New 2.0 TDI received!

[sebtomato]

Hi,

I just got delivery of my new A3 2.0 TDI 140 sport, with S-tronic, in ice silver colour. Car was ordered in July, and delivery was expected for mid-December. However, two weeks ago, I was told the car had been built, and last week that the car was being shipped to the UK. I was expecting 4-5 weeks between build time and car received in the UK, but it only took a week!

Not sure why the car was build 6 weeks in advance, maybe a consequence of the credit crunch and some slots made available.

I used to have the previous, pre-facelift 2.0 TDI 140, also with DSG, but the car was an S-Line. Even though the S-line did look good, it was just too uncomfortable due to the low-profile tyres and stiff suspensions.

The new one has sport suspensions, and the standard 17" wheels (looking very good), and it is much more confortable, while stability does not appear to have been affected and actually is better.

The new car is much more refined and quiet than the old one, and I initially wondered if it was really a diesel engine. I used to have a fairly aggressive GALA setting on the radio with the old one, and I don't think it's required on the new one.

Looking at the facelift pictures, I didn't think they had made many style changes, but having the two cars side-by-side made me realise that there are quite a few.

Some of the changes:
* New front (obviously), more angular. Looks very much like the new A4 or A5
* Quite different rear, with horizontal exhaust pipes (due to DPF, no need to point them to the ground)
* Larger side mirrors, much improved
* Indicators in mirrors
* New switches inside
* New dashboard, the black LCD display is very nice
* On board computer has many more options, and everything can be set up (even the intensity of the footwell lights!)
* Mileage is now included in the computer for Computer 1
* Computer can now show real time speed (more precise)
* When in D mode on S-tronic, manual override works as before but only stays for 10 seconds
* Closing the doors and boot makes a different sound
* Hill hold assist is now standard
* The tyre pressure figures are no longer written inside the fuel flap (not sure where they are now)

Overall, quite a few improvements, and I liked the old car until comparing with the new one. It now looks outdated.

Fuel economy seems much better than previous model. I used to do 45MPG for my commute to work (lots of traffic, and 10 miles of motorway), and the new car reported 58MPG for the same journey yesterday!

It feels like S-tronic has been optimised, although I can't really tell yet, as I am not pushing the car. It feels that there is less lag.

Some of the small issues:

* Some of the buttons around the radio look cheap, and I don't know why the radio and AC is not also with black display
* Cup holder is gone from the front console
* Ipod connection is still basic, no song names displayed etc. Surely, it would cost hardly nothing to have a proper connection. I still don't understand if the ipod is actually outputting the music, or if the files are just read like a drive. An Audi logo is displayed on the Ipod when connected.
I have an Ipod mini, and the plastic adapter is not provided (only for Nanos, or regular Ipods)
* The automatic wipers don't appear to work that well. Yesterday, there was quite a lot of rain on the windscreen, and they were only triggered infrequently
* The front parking sensors are installed on the sides, and are not able to sense an obstacle place at the front but quite low (like a small wall). Given that the lower front is now much likely to be damaged, this is a drawback.

That's it for now!
Seb

 

[h5djr]

Thanks for the interesting write-up. I've driven a new manual 140 but have yet to drive an s-tronic version. When one is available I want to drive both a face-lift 140 s-tronic and a 170 s-tronic to compare with my current 170 s-tronic before I make the decision to change.
The 140 common rail engine on the 140 manual I drove seem a lot quiter than the previous models. It good to see the mpg figures are better as well.

 

[h5djr]

You say in year report that the new DIS has many more function available. Could you possibly provide a complete list. Thanks

 

[Khufu]

The DIS functions seem to have changed a lot over the years. My 2003 DIS only has:

Temp
Radio/Cd etc track
Warning symbols if needbe
Average miles per gallon 1&2
Average speed 1&2
current miles per gallon
Time of journey 1&2
Range left (without fuel pump icon)

It also displays the RNS-E compass

It has no control over any of the cars functions.

 

[sebtomato]

My 05 reg car had:

* Comp 1 (without mileage): average speed, average consumption, miles to go/range, time of journey, instant consumption
* Comp 2: same as comp 1
* Set speed warning, units, clock
* Check: service, chassis number

The new car has:

* Comp 1 and 2 with mileage done, average speed, average consumption, miles to go/range, time of journey, instant consumption
* Set: speed warning, units, language, clock, external lights, internal lights, turn signals, wipers (service position, rear wiper), windows, doors (autolock), parking aid front and rear (volume, frequency)
* Check: service, chassis number, oil temperature, number of keys
* Can display speed in large numbers, or external temperature, cd track/radio and one of comp 1/2 indicators

 

[Sem]

On a manual transmission. the DIS also has a 'fuel saver' function - this displays the gear you are currently in and the optimum point to change up/down.

 

[emzino]

On a manual transmission. the DIS also has a 'fuel saver' function - this displays the gear you are currently in and the optimum point to change up/down.

Oh cool! Would you say that it works?

 

[Khufu]

On a manual transmission. the DIS also has a 'fuel saver' function - this displays the gear you are currently in and the optimum point to change up/down.

isnt optimal point for changing up a gear on an S3 when it red lines?

 

[mac1403]

Oh cool! Would you say that it works?

It seems more of a gimmick to me. On my S3 if I am doing 30mph in 4th it tells me to go to 6th. Might be for optimal fuel economy, but not for the life of the engine.

 

[Roswell]

* The front parking sensors are installed on the sides, and are not able to sense an obstacle place at the front but quite low (like a small wall). Given that the lower front is now much likely to be damaged, this is a drawback.

