VW 1.4 TSI vs 1.6 FSI
Discussion
So following on from another thread about the VW Eos and roof leaks, the MIL is prepared to live with them. The question now moves to the engine choice.
There is a 07 1.6 FSI 110bhp available for 17k euros.
I have seen many threads about how the ABS unit fails on the 1.6FSI and costs about 1,5-2k to fix but apart from that they seem fine.
There is also an 08 1.4 TSI with 122bhp available for 19k euros. As far I can see it does not suffer the expensive ABS fault is is a more powerful but more economical engine. It also cheaper on the road tax here. The question is, is worth the extra dosh?
Performance and fuel economy are not really that important or big a saving as it is a low mileage car for going to the shops and beach.
Part of me says just take the 1.6 and if the ABS fails replace it and take the financial hit as it 2k less to begin with. I also wonder about the long term reliability and added complexity of the Turbo 1.4TSI motor over the simpler NA 1.6.
Both have approx 20k miles on the clock so still low mileage.
Anyone had one or both of these engines and care to compare notes?
There is a 07 1.6 FSI 110bhp available for 17k euros.
I have seen many threads about how the ABS unit fails on the 1.6FSI and costs about 1,5-2k to fix but apart from that they seem fine.
There is also an 08 1.4 TSI with 122bhp available for 19k euros. As far I can see it does not suffer the expensive ABS fault is is a more powerful but more economical engine. It also cheaper on the road tax here. The question is, is worth the extra dosh?
Performance and fuel economy are not really that important or big a saving as it is a low mileage car for going to the shops and beach.
Part of me says just take the 1.6 and if the ABS fails replace it and take the financial hit as it 2k less to begin with. I also wonder about the long term reliability and added complexity of the Turbo 1.4TSI motor over the simpler NA 1.6.
Both have approx 20k miles on the clock so still low mileage.
Anyone had one or both of these engines and care to compare notes?
On paper there is not much between the 1.6 FSI and 1.4 TSI, just 7bhp, but the TSI delivers more torque at low engine speeds and drives much better. It also has improved economy and CO2, and IIRC doesn't require 98-RON like the FSI engine. Will also hold onto its value better. It's really a better engine in every way, but obviously more expensive to buy. Your best bet is to test drive both and decide.
magnus911 said:
va1o said:
doesn't require 98-RON like the FSI engine.
The FSI engine doesn't require this.No car really requires that; they all have to be capable of running on 95RON to be sold in the EU I think.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Gr...
90 to 103 kW variants — 95 RON ultra-low sulphur unleaded petrol (ULSP)
110 to 125 kW variants — 98 RON 'Super Unleaded' ultra-low sulphur unleaded petrol (ULSP) - 95 RON may be used, but will result in lower power output
magnus911 said:
Dino D said:
I have seen many threads about how the ABS unit fails on the 1.6FSI and costs about 1,5-2k to fix but apart from that they seem fine.
Why would the ABS unit be different on either model? Are they both the same model year?magnus911 said:
No car really requires that; they all have to be capable of running on 95RON to be sold in the EU
Ok I'll rephrase, for optimum performance and economy it needs 98-RON. Otherwise the FSI technology dosen't work.Edited by va1o on Friday 7th May 11:03
va1o said:
Ok I'll rephrase, for optimum performance and economy it needs 98-RON. Otherwise the FSI technology dosen't work.
Fair enough! I was happy to initially put 95 in my TFSI engine but was told to only run Optimax when I remapped it.I have had to use 95 a couple of times since when premium wasn't available and the difference is noticeable.
Both engines have their faults. But thus far only broken pistons on the 1.4TSIs and piston slap on the 1.6's. Plus multiple misfires on both. Most times Coils, sometimes injectors or cylinder heads.
As for 98. We recommend it to customers who have any sort of intermittant cough / simialr on the FSI cars. When you remember that the fuel pressure is stupidly high on those engines. The extra 2-5p a litre is a good idea.
On that note. ALL the FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection - i.e really mixed well!
) engines only really run in full FSI mode 5-10% of the time. It is only a set of flaps in the intake controlled by a small vaccum actuator. Which affects the air flow into the cylinder.
Ant to the OP, if the MIL is happy to chance an Eos. Far be it from us to dissaude her
Her mney, and she'l be the one moaning her cars always away trying to stop it becoming a Olympic swimming pool inside. Nice Dashboard though 
As for 98. We recommend it to customers who have any sort of intermittant cough / simialr on the FSI cars. When you remember that the fuel pressure is stupidly high on those engines. The extra 2-5p a litre is a good idea.
On that note. ALL the FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection - i.e really mixed well!
) engines only really run in full FSI mode 5-10% of the time. It is only a set of flaps in the intake controlled by a small vaccum actuator. Which affects the air flow into the cylinder. Ant to the OP, if the MIL is happy to chance an Eos. Far be it from us to dissaude her
Her mney, and she'l be the one moaning her cars always away trying to stop it becoming a Olympic swimming pool inside. Nice Dashboard though Rich_W said:
Both engines have their faults. But thus far only broken pistons on the 1.4TSIs and piston slap on the 1.6's. Plus multiple misfires on both. Most times Coils, sometimes injectors or cylinder heads.
