Well come on, who's driven it..?
Is it really the answer all our prayers..? A car that delivers power like a diesel with less lag,
less noise, no 'anvil' over the front wheels and respectable economy...
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Well its engine of the year, so it must be a reasonable drive. Its a pity its only the soprty models of the Golf I think, it would be better to be in the SE model as well.
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Well sat beside the owner of a large VW garage yesterday at a charity lunch and asked him about this. He said its phenomenal and the way engines will go for the future - very heavily indebted to Formula 1 technology. He kindly offered to lend me one of them before the month for a day. It is interesting that this guy tells me out of the VW stable he always drives a Golf - currently a 170 Tdi Golf Tdi. He says the Golf is the most classless car there is -from the lord of the manor to a labourer living in rented accommodation. Never thought about it but he may have a point! - I'll keep you posted when I get the car!
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I cant really see what "Formula One" technology this engine is indebted to. Forced induction of any kind has been banned in F1 since the late 80's, and as far as I'm aware nobody has ever run a twincharged (turbocharged and supercharged) engine. I would suggest it owes more to the rising demand for smaller capacity, fuel efficient engines due to rising oil prices and increased taxation.
Take nothing away from VAG though, they have developed this and brought it to the mass market. It will be interesting to see how these engines fare in long term reliability, and whether they are as economical as they claim to be in real world driving.
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I cant really see what "Formula One" technology this engine is indebted to.
Agreed, especially odd claim bearing in mind that VW have never been anywhere near F1!
The engine sounds like a superb, and promising, development though.
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I have. Twice. There's a snippet in car by car breakdown and I did a comparison test for Radio 4's You and Yours (on the hottest day of the year). Nicer drive than the TDI 170, with more solid low down grunt and no sudden wallop of torque at 1,700rpm, but much less economical on the instantaneous readings. The turbo is water cooled, so no need to simmer.
HJ
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Re F1 link. Found this item:
forum.mazda6tech.com/about3527.html
Re VW.
This paragraph: "In 2005, Volkswagen finally introduced a production unit to its Golf 1.4 TSI. Called "Twincharger" system, it is actually developed by supercharger maker Eaton. It connects a supercharger and a turbocharger in series." is contained in the following link:
www.autozine.org/technical_school/engine/tech_engi...m
So it's not VAG working on its own...:-)
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If anyone is interested in the 2006 Top Engines of the Year winners see:
tinyurl.com/f9oz5
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The turbo is water cooled, so no need to simmer.
Unless it has an electic water pump that keeps the coolant flowing for a short time after the engine is switched off then simmering is advisable.
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Agreed, Cheddar. But I am led to believe that it does have an elecric waterpump that keeps its coolant flowing as it cools down. They also told me it doesn't get as hot as a turbo cooled only by the engine oil circulating in its bearings.
HJ
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Agreed, Cheddar. But I am led to believe that it does have an elecric waterpump that keeps its coolant flowing as it cools down. They also told me it doesn't get as hot as a turbo cooled only by the engine oil circulating in its bearings. HJ
Reckon it would be more logical to have a pump circulating the oil for a short while after switch off, that would both cool the turbo and avoid and carbonisation of oil in the hot turbo bearings.
Regards.
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It is however good that a manufacturer is taking the turbo cooling / simmering issue seriously.
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Back in the good old days my 80 bhp 1990 1.6TD Passat Estate also had a water cooled turbo which never went wrong in over 200k miles.
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Back in the good old days my 80 bhp 1990 1.6TD Passat Estate also had a water cooled turbo which never went wrong in over 200k miles.
Yup but diesel is MUCH lower temperatures so not comparable with petrol turbo.
Super & turbo charging isn't new it was being done during the 2nd World War on aircraft & Racing boats & tractor pullers have done it for ages.
Given the comments on VAG engines in this months Car Mechanics, I wouldn't want to be doing the pioneering asan owner of one of these or want one when it was 6 years old. The bills could be colossal!
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Given the comments on VAG engines in this months Car Mechanics,
What do they say?
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Reckon it would be more logical to have a pump circulating the oil for a short while after switch off, that would both cool the turbo and avoid and carbonisation of oil in the hot turbo bearings.
I wonder at what temperature fully synthetic oil will denature..?
Maybe I can try to find out with some Mobil 1 and a frying pan...
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Does this engine still have the poor plastic cam-belt tensioners?
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>>Does this engine still have the poor plastic cam-belt tensioners?>>
Please don't frighten me like that...:-)
My VW Bora's cam belt tensioner (and belt) are 57k old and both are still functioning........
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If it's a 1.4 16V or 1.6 16V you are on borrowed time.... Change all the cam belts (two), tensioners and the water pump!
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>>or 1.6 16V you are on borrowed time.>>
Actually I got the GSF catalogue last week to check out the prices...:-)
But, presumably, if all are changed I will then start again on borrowed time?
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Yes, Change them all every 40,000 miles. Dont forget the water pump and the second belt (between cams).
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Well I have now had a Golf TSi 170 GT for three days and I feel I have covered eough miles to comment. Number one this is a very tractable easy to drive car with an excellent turn of speed and what seems to be excellent fuel economy. As its the GT model the ride is bit too hard and the electrics take some getting used to (opening the boot, working the lights etc). I am seriously tempted and after driving it back to back with a friends Golf GT 170 Tdi I believe the smaller petrol one is nicer to drive. Downsides seem to the insurance (Group 16!) and I see the road tax is a none too friendly £150 per annum (must be Co2). I have left my Mercedes C180 with them for valuation (2001 MB C180 avantegarde auto 35000 miles?) and I will return the Golf lunch time Monday. Thinking about £7500 -£8000 to change for a new 3 door GT Tsi 170 in solid red. Will let you know.
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for a new 3 door GT Tsi 170 in solid red. Will let you know.
Why not get an ex demo GTi for similar or less money, will be worth more when you come to sell it.
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Excellent point and I have had a similar weekends experience of the GTi some time ago and really enjoyed it. In many ways the smaller GT is less 'hard edged' and for everyday driving maybe more user friendly.
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