VW Golf engine types
Discussion
Having owned a few VWs, and current owner of a MK6 Golf Gti, I would say the following.
The diesels are probably the best. (Unless of course you want a quick golf)
DSG boxes are fine if serviced on time. I've had 3 now and the worst I had was a gear selector cable mechanism fail on me. Current car is on 63k miles (2011 DSG). The engine was a total disaster requiring a full rebuild, but the gearbox has been fine. My previous mk5 GTi edition 30 had 140k miles on the DSG box when I sold it.
If you want stress free motoring, then avoid VW's in that era (mk5/Mk6 etc) unless a 2.0tdi. There are tons of parts that have been revised from water pumps to chain tensioners in this era golf. So if you are going to buy, buy the latest one in the best condition you can afford.
The diesels are probably the best. (Unless of course you want a quick golf)
DSG boxes are fine if serviced on time. I've had 3 now and the worst I had was a gear selector cable mechanism fail on me. Current car is on 63k miles (2011 DSG). The engine was a total disaster requiring a full rebuild, but the gearbox has been fine. My previous mk5 GTi edition 30 had 140k miles on the DSG box when I sold it.
If you want stress free motoring, then avoid VW's in that era (mk5/Mk6 etc) unless a 2.0tdi. There are tons of parts that have been revised from water pumps to chain tensioners in this era golf. So if you are going to buy, buy the latest one in the best condition you can afford.
AJB88 said:
As soon as I saw that comment I though "MX5 owner" dont know why.. but your garage checks out.
OP how much you looking to spend, whats the usual usage etc.
I bet you didn’t. Sold that Mx5 3 years ago. OP how much you looking to spend, whats the usual usage etc.
My comment was vaguely tongue in cheek. Gf had a 17 plate polo from new to 40k. Had no issues other than a spurious EDC limp mode issue a couple of months before trading it in.
Parents have a Tiguan, however it’s got juddery clutch issues at 20k miles. Which is pretty inexcusable.
Go for a Seat Leon mk3 FR TDI instead either 150 or 170 bhp ones, although diesels not great if doing small miles every day.
Looks better, drives better and most of the kit that you would pay a premium for on the golf (led headlights/media etc) are standard on the Leon so more value for your money.
Looks better, drives better and most of the kit that you would pay a premium for on the golf (led headlights/media etc) are standard on the Leon so more value for your money.
Dragnet 5 said:
Many thanks for all your replies. I like the look of the mk7 2.0 TDI or 1.4 petrol TSI. Any particular preferences or better engines?
We had the 1.4tsi in our Golf Cabrio. It was actually the most reliable bit of the car. The rest was crap, and we were glad when we got rid. 22 dealer visits over 3 years , and we bought new. Mrs bought a Cooper S. In 2 years of ownership it's had 1 service visit and a recall for an incorrectly routed pipe which unfortunatelty ruined the carpets - but all replaced and sorted nder warranty and it's been faultless since. With the Golf we were booking in the next visit when we picked it up after being fixed.Dragnet 5 said:
Many thanks for all your replies. I like the look of the mk7 2.0 TDI or 1.4 petrol TSI. Any particular preferences or better engines?
Depends on what you will be using the car for.If it's mostly short journeys to the shops or school, get a petrol.
If it's mostly motorways, petrol or diesel will both work but diesels generally are a bit cheaper on fuel and are generally a bit more capable of doing zillions of miles as long as you really do a lot of longer journeys (say, over 30 miles on open roads without much traffic).
The reason for suggesting to stay away from diesel for short journeys is primarily that the diesel particulate filter (DPF) on any modern diesel needs a lot of heat in it to periodically clear out the soot it collects from the engine, and that's only possible while the car is on a run; if it is only doing short journeys or crawling in a city where the car never gets fully up to temperature it can not do this resulting in an expensive DPF problem.
None of the above is VW (or seat/skoda/audi as they are all mechanically built from the same stuff) specific.
As for the 1.4 TSI motor being a mistake, well people who had problems are the only ones speaking up on the internet generally, there's a bias towards reporting issues.
In my experience, my missus has put 120,000 miles on hers in an A3 with routine servicing and it hasn't had any issues.
Feel free to have a read of one of the many previous threads on the topic, for example https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As MrGTI6 alludes to, I don't think the "avoid 1.4TSI" should be a universal thing, at a guess it's related to the older 'twincharged' engines? (Correct me if I'm wrong though)
I have a Mk3 Seat Leon with the 1.4TSI in 125bhp flavour. It needed a new wastegate actuator at about 16k miles under warranty, but apart from that has cost nothing beyond servicing and fuel in 4 years and 25k miles.
It certainly isn't quick but pulls reasonably well enough to keep up in 90% of circumstances. On a recent 840-mile round trip, at 75mph on cruise where possible, it averaged a real 48mpg. A lower speeds it'll average in the low 50s.
I have a Mk3 Seat Leon with the 1.4TSI in 125bhp flavour. It needed a new wastegate actuator at about 16k miles under warranty, but apart from that has cost nothing beyond servicing and fuel in 4 years and 25k miles.
It certainly isn't quick but pulls reasonably well enough to keep up in 90% of circumstances. On a recent 840-mile round trip, at 75mph on cruise where possible, it averaged a real 48mpg. A lower speeds it'll average in the low 50s.
Dyl said:
As MrGTI6 alludes to, I don't think the "avoid 1.4TSI" should be a universal thing, at a guess it's related to the older 'twincharged' engines? (Correct me if I'm wrong though)
I have a Mk3 Seat Leon with the 1.4TSI in 125bhp flavour. It needed a new wastegate actuator at about 16k miles under warranty, but apart from that has cost nothing beyond servicing and fuel in 4 years and 25k miles.
It certainly isn't quick but pulls reasonably well enough to keep up in 90% of circumstances. On a recent 840-mile round trip, at 75mph on cruise where possible, it averaged a real 48mpg. A lower speeds it'll average in the low 50s.
The 1.4TSI tends to suffer timing chain issues and it is not cheap to replaceI have a Mk3 Seat Leon with the 1.4TSI in 125bhp flavour. It needed a new wastegate actuator at about 16k miles under warranty, but apart from that has cost nothing beyond servicing and fuel in 4 years and 25k miles.
It certainly isn't quick but pulls reasonably well enough to keep up in 90% of circumstances. On a recent 840-mile round trip, at 75mph on cruise where possible, it averaged a real 48mpg. A lower speeds it'll average in the low 50s.
I have a 1.6 TDI Mk7 Match (the older Euro 5 one), that has been pretty reliable, just the standard consumables (and one significant front seat airbag fault).
Although I regularly see 65mpg+ I probably wouldn't recommend that engine, as its paired with the sturdy but archaic 5 speed box. Match trim is good though, all the features you could want, but no faux-sporty giant wheels or pleather seats. Bonus is they are the cheapest desirable version of the Mk7, avoiding the perplexing 85ps 1.2 S trim with its lack of anything (including an alarm).
I've been considering changing to a 1.4 tsi too, apparently it is a different engine to the Mk6 and prior, so the issues have been mostly ironed out. Most pundits recommended that one originally too, even as used cars.
Haven't got round to upgrading as prices are crazy, I'd be paying nearly twice the value of my car for the same car with a different engine. Did drive a few similar C-segment cars (Mazda3, Honda Civic) and didn't like them anywhere near as much as the Golf.
Although I regularly see 65mpg+ I probably wouldn't recommend that engine, as its paired with the sturdy but archaic 5 speed box. Match trim is good though, all the features you could want, but no faux-sporty giant wheels or pleather seats. Bonus is they are the cheapest desirable version of the Mk7, avoiding the perplexing 85ps 1.2 S trim with its lack of anything (including an alarm).
I've been considering changing to a 1.4 tsi too, apparently it is a different engine to the Mk6 and prior, so the issues have been mostly ironed out. Most pundits recommended that one originally too, even as used cars.
Haven't got round to upgrading as prices are crazy, I'd be paying nearly twice the value of my car for the same car with a different engine. Did drive a few similar C-segment cars (Mazda3, Honda Civic) and didn't like them anywhere near as much as the Golf.
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