A3 Black Edition - 140 remapped or 170?

[Pauljamescaton]

Hi All

I am on the verge of trading in my 2004 54 plate 2.0TDI 140 A3 DSG as the dreaded coolant loss / cracked head seems to be upon me and fancy something a bit newer....

As the title suggests i am looking at the 2.0TDI 140 or 170 equipped with S-Tronic gearbox.... i have searched the forum and although very helpful not finding the exact answer i am after.

I have read that the 170 is louder than the 140? how much difference? drastic? Mine sounds like a tractor, have the engines moved on a lot since then?

Is a remapped 140 better than a 170, in terms of gear changes and the delivery of the power? I am under the impression my 140 has been mapped as i drove a friends and it didn't feel anywhere near as powerful and smooth.

The 170 appeals as the extra power is there to start with and the warranty would still be sound without the map although reading other threads it seems a lot of people have gone for the 140 and remapped that? why was this?

So which is better?

Please help

All opinions welcome?

Thank

Paul

 

[Scott]

140 remapped = cheaper than 170, but why not 170 remapped? :icon_thumright:

 

[Pauljamescaton]

Well that is an option Scott, must push 200bhp easy. It wouldn't be a definite to get a 170 mapped and would prefer the better engine if there is a massive difference between the two...

If you don't mind, why did you choose the 140 over the 170? and what about your warranty with the remap?

Paul

 

[Scott]

Well that is an option Scott, must push 200bhp easy. It wouldn't be a definite to get a 170 mapped and would prefer the better engine if there is a massive difference between the two...

If you don't mind, why did you choose the 140 over the 170? and what about your warranty with the remap?

Paul

I think the 140 is a little smoother as it has a smaller turbo, but I'm not 100% on that.

Insurance on the 170 is/was ridiculous for me at my age, so the 140 was a no brainer, didn't even consider the 170 because of this (although quattro would be nice in this weather!)

Scott

 

[Pauljamescaton]

Im 21 so the insurance will probably blow the 170 out the water and i will have to go for the 140, going to get a check this week.

Did you get any discount on an A3 Black Edition and where you order from out of interest? I keep reading posts of big discounts on the S3 Black Editions...

Thanks

Paul

 

[h5djr]

I think the 140 is a little smoother as it has a smaller turbo, but I'm not 100% on that.

Insurance on the 170 is/was ridiculous for me at my age, so the 140 was a no brainer, didn't even consider the 170 because of this (although quattro would be nice in this weather!)

Scott

I test drove both a new 140 and a 170 before I decided on my current car. The new 140cr certainly felt a liitle smoother and torqier that the 170cr so I decided to go for the 140 and save £900.

I have since had it remapped for around £300.

 

[Scott]

Im 21 so the insurance will probably blow the 170 out the water and i will have to go for the 140, going to get a check this week.

Did you get any discount on an A3 Black Edition and where you order from out of interest? I keep reading posts of big discounts on the S3 Black Editions...

Thanks

Paul

I got a discount that I was very happy with, not sure how much but it was a fair amount from DUNDEE AUDI & they delivered the car. Perhaps give them a call and see what they can do, ask for John Norrie & tell him Scott Andrews gave you his name. He probably won't remember me as it was almost a year ago, but you never know you may get a good deal!

 

[stealth64]

If insurance is your main issue then its gotta be the 140.

I have read that the 170 remapped is reactive and very smooth! If it was me I would choose the 170 and then you have the option to remap if you want at a later date!

 

[Scott]

Out of interest, does anyone know how well the 170s clutch would cope with a remap? Is it the same clutch as the 140?

 

[h5djr]

As far as I can see on Ekta and after talking to one of the Master Techs at my dealers, the only difference between the two models is the turbo. Both the models I tried were s-tronic.

 

[jojo]

The 140 remapped has got to be the most cost effective solution, cheaper insurance I presume, isn't it a bit cheaper to Tax? and I think the 170 has a DPF, the 140 doesn't right?, so one less thing to worry about.

 

[Scott]

The 140 remapped has got to be the most cost effective solution, cheaper insurance I presume, isn't it a bit cheaper to Tax? and I think the 170 has a DPF, the 140 doesn't right?, so one less thing to worry about.

140 CR has DPF too I think

 

[Scott]

As far as I can see on Ekta and after talking to one of the Master Techs at my dealers, the only difference between the two models is the turbo. Both the models I tried were s-tronic.

Thanks, does that mean theoretically I could fit a 170 turbo...hmmm... wonder what would be better and more cost effective, that or hybrid... that's pretty interesting!

 

[sammi]

I have a 170 and love it... if your spending that much on a car you may aswell get the more powerful engine and like above you can always chip at a later date, in terms of insurance there are always deals to be done, I pay the same as I would on a 140 just by shopping around and negotiating, if you are 21 I am sure it wont be an issue getting insured. Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[Matt]

Either will be a good car. If you have the money go the 170, if not then go for a 140.

