Hope someone can help. I am about to buy a car with this engine and the dealer told me it has a belt but that it is long life belt that should last the life of the car. It only needs checking at 100,000 miles and then every 20,000 miles thereafter. I cannot find anything on the internet to confirm this. Can anyone tell me if this is true.

 

thanks in advance

I thought the 1.4TSi had a chain drive dohc top end?

 

Is there a brand new 1.4 that's got a belt?

Edited 10 July, 20169 yr by camelspyyder

I thought the 1.4TSi had a chain drive dohc top end?

 

Is there a brand new 1.4 that's got a belt?

Yes, like the 1.2

Yes to which?  I should only ask one question at a time.

 

I reckon the 1.4 / 122 PS is the old Chain drive one

 

There is also a 1.4 / 125 PS which is I think the new Belt driver in MY 16 and  newer Rapids.

 

This begs the questions, how old is the car the OP is buying? and does the dealer know what they are talking about??

Edited 10 July, 20169 yr by camelspyyder

Car is 2013. Salesman talked to his workshop - turns out it is a chain.

Understood.

Now you have to look at 2012/13 Rapid issues then. Underdeveloped chassis with often crashy ride and poor steering. Poorly assembled body in some cases with notorious wind roar from hatch - easy fix though. Low low specs (unless it's an elegance). Cars from the end of the year 2013 say Nov/Dec are much improved especially the suspension/steering upgrade from the then new Sportback.

Edited 11 July, 20169 yr by camelspyyder

I wished I had read a bit more before committing to the deal, however as I needed a car (previous Octavia written off by wife) it will have to do. Car is Sep 2013 and is an elegance so hope it does what I need. If I had researched a bit more I might have gone for a slightly more expensive later model. Oh well.

The few 1.4 DSG drivers on here love them. Gotta be the best engine option.

Edited 11 July, 20169 yr by camelspyyder

Don't be to put off by some of the issues... we're on our second elegance 2013 plate (we got shunted by a recycling truck) it meets all our needs and has done us well.

I wished I had read a bit more before committing to the deal, however as I needed a car (previous Octavia written off by wife) it will have to do. Car is Sep 2013 and is an elegance so hope it does what I need. If I had researched a bit more I might have gone for a slightly more expensive later model. Oh well.

 

Presume you test drove the car and liked it - just enjoy it!

 

I have the same 1.4 engine in the much bigger Superb II and it tugs that along surprisingly well and is amazingly economical for a petrol

 

Some early versions of the EA111 1.4tsi cam chain engine had tensioner/chain issues but the engine was well sorted by 2013. Go for fixed (10k/year) servicing rather than variable - cam chains like clean oil. I remember Saabs of old where if they had been regularly serviced engine inc cam chain did starship mileages - if service was patchy then they didn't last long

Thanks for reassurance. I did like it on the test drive and have had the car for about 2 weeks now. Very happy with it. Not so impressed with Skoda Nottingham where I bought it from. Car was not even cleaned before I collected it.