moving from an s3 to a4 2.5tdi or mondeo st155

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ex_scoobydoo

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as the title says, its time to sell on my s3 and get something with 4 doors, the s3 is just to small for the family, and eats petrol, i cover around 100 miles every 3 days, each time putting £30 in juice. 21mpg avg.
the only alternatives i have found that i like is the a4 2.5tdi with (bodykit) or the mondeo st155 budget around 5500-5800
im normally a petrol head, but im going to try my luck with diesel and hope to save some cash on the fuel, has anyone experience from either of these 2 cars, and give me rough idea of mpg around town, any other hints or tips would be appreciated, no silly comments about the mondeo please, as i can see that coming a mile off, been on an audi forum lol.
 
Hi mate, I've just come from a scooby (340bhp) as our main family car and got a 2003 A4 2.5TDi(180) Quattro Sport with lots of goodies and remapped to 220bhp. There's no point even starting to compare performance with any petrol turbo car S3/Scooby, but I think you'll love the smoothness and willingness of this 2.5 VD diesel engine. Have a browse through my previous posts for lots of exterior and exterior pictures to show you the car in lots of detail.

The B6 A4 is a class car and is very well built indeed. Mine has the Votex bodykit too which IMHO makes it stand out in the crowd too. Economy isn't as good as the 1.9PD TDi or the 2.0 TDi engines, but I like the revvy V6 with bags of oomph if required. I usually do a mixture of town/hills and motorway on my 40mile daily commute, and have been getting 38-45mpg depening how quickly I want to get to, or away from work :eyebrows:. I think around town you'd probably expect around 33-35mpg, but I'm sure someone else will come along with more accurate figures on that sort of driving economy.

My advice would be if it's a 2nd/family car you're after then definitely go for the 2.5TDi, but if it's your primary car and need the best economy then go for a 1.9 PD TDi version. Having had loads of Vauxhall CDTi cars and several VAG PD TDi cars in the past, I'd say forget the Ford as you'd be bitterly dissapointed with the build quality and reliability compared to the Audi.

Hope this helps you in your decision :thumbsup:.
 
The audi 2.5tdi I have which is multitronic is an abolsutely lovely motor. But BEWARE!!!!
I had the car from 60,000 miles and for the first 5 years (55,000) miles I had absolutely no problems and apart from a replacement battery and regular servicing (every 6-8000 miles oil, oil filter, fuel filter every second service) and cambelt change at 80,000 miles (~£500 which should include water pump, pulleys and tensioners)The car had no mechanical problems at all. Then on roughly 115,000 miles, the problems came thick and fast:

Injector Pump £1200
Windscreen Wiper Seized £60 part + Labour £50.00
Electric window malfunction Drivers door wire located by the pillar behind some plastic gator had snapped from repeated use of door
Multironic gearbox failiure £3500 gearbox recon and new ECU
Alternator + Polybelt £300 reconditioned and re-fitted
Front Upper Control Arms passenger side £130 fitted


Thats a significant portion of my yearly income gone on the car in a very short space of time.
OK, so now that I have had the work done the car is absolutely beautiful to drive and hopefully should be good for another 5 years I hope.

The point is, these motors will start to go wrong at a certain mileage, and the 2.5 more so than the 1.9 is high labour cost so something else to be wary of.
 
I hear what you're saying Donsajid, but if you do a bit of research you'll more than likely find that both the early (pre 2003) 2.5 engines had mechanical problems that were sorted in 2003, and that the auto/multitronic gearbox is also a problem area. If you refine your search to 2003 onward manual quattro versions I think you'll get a cracking motor :thumbsup:.
 
thanks for the reply's, to be honest a 1.9 would do me, but im wanting the looks to go with it as in s-line/rs4 bodykit, something a little different from the average tdi, whilst having a quick look now over the net, all i seem to find is the 2.5 tdi with nice bodykit leather interior and twin exhaust, it will be my main and only family car. i am searching for this kind of look. and manual only.
here is one of 3 i have found
is that factory standard model, or after-market, optional extra ? will give me a rough idea what im looking for, but that's the sort of look and interior i want.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif.../radius/1501/page/1/keywords/s line?logcode=p
 
<quote>If you refine your search to 2003 onward manual quattro versions I think you'll get a cracking motor
</quote>

yeah but its a manual...
 
ex_scoobydoo said:
thanks for the reply's, to be honest a 1.9 would do me, but im wanting the looks to go with it as in s-line/rs4 bodykit, something a little different from the average tdi, whilst having a quick look now over the net, all i seem to find is the 2.5 tdi with nice bodykit leather interior and twin exhaust, it will be my main and only family car. i am searching for this kind of look. and manual only.
here is one of 3 i have found
is that factory standard model, or after-market, optional extra ? will give me a rough idea what im looking for, but that's the sort of look and interior i want.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif.../radius/1501/page/1/keywords/s line?logcode=p
Click to expand...
Yeh, I had a look at that one on the net too before I found 'The One'.
It is the Votex kit and was a factory fitted extra. The twin visible exit is an aftermarket mod on the TDi (Using OEM S4 parts) .
As mentioned previously, look at 2003 onwards if it's a 2.5TDi.
 
