Mk5 Golf 1.4 TSI or GTI

[shotta287]

Hi all,

Asking for a family member who is looking to buy either a 1.4 TSI 170 or GTI. Insurance and initial price (for a good one) is higher for the GTI. But I have heard of issues with the TSI. Anybody got experience of owning both perhaps?

Thanks as always.

[thebraketester]

Get the GTi.. the 1.4tsi is a bit of a duffer.

[billzeebub]

Gti of course

[cuprabob]

Stay clear of the 1.4 twincharger engine and pick the GTI

[spiralp]

Lots of internet advice is to stay clear of the 1.4TSI. For what it is worth mine has now done 225,000 miles, and I have owned it for 10 years (since new). Apart from replacing the stretched timing chain at around 120,000 miles, all the problems have been common to ALL mk5 golfs (air con, ABS, rusty front wings, 2nd gear syncro, etc). I have driven it all over Europe without any problems, but maybe I was just lucky?

[SuperchargedVR6]

More likely you were just diligent in it's upkeep. Not many people are, and they are usually the first to complain when issues arise.

There is no way ANY MK5 Golf, let alone the 1.4, would put in 225K miles without the requisite amount of financial and time investment.

And OP, get the GTI. Why anyone would want a 1.4 Golf is a mystery to me. The GTI is better in every area that matters to keen drivers.

[va1o]

I owned a 2008 Leon 1.4 TSI then replaced it with a 2006 GTI. The Golf was a much better car in every way possible, absolutely loved it. The bigger engine is also quite a lot more reliable and wasn't that much worse on fuel.