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Comment by codfrantic | Hacker News Reader

Most of europe, especially VAG[π] cars are turbocharged, either TDI for basically all Diesels and more and more (T)FSI gasoline powered cars.

Also look at the Audi R10 TDI [φ]

[π] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group

[φ]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_R10_TDI

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VAG have a rather nice twin-charged 1.4L engine - with a supercharger and a turbocharger - the former being used at low revs and the latter at high revs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_petrol...

Indeed, although almost unheard of in the US, these twincharged engines have been available over the years in the Japan and Europe. The "special" edition cars haven't sold in large numbers but were readily available at the time of release from dealerships.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twincharger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4AGE#4A-GZE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_MA_MA09ERT

Nice but AFAIK unreliable.

Well, we're on our second Golf that has a 1.4TSI and I'd happily buy another one!

[My downsizing of car sizes has seen me go from a 4.4 V8 BMW to a 2.5 V6 Turbo diesel VW to a 1.4TSI VW - perfectly happy with the latter now!]

Not due to the twin charging, but due to it being a VAG auto.

Do VW and Audi cars have the name of being unreliable in the US? Can't imagine that really..

Show me a reliable twin charging design. I dare you. I double dare you.

I used to be a mechanic. So, show me a reliable VAG auto. Experience taught me to avoid them like the plague.

Around here they are deemed as reliable as the sunset. This leads to comical situations where 10-15 year old VAG autos are sometimes priced almost the same as 5-10 year old autos from other brands.

AFAIK only real sour lemon were the 1.4 petrol engines and those dual charged engines from the mid 00's. But around here everybody knows that only true VAG engine is a diesel. That is the folk lore around here not my own opinion.

I myself drive a Peugeot as for my tastes price/performance of VAG is not as good.

Personally I would steer away from Renault (had several, only "good" car was R4 :)), and basically any American brand. I think that in the value department Asian brands are giving European and US brands quite a run for ther money. Too bad they do not make a Berlingo/Caddy/Kangoo class of a car.

Even if VAG is total shit, dual charged engines are not something you would want in your vehicle. I think hybrids are a much better and simpler option.

Indeed, updated my comment to be more accurate :)

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