2.0T or 2.0 Tdi

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Essflee

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Hi,

looks like I'm going to have to part with the S3 in the coming months as it has come the time for 5 doors...

I don't do silly mileage a week so the diesel isn't essential, it's more a case of which engine in people's opinions is the most reliable, I've read horror stories about both, but seeing as how popular these engines are it would be nice to hear people's views, I've also thought about the 1.9tdi which is supposedly bullit proof, however 115 bhp isn't appealing and what ever I do buy I doubt I'd remap.

The car would probably be an A3/A4 S line around an 07 plate.

thanks for looking...
 
In my personal choice it would be a tdi don't ask me why it just would lol. Probably the 140 version if I am honest.
 
If your not doing many miles then I'd go for the 2.0T faster,more fun and sounds a lot better.
 
Going from an S3 to a 1.9 tri will kill you mate, go for the happy medium with a 2.0 tdi just make sure its been well looked after and not too high miles so no risk of sticky turbo vanes.
 
Turbo jay said:
If your not doing many miles then I'd go for the 2.0T faster,more fun and sounds a lot better.
Click to expand...

This will probably be my decision, thought the diesel would be more reliable but reading up it doesn't appear to be...
 
They are all reliable in general but each engine has its own issues. If you have a 225bhp S3 now, then if I were you I'd be looking at a 2.0T engined replacement. You will probably get a newer less mileage car for your money too.
 
Essflee said:
Ideally that would be my next car, but don't have the 17k to buy one, looking to spend 8-9k really.
Click to expand...

I have an A3 S Line tdi 170 s line for sale falling within your budget too!! Sportback too...
 
Tfsi all day long. With a map you will be near s3 territory ok not quite but the ko3 is far more responsive at 2800 rpm it's a no brainer :)
 
Essflee said:
Ideally that would be my next car, but don't have the 17k to buy one, looking to spend 8-9k really.
Click to expand...

My 57 plate 2.0T quattro sportback will be up for sale soon in your price range
 
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Is this because of a child that's due, don't want to make an assumption :)
 
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id stick to the 2.0T its better, more tuneable too if thats ur cup of tea
 
Dont mess around, just get a 3.0 TDI
 
Might as well get the 2.0T as your used to getting poor mpg due to owning an s3 but if you want economy go for the tdi 170 bhp as it remaps to 200bhp same as the 2.0T
 
Get a TDI fella, you'll need the extra dough saved on fuel for the kid & things that crop up, 2.0 140 is good enough & a remap to keep you interested, mods etc go out the window for a while as the kid will be all your time used up.
 
Another vote for the TDI. Theres alot u can do to avoid the issues everyone else has faced. As they say experience counts for everything.

If you go PD140 non-dpf then remap and more frequent oil changes would be my advice. Try to find a car that does not fall into the range of cars that had the cylinder head problem where they cracked. Check to make sure the EGR is functioning correctly if you can. Any signs of issues then walk away from the car.

If you for PD170 (which i have) then i advise the following, DPF removal, stage 0 (170) or stage 1 (200) remap. If the injectors aren't an issue then don't go for the recall, too many horror stories including my own. 2008 onwards PD140s have DPFs too so consider that. Above all, if you can stretch to it, get one of the newer CR engined cars. That would be your best bet, however i think remapping the CR's proves more difficult, but they're more reliable than the PD's. The garrett turbo on this is noisier than the KKK on the PD140 so don't let this alarm you unless its very noisy. Again, make sure the EGR is good and well.

Theres probably alot more to look out for, if i think of anything else i'll post it. Personally, i'd go for a 170 tdi and map to 200. Still plenty power, bags more torque and still good mpg!
 
NHN said:
Get a TDI fella, you'll need the extra dough saved on fuel for the kid & things that crop up, 2.0 140 is good enough & a remap to keep you interested, mods etc go out the window for a while as the kid will be all your time used up.
Click to expand...

These were my thoughts too, if I did go down the 140 route would the clutch become an issue after a remap or not ?

I know these questions have probably been gone over time and time again, I'm not too brushed up on the 8p
 
Sidhu88 said:
Another vote for the TDI. Theres alot u can do to avoid the issues everyone else has faced. As they say experience counts for everything.

If you go PD140 non-dpf then remap and more frequent oil changes would be my advice. Try to find a car that does not fall into the range of cars that had the cylinder head problem where they cracked. Check to make sure the EGR is functioning correctly if you can. Any signs of issues then walk away from the car.

If you for PD170 (which i have) then i advise the following, DPF removal, stage 0 (170) or stage 1 (200) remap. If the injectors aren't an issue then don't go for the recall, too many horror stories including my own. 2008 onwards PD140s have DPFs too so consider that. Above all, if you can stretch to it, get one of the newer CR engined cars. That would be your best bet, however i think remapping the CR's proves more difficult, but they're more reliable than the PD's. The garrett turbo on this is noisier than the KKK on the PD140 so don't let this alarm you unless its very noisy. Again, make sure the EGR is good and well.

Theres probably alot more to look out for, if i think of anything else i'll post it. Personally, i'd go for a 170 tdi and map to 200. Still plenty power, bags more torque and still good mpg!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed post,

Are all A4 B7's affected or are the later 07-08's ok ?

Ive heard the CR diesels are the better option, what year did these come out ? Are they purely in the newer shape A4's and face lift A3's or did some 07's have the CR.

thanks for any help
 
i would say standard clutch set up is ok for 175bhp ish but again depends on how it is mapped
 
Im running 182bhp on standard clutch it seems fine even when driving slightly hard power deliver seems good too but don't know how long my turbo will last its been remapped to this for 6 months and no problems so far that could accuse the remap of causing my car problems, tdi 140 is a pretty robust engine i think many tuning mods can be done over time
 
At the risk of offending any TDI owners..
i don't have any personal experience with them but its no joke that 90% of the people who post about issues with their A3 in this forum have a TDI of some description. I can almost guarantee that it's a TDI when clicking a problem thread before it opens.

Perhaps it's because FAR more TDIs sold in the UK new than 2.0Ts? So more people are posting about them?
 
Essflee said:
Thanks for the detailed post,

Are all A4 B7's affected or are the later 07-08's ok ?

Ive heard the CR diesels are the better option, what year did these come out ? Are they purely in the newer shape A4's and face lift A3's or did some 07's have the CR.

thanks for any help
Click to expand...

i don't know about other models but for the a3 the common rails are anything from the last part of 2008 onwards. Mines a 58 and is a common rail, I went for a cr over a pd because they supposedly drive a lot better and are more reliable. I've had mine remapped and the dpf taken off and it's good fun. The torque is great, I just wish I had Quattro so I could put more of it down in this winter weather!
 
JPK said:
At the risk of offending any TDI owners..
i don't have any personal experience with them but its no joke that 90% of the people who post about issues with their A3 in this forum have a TDI of some description. I can almost guarantee that it's a TDI when clicking a problem thread before it opens.

Perhaps it's because FAR more TDIs sold in the UK new than 2.0Ts? So more people are posting about them?
Click to expand...

U wudnt post about a problem u dont have tho. Theres many owners out there that have no problems
 
How often do you see the 2.0T owners posting about injector/turbo issues - very rare, and no DPF to worry about, less clutch troubles too. It'd be interesting to see which actually worked out costing more in the long run, I doubt there'd be much in it.
 
had a diesel and wont be coming back just happily enough i dont do more than 15k per annum so no need to bother with one:D. Petrol is much more entertaining and easier to repair therefore cost you less if something goes wrong. Up to you but 2.0T is a cracking engine and I like it very much.
 
JPK said:
At the risk of offending any TDI owners..
i don't have any personal experience with them but its no joke that 90% of the people who post about issues with their A3 in this forum have a TDI of some description. I can almost guarantee that it's a TDI when clicking a problem thread before it opens.

