180 bhp 1.4 TSI and DSG in Fabia VRS/Polo GTi/Seat Ibiza
Discussion
Hi
I'm just after a bit of advice on the engine/gearbox combination in these cars.
As a bit of background-I'm looking for a small, relatively quick hatch.
Looking at <£9,000; <50,000 miles and 170-200 BHP, so options include the 208 GTi, RenaultSport Clio, Mini Cooper S, and the Seat/Skoda versions of this range.
My partner has an auto-only license so the DSG 'box is attractive. But I'm concerned about the reliability reputation that these cars have-a quick look at the "honest john" reviews shows a huge number of faults with the engine/gearbox.
Would you consider them or not touch them with someone else's bargepole?
Has anyone got any experience with owning these cars and the reliability etc?
I'm just after a bit of advice on the engine/gearbox combination in these cars.
As a bit of background-I'm looking for a small, relatively quick hatch.
Looking at <£9,000; <50,000 miles and 170-200 BHP, so options include the 208 GTi, RenaultSport Clio, Mini Cooper S, and the Seat/Skoda versions of this range.
My partner has an auto-only license so the DSG 'box is attractive. But I'm concerned about the reliability reputation that these cars have-a quick look at the "honest john" reviews shows a huge number of faults with the engine/gearbox.
Would you consider them or not touch them with someone else's bargepole?
Has anyone got any experience with owning these cars and the reliability etc?
There are a lot of horror stories regarding the engine, mainly related to excessive oil consumption, and have exchanged emails with HJ on this in the past.
I can only speak from the experience of my car, which I bought new in July 2011 (Polo GTI). I've still got it now and I've had no issues and I've thoroughly enjoyed owning it.
Perhaps I got lucky any oil issues, but I believe the earlier cars may have been the worst effected, so the later you can find hopefully the better.
I wanted the Cupra or GTI and chose the latter primarily based on what I perceived to be a nicer interior.
I use it as a mile muncher and for my quick/short cross country commute. For my needs, it has been excellent. I had only owned manuals prior to this and I will happily look at similar transmissions when changing my car in the future.
I also hear very good things about the Pug 208 GTI. I have no experience, but if you can get a nicely depreciated newer one of them for a similar price, albeit manual only (I believe), then that might not be a bad move.
I can only speak from the experience of my car, which I bought new in July 2011 (Polo GTI). I've still got it now and I've had no issues and I've thoroughly enjoyed owning it.
Perhaps I got lucky any oil issues, but I believe the earlier cars may have been the worst effected, so the later you can find hopefully the better.
I wanted the Cupra or GTI and chose the latter primarily based on what I perceived to be a nicer interior.
I use it as a mile muncher and for my quick/short cross country commute. For my needs, it has been excellent. I had only owned manuals prior to this and I will happily look at similar transmissions when changing my car in the future.
I also hear very good things about the Pug 208 GTI. I have no experience, but if you can get a nicely depreciated newer one of them for a similar price, albeit manual only (I believe), then that might not be a bad move.
Wife has had a 2013 vRS Fabia from new.
Now done about 28k
Probably only been used properly half a dozen times in its life - she doesn't let me drive it very often :-)
Been absolutely faultless
Short runs 38mpg
Long runs 45 mpg
Uses a bit of oil (it has the later type engine) - about 700 miles per pint
We usually keep her car for 2 years then change, but she loves it that much she won't let me, and tbh, I wouldn't know what to get to replace it!
On the rare occasions she has let me take it, it drives like a go-cart, with only a hint of torque steer and seamless gearchanges, even when pulling hard.
I'm impressed with it.
Now done about 28k
Probably only been used properly half a dozen times in its life - she doesn't let me drive it very often :-)
Been absolutely faultless
Short runs 38mpg
Long runs 45 mpg
Uses a bit of oil (it has the later type engine) - about 700 miles per pint
We usually keep her car for 2 years then change, but she loves it that much she won't let me, and tbh, I wouldn't know what to get to replace it!
On the rare occasions she has let me take it, it drives like a go-cart, with only a hint of torque steer and seamless gearchanges, even when pulling hard.
