VAG 1.6 TDi - any issues?

[downstairs]

I'm looking at a range of possibilities for my next commuter, and several of them from the VAG group use their 105ps 1.6 diesel. From the numbers it seems perfect for my needs - enough oomph to actually work in a car, but frugal enough to make a real difference in my pocket.

But; some comments I've seen concern me about this engine as a long-term prospect, and I'll be doing ~18k miles per year in whatever I buy next. Is there anything I ought to be concerned about?

[Matt UK]

There are plenty of 3 year old cars with 100k on them.
Not sure if they do that with ease or lots of dealer nurturing though.

[Rick Cutler]

My Golf 1.6Tdi 105ps (Which i sold earlier this year) seemed to require servicing more often than my old 2.0Tdi Passat.

Weather or not this was because I had to pay for servicing on the Golf or not but maybe the service light comes on earlier due to the extra work on the engine.

[BFG TERRANO]

I had this engine in my 11 reg Ibiza from new that just went back on 64000.

It's lively enough for a daily for sure but don't expect to see huge mpg if it's sat on the motorway regularly. If you sit at 50-60 mph you will hit above 50mpg with ease. If you are in lane 3 doing, let's say a "good pace" mid 40s is more like it.

I didn't see any gain over previous 2 litre tdi golfs.

[glasgowrob]

know quite a few people with these in Octavia taxis,


seem fine apart from being a bit prone to EGR valve faults.



but other than that I cant honestly say theres anything that stands out

[eddieantifreeze]

I have a 2012 Skoda Fabia (Monte Carlo chav spec) with that engine in.

I see pretty much the same mpg figures as the 11plate ibiza above. Fantastic economy below 65mph, when at a decent cruising speed the engine doesn't have the natural torque of a 1.9/2.0litre to overcome the aero drag so mpg drops to ~45.

Twice it simply refused to start, dealer claimed nothing was logged on diagnostics despite lots of red MIL lights

Once the water pump seal went and it dumped all its water, the dealer 'happened' to have a new one in stock which aroused suspicion that it might be a common fault. Car has about 28k on it now.

Despite the issues not a bad engine though.

[telecat]

I know a guy whose business is Taxi's. He reckons that they do not last as long and need more servicing than the older "lumps". Especially in Bigger cars.

[Petrol Only]

Missus covered 100k in 3 years with that engine in a golf.

Faultless.

However god it was slow and not really all that economical. Mid 50s

Now has a new octavia with the 2.0. Returned from amsterdam yesterday fully loaded tents lots of beer etc Cruising at 80-95. 520 miles later 49.5 mpg. Far far nicer to pedal along. On her usual run to work. Returning nearly 60 over a tank.

[BFG TERRANO]

Petrol Only said:

Missus covered 100k in 3 years with that engine in a golf.

Faultless.

However god it was slow and not really all that economical. Mid 50s

Now has a new octavia with the 2.0. Returned from amsterdam yesterday fully loaded tents lots of beer etc Cruising at 80-95. 520 miles later 49.5 mpg. Far far nicer to pedal along.

Exactly what I found. Apart from a shilling on company car tax I didn't see any saving from a 1.6 compared to the 2.0.

[downstairs]

BFG TERRANO said:

Petrol Only said:

Missus covered 100k in 3 years with that engine in a golf.

Faultless.

However god it was slow and not really all that economical. Mid 50s

Now has a new octavia with the 2.0. Returned from amsterdam yesterday fully loaded tents lots of beer etc Cruising at 80-95. 520 miles later 49.5 mpg. Far far nicer to pedal along.

Exactly what I found. Apart from a shilling on company car tax I didn't see any saving from a 1.6 compared to the 2.0.

Thanks for the responses everybody. Does that mean it isn't anywhere near the claimed consumption figures? I realise nothing actually achieves its official figures, but some cars can be close enough to not matter - does this miss by a mile?

[BFG TERRANO]

My Ibiza was a mile off what the book said. My daily journey was 100 miles, mostly motorway. This was where figures dropped mostly, on the dash and worked out tank to tank.

If you drive A and B roads 50-60 mph stuff it's hard to beat and had reasonable take off for overtaking.

Mechanically the engine was fine. All it needed was an exhaust temp sensor carried out under warranty. The car itself was awful. Seat build quality is poor, I'd not have another.

Prior to it I'd had 2 golfs and a passat, all 2 litres tdi. Myself, I'd not go 1600 again as I don't see any gains.

