1.4 TSI 150 HP ACT

[bangy1]

Hi,

We are going to possibly look at a Polo BlueGT with the 1.4 150hp ACT engine next week and was wondering if there are any issues with these engines. I believe it was the earlier 1.4 TSI engines that were dogs and had a raft of issues? Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers

[PWeston]

I have this engine in my 2017 Ibiza daily and, as far as I know, there aren’t any major issues like the previous unit has. I’ve done 18k miles in 10 months and it has been faultless thus far. Nice punchy performance while averaging 52mpg (calculated on app - not OBC).

[JackReacher]

We have a Leon with this engine, 70k miles and no issues other than faulty radiator. I honestly think it's one of the best mainstream engines, good mix of economy and performance in the lighter cars.

[Sheepshanks]

The 1.4 is being gradually replaced across all VAG cars by the new 1.5. I have seen a couple of random comments that the 1.4 is 'better' but it wasn't clear what the reasoning was.

[fatboy b]

We have a 2 year old Golf with this engine. It’s been the most reliable bit of the car tbh. The rest of the car is utter st, but the engine is fantastic.

[acme]

Would be interested in knowing what’s gone wrong?

Jack & I have seemingly mirrored each other’s mileage on this engine, mine in the Golf.

70k, 3.5 years and other than a little oil in the early years & the TPS going off intermittently it’s been faultless. Mines a company car too so no vested interest.

A true 46MPG via brim to brim & recorded.

[Blaster72]

I've got this engine in my 18 month old A3, it's a great little engine and over 20k so far no issues other than a bit of oil used over the first 10k or so miles (hasn't used a drop since).

[Terzo123]

Had the engine in an Audi A3 for 3 years and nearly 25k with zero issues.

Now have the same engine in a lightly used Seat Leon FR. Again no issues.

[bangy1]

Good stuff thanks for all the replies sounds exactly what we are after. Currently we are commuting in an ep3 which although bullet proof is not ideal for 50 miles a day.

I'd be also interested to hear what issues you have had with the golf as I have a Mk7 Golf also. Cheers

[fatboy b]

Car bought new in match 2016 - a cabrio. Now has 35k on it.

The main issues we’ve had are rattles-a-plenty, and none to do with the top.

Turbo actuator replaced.
Driveshafts replaced, unsure why but the dealer said they needed doing.
Trim around the touch screen replaced as it didn’t fit properly.
New instrument binnacle as it was rattling - the whole lot including all instruments.
Both door cards have been off numberoud times to pack things with anti-rattle stuff.
Speakers have been refined as the method they are now fixed by is cheapo and prone to working loose.
Rear quarter trim below the windows removed numerous times to fix reverberating speaker.
Brushed aluminium trim around the roof aperture at the back corroding.
Imternal trim above windscreen removed numerous times to fix issues with loose roof cables.
Both sun visors replaced due to rattles.
Overhead trim around the interior lights replaced as it didn’t fit properly.

This has needed about 15 dealer visits to address, and so far this year the car hasn’t been in. It’ll most definitely be the last VW we’ll have. Dealer hasn’t been overly helpful. VW refused to acknowledge that the car was faulty as all the issues were separate and not one recurring fault. We did get £1000 off them as a good will and £500 off the dealer.

[Sheepshanks]

fatboy b said:

We did get £1000 off them as a good will and £500 off the dealer.

I'm amazed by that part.

We've never been a VAG family but somehow ended up with a SEAT and then two VWs. Touch wood, I have to say I've been impressed by the cars themselves, but the attitude of the dealers (I've tried 3 now) and VW UK is awful. Basically they just tell you to f off, but without quite actually saying that.

[acme]

fatboy b said:

Car bought new in match 2016 - a cabrio. Now has 35k on it.

The main issues we’ve had are rattles-a-plenty, and none to do with the top.

Turbo actuator replaced.
Driveshafts replaced, unsure why but the dealer said they needed doing.
Trim around the touch screen replaced as it didn’t fit properly.
New instrument binnacle as it was rattling - the whole lot including all instruments.
Both door cards have been off numberoud times to pack things with anti-rattle stuff.
Speakers have been refined as the method they are now fixed by is cheapo and prone to working loose.
Rear quarter trim below the windows removed numerous times to fix reverberating speaker.
Brushed aluminium trim around the roof aperture at the back corroding.
Imternal trim above windscreen removed numerous times to fix issues with loose roof cables.
Both sun visors replaced due to rattles.
Overhead trim around the interior lights replaced as it didn’t fit properly.

This has needed about 15 dealer visits to address, and so far this year the car hasn’t been in. It’ll most definitely be the last VW we’ll have. Dealer hasn’t been overly helpful. VW refused to acknowledge that the car was faulty as all the issues were separate and not one recurring fault. We did get £1000 off them as a good will and £500 off the dealer.

Bl**dy hell!

[acme]

Sheepshanks said:

The 1.4 is being gradually replaced across all VAG cars by the new 1.5. I have seen a couple of random comments that the 1.4 is 'better' but it wasn't clear what the reasoning was.

Would be interested in the articles/where you heard that the 1.4 is 'better' than the replacement 1.5? Appreciate as above that it wasn't necessarily clear why.

I've got to choose a new company car in the summer and as dull as it is I'm likely to replace with another Golf, the 1.5 this time. The ACC, smoothness and MPG makes it a bit of a no brainer. BMW's are about the best alternatives, but it'll mean a lease special so nav but almost bu**er all else, and after 70k miles of which 40k have been with ACC on I'd miss it too much!

[Sheepshanks]

acme said:

Would be interested in the articles/where you heard that the 1.4 is 'better' than the replacement 1.5? Appreciate as above that it wasn't necessarily clear why.

It was almost passing comments - 0-60 a tiny bit slower with the 1.5 etc.

This kind of thing: https://www.whatcar.com/news/2017-audi-a3-15-tfsi-...

[acme]

An interesting read. Many thanks.

[va1o]

I tried one when they first came out and was impressed. From what I've read they've generally proved to be a pretty solid unit, and as another poster mentioned considered better than the replacement 1.5. Problem seem few and far between compared to its predecessor which continually suffered from timing chain/ camshaft issues, but no engine is 100% perfect!