1.4 tsi with ACT, Buy or Avoid??

[c4a5er]

We're considering changing our Golf for a Mk7 and this time going for a 1.4 tsi 150ps with ACT. Before placing an order I thought it wise to ask for opinions on this engine from owners and in particular those of you in the trade.

It will be a new car and therefore covered by warranty. Are there known issues serious enough that I should buy an extended warranty or maybe avoid this engine altogether?

Usage will be mixed, city and A road driving, occasional motorway, average mileage.

Your valued opinions please?

[cs2009]

We're considering changing our Golf for a Mk7 and this time going for a 1.4 tsi 150ps with ACT. Before placing an order I thought it wise to ask for opinions on this engine from owners.....

I've had my Golf 1.4 ACT (albeit 140bhp version) for almost a year now, and it has been superb. It's the smoothest most refined engine I have ever owned, with good performance and excellent economy. Low end torque is markedly better than the 122bhp non-ACT version, and economy is better too. On short (<5 mile) trips from a cold start into town, I get around 42mpg, and on all longer runs between 46 and 54mpg.

What has surprised me is just how often it switches into 2 cylinder mode. Even during urban crawl, it will switch to 2 cylinders at the slightest lift of the throttle, thus contributing to the good economy. And were it not for the indication on the display, it is completely impossible to tell if the engine is in 2 or 4 cylinder mode. Brilliant tech.

[c4a5er]

Thanks for taking the time to reply cs2009, much appreciated,....had a test drive today, as you say it's a nice smooth engine, quiet too and not noticeably lacking in torque in normal city driving. Didn't get out on the open road but can't imagine there being anything wrong with it at steady speed cruising.
Sure the technology is innovative but I would be interested to hear whether there are possible problems with the engine in the longer term?

I'm not certain how long these engines have been around in one guise or other.....I seem to recall reading somewhere that the trend for small capacity turbocharged petrols was giving rise to more than a few failures?

[cs2009]

I'm not certain how long these engines have been around in one guise or other.....I seem to recall reading somewhere that the trend for small capacity turbocharged petrols was giving rise to more than a few failures?

I'm pretty sure that the ACT system has been used for quite a while now, and first appeared in the Audi A8 (which could shut off 4 of its 8 cylinders). You're right that small turbo petrols are becoming very common now, so this might be why more failures are reported. There are just more cars around using that approach.

[c4a5er]

Well after some further thought and number crunching an order has been placed for a 1.4 TSI 150 DSG R-Line. Looks like I'll be joining this rather quiet forum....I guess quiet is a good thing though!

[Ian91]

Well after some further thought and number crunching an order has been placed for a 1.4 TSI 150 DSG R-Line. Looks like I'll be joining this rather quiet forum....I guess quiet is a good thing though!

Good choice, I have the 1.4tsi dsg (150ps) engine and the ACT works really well, I like the fact it shows you when the two cylinders are running and as mentioned the switch from four cylinders to two is not noticeable. Average mpg over the last 8 months is @46 mpg - long term, which does depend on traffic/motorway driving.
Overall in my opinion this particular engine is excellent, there may be a little more noise from the 150ps engine compared to the 122ps engine I had on my MK6 golf but this could be down to the soundproofing and not the engine. I think it's the same engine they are using in the Audi Q3 facelift, with COD (cylinder on demand)

[c4a5er]

Thanks for the reply Ian91. That's an impressive mpg average, I presume you do mainly motorway type journeys. I'd be happy if our long term got anywhere near 40 given the mix of driving we do..

Just need to be as patient as possible now.....new cars seem to take forever to be built and delivered!