A3 1.4tfSI 140 Sport or A3 2.0TDI SE

[Broadstraik]

I have owned both a 1.4TFSI (older 8P chassis) and now a 2.0TDI (8V) if it was purely down to performance I would go for the 2.0TDI every time...quicker from a standing start, much higher torque and therefore better in gear acceleration and pulling power when fully loaded, just need to get the revs in the sweet spot (same for any diesel). That said Sport spec is better than SE IMHO, especially as you get climate control on the Sport...tough choice.

You do really need to test drive, phone round a couple of dealers but dont tell them you are going to lease as a company car, give them the impression you will buy and i am sure they will find a trst drive for you.

Either way both will be better than the BMW's you have been offered (performance and kit)

'COD is Great'

Do not make your decision until you have driven the 1.4 COD, it is a revelation!

It is quieter and more refined than the diesel and is quicker to 60mph by 0.3 secs too. Yes, the diesel has more torque that is not disputed, 320nm vs 250nm but all of its extra 10bhp will be used to haul the extra 65kg in weight of the diesel engine. Coming from a 168bhp diesel Passat, I have no regrets about moving back to petrol and am getting more mpg than I did with the Passat. I have averaged 43 mpg overall on the 1,200 miles covered so far and have achieved up to 52mpg. These figures do not match the A3 diesel but the COD was £1,500 cheaper to buy and petrol is about 6p a litre cheaper and doing a small mileage and the superior refinement of the petrol engine I am happy I chose the COD having test driven both engines.

 

[Itguy]

There's lots of talk on here about seat wear.

This isn't an easy question to ask but is it a concern due to your size? It's a serious question and not meant in an insulting way, just that the sports seats have pronounced bolsters that can dig in too if you're not careful or have the right size rear/back for them.

Where abouts did the BMW seats wear? I ask the question as I've had loads of bmws and never had a seat wear issue yet.

 

[Daveotto]

'COD is Great'

Do not make your decision until you have driven the 1.4 COD, it is a revelation!

It is quieter and more refined than the diesel and is quicker to 60mph by 0.3 secs too. Yes, the diesel has more torque that is not disputed, 320nm vs 250nm but all of its extra 10bhp will be used to haul the extra 65kg in weight of the diesel engine. Coming from a 168bhp diesel Passat, I have no regrets about moving back to petrol and am getting more mpg than I did with the Passat. I have averaged 43 mpg overall on the 1,200 miles covered so far and have achieved up to 52mpg. These figures do not match the A3 diesel but the COD was £1,500 cheaper to buy and petrol is about 6p a litre cheaper and doing a small mileage and the superior refinement of the petrol engine I am happy I chose the COD having test driven both engines.

0.3 sec difference is correct when comparing manual gearboxes but according to the configurator the auto versions have equivalent performance at 8.4 secs to 62 mph

 

[Broadstraik]

0.3 sec difference is correct when comparing manual gearboxes but according to the configurator the auto versions have equivalent performance at 8.4 secs to 62 mph

I used the 0-62 mph times for manuals because Neil did not mention S-Tronic in his spec but 0.3 secs of a difference is probably splitting hairs anyway.

 

[cemerson]

Still prefer the extra 'shove' the diesel delivers with all its torque, much more fun

 

[cemerson]

We are comparing the 1.4 TFSI and the 2.0 TDI - where exactly does the S3 come into it?!

 

[neil stait]

UKIP all the way mate

As I said the company coud have offered me a Ford and indeed a Ford Focus ST was mentioned but it is a company car so the tax would have been too high and it would have rattled after 12 months

I am test driving both Audi models on Saturday. I do limited mileage , like 8000 a year so although I have set my sights on the 2.0TDI SE it is really down to the 1.4TFSI COD to prove it is a good 4 year car and not a short term fun boy racer

The sensible choice would probably be the higher spec 1.4 but we will see

 

[neil stait]

The 116 did not wear badly as such the actually seat material sagged , the bit you park your rear on

You could lift the material from the base and wave it around it was soo loose

The 118D Sport has worn on the drivers bolster but just with dirt rather than a split or real damage , the rest of the seats are immaculate

I am 13 stone and 5ft 8 so definatly not a fatty no offense was taken

The 118D has electronic lumbar support , never used , and is manually adjusted everywhere else

 

[cuke2u]

8k a year doesn't warrant having a diesel. You'd never make up the difference in the costs...

 

[felsby]

I drive a 180hp tfsi, but I am sure the 140hp COD will be OK.

