edited 31 March, 2015 by Delboy001

[themanwithnoaim]

Looks like you like to use your right foot a lot

Possiby I'm admitting to nothing

[BA Baracus]

Sweeping statement coming up here - are those coming from smaller engines not going to think the 1.4 is great, while those coming from bigger engines are going to think m'eh?

[ednmra]

Sweeping statement coming up here - are those coming from smaller engines not going to think the 1.4 is great, while those coming from bigger engines are going to think m'eh?

Well, the whole point of my original comment is that I WAS coming from a bigger engine, with nominally 20 more horse power.

Now I won't say I can't tell any difference, but the difference is so small that it doesn't bother me.

 

Having said that, I'm not comparing each of them against a stopwatch, because I doubt I have ever used, or will ever use, either of them flat out.

So, one way of looking at it is that say I was using 70% of the 1.8's available power, maybe I'm using 85% of the 1.4's.

But I'm not racing anyone so who cares !!?