New 1.4 ecoTSI FT Tech 125/150?

Green Mamba

Active Member
Feb 22, 2008
65
2
Warwickshire
So I'm currently running in a 63 plate FR TDI 189 with nearly 40K on the clock, it's been great, but I', slowly coming up on end of PCP contract come March.

It's been so great was tempted to own it, but by the dealerships own estimate, it's worth just over £7350 with just over £9K currently left to settle, so I'd clearly be paying more than it's worth if I wanted to keep it? I'm also weary of other bills to pay for the major things that will inevitably need doing.

I don't want another Diesel, I just don't do the long trips any more, although driving it around the Highlands was amazing. A Leon is still a good enough car for me, although I'm still tempted to look at an Octavia RS, it seems much better value for money.

With the new plates coming out the Dealership are offering additional £1300 contribution on the existing car and £2250 towards a deposit which seems fantastic, but is it really?

The deals are setup to push you towards a new but built specification, so no options, they are pushing me towards a 1.4 ecoTSI FR Tech 125 in mystery blue (currently have Alore Blue), I didn't realise there was a 150 options which looks great on paper, but is the 125 good enough?

Yes the 189 was more fun, but I rarely always got to take advantage of it, day to day commuting of 12-15 miles commute in, I just don't.

I said I'd come back to them as I only got asked to come in to do a "contract review". What are peoples thoughts, does the new Leon represent good value, is there anything I should be aware of on the facelift, should I insist on the 150BHP, etc, etc? I would consider the 1.8 but since there is no ecoTSI version it does not seem that frugal at all, or that much better.
 

Ibiza06

Active Member
Aug 4, 2010
307
0
I faced this dilemma aswell. But ended up with the 1.8 tsi anyways as the real world mpg doesnt seem excessively different for long journeys and the ACT feature of the 1.4 engine seems something else to go wrong.
 

Green Mamba

Active Member
Feb 22, 2008
65
2
Warwickshire
More interestingly, trying to find my car spec, or even a similar spec'd car around the 35,000-45,000 mile mark, I can't find one cheaper that £9,790 within 50 miles of me. Even the main dealership group has my car in white on 38,316 miles listed at £12,000

That contribution fee feels more like something they would normally value the car at actually anyway, can't believe how far off the mark it is.
 

R4CK5

Active Member
Mar 8, 2017
609
85
I'd go 150 over 125 all day long but then again I'm always after more even when I've got it. Act is really good, cylinder **** down is very handy and helps boost the mpg quite a lot. I love my facelift FR, seems like a step up from the pre facelift.

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KXL

KXL
Dec 15, 2016
1,579
195
London, UK
Oh, the 1.4 EcoTSI 125PS must be a new addition (maybe to add with the 1.5 EVO 150PS coming soon). I always thought the EcoTSI only came in 150PS, and 110-115PS (for their 1.0 motors).

Signs of the times I guess.
 

Fr2013

Active Member
Apr 9, 2014
358
25
Oh, the 1.4 EcoTSI 125PS must be a new addition (maybe to add with the 1.5 EVO 150PS coming soon). I always thought the EcoTSI only came in 150PS, and 110-115PS (for their 1.0 motors).

Signs of the times I guess.

Likewise, as far as I know, only the 150hp 1.4 has cylinder deactivation and is branded the EcoTSI.

The 125hp 1.4 TSI doesn't have this.

Then again, I'm not sure why my 1.0EcoTSI gets that branding as I don't really have enough cylinders to go about deactivating them :D

The 1.4 150hp is very very in demand at the moment so you may be better going with the 125hp. I couldn't comment on that engine but the 150hp in mine is very well suited for the size of the car.
 
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KXL

KXL
Dec 15, 2016
1,579
195
London, UK
Then again, I'm not sure why my 1.0EcoTSI gets that branding as I don't really have enough cylinders to go about deactivating them :D

I have this engine...if I deactivate 1 or even 2 cylinders i'm left with a go kart single cyclinder 333/666cc engine! Perhaps they should deactivate the middle cylinder on light throttle.

Apparently the 1.0 EcoTSI uses the energy otherwise wasted in braking to temporarly store and to use to restart the engine after start/stop. Like in the F1 cars!

Strangely the 1.0TSI 115PS in Leons don't get EcoTSI branding? Imagine a Cupra 2.0 TSI with cyclinder shutoff...still will be a 2 cylinder 150PS 1.0 running on half the engine... :rofl:
 

BreadlyBrown

Active Member
Jan 24, 2013
281
6
Southampton
I'm actually a little surprised the Cupras don't do this in eco mode, instead it just pulls the clutch and coasts on lift off. (DSG only)

I had the 1.4 150 in a Leon ST and was very impressed. Excellent balance between power and economy.

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SimonFR150

Active Member
Aug 11, 2017
13
0
cylinder **** down is very handy
I don't know about that, but the shut down is pretty good! ;-) Absolutely loving driving my FR 150 at present. Quick when needed, really good fuel economy on demand when needed, very smooth to drive. Yes, you do need to be more attentive if you want really exceptional fuel economy than you would in a Diesel, but with some uncertainty as to what will happen in towns and cities with Diesels in the near future, we do at least have a petrol equivalent that also gets really good mileage.
 
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