Audi A1 185 &a Polo Gti 1.4tsi Engine issues
Discussion
I am looking at purchasing an Audi a1 185or Polo gti. I believe these use the apparently troublesome 1.4tsi engine used in the likes of the polo gti seat Ibiza cupra etc. My question is did VW fix the issues with engine, from a particular date of manufacture would the car not have these previous issues. What are the costs of fixing these issues? If anyone has had any experience with this it would be very helpful?
The reason I am looking at this particular engine is because the insurance comes out cheap for the acceleration and power you get? Just don't need loads of issues or the insurance saving won't be worth it?
The reason I am looking at this particular engine is because the insurance comes out cheap for the acceleration and power you get? Just don't need loads of issues or the insurance saving won't be worth it?
I was in a situation like you, I’m 19 years old and wanted a fast hot hatch with a “smaller” 1.4 size Engine for the insurance. Unfortunately these 1.4TSI Twincharge engines are just awful. I think they made some improvements on 2013/14- onwards cars but didn’t really help. From what I have heard they are great fun to drive, and actually react better to being driven hard (use less oil).
I was looking at the Polo GTI in particular, but there’s a reason they are so cheap on Autotrader. Ended up getting a Polo 1.6 TDI and will Remap it instead. Admittedly the GTI was only £300 more a year to Insure over the TDI but just wasn’t willing to take the risk.
If you do decide to go for one be sure it has an approved 1 year warranty at least.
I was looking at the Polo GTI in particular, but there’s a reason they are so cheap on Autotrader. Ended up getting a Polo 1.6 TDI and will Remap it instead. Admittedly the GTI was only £300 more a year to Insure over the TDI but just wasn’t willing to take the risk.
If you do decide to go for one be sure it has an approved 1 year warranty at least.
SWMBO has a 2013 Fabia vRS with the later engine. (180bhp)
Absolute hoot to drive although I must say it's only been given the beans around half a dozen times in its life, which us the number of times she has let me drive it without her in!! She rarely goes over 60.
Does use oil, around 1000 miles per pint which is nowhere near action level.
I took the 5 year warranty when the car was new but it has been faultless
I want her to change it, but she loves it and doesnt want to let it go.
Thing is, what small warm hatch with 5 doors and auto is there to buy at reasonable cost???
Golf size is too big for her so looks like a Mini Cooper Seven with the 150bhp triple.
Even thought of a Jazz Sport, but no heated seats, which are a must for her (old!)
Absolute hoot to drive although I must say it's only been given the beans around half a dozen times in its life, which us the number of times she has let me drive it without her in!! She rarely goes over 60.
Does use oil, around 1000 miles per pint which is nowhere near action level.
I took the 5 year warranty when the car was new but it has been faultless
I want her to change it, but she loves it and doesnt want to let it go.
Thing is, what small warm hatch with 5 doors and auto is there to buy at reasonable cost???
Golf size is too big for her so looks like a Mini Cooper Seven with the 150bhp triple.
Even thought of a Jazz Sport, but no heated seats, which are a must for her (old!)
AlwynMike said:
SWMBO has a 2013 Fabia vRS with the later engine. (180bhp)
Absolute hoot to drive although I must say it's only been given the beans around half a dozen times in its life, which us the number of times she has let me drive it without her in!! She rarely goes over 60.
Does use oil, around 1000 miles per pint which is nowhere near action level.
I took the 5 year warranty when the car was new but it has been faultless
I want her to change it, but she loves it and doesnt want to let it go.
Thing is, what small warm hatch with 5 doors and auto is there to buy at reasonable cost???
Golf size is too big for her so looks like a Mini Cooper Seven with the 150bhp triple.
Even thought of a Jazz Sport, but no heated seats, which are a must for her (old!)
If you want to sell, ping me Absolute hoot to drive although I must say it's only been given the beans around half a dozen times in its life, which us the number of times she has let me drive it without her in!! She rarely goes over 60.
Does use oil, around 1000 miles per pint which is nowhere near action level.
I took the 5 year warranty when the car was new but it has been faultless
I want her to change it, but she loves it and doesnt want to let it go.
Thing is, what small warm hatch with 5 doors and auto is there to buy at reasonable cost???
Golf size is too big for her so looks like a Mini Cooper Seven with the 150bhp triple.
Even thought of a Jazz Sport, but no heated seats, which are a must for her (old!)
I'd say avoid.
I had a 2013 Polo GTI from new with the supposedly fixed engine. Great for the first year but after the first service it broke down 9 times in the next 2 1/2 years.
It had only done 9500 miles by the time I forced VW to buy it back off me as I'd lost confidence in it's reliability and hence never used it for long distances. Great car, hoot to drive when it worked, but a miserable owners experience and enough to put me off of VAG for life. I was treated as a nuisance by the dealer despite having to leave the car with them for a week each time with no offer of courtesy car.
8 months after forcing VW to take it back at quite a financial hit, it came back up for sale. So it appears VW passed it on to another sucker rather than spend some money fixing it and that owner got shot as well.
I know someone else who had one for a year and that melted a few sparkplugs. Not fudn when you pull out to overtake and suddenly you're in limp mode firing on 3 cylinders.
I had a 2013 Polo GTI from new with the supposedly fixed engine. Great for the first year but after the first service it broke down 9 times in the next 2 1/2 years.
It had only done 9500 miles by the time I forced VW to buy it back off me as I'd lost confidence in it's reliability and hence never used it for long distances. Great car, hoot to drive when it worked, but a miserable owners experience and enough to put me off of VAG for life. I was treated as a nuisance by the dealer despite having to leave the car with them for a week each time with no offer of courtesy car.
8 months after forcing VW to take it back at quite a financial hit, it came back up for sale. So it appears VW passed it on to another sucker rather than spend some money fixing it and that owner got shot as well.
I know someone else who had one for a year and that melted a few sparkplugs. Not fudn when you pull out to overtake and suddenly you're in limp mode firing on 3 cylinders.
Edited by hornmeister on Tuesday 20th February 08:49
I got a brand new Polo GTI in 2011 as a company car.
Loved the car, the engine, and didn't take me long to fall in love with the DSG. It was rapid for a little hatch, and heaps of fun. In 3 years it did not break down once, only issue that needed fixing was the radiator sprung a small leak, something was mounted badly and eventually gouged a small hole in it.
I did often wonder if it was a 2 stroke engine, it used 1 litre of oil every 1000 miles until about 5K from memory, and thereafter something like a litre every 2500 miles. I had the option to buy the car at the end of the lease...hell no !
Loved the car, the engine, and didn't take me long to fall in love with the DSG. It was rapid for a little hatch, and heaps of fun. In 3 years it did not break down once, only issue that needed fixing was the radiator sprung a small leak, something was mounted badly and eventually gouged a small hole in it.
I did often wonder if it was a 2 stroke engine, it used 1 litre of oil every 1000 miles until about 5K from memory, and thereafter something like a litre every 2500 miles. I had the option to buy the car at the end of the lease...hell no !
Simply for the fear of the engine lunching itself at my expense mate, after reading multiple threads on engine issues I was put off. VW didn't continue this engine for very long which has got to tell you something. Shame, as if it had been a reliable unit, I'd have bought the car, or ordered another new one on lease.
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