Going to be getting an A3

[apic01]

Hello all newbie here, I currently have a Vauxhall astra that I will be chopping in soon for a a3. I am just after a bit of advice regarding which engine to get. I think I am after the 2.0tdi either 140ps or 170ps if cheap enough. Does anyone have either of these engines and are they fast enough to put a smile on your face? Never owned a diesel but longer journeys to work means a change is necessary. Cheers

Andy

 

[LEE69]

I have the 170 and sport mode of the lights is good, watching others go backwards.
The 140 maps better I have read, but the turbos are not as good as the 170's.

 

[R90 STL]

i have a 140ps and there is plenty of torque in the engine to keep you smiling after a map

 

[apic01]

what sort of figures did you get after the map mate?

 

[R90 STL]

It's not been on a RR or anything like that but with a Revo stage 1 your talking a 45 ps gain. It also allows for 60mpg to be possible if that interests u

 

[apic01]

that is exactly what I am after performance and economy, is the stage 1 just a re map?

 

[R90 STL]

yeah, re map mate. Put it this way my car keeps up with my mates 2.0tfsi and its 200ps

 

[apic01]

Cheers mate, just got to save a few more pennys and start putting my astra back to standard

 

[SAiLO]

You are gonna love the interior after Astra.
Remap is worth every penny on 140bhp tdi.

 

[apic01]

Yeah I hate the astras interior only bit I'll miss is the blue and red clocks! Got a fair few things to sell so should get 1k back from putting it back to standard.

 

[JohnE]

Do search on here - there's a couple of common faults on 140 engines...

 

[apic01]

Anyone know what these faults are?

 

[Sayam]

I have a 170 and having driven my friends remapped 140 I must say I prefer the power delivery and drive of my 170. Granted the 140 seems a little faster but there's something not so smooth about the way it goes about its business which isn't nice at all.

Also I'd recommend the DSG gearbox over the manual - even though bills soon add up if your DSG box pops. I guess the same would apply to the manual one to be honest.

 

[JohnE]

Faults - start here

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...ur-cylinder-head-will-crack-if-hasnt-yet.html

 

[R90 STL]

I have a 170 and having driven my friends remapped 140 I must say I prefer the power delivery and drive of my 170. Granted the 140 seems a little faster but there's something not so smooth about the way it goes about its business which isn't nice at all.

Also I'd recommend the DSG gearbox over the manual - even though bills soon add up if your DSG box pops. I guess the same would apply to the manual one to be honest.

dsg is very good I haven't driven a 170 so can't make a comparison

 

[Dave-S3]

Ive Had both the 140 and 170 engines, although my 140 was the older PD engine with no DPF the 170 didn't feel that much faster at all really since its only 30bhp and 30NM of torque more, however that could have been down to the stupid DPF restriction. However both are good fun though for a diesel, you will love the Audi over an Astra!! The 170's are more expensive to buy, as a few people have said go for a 140 and get it mapped, the gains are much better over the 170.

 

[Shorty_rs]

I'm selling my A3 140 soon.

Just had over £2k spent on it doing the head, turbo etc so it's perfect now. DSG and S Line too.

 

[R90 STL]

Yeah I hate the astras interior only bit I'll miss is the blue and red clocks! Got a fair few things to sell so should get 1k back from putting it back to standard.

You will soon forget about the Astra dials. Check the mpg too

 

[jord11]

Not to long ago I was considering this same dilemma, but what put me off was the fact that my best pal owns a 2.0 diesel 140 black edition, he purchased it from Audi about 18months ago, within the first month of his owner ship, the car started knocking whilst idling and sometimes sounded like it had a missfire. He took it in to Audi and they then had the car for 6weeks before they returned it to him. Knocking noise had gone but it still sounded like it had a slight missfire, so again he took it in to Audi, this time they had the car for 8weeks and replaced the injectors. So nearly 6 months ownership of a car that had 57k on the clock, he had bearly driven it. Don't get me wrong it's a cracking car and Audi have been great with sorting the problems, just if your going to buy one buy one with warranty. I considered the 1.4 tfsi but found it slightly gutless, so I purchased a 1.8 tfsi which does over 50mpg on the motorway, and with petrol averaging 10 pence cheaper than diesel per litre, it works out around the same as running a diesel. Hope I haven't put you off just hoping you've covered all angles.

 

[apic01]

Yeah I have looked into the 1.8 tfsi as well but feel diesel is my best bet at the minute. How much you reckon you'll want for yours ****ty? and I have seen some Audi clocks on taxi journeys and they're pretty smart!

 

[Shorty_rs]

I'm gonna want 4k mate. I'll get a for sale thread up this weekend but a brief spec is..

04 DSG in grey
Half leather black seats
Bose
S Line spec
122k miles

In the last month it's had, fully refurbished late C head, refurbed turbo, new rack, new MAF, full service and cambelt. All the receipts are there, full history. Done under 1000 miles since all the work was done, all still has 12 months warranty on it and all the bills there too. Over £2k spent!

 

[Phil-1]

Yeah I hate the astras interior only bit I'll miss is the blue and red clocks! Got a fair few things to sell so should get 1k back from putting it back to standard.

I have just got ride of my Astra and got the A3 TDi 170bhp. And yes I still have a smile on my face.
The build quality co paired to the Astra is a world apart

 

[andyam]

I have the 1.9TDi just to throw that into the mixer done me wonders..pulls pretty well. I kept up with Ana a3 2.0tdi on the country roads not long ago....but it's not been mapped I've heard mapping a 1.9tdi brings good gains.

 

[Fanboy]

I've driven both 140 and 170 diesel ones, but honestly once I tested 1.8 tfsi i didn't look back as it hell of a lot difference... I had it about year coz it had 100k on the clock as I was a bit worried if anything goes wrong then I'll end up with long bill, so sold it...

Now got lovely S3 and A3 3.2 V6... now there is no way I go back to anything less than 2 liter engine...
Have a look around and test drive both diesel and petrol ones, but trust me they all cost the same to run... don't just consider the running cost Hope it helped