I've seen some road tests of this model suggesting that turbo lag is particularly bad with this engine. Make sure you try one on the open road and see if you can live with it.
Interesting as the supercharger is supposed to overcome this. Reviews I've read have been good.
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IIRC I heard HJ on the radio commenting on driving the 1.4TSi and the 170 bhp diesel and saying the petrol was much nicer - more low-down torque and progressive power delivery.
Sounds an interesting motor.
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I drove one a few months back. Was very impressed. Lots of low down torque (like a diesel) but also very happy to rev like a normal petrol. In the short 20 minutes or so i was driving it I didnt really notice any turbo lag. It was certainly a lot better than the 2.0 VAG diesel I drove in a Leon which was clattery and boring to drive. Thought it handled very well too. Only thing I would criticise is being a Golf it was typically boring to look at inside and out and lacking in features as standard which makes it a bit pricey.
Go and drive it for yourself and igore what reporters say (they usually get it wrong anyway in my experience).
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Just seems like a lot of expensive and complex technology to get 160PS. Its a lot easier and cheaper just to make the engine 600cc bigger and leave out the super- and turbo-charger. It would probably weigh less, last longer and not give you the worry of a potentially astronomical out-of-warranty repair bill. One of those with a DSG gearbox would not be welcome used buy at three years old I think?
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The most recent test I was thinking of was in Autocar, 21 March, where Andrew Frankel says that the Golf is "infuriatingly hesitant when you change gears, making even the most skilled and smooth driver look like an amateur"
From what we hear about VW's quality control, maybe this is a flaw that only some of them suffer from.
I've tried a 170 TDI and the power somes on very strongly and suddenly - in fairness I think one would get used to that. I'd like to know if the DSG gearbox makes this surge less or more marked.
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