Tame technician help!
Discussion
Dr G said:
1.9 TDI 130 good.
Often run by cheapskates as they've a reputation for being cheap to run.
2.0 FSI bad.
No power, no economy, no point.
1.8T good.
Older engine but well proven and usually only prone to relatively minor electrical issues. Regular oil changes crucial.
Thanks for this. What is crucial for me is reliability which is why the PD130 is of interest however most are priced around the £3k mark. I've seen a good 1.8T advertise for £1,600 with FASH and belt change. Economy is dire though!Often run by cheapskates as they've a reputation for being cheap to run.
2.0 FSI bad.
No power, no economy, no point.
1.8T good.
Older engine but well proven and usually only prone to relatively minor electrical issues. Regular oil changes crucial.
As Dr G really
2.0fsi crap
1.8T is ok, if I was going to run one, i would remove the sump and replace / remove the oil pump pick up strainer, these can get blocked and starve the engine of oil. Regular oil changes reduce the risk of this, but faulty PVC valves can bring it on even on well cared for cars.
1.9 is the pick of the bunch, but as with all car of the modern era, you do have variable vain turbos that can carbon up and stick, same can be said for EGR valves. A good thrash once fully up to temp once a week should keep this from happening.
2.0fsi crap
1.8T is ok, if I was going to run one, i would remove the sump and replace / remove the oil pump pick up strainer, these can get blocked and starve the engine of oil. Regular oil changes reduce the risk of this, but faulty PVC valves can bring it on even on well cared for cars.
1.9 is the pick of the bunch, but as with all car of the modern era, you do have variable vain turbos that can carbon up and stick, same can be said for EGR valves. A good thrash once fully up to temp once a week should keep this from happening.
Tame Technician said:
As Dr G really
2.0fsi crap
Do you mean crap as in unreliable or just generally crap for the performance/running costs?2.0fsi crap
The Mpg looks ok and they're dirt cheap. The 1.9TDI is definitely what I'd go for but they are expensive for age/miles. 1.9TDI quattro is what I really fancy but they can easily fetch £4,000!
2.0 F S I (normally aspirated)
Performance crap
ecconomy crap.
ETA
"unless you are on a run, constant at very light engine load (probbably 55mph) then it good, but in any other driving senario you wont get near the quoted figured"
The way the engine works and runs crap, (feels and sounds rough, bad throttle mapping, engine stutters as it changes modes)
Reliability crap
Early ones tended to melt the valves in the head, would now effectivly right off the car.
They all leak oil.
Lots of sensor issues that will put the engine light on.
Seariously one of my colleuges runs one (53 plate A3), because it cost less than £500 through the trade. So Yes they are cheap, and yes he's has not had a problem in a few months.
SO as I always say if you want one, dont beleive what you read on the internet, get one. Just go in eyes wide open. Get the newest lowest milage one you can afford, if you can find one with one elderly owner, detailed service history and its had a cylinder head, an NOx sensor, egr valve, cambelt and the coil recall recently, thats the one you want.
Performance crap
ecconomy crap.
ETA
"unless you are on a run, constant at very light engine load (probbably 55mph) then it good, but in any other driving senario you wont get near the quoted figured"
The way the engine works and runs crap, (feels and sounds rough, bad throttle mapping, engine stutters as it changes modes)
Reliability crap
Early ones tended to melt the valves in the head, would now effectivly right off the car.
They all leak oil.
Lots of sensor issues that will put the engine light on.
Seariously one of my colleuges runs one (53 plate A3), because it cost less than £500 through the trade. So Yes they are cheap, and yes he's has not had a problem in a few months.
SO as I always say if you want one, dont beleive what you read on the internet, get one. Just go in eyes wide open. Get the newest lowest milage one you can afford, if you can find one with one elderly owner, detailed service history and its had a cylinder head, an NOx sensor, egr valve, cambelt and the coil recall recently, thats the one you want.
Leicesterdave said:
Economy is dire though!
Sit down, and work out properly how many more miles you will have to travel to cover the extra £££ cost of buying a diesel car over a petrol one. You WILL be surprised.Don't obsess about "mpg=running cost", it's nowhere as near clear-cut as it was a decade ago, when diesel was - gasp - miles cheaper than petrol.
Leicesterdave said:
1.9 TDi it is then!
Does a 200,000 miles '03 Avant with FSH for £1k sound a remotely good idea?
Buy the best you can afford.Does a 200,000 miles '03 Avant with FSH for £1k sound a remotely good idea?
At 200,000 miles it might be cheap because it's at the end of its useful life. Has the most recent owner run it into the ground and sold it because there's 5 minutes left on the MOT?
Could be great and well maintained but you'd need to see it and look very carefully.
Dr G said:
Buy the best you can afford.
At 200,000 miles it might be cheap because it's at the end of its useful life. Has the most recent owner run it into the ground and sold it because there's 5 minutes left on the MOT?
Could be great and well maintained but you'd need to see it and look very carefully.
I hear you but most have done about 150,000 miles!At 200,000 miles it might be cheap because it's at the end of its useful life. Has the most recent owner run it into the ground and sold it because there's 5 minutes left on the MOT?
Could be great and well maintained but you'd need to see it and look very carefully.
My old B4 80TDI had 255k on the clock when I sold it, the guy who bought it, the towed a caravan around Spain for another 4000 miles, sent back lots of pics, said how happy he was with the car.
So, moral is, mileage not necessarily important, condition and servicing absolutely.
Kevin.
So, moral is, mileage not necessarily important, condition and servicing absolutely.
Kevin.
Ive got the 2.0 FSI Non Turbo. Performance is poor, economy isnt that bad but then I sit doing 60 on the motorway. You have to work it hard to get any type of performance from it and then that ruins the economy by half. Its out of breath really quickly and needed a 6th gear in my view. I can do 400 miles from £50, which is exactly my weeks worth of miles
Id look at a different engine. Ive got one cause it was cheap, suits me for my trip to work and I knew the previous owner well.
160K miles, a few bulbs and usual service stuff every 10K miles is all its asked for apart from:
New Fuel Pump
Frozen brake caliper
Leaky rocker cover gasket
Coolant leak
Engine Light comes on (until I clear it every 60 miles) reporting faulty sensors regarding Coolant Temp Sensor at Radiator Outlet or something. Annoying
But then its 13 years old
Id look at a different engine. Ive got one cause it was cheap, suits me for my trip to work and I knew the previous owner well.
160K miles, a few bulbs and usual service stuff every 10K miles is all its asked for apart from:
New Fuel Pump
Frozen brake caliper
Leaky rocker cover gasket
Coolant leak
Engine Light comes on (until I clear it every 60 miles) reporting faulty sensors regarding Coolant Temp Sensor at Radiator Outlet or something. Annoying
But then its 13 years old
Edited by oldaudi on Friday 5th September 14:29
Edited by oldaudi on Friday 5th September 14:32
Edited by oldaudi on Friday 5th September 14:34
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