My only regret is not having ordered sports seats. For taller drivers, the extendable seats increases comfort at long trips.

I had already ripped my 1000 CD collection to computer, so buying a 128Gb SD card and transferring the record collection in AAC 320kbps was possible - and fantastic to have it all with you all the time. Please DO order at least the Audi Sound System, which is worth the money.

 

[snakehips]

8k a year doesn't warrant having a diesel. You'd never make up the difference in the costs...

I agree but does that really matter with a company car?
I'd say that if you can't decide based on engine then definitely take the option that gives Sport trim.

 

[PilotAudi]

I think Neil may be stuck with base spec. Years ago I introduced a scheme in my organisation where we paid employees 90 % of the lease cost and then Hmrc fuel rates. Saves the business money and the employee. Maybe Neil your MD needs to get a consultant in!!

 

[neil stait]

I have been offered the 2.0TDI SE or the 1.4TFSI COD Sport. The only extras I am allowed is rear sensors although I might beg for the hold assist as I am not familiar with the electronic handbrake

If I ask for anything else I will get the Kia look

 

[felsby]

Don´t beg for hold assist - the electronic handbrake does the job brilliantly! I have s-tronic that includes a simple hold assist for 3 seconds, but using the handbrake with manual transmission is a breeze. You will learn it in 2 minutes.

 

[neil stait]

Cool might beg for the tyre sensors then

 

[felsby]

Good idea. If I had ordered that, I could have had it for free, as I would have noticed the nearly flat tire before it was ruined.

 

[PilotAudi]

TPMS will soon be standard but worth having. Also Hill hold is must with a manual takes away all the faff and also cheap . Std Audi music is poor. *** better B&O superb! Suspect Neil will have to compromise.

 

[snakehips]

I think Neil may be stuck with base spec. Years ago I introduced a scheme in my organisation where we paid employees 90 % of the lease cost and then Hmrc fuel rates. Saves the business money and the employee. Maybe Neil your MD needs to get a consultant in!!

I was wondering if Neil could do similar - take a car allowance and spec his own car - but looks like he is tied to proper company car. I used to be given a company car and, while it's lovely just to be handed a car with no worries about daily expenses, it's a real pain that you can't normally throw cool extras at it.

 

[cemerson]

There's no such option as Hill Hold - that's standard on all cars. Hold Assist is what you mean I think, and I agree - it's well worth having.

 

[neil stait]

Being a 1.4 engine is the COD affected by the use of the air conditioning

My 118D is not but when you turned on the air con on my 116i petrol you might as well have got out and walked , then again it was only 100BHP

 

[neil stait]

The 1.4TFSI Sport is gorgeous with all its extras (I am a sucker for chrome bits) I just have a little trouble getting my head around the fact a 1.4 petrol can out perform a 2.0TDI on paper anyway

I suppose I will find out on Saturday

 

[mjcourtney]

My 1.4TFSI 122hp (non COD) is almost as fast as my old 2.0Tdi 140bhp, so I expect the 140 1.4 COD to be even better! Sadly the COD wasn't available when I ordered mine, but I find the 122 to be plenty fast enough, and in Dynamic mode it's positively quick.

If I was in your situation i'd be choosing the 1.4TFSI 140 Sport without a second thought, the Sport upgrade is worth every penny over SE spec.

 

[M_D_O_London]

By what you've said thus far, the 1.4 TFSI COD Sport will make the most sense for you, both engine wise and spec wise.

The A3 petrol engines are all very quiet, (although the 2.0 TFSI in the S3 may be the exception?). My 1.8 TFSI is lovely and smooth and barely audiable unless you push it towards the red line. Road noise is more noticable on all A3 variants than other models but it's no real issue.

 

[Psyman79]

I have the 1.4 TFSI COD and am really happy with it, i've test driven most of the engines in the range with the exception of the S3 2.0 and i'd say that the performance wise there's not much between the COD and the diesel 150. Even if they were the same price i'd still opt for the COD.
Personally, i'd go for the COD sport and enjoy the better spec. Defo add hold assist, i didn't as i didn't see it in the book but i wish i'd looked a bit closer.

I've not had any experience of the air con effecting the COD, does effect the stop/start though.

