[sambo]

Volkswagen have been using FSI (fuel stratified injection) since 2000. It was adapted from their Le Mans car. I've had the TFSI engine (turbo FSI) in two GTIs since 2006 and they keep being awarded engine of the year, so direct injection isn't necessarily a bad thing.

They do get carbon build up on the intake valves and intake runners, which hurts performance over time and in really bad cases can damage intake valves and other components. A catch can lessens this to an extent, but my mechanic recommends spraying a decarbonising solution down the intake from time to time. Eventually with enough kms all of these engines will benefit from a tear down and a proper clean. This is recommended at the same time as they do timing belts, cam followers, etc. I doubt many Cobras will be doing that many miles though - in the order of 100,000+.