That's it for now!
Seb

Seb,

Interesting write up. Glad you're enjoying the new motor.

I'm sure there are 4 sensors at the front. The 2 at the sides you mention and the other 2 are on the registration plate holder.

 

[sebtomato]

I'm sure there are 4 sensors at the front. The 2 at the sides you mention and the other 2 are on the registration plate holder.

Hi,

I think you are right, as it is a 8 channel system according to the user manual. However, where I park my car, there is a small wall 20-25cm tall, and the front of the car just go over it by a few millimeters. This is not detected by the front-sensors. Maybe just a setting issue.

Also, I found yesterday some of the plastic seal on the front-driver window was pushed inside the door. Not sure if it was a defect when the window was completely lowered, and the mechanism pushed the seal in, or if someone tried to pick the lock or open the door already. The window does quite some noise when lowered now, as the seal is rubbing against the window...

 

[DaveS3Turbo]

Some of the new features sound good. Seems to b more controllable rather than VAGCOM all the time.

David

 

[zack1uk]

The cup holder is under a sliding cover under the arm rest, or at least it is on my 140 sport sportback.

Are you sure about the hill hold assist being standard as mine does'nt seem to have it. Maybe its standard on the dsg only or maybe I just haven't tried it out.....

I'd be interested to see what you think of the sport suspension once you have driven it for a few thousand miles. At 1st I found it too stiff. Although it has now softened up and is more plush I have mixed feelings about it. It seems to stay stiff over the bumps, but has too much give under hard cornering. Its almost the opposite of the platform shocks on my mountain bike, where the shock senses bumps and releases to absorb the impact, but stays stiff under progressive compression eg pedaling and cornering. I also find that the although the compression damping is firm, the rebound damping is almost non existent, resulting in a very strange floaty / pogoing effect over any ripples in the road surface.

Other than that its an awesome car, and I'm so pleased that I chose it as a replacement for my company car rather than another mondeo. Now I just have to wait (eagerly) until one of the tuning companies comes out with a map for the CR engine.

 

[Sem]

The cup holder is under a sliding cover under the arm rest, or at least it is on my 140 sport sportback.

Are you sure about the hill hold assist being standard as mine does'nt seem to have it. Maybe its standard on the dsg only or maybe I just haven't tried it out.....

I'd be interested to see what you think of the sport suspension once you have driven it for a few thousand miles. At 1st I found it too stiff. Although it has now softened up and is more plush I have mixed feelings about it. It seems to stay stiff over the bumps, but has too much give under hard cornering. Its almost the opposite of the platform shocks on my mountain bike, where the shock senses bumps and releases to absorb the impact, but stays stiff under progressive compression eg pedaling and cornering. I also find that the although the compression damping is firm, the rebound damping is almost non existent, resulting in a very strange floaty / pogoing effect over any ripples in the road surface.

Other than that its an awesome car, and I'm so pleased that I chose it as a replacement for my company car rather than another mondeo. Now I just have to wait (eagerly) until one of the tuning companies comes out with a map for the CR engine.

Mines a manual and I don't have the hill hold assist either, i'm pretty sure its standard on the S-tronic though? It just uses the ESP system to apply braking so I wonder if it can be enabled with vag com?

Chipped UK can map the EDC17 ECU, gains for the CR-140 engine are 35bhp and 50lb/ft torque.

 

[sebtomato]

Are you sure about the hill hold assist being standard as mine does'nt seem to have it. Maybe its standard on the dsg only or maybe I just haven't tried it out.....
I'd be interested to see what you think of the sport suspension once you have driven it for a few thousand miles. At 1st I found it too stiff.

Hi, I am sure I didn't order the hill hold assist option (was not even on the list), and I got it, so maybe it's because of the S-tronic gearbox. This would be however strange, since cars tend to creep with DSG/S-tronic, and therefore don't tend to roll back much at all. I think it is a more useful option to offer by default on a manual gearbox. Maybe it was damaging the DSG/S-tronic gearboxes faster, I don't know. Regarding the suspensions, since I am coming from an S-line, I surely don't find them too stiff! I test drove a SE car before ordering, with standard suspensions, and the car was just too bouncy. Therefore, the sport suspensions seemed the best compromise between S-line and standard, and I don't regret the choice. The new car is more confortable (could be also the tyres), and I haven't noticed any drawbacks from the S-line, in term of handling, body roll or cornering for instance.

 

[WolvesPhil]

Nice one mate, When I ordered mine I was quoted a february 09 delivery but got the phone call last week to say I could have it soon if I liked. So I am expecting it in the next week or so! Was really surprised to get it so soon!

 

[sebtomato]

Nice one mate, When I ordered mine I was quoted a february 09 delivery but got the phone call last week to say I could have it soon if I liked. So I am expecting it in the next week or so! Was really surprised to get it so soon!

Initially, I was told mine would take longer to be built due to shortage of S-tronic gearboxes. Delivery was supposed to be mid-December, for a car ordered early July.

However, I have heard a few people also with manual gearbox (like yourself) receiving their cars much earlier than planned, sometimes months before the planned date.

I think it could be several explanations:

1) Audi gives pessimistic dates, to make the customer happy at the end

2) Audi is feeling the impact of the credit crunch (car sales are apparently -20% accross all manufacturers) and many orders are getting cancelled for Audi or other brands of the VW group using the same parts (gearboxes, engines etc)

 

[Twizzler]

My vote goes to the second option.