VW Golf Mk7 1.4 TSI long-term reliability?
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking at spending 10k on one with a full-service history (around 50k miles, 2015/2014, 1.4 petrol manual)
Interested to hear from anyone who knows about them or has had one past 50k miles. I'm hoping to keep it for a while (I only do about 3/4k miles a year) and run it until it dies.
I'm interested in finding out
- Roughly how many miles can I expect it to last (assuming I service it every year and look after it ofc)
- Is there anything I need to look out for on them
- What big jobs will need doing to it at certain mileages (rough guesses ofc)
Any help is greatly appreciated
Looking at spending 10k on one with a full-service history (around 50k miles, 2015/2014, 1.4 petrol manual)
Interested to hear from anyone who knows about them or has had one past 50k miles. I'm hoping to keep it for a while (I only do about 3/4k miles a year) and run it until it dies.
I'm interested in finding out
- Roughly how many miles can I expect it to last (assuming I service it every year and look after it ofc)
- Is there anything I need to look out for on them
- What big jobs will need doing to it at certain mileages (rough guesses ofc)
Any help is greatly appreciated
Edited by tkerby919 on Wednesday 26th August 15:59
Had an Audi A3 with the 1.4 150bhp ACT engine, ran it for 3 years from new with no issues. Thereafter bought a 15 plate Seat Leon with the same engine. The car was just over 2 years old when we bought it. The car is now 5 years old.
No issues so far.
We've been told the Seat will need its timing belt changed as its now 5 years old.
Our petrol Consumption for the last 2k miles is 42mpg. The wife does alot of city driving so generally the fuel econony is slightly lower, about 38 mpg.
Long motorway runs can see over 50 mpg.
The Audi used to need a half litre of oil top up between services. For some reason the Seat hasn't needed any top ups.
No issues so far.
We've been told the Seat will need its timing belt changed as its now 5 years old.
Our petrol Consumption for the last 2k miles is 42mpg. The wife does alot of city driving so generally the fuel econony is slightly lower, about 38 mpg.
Long motorway runs can see over 50 mpg.
The Audi used to need a half litre of oil top up between services. For some reason the Seat hasn't needed any top ups.
I'm actually a bit of a DSG convert now, and looking at other cars with a DSG box. I like the fact that if you need to downshift, you can just pop the gearstick into S (sport) and it kicks it down a gear or two depending on what you're doing at the time (eg you might be braking as you enter a hairpin), it will have engaged by the time you're round the corner and ready to accelerate. Or if you want to overtake someone, drop it down a gear and it jumps up a couple of thousand RPMs ready for you to accelerate. I don't use the paddles at all or the manual stick-shift option (push stick to the left). To me, it feels like the best compromise for an autobox.
I know you're asking more about the engine, and haven't said whether you'd get a manual or not but, well, the engine isn't anything to write home about but unless it's a V8, I'm just happy that it works as it should!
I know you're asking more about the engine, and haven't said whether you'd get a manual or not but, well, the engine isn't anything to write home about but unless it's a V8, I'm just happy that it works as it should!
Cambelt every 5 years / 60k miles (or so, check though), water pumps can leak, but if buying second hand, may have been sorted.
DSG on these can be troublesome (dry clutches rather than wet in those ‘boxes for more powerful models) but don’t know failure percentages and ours is okay thus far at 35,000 miles (fingers crossed).
The 1.4 TSI ACT 150bhp is a cracking engine that is pretty lively and can be very frugal at the same time, especially with cylinder de-activation under light loads.
All in all, Mrs Dunc absolutely loves her Golf GT.
DSG on these can be troublesome (dry clutches rather than wet in those ‘boxes for more powerful models) but don’t know failure percentages and ours is okay thus far at 35,000 miles (fingers crossed).
The 1.4 TSI ACT 150bhp is a cracking engine that is pretty lively and can be very frugal at the same time, especially with cylinder de-activation under light loads.
All in all, Mrs Dunc absolutely loves her Golf GT.
OP, hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread but in a similar boat.
Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
VR99 said:
OP, hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread but in a similar boat.
Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
I would try both the Leon and Golf. I understand that Leons have a firmer suspension since you're interested in the ride. Also, they all use microswitches from the same bucket so you're fLooking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
ked either way. 
Hoofy said:
VR99 said:
OP, hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread but in a similar boat.
Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
I would try both the Leon and Golf. I understand that Leons have a firmer suspension since you're interested in the ride. Also, they all use microswitches from the same bucket so you're fLooking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
ked either way. VR99 said:
Hoofy said:
VR99 said:
OP, hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread but in a similar boat.
Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
I would try both the Leon and Golf. I understand that Leons have a firmer suspension since you're interested in the ride. Also, they all use microswitches from the same bucket so you're fLooking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG. Golfs are plentiful in my budget of £10-12k however the Leon's are much rarer albeit maybe slightly cheaper like for like. What does one do, go for the Golf with its supposedly more comfy and classy interior or the sportier Leon with a less nicer interior? I will keep the car at least 6 years likely more as I don't chop and change much so reliability is also important and will try to get a 2015/16 model to get the cheap RFL.
I was considering a Volvo V40 T3 but research and instinct tells me that the Volvo will more than likely result in bigger bills long term due to less reliable electrics and apparently they don't ride as well as the Golf or Leon. Also more limited in space.
ked either way. VR99 said:
OP, hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread but in a similar boat.
Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG.
on the Golf v Leon Looking to go either for a Seat Leon 1.4 ecotsi or VW Golf 1.4 TSI with DSG.
The Golf may have the multilink rear suspension setup - whereas the Leon will have the more basic rear beam. Only Leons above 180ps got the multilink rear.
The Golf is definitely better interior wise. More supportive seats, less rattles.
Saying that, generally speaking you'll get a newer, better spec'd Leon for the same money.
Just to balance that, our Leon had no rattles after 90k miles and interior held up well. It looks more plain than the golf, but it was put together well. The seats in the FR were also good.
The rear suspension was not multilink on ours, but to get the 1.4 act engine in the Golf you had to have the GT model which was quite a bit more money when we bought it new.
The rear suspension was not multilink on ours, but to get the 1.4 act engine in the Golf you had to have the GT model which was quite a bit more money when we bought it new.
I have owned a 2014 Mk7 VW Golf SE 1.4 TSi from new. My mileage is only 30,000 but it has been very reliable and the only expenditure has been on routine servicing of which the biggest expenditure was the recommended cambelt and water pump at 5 years which cost £500 at a VW main dealer. Other than white worming starting to show on the alloy wheels the car looks, feels and drives like new. My car is a manual but I have heard of problems with DSG boxes.
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