I'm impressed with it.
cookie118 said:
Cheers-thanks for that 
I think the thing that I'm struggling with is that there doesn't seem to be any particular rule to it-apart from maybe going for a later car.
The pug is the most tempting option-but the dsg could swing it if I know I'm getting a reliable one!
Mine has full VW service history (same dealer), so I'd hope any buyer could check with them and ask what work has/hasn't been needed, and if there is nothing to suggest it has been in for investigations etc, hopefully it will be indicative that it is a good one I think the thing that I'm struggling with is that there doesn't seem to be any particular rule to it-apart from maybe going for a later car.
The pug is the most tempting option-but the dsg could swing it if I know I'm getting a reliable one!
The running costs of these cars (GTI/Cupra/VRS and ST/208/RS) are really very appealing to me, obviously provided nothing goes wrong! In your shoes, if the Pug is the most tempting, I think I'd go for it, otherwise if you end up with one of the others and experience problems, you will no doubt be kicking yourself!
AlwynMike said:
Wife has had a 2013 vRS Fabia from new.
Now done about 28k
....
Been absolutely faultless
Short runs 38mpg
Long runs 45 mpg
Uses a bit of oil (it has the later type engine) - about 700 miles per pint
.....
Now done about 28k
....
Been absolutely faultless
Short runs 38mpg
Long runs 45 mpg
Uses a bit of oil (it has the later type engine) - about 700 miles per pint
.....
Cudd Wudd said:
Mine has full VW service history (same dealer), so I'd hope any buyer could check with them and ask what work has/hasn't been needed, and if there is nothing to suggest it has been in for investigations etc, hopefully it will be indicative that it is a good one
The running costs of these cars (GTI/Cupra/VRS and ST/208/RS) are really very appealing to me, obviously provided nothing goes wrong! In your shoes, if the Pug is the most tempting, I think I'd go for it, otherwise if you end up with one of the others and experience problems, you will no doubt be kicking yourself!
Cheers-from looking it seems like the later engines are more reliable than the earlier ones, but it's no sure thing. The one I'm looking at is from a main dealer with a warranty and a 30 day exchange which sounds good to me. I'm going for a test drive at the weekend-hopefully back to back with a Pug.The running costs of these cars (GTI/Cupra/VRS and ST/208/RS) are really very appealing to me, obviously provided nothing goes wrong! In your shoes, if the Pug is the most tempting, I think I'd go for it, otherwise if you end up with one of the others and experience problems, you will no doubt be kicking yourself!
Hi
Just thought I'd update this-I test drove a fabia vrs yesterday-and although the engine/transmission is very impressive I just didn't find myself felling with the car. I think it's just that having an automatic box isn't for me, so I think I'll go with a manual car and get my girlfriend insured on that so she can practice before a manual test.
That engine is very, very good though. I drove a 160 hp abarth recently and the skoda felt so much more than 20bhp more!
Thanks for the advice guys.
Just thought I'd update this-I test drove a fabia vrs yesterday-and although the engine/transmission is very impressive I just didn't find myself felling with the car. I think it's just that having an automatic box isn't for me, so I think I'll go with a manual car and get my girlfriend insured on that so she can practice before a manual test.
That engine is very, very good though. I drove a 160 hp abarth recently and the skoda felt so much more than 20bhp more!
Thanks for the advice guys.
Had one from new for nearly 4 years and 50000 miles. Got a new job which meant 110 mile round trips on Welsh A and B roads and most of it before dawn so you can imagine the journeys were covered briskly. It did not have an easy life but was always maintained, good tyres, serviced always at Skoda, etc. Mine would only use oil when driving slowly in town. Kick it's head in once warm and it was barely a litre in 8000 miles. The only hassle I had was coming to sell and is a lesson to all about how much you post online. Because I asked on a forum about what was normal oil usage, completely innocently when I first got it, a user took it upon himself to pull out every thread I ever posted about it and even tried to shame me by saying I'd done a track day in it, which was hilarious in itself because it was a forum organised one. Pretty sure mine was the first non demo vRS Estate to go on track. Had a bit of interest but the inevitable timewasters led me to give to a WBAC equivalent for actually good money. Far easier than handling tyre kickers.
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff