1.4 TSi 180bhp DSG cars - real world mpg?

1.4 TSi 180bhp DSG cars - real world mpg?

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Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 15th August 2010
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Hi,

Have been googling and checking forums for a while but can't seem to find any feedback on what MPG the Polo-class hot hatches with the 180bhp 1.4 TSI engine and DSG actually give in real world use.

Anyone here got one of the VAG cars with the 1.4 180bhp engine and fancy letting me know what they get? Cars I'm thinking of are Skoda Fabia vRS, VW Polo GTI (I guess this one might be too new) or the Seat Ibiza . I do 20k+ miles a year so fuel economy matters, sadly wink

Cheers,
John

TDIfurby

1,997 posts

174 months

Sunday 15th August 2010
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I would hope being 1.4 you are looking at 35mpg average at least, but I have yet to see any long term tests of that engine. Throwing a couple of blowers in there could change things a bit.

insanojackson

5,740 posts

243 months

Monday 16th August 2010
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I have a 1.4 tsi scirocco albeit a 160hp engine, i average 36mpg overall according to the trip computer. I dont reall do many long journeys though. if i drive like a granny i can get upto 50mpg on my 10 mile trip to work.

the-photographer

3,479 posts

175 months

Monday 16th August 2010
quotequote all
I've got a 160PS Golf with a manual box, I've averaged just over 40mpg in the last 20,000 miles (last tank was 430 miles from 48 litres).

The engine has very good economy if you keep within SC only rpm.

missing the VR6

2,320 posts

188 months

Monday 16th August 2010
quotequote all
Been running a Fabia VRS for a week or so now and I've got between 19/20 on a good drive on my way to work to 36ish at a motorway cruise control 80/85. To be fair I only have one speed and it's not one for max fuel consumption!

Dino D

1,953 posts

220 months

Monday 16th August 2010
quotequote all
A friend has this engine in a Golf V GT.(Manual geabox, 6 speed)
On a long trip, mostly motorway (400miles) he got 33mpg. This was with a roof box, boot full of inflatable canoe, 2 adults (one is 115kg!), and a baby and seat. As it is Greece the motorway speeds can get get a fair bit higher than UK.
In heavy town driving, 1 up he get about the same without 'trying' to drive economically. He has seen 40 mpg when sticking to motorway limits and generally driving in an economical fashion.

Pretty good figures for the performance on tap I reckon...

spiralp

142 posts

252 months

Monday 16th August 2010
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I've got a Golf GT TSI 170. If you drive very carefully at 40 to 50 mph then you can see 50mpg on the trip computer. However, drive it hard and it will return 30 mpg or less. Mine averages around 35 mpg, based on a wide mix of driving (car is now 3 1/2 years old and has done 70k miles). Mpg is quite dependant on driving style - I usually get 3mpg better than my wife, but I drive faster than she does (she uses lower revs but uses the supercharger/turbo to deliver more torque). If you want good mpg try to keep the boost gauge pointing left. Also, Super Plus fuel is noticeably better than regular fuel.

Edited by spiralp on Monday 16th August 10:34

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 18th August 2010
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Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it.

Dino D

1,953 posts

220 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
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Little bit of topic but said friend has had some trouble with the GT (170bhp Golf V) - I assume it is closely related to the 180bhp engine now in production?

He used to have issues which felt like a delay/gap when going through the rev range and changed from supercharger at low rev to turbo at high revs. It's went back 3 times to VW and every time they fixed it (but he is not sure what they did).

Now on a long trip in very high heat and humidity, the engine management light came on showing a fault code for a sensor in the air intake manifold. The was no VW garage nearby so we went to a garage that could read VW ECU's and he gave us the code and reset the light.
Heading back from holidays to the VW dealer the engine management light re-appeared but this time the supercharger stopped working.
It's in the VW garage now and they say they need the car for a week as they have to strip down various bits as there is a problem with the 'water pump for the turbo/supercharger'.
Still under warranty and the car has covered 40k miles and has full, timely VW service history.

According to the mechanic the 170bhp GT was discontinued very quickly and the 180bhp engine that replaces it is better sorted.

Anyone have similar experience?

the-photographer

3,479 posts

175 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
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I'm not aware of any major problems with the 170PS unit, this is based on regularly reading one of the popular VW forums and owning a MK5 & MK6;

http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/32206.aspx


va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
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Dino D said:
According to the mechanic the 170bhp GT was discontinued very quickly and the 180bhp engine that replaces it is better sorted.

Anyone have similar experience?
My friend was telling me the same thing last week about the problems with the 170 engine, hence they replaced it with the 160 in the new Golf GT and the 180 in the Polo/ Ibiza/ Fabia is a newer version presumably better able to cope with the power?

Balmoral Green

40,660 posts

247 months

Thursday 19th August 2010
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missing the VR6 said:
Been running a Fabia VRS for a week or so now and I've got between 19/20 on a good drive on my way to work to 36ish at a motorway cruise control 80/85. To be fair I only have one speed and it's not one for max fuel consumption!
This is a worry biggrin

I have a new vRS on order (Rallye Green/Black roof/Dark Chrome wheels).

My old Fabia vRS averages about 48mpg. When I drive it hard, it drops to about 38-43mpg. Today I have been pottering around in it and have gotten 67mpg, and my best has been 77.7mpg on a long steady motorway run.

I am dreading what the new one is going to be like, I too have one speed hehe

missing the VR6

2,320 posts

188 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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Balmoral Green said:
missing the VR6 said:
Been running a Fabia VRS for a week or so now and I've got between 19/20 on a good drive on my way to work to 36ish at a motorway cruise control 80/85. To be fair I only have one speed and it's not one for max fuel consumption!
This is a worry biggrin

I have a new vRS on order (Rallye Green/Black roof/Dark Chrome wheels).

My old Fabia vRS averages about 48mpg. When I drive it hard, it drops to about 38-43mpg. Today I have been pottering around in it and have gotten 67mpg, and my best has been 77.7mpg on a long steady motorway run.

I am dreading what the new one is going to be like, I too have one speed hehe
That is on a brand new car done less than a thousand miles, suspect it'll improve with a few miles under it. Quite honestly it was a rather extreme drive, certainly not the way I drive every day but needed to find out what it could do. I think realisticly I'd get 25/26 MPG but 40 is definately achievable.

Good choice of colours!

spiralp

142 posts

252 months

Friday 20th August 2010
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Did a 400 mile journey yesterday. Mainly motorway, but included Dartford crossing (twice), roadworks and around 50 miles of B roads, etc. The trip computer shows an average speed of 60mph and 43.5mpg. Not bad for a 170bhp petrol engine, but I was making an effort to drive economically.

As a separate issue, but noting other comments, if I look for it I can feel the step between the supercharger and turbo. This is not particularly noticable in everyday driving.

Balmoral Green

40,660 posts

247 months

Friday 20th August 2010
quotequote all
missing the VR6 said:
Good choice of colours!
Thanks Aaron.

BTW, how are you getting on with the gearbox? I have heard it will still change up or down even in manual flappy mode?

I've ordered one and yet I've not driven one yet! silly

missing the VR6

2,320 posts

188 months

Friday 20th August 2010
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:
missing the VR6 said:
Good choice of colours!
Thanks Aaron.

BTW, how are you getting on with the gearbox? I have heard it will still change up or down even in manual flappy mode?

I've ordered one and yet I've not driven one yet! silly
I've hated every semi auto type gearbox I've ever driven in a car designed to be fun to drive except the VRs, it really is almost a worthy replacement for a manual. If you leave it in D and use the paddles it will go back to auto and shift more for economy, but if you flick it across it very rarely does unless you're about to stall in my experience i.e just braking to a halt and being too lazy to shift down as I brake. I even ended up banging off the limiter the first time I drove it as I was a bit lost with the paddles giving it a bit of stick round a roundabout. I'm so very nearly
convinced by the 7 speed DSG I'm a little ashamed of myself as a petrol head!

How come's you've not driven it, every dealer should have one?
If you're anywhere near Ashford Kent I'll let you have a run out in ours.



Edited by missing the VR6 on Friday 20th August 22:15

Balmoral Green

40,660 posts

247 months

Saturday 21st August 2010
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missing the VR6 said:
How come's you've not driven it
It's a company car, unfortunately our local dealer won't be supplying it, much as I would like them to. I've been in the trade myself, so I'm not going to waste the sales departments time (Clock Garage, Spondon. Brilliant service for the last six years on my two previous vRS). I knew what I wanted anyway, and I'm sure it will be OK.


waughie

186 posts

172 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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I just wanted to bump this topic, I'm currently looking at Seat Ibiza with the 1.4 180 Tsi DSG engine and I was just wondering how those of you who posted earlier are getting on with the engines and cars?

Is the MPG as advertised and how are you all getting on reliability wise. Obviously i'm aware that the engine comes in the Scirocco, Polo Gti, Seat Ibiza Cupra and the Fabia Vrs and would like to hear all your stories and opinions!


sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Don't expect 45mpg unless you live on the motorway and don't exceed the speed limit.

Fuelly for my Fabia vRS is here: http://www.fuelly.com/driver/kiteless/fabia-vrs . I live in North London and spend a fair chunk of time in traffic - average journey speed must be about 20mph, although usually around an hour. 40mpg is doable on longer trips. I think that's good for the performance.

It's been fine, uses a bit of oil (about a litre put in between last two services) but not enough to concern me. Not sure how I'd feel about it as a long term proposition, I was always planning to get rid before the warranty runs out.

Generally been happy with it - has many of the same qualities that make the Golf GTI so popular but smaller, bit slower, cheaper and more economical. Easy to use, comfortable for longer trips, interior generally very nice (door casings are plasticy, but the upper dash and wheel are much better), no hassles really. Will happily crawl along in traffic being completely undemanding but can blast along with super-fast DSG changes from the paddles when you're in that mood.

va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Don't touch one unless it has warranty