I found very little difference, if any between insuring a 140 and 170.

 

[h5djr]

140 CR has DPF too I think

Yes it does. I've had my since May 2009 and done nearly 10k miles with no sign of any DPF trouble. Mind you I had a 170PD before this one and did around 30k miles in 2 years without any sign of DPF trouble with that either. Both cars have an s-tronic if that makes any difference.

 

[Datastorm]

I have found that the S-Tronic box removes a lot of the DPF issues by itself.

For instance when the car goes into a regeneration cycle, the box holds onto each gear longer getting the engine hotter quicker.

In over 3yrs I've never had the dreaded DPF light come on, with the car simply going into it's regen cycle every few weeks/months.

The 170 is good, I can personally recommend it. In the past too I have found that many insurers have classed my registration as a 140 model...... so 2 insurance groups lower. Even though I double checked with them, if the computer said so they were happy, and so was I. My current insurer classes it as a 170 though, but I am older now and the premiums have levelled out.

I did try a CR model a while ago whilst in for service, and the engine was much quieter and smoother...... and looking forward to p/x'ing later in the year !!

 

[Scott]

Yes it does. I've had my since May 2009 and done nearly 10k miles with no sign of any DPF trouble. Mind you I had a 170PD before this one and did around 30k miles in 2 years without any sign of DPF trouble with that either. Both cars have an s-tronic if that makes any difference.

Likewise, I've had mine since March 2009, done 13,000 miles with no signs of DPF trouble. And it's a manual.

 

[Scott]

In the past too I have found that many insurers have classed my registration as a 140 model...... so 2 insurance groups lower. Even though I double checked with them, if the computer said so they were happy, and so was I. My current insurer classes it as a 170 though, but I am older now and the premiums have levelled out.

Oh man I'd be very careful doing that, the person selling you the insurance may be happy to sell it to you based on what the computer says, but I'm willing to bet the person who approves claims would have something different to say if they found out!

 

[Datastorm]

Oh man I'd be very careful doing that, the person selling you the insurance may be happy to sell it to you based on what the computer says, but I'm willing to bet the person who approves claims would have something different to say if they found out!

I know, not ideal (but I was honest with them)..... but then I hear a lot of people remap and never say anything.

In fact, I'd be interested to know if any other TDI170 drivers have come across this glitch with insurers, I can't be alone. Unfortunately the price for my tax disc was always correct.

 

[Scott]

I know, not ideal (but I was honest with them)..... but then I hear a lot of people remap and never say anything.

In fact, I'd be interested to know if any other TDI170 drivers have come across this glitch with insurers, I can't be alone. Unfortunately the price for my tax disc was always correct.

If you do it again and they say it's fine, I'd definately get written confirmation off them, or get a note put on your policy and a copy of it sent out, I have a funny feeling it wouldn't be so OK if they have to do that!

Thing is, although you should declare a remap, I'd say it's more difficult for insurance companies to check if your car has been mapped than check what engine your car has (it's on your VIN plate & reg certificate) but I guess you may get away with it.

I know with my old car the insurers didn't always pick up the right spec, but I always changed that on the site and selected the right one. With the A3 I had a problem at first with insurers putting it down as S Line (which it is), but I always played it safe and insured it as Black Edition, as that's what it says on my reg documents. Always the way with the tax though lol !!

 

[Pauljamescaton]

Thanks for everyones input, much appreciated.

Im having a test drive of a 140 on Saturday whether permitting, see what i think to it and make a decision....

I just need to get a good deal, not having much luck at the moment, as i've said keep hearing of all these discounts on S3's........

Damn lol.... ill keep trying.... I get the impression when ever i've been into the dealers, that people are walking in and just paying list price for the cars, the salesmen don't have to do any work.

Any one else have this experience out of interest?

Paul

 

[Matt]

I know, not ideal (but I was honest with them)..... but then I hear a lot of people remap and never say anything.

In fact, I'd be interested to know if any other TDI170 drivers have come across this glitch with insurers, I can't be alone. Unfortunately the price for my tax disc was always correct.

Before I had my private plate transferred over mine used to come up as a 2.0 TDI 140 Quattro when I put my reg in with some insurers. I used to just go through and enter the car model, engine etc. manually if it did that

 

[MrTea]

My car came up as an Astra on the Elephant.co.uk insurance site!

How much extra does a remap cost on insurance?

 

[Pauljamescaton]

Has anybody got a 170 DSG / Stronic mapped, and out of interest does anybody know whether the box, clutch on an S tronic, will it be able to handle 200BHP+?

Ideally I am talking about the CR engine but thoughts on the DPF model all welcome....

Thanks

Paul

 

[ghouseman]

what is the dpf trouble you are talking about (juddering at low revs?)