Perhaps it's because FAR more TDIs sold in the UK new than 2.0Ts? So more people are posting about them?
Click to expand...
Not everyones TDI is faulty its just the way its been treated by previous owners if its second hand and also they way you treat it? If you thrash it all the time you going to have leaks/problems etc, same with anything really if you get you missis to keep cooking cleaning non stop shes going to become tired and weak, its the same as your car abusing it constantly its going to become weak, good and regular services is a start to solving issues
 
JPK:1813465 said:
At the risk of offending any TDI owners..
i don't have any personal experience with them but its no joke that 90% of the people who post about issues with their A3 in this forum have a TDI of some description. I can almost guarantee that it's a TDI when clicking a problem thread before it opens.

Perhaps it's because FAR more TDIs sold in the UK new than 2.0Ts? So more people are posting about them?
Click to expand...

90% my ****
There are just as many posts about people having problems & "common" problems with petrol models whether it be a 1.8T or an S3.
 
Last edited:
Diesel = massey furguson, john deere!

2.0T quattro stage 1 remap = ;-)
 
mikeyboy said:
90% my ****
There are just as many posts about people having problems & "common" problems with petrol models whether it be a 1.8T or an S3.
Click to expand...

Really? I call bullsh*t. Here is all the mechanical problem threads on the first 2 pages of this forum as of right now. If you want to go back further it's the same. I was generous at 90%. I'm not wanting an arguement, perhaps as I said it is simply skewed by the TDI being more popular, therefore more on the roads than petrol models. Either way, the proof is in the pudding.

TDI
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/182900-i-dont-think-my-luck-ha-ha.htm
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/182950-dpf-advice.html
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/146231-bxe-engine-crap.htm
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...car-wont-start-warning-light-wont-go-out.html
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...0-running-problems-after-injector-recall.html
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/178666-glow-plugs.html
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/182331-problem-friends-a3.html
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...180164-a3-2-0-tdi-bkd-temperature-issues.html
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/182773-chirping-noise.html


S3
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/180405-whining-diff.html
 
Unless you like doing five gear changes to reach 60mph get the tfsi. But if getting left by every other A3 on the road is your thing then get the tdi.

On a serious note, you're coming from an S3 so it's safe to assume you like your cars to have a bit of pace about them. A tdi (140) is embarrassingly slow compared to a 2.0t and will only end up irritating you imo.
Reliability is a case by case thing, but all things being equal, the 2.0t is certainly no less reliable than the tdi and there is a strong argument that it is less problematic.
 
Thanks for all the replies chaps,

This thread has pretty much confirmed my direction, as much as I respect the diesel and like the low down torque, I am a petrol man at heart,

The diesel would probably seem like a good idea for the first couple of months, but as I'm not doing much more than 7-8k a year it makes sense to stick with the petrol.

How have people found the A3 5 door/sportback for lugging around baby prams etc ?

Next choice is either A3 5 door Sline or A4 avant Sline ? Dsg would be good too !
 
audi upgrades
every car has faults .

Tdi all the way..
 
Essflee said:
Thanks for all the replies chaps,

This thread has pretty much confirmed my direction, as much as I respect the diesel and like the low down torque, I am a petrol man at heart,

The diesel would probably seem like a good idea for the first couple of months, but as I'm not doing much more than 7-8k a year it makes sense to stick with the petrol.

How have people found the A3 5 door/sportback for lugging around baby prams etc ?

Next choice is either A3 5 door Sline or A4 avant Sline ? Dsg would be good too !
Click to expand...

Sportback is big enough but steer clear of Quattro if luggage space is important as you do lose quite a chunk of the boot through the higher floor due to the rear diff....
 
Essflee said:
Thanks for all the replies chaps,

This thread has pretty much confirmed my direction, as much as I respect the diesel and like the low down torque, I am a petrol man at heart,

The diesel would probably seem like a good idea for the first couple of months, but as I'm not doing much more than 7-8k a year it makes sense to stick with the petrol.

How have people found the A3 5 door/sportback for lugging around baby prams etc ?

Next choice is either A3 5 door Sline or A4 avant Sline ? Dsg would be good too !
Click to expand...

A3 DSG quattro is a very good option, there is still enough boot space to fit whatever you need.
 
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