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Tue 6 Aug 2019 17:53

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - Jambo 51

I'm new to this site so bear with me if I ramble on...

Have owned and driven a VW Golf 1.9 TDI for 11 yrs and now reluctantly Ive decided by the end of this year to move on and purchase a newer model. Have been putting it off for ages as the car owes me nothing and to be frank has been the best I have ever had in 43 yrs of driving.

Have done like most a lot of research and decided again like the majority to choose petrol over diesel for obvious reasons and also that my mileage has dropped as i have entered semi retirement.

Have been looking at the Golf 1.5 TSI Evo but much to my disappointment have been reading the problems re the shuddering of the engine in first gear when cold. Really fancied this car the general reviews from most sites are good but this forum seems to be more up to date with this particular problem. It would seem that not all owners have this issue but when making such a large investment you want to get it correct.

So I am reaching out to the wider audience for advice and inspiration.

Thanks in advance.

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Tue 6 Aug 2019 18:12

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - skidpan

I have had 2 1.4 TSi's now. A 140 PS in a Seat Leon and a 150 PS in a Skoda Superb. They are brilliant engines, incredible performance and an average mpg in both cars of about 45 mpg. The Superb does about 54 mpg on our twice a year 1000 mile Scottish road trip. That is nearly as much as our old Golf 1.9 TDi would do and that car was nowhere near as fast or refined.

But will I be buying a car with the 1.5 TSi in it. Simple answer is no. Too much of a risk and only this week Auto Express (normally very pro VAG products) seem to be admitting the problems are not sorted.

If I was in your shoes I would be looking for one of the last Seat Leon's with the 1.4 TSi 150 PS motor. It will be in FR trim but it will cost £1000's less than the Golf and is exactly the same under the skin. Take your time looking and there will be a gem out there.

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Tue 6 Aug 2019 20:49

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - Jambo 51

Thanks for your reply skidpan. Funny I drove a Seat Leon only last year and was very impressed. I'm I correct in saying this problem potentially exists with all 1.5 Tsi engines in the VAG range as obviously the Seat falls into that category but your suggesting the 1.4.

Thanks.

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Tue 6 Aug 2019 21:08

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - Avant

What's your budget Jambo? You say 'a newer model': do you mean new or nearly-new?

If the latter, as Skidpan suggests look for a car with the 1.4 TSI engine which doesn't have the 1.5's stupid problem. It hasn't happened (so far) with my wife's Audi A3 (which we ordered on the assumption that it would have been sorted in the 4 months it took to deliver) but it's clearly a risk that you're better off avoiding. The VW Group have scored a ridiculous own goal in not admitting to this problem or trying to fix it.

If you're going for a new car, the new Toyota Corolla is well worth a look: there's a 1.2 turbo with manual transmission or 1.8 or 2.0 hybrids.

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Tue 6 Aug 2019 21:26

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - SLO76

I too like the Leon 1.4 TSi FR. It’s a good car to drive, it’s gutsy, economical and practical yet despite its sporty pretences it’s not uncomfortable. I’d buy one but I’d look at approved used examples for the best.

I’d also look at the Golf 1.0 TSi too. It’s quick enough for most needs with a sub 10s 0-62 time and it’ll do over 50mpg with ease. I too would avoid the 1.5 for now and the diesels are unnecessary with the excellent performance and economy of the petrol engines.

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20190530848...6

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Tue 6 Aug 2019 23:42

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - lordwoody

I've got a Golf Evo, I've never had any problems with it, it's a great drive and I'm happy with it.

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Wed 7 Aug 2019 00:51

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - CHarkin

The early 1.5s were OK, it those produced after the last changes to the emissions regulations ( last September I think ) when the emission tests had to include cold starts for the first time. This would be an easy problem to sort my making the cars run richer when cold but they can't do that.

VW are not alone in having this problem but because the 1.5 Evo runs on the Miller cycle their problems are worse than most, these engines have low torque till the revs are up a bit. Some have found a way around the problem using a little electronic device that plugs into the wiring loom. It simply tells the ECU that the air temperature is much lower than it is so the ECU makes the mixture slightly richer to compensate. The lambda sensor catches up after a few second and rectifies the mixture but the job is done by that time. Using this would be illegal of course.

As far as I can glean the problem will go away with the next generation Golf as it will have electrical assistance of some sort to compensate for the engines lack of power at low revs. I could be putting two and two together and coming up with five of course.

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Wed 7 Aug 2019 10:57

VW GOLF 1.5 TSI EVO - Needing advice - aylesby

I have a 2018 one of these but it is the DSG box and get none of these problems. Only regret is I should have gone for the estate format.

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