[Petrol Only]

downstairs said:

Thanks for the responses everybody. Does that mean it isn't anywhere near the claimed consumption figures? I realise nothing actually achieves its official figures, but some cars can be close enough to not matter - does this miss by a mile?

We found it was capable of 70 plus mpg on a run. But you had to sit at an indicated 50. Which is far too slow for the motorway. The big stuff is flying past you. We found it's biggest issue was it's gearing. Needed a 6th. The new Octy at 70 is cruising at about 1200rpm. Compared to 2000 plus in the golf.


If you like to travel everywhere in slowmotion and never in a rush to get anywhere then a 1.6 slowmotion will be hard to beat for economy. However if you value social time and a bit more grunt then 2.0 all they way.

Edited by Petrol Only on Monday 7th July 10:25

[thatdude]

BFG TERRANO said:

I had this engine in my 11 reg Ibiza from new that just went back on 64000.

It's lively enough for a daily for sure but don't expect to see huge mpg if it's sat on the motorway regularly. If you sit at 50-60 mph you will hit above 50mpg with ease. If you are in lane 3 doing, let's say a "good pace" mid 40s is more like it.

I didn't see any gain over previous 2 litre tdi golfs.

Thats terrible - my 1.6 litre petrol in my honda civic does the same sort of mpg, and its a 9 year old car

[Rick Cutler]

Golf 1.6TDi 105ps SE 3Door on a 10 Plate

Driving speed 56mph, getting 65mpg
Driving speed 70mph, getting 50mpg

Driving round town, getting sub 40mpg

I now have a Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2.2TDi 200ps and it achieves better MPG in all cases!

[downstairs]

Rick Cutler said:

Golf 1.6TDi 105ps SE 3Door on a 10 Plate

Driving speed 56mph, getting 65mpg
Driving speed 70mph, getting 50mpg

Driving round town, getting sub 40mpg

I now have a Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2.2TDi 200ps and it achieves better MPG in all cases!

Astonishing!

e: so astonishing in fact, that I might even veer towards the VAG 1.4 TSi as an alternative (so long as that gets somewhere near the claimed numbers.

Edited by downstairs on Monday 7th July 10:46

[nicanary]

I had the 1.6tdi in a Golf and did 80k in 3 years with no bother at all. Only once did the DPF warning light come on, and I soon cleared that with a fast run up the dual-carriageway. I traded it for a Leon SE with supposedly the same motor, but the DPF regeneration occurs far too often for my liking, even though it's being used for the same routes and driving style. The dealer says it's normal. You get used to it, but pedestrians give you funny looks - it's noisy and stinks.

I agree about the mpg of others - I get an average of 50mpg on fast A-road driving, dropping to 40mpg around town. The dash shows around 60mpg if you toddle along at 56mph. I had an Accord 2.2cdti, a big heavy lump of a car, and I got figures only just below that. The benefits are cheaper insurance and road tax. My brother has the 1.2 petrol and gets excellent mileage, but he drives like an old fart.

I had a first-series Leon back in 2002, and it gave nothing but bother with the build quality. I swore I'd never have another, but I decided I was being petty. Now I wish I'd stuck with VW - the "low tyre pressure" warning light came on at the weekend, and all pressures are perfectly fine. I've cancelled the warning using the onboard computer. I had it serviced by my regular garage who are not franchised to Seat, and they followed the software instructions, but couldn't stop the onboard message "service due" so now it's driving me crazy. Don't believe the car mags who tell you it's got VW quality at a cheaper price - they are not built well, on the whole.

[scorcher]

My missus does about 40-50K a year (ADI) and reckons her 105 1.2TSI has been as cheap if not cheaper to run as the 1.6 tdi 105 it replaced, and has had far less problems.

[edc]

Audi A1 1.6tdi here. 2 year long term average over 31k is 47mpg. 15-20 miles each way each week day on the motorway. With a fuel card I'm not trying for economy though.

[BFG TERRANO]

downstairs said:

Astonishing!

e: so astonishing in fact, that I might even veer towards the VAG 1.4 TSi as an alternative (so long as that gets somewhere near the claimed numbers.

Edited by downstairs on Monday 7th July 10:46

Factor in the extra cost of diesel fuel and the sums become interesting.

I've just gone from 3 diesel cars to 2 petrols. Wish I'd done it long ago.

[downstairs]

scorcher said:

My missus does about 40-50K a year (ADI) and reckons her 105 1.2TSI has been as cheap if not cheaper to run as the 1.6 tdi 105 it replaced, and has had far less problems.

Ah! I meant the 1.2 TSi, not the 1.4 - the 1.4 is the hairier hot hatchy one isn't it.