 

[neil stait]

Well thats good news regarding the COD and the air con

My BMW turns the Stop/start off when its below +3C

I think I will probably end up with the COD as I am a tart for chrome and I am a bit of a driving miss daisy anyway in my driving style

I just don't want a car that I have to work hard to obtain the performance

 

[cuke2u]

With regards to the CC on the 1.4 COD engine. I had a 1.6 ecoboost focus, wonderful engine, with a slightly higher ps output, but a lower toque figure. The only way I could tell if the CC was on was to listen for the clicking as the compressor switched on and off. Other than that he was completely unnoticeable from inside the car. I left mine on all of the time and as I could get up 57mpg mixed cycle I would say it made little difference to the mpg either.

Thus I would expect the 1.4 CC to behave in exactly the same as modern vehicle air conditioning systems are meant to put lower loads upon the engine...

 

[cemerson]

Sounds like you should go for the 1.4 really, but I'd still test drive both if you can to be sure.

 

[neil stait]

Yep then the question will be brilliant black or brilliant red

 

[PilotAudi]

Black

 

[Psyman79]

The only thing thats dissapointed me about the COD is economy. I realise that manufacture quoted figures are worth nothing but i was hoping to get between 40 - 45 mpg. At present, after 1300 miles the DIS says an average of just under 37 and my calculations based on my last fill up worked out at just 33.1 mpg.
Hopefully your company will be paying for fuel so it wont be an issue but just thought i'd let you know.

 

[neil stait]

I am not too worried about the MPG , my BMW 118D does about 47 average and 62 on a long run but around town can be under 30

My previous petrol BMW maxed out at 42MPG on a run and around 27 around town

 

[neil stait]

Well tested the cars today

2.0TDI Sport tested - Wow , smooth and wonderful acceleration, quieter than my 118D, lighter on the steering and great brakes

1.4TFSI 140 Sport COD - Not so impressed , fast but didn't feel as planted on the rode as the diesel, whisper quiet when stationary but has the same noise when moving as the diesel, didn't instill the same confidence

Diesel buried itself into the road hugging the surface.

Petrol sat on the road kind of floating above it , difficult to describe unless you drive them i suppose, it felt like older cars I have driven when they have thin low profile tyres although I assume both models have the same tyres

As I am only allowed the SE spec on the diesel and they didnt have one i checked out a 1.4 TFSI 120 SE

The SE interior is bad I mean it looks like a robber has been inside and stripped it of its metal the seats are awful and cheap so basically I still don't know

If I can get the SE but with the leather option I will get that as I'm not bothered about the chrome but if I can't we are back to square one

 

[PilotAudi]

Sports seats are vital. Old Dave on here loves SE spec, I don't get it. Sport S line is best but S3 better. Sorry Neil need to get someone to engage with your MD on employee benefits!

 

[Itguy]

Can you pay whatever the (miniscule) monthly difference will be to get a 2.0tdi Sport as a salary sacrifice?

 

[PilotAudi]

Asked him that a while back Mr Guy. Seems his employer doesn't understand the importance of looking after his/her staff!

 

[h5djr]

Sports seats are vital. Old Dave on here loves SE spec, I don't get it. Sport S line is best but S3 better. Sorry Neil need to get someone to engage with your MD on employee benefits!

Actual your wrong Old Dave likes the seats in his existing SE but I and Mrs Old Dave don't like the ones in the new 8V. We both prefer the 8V Sport seats which means I can go for a Sport spec with SE suspension rather than an SE Spec.

 

[neil stait]

I suppose one side of me is saying if it is such a small amount why should I , if they value me what is £20 a month

It might depend on who breaks first but I can't really see anything out there of the quality of the a3 at the same price.

I even looked at the Mini Cooper S countryman which is quick but over 20% tax , also sat in a BMW 116 i sport which nearly sent me into a coma ..... boring

I would be happy enough with the SE with the leather option so we will see

 

[Itguy]

Really? You'd be happy? I drove my wife's driving school fiesta for a week and the manual aircon/lack of climate and no auto wipers drove me crazy. Constantly fiddling with things distracting me from actually driving.

I bet the residuals are better on a Sport than an SE so the cost will be barely any different.

 

[neil stait]

My 118D does not have climate control and no auto wipers and actually has no cruise control or centre armrest as at the time these were options I was not allowed

As you can tell choosing a company car is painful and something I now hate

 

[Itguy]

Yes, I've been there historically. When I first started a job without a company car I thought it would be awful, but now I really favour not having to dance around the boss to get a slightly nicer car when it comes time to change.

Well that's good that you haven't had those things so won't miss them - SE should be good then. Surely though the cost of adding leather in the SE would be more than just having a Sport? (not looked at the brochure cost but leather on an SE must be £££?)