As for 98. We recommend it to customers who have any sort of intermittant cough / simialr on the FSI cars. When you remember that the fuel pressure is stupidly high on those engines. The extra 2-5p a litre is a good idea.
On that note. ALL the FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection - i.e really mixed well! ) engines only really run in full FSI mode 5-10% of the time. It is only a set of flaps in the intake controlled by a small vaccum actuator. Which affects the air flow into the cylinder.
Ant to the OP, if the MIL is happy to chance an Eos. Far be it from us to dissaude her Her mney, and she'l be the one moaning her cars always away trying to stop it becoming a Olympic swimming pool inside. Nice Dashboard though
And there I was telling her to stay away from the French ones...Do tell more about these piston issues - what sort of abuse is required to make pistons break and slap and what sort of mileage you talking about? As for 98. We recommend it to customers who have any sort of intermittant cough / simialr on the FSI cars. When you remember that the fuel pressure is stupidly high on those engines. The extra 2-5p a litre is a good idea.
On that note. ALL the FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection - i.e really mixed well!
) engines only really run in full FSI mode 5-10% of the time. It is only a set of flaps in the intake controlled by a small vaccum actuator. Which affects the air flow into the cylinder. Ant to the OP, if the MIL is happy to chance an Eos. Far be it from us to dissaude her
Her mney, and she'l be the one moaning her cars always away trying to stop it becoming a Olympic swimming pool inside. Nice Dashboard though So far as I/we can tell. They are all under 30k. And doesn't appear to be abuse related. Just poor manufacturing. Currently the 1.6 FSI's are rattling. There's 2 faults there. One is the camshaft adjuster (inlet) taking 5-6 seconds to prime from cold. Lots of them about. Most customers just ignore it! The other is piston slap from cold when giving it a gentle rev to about 2k rpm. It does drown out once the engines warm. I've done 3 of them in the last 6 months. Last one I did had IIRC 15K on the clock!
Ref the 1.4 Turbo/Supercharged engines. Stil very few of them about. But I did one in Jan. That had cracked 2 pistons (on the side between the rings) and the debris had scored the bores. And there's another one we currently have that's also scored the bore on Number 1.
Ref the 1.4 Turbo/Supercharged engines. Stil very few of them about. But I did one in Jan. That had cracked 2 pistons (on the side between the rings) and the debris had scored the bores. And there's another one we currently have that's also scored the bore on Number 1.
Rich_W said:
Yes.
Yes. So far all engines have been under warranty.
This is really quite sad and only adds fuel to my fire (and negative opinions about VAG products).Yes. So far all engines have been under warranty.
I really thought VAG had improved given their piss poor offerings between 2001 and 2005 as most were riddled with reliability/quality issues but it doesn't seem the case.
A shame really as for the first time in ages the wife and I genuinely like the Scirocco and would definitely consider the 1.4TSI. However upon reading this I will remain steadfast in my opinion that they are not worth touching with a bargepole
Yeah thats a good enough reason for everyone on Pistonheads to not bother with the 1.4 TSI, because some bloke says hes repaired a couple under warranty 
Just for the record I've heard of issues on the 2.0, so best avoid that one too eh?
Not many engines left to choose from now
...
Just for the record I've heard of issues on the 2.0, so best avoid that one too eh?
Not many engines left to choose from now
...Edited by va1o on Friday 14th May 20:12
va1o said:
Yeah thats a good enough reason for everyone on Pistonheads to not bother with the 1.4 TSI, because some bloke says hes repaired a couple under warranty
Just for the record I've heard of issues on the 2.0, so best avoid that one too eh?
Not many engines left to choose from now...
I guess it depends on your standards really but that's generally why I buy Japanese. Any engine problems are a no no in my book and from the other posts there are clearly issues with ABS and we're not that far down the (car) lifecycle. Maybe that's acceptable for the majority but not for me. As an engineer this shows a distinct lack of interest in producing *quality* with more focus on profits and am in no doubt that there will be a great many other things lining up for poor unsuspecting folk in months/years to come.Just for the record I've heard of issues on the 2.0, so best avoid that one too eh?
Not many engines left to choose from now
...Edited by va1o on Friday 14th May 20:12
I hope it's not another 2001-2005 VAG vintage but I'm not investing £20k of my money to find out.
Edited by Fatman2 on Friday 14th May 23:49
Fatman2 said:
I guess it depends on your standards really but that's generally why I buy Japanese.
Pretty depressing stuff to hear about major issues on a major, German premium brand car...Nevertheless deposit down on 1.4TSI with 20k miles on the clock. Hold thumbs!!Like Fatman I went back to Japanese with a Honda Jazz CVT for the wife (after a brief, fun but wallet busting affair with a French hatch....).
Guess what - looking around on-line and you will see that our Jap friends at Honda made a duff gearbox with major problems that require complete replacement. The model I have is suppose to be improved with less issues and a new CVT fluid is being used with shorter intervals for the oil change being recommended but still very very poor standards from the supposedly ultra reliable Honda boys so don't take Jap reliability for granted either (and don't believe those surveys that put the Honda Jazz as one of the most reliable cars out there!)
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