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yours is very nice mate, what price if you dont mind me asking, im pushing my budget at 6000
 
I drove a Mondeo 155 ST at work for a month or so earlier this year. I must admit it went very well, it was a bit steady off the line, but once wound up wasn't too far behind my 2.5 (180) for mid range overtaking etc. The interior was nice enough, but quite rattly and not up to A4 standards, and the ride was very crashy. I was impressed with it, but I'd not pick it over a 2.5 TDi myself.
 
Fuel consumption (urban) 25.2 mpg
can anyone confirm that's about right for the 2.5 tdi, i only ever do urban driving, its not often i get on motorways, if them stats are correct, its not much more economical than my s3 which i get only 21mpg (urban) the main reason im selling up is because of fuel costs and size, so the 2.5 wont be for me if that's about the avg :(
the 1.9 wont have what im looking for in the power department, and ive searched 2.0tdi and they seem to have come out 2005 onwards, please correct me if im wrong, which seems to be out of my budget.
 
2.0TDi's are only available in the B7 range. If you're after economy then the 2.5 isn't for you to be honest.
 
A remapped 1.9 could give you about 170bhp and probably 40+ mpg about town. (I'm guessing that mpg from what I've heard/read)
 
hard choice atm between 1.9tdi and a st 155, i think the audi is better built, but seems a bit basic in interior and gadgets compared to the st unless im prepared to wait around for months for the right one, i hate buying a new car, very stressful lol.
 
I wouldnt touch the mondeo due to me seeing a hell of a lot of engine issues electronically and turbo wise
no car is perfect but the audi is miles ahead of the mondeo in terms of build quality
thats were the money goes on things you dont see not gimicks .
 
i have the 2.5 tdi quattro & it is a load nicer then my old 1.9 tdi fwd, but the fuel is down but i have more smiles per mile in the 2.5 :).

cost wise it is a winner for the goodies & that but the fuel is a pain at times but oh well i just stay light footed for a bit.

also i had a very nice infact one of the best scooby doo sti v4's in the uk ( me think anyways ), & it cost a load about 27k ( 10k for the scooby ) & rest on a full rebuild & wear & tear parts.... .

i loved her but i set up on my own doing dare i say it pc support..... stop laughing ! it pays my little bills etc.

so if you need fuel go for a 1.9 fwd as the quattro will add weight & the fuel will drop 6 to 8mpg what is a lot.

a 2.5 will drink it too but hay it more fun,,,,,,,
 
Go for the 2.5 TDi Quattro, you know you want to :thumbsup:.

You of all folk should know that driving isn't all about mpg, you need to get your smile-a-mile factor in there as well, which a fully kitted V6 2.5 Quattro Sport will give you in abundance :yes:.
 
Phil MC said:
Go for the 2.5 TDi Quattro, you know you want to :thumbsup:.

You of all folk should know that driving isn't all about mpg, you need to get your smile-a-mile factor in there as well, which a fully kitted V6 2.5 Quattro Sport will give you in abundance :yes:.
Click to expand...

As Above......:kissmyrings: the 2.5 tdi quattro rules, fuel is ok if you stay light footed :cool:.
but where is the fun in that all the time :p:thumbsup:
 
if it's economy you're after.... 1.9TDI FWD.....

still decent economy, but also a bit more fun: 1.9TDI, remapped to 170bhp....

2.5TDI is a great alternative to the petrols as it'll still get 35mpg even driving fairly enthusiastically... and 40+mpg at legal motorway speeds... and pulls super-smoothly even when fully loaded: it has 300-odd lb/ft of torque, combined with the 6-cylinders blur away that diesel "rattle"... not that any of the the A4's suffer from that as much as the Ford's anyway.

Despite how much I love mine, I'd have a tough time choosing next time around... I'd definitely stick with quattro... undecided on the engine though... all depends on how important the fuel economy is to you.

wrt costs... I paid well under your budget for mine nearly 2 yrs ago... but that's 'cos of the age and mileage: it's an early B6 with 132k on the clock... no problems (touch wood!).
 
I had the mondogo 2.2 tit x very similar to the st minus the crashy ride but with more toys, it was a very nice car apart from the rattles and they are tinier as in build quality, excellent on fuel 42mpg round town £140 a yr to tax.
I now have a 1.8T quattro sport 190, totaly in a different league build is awsome mine has a lot of factory toys 29mpg round town so a big diff in fuel, but i only ever put the best in. i saw 450 a tank in the mond 63 ltr tank and i see 330 360ish in A4 61 ltr tank, i must admit i drove the mond faster and gets upto speed quickly without ragging it as the torque is instant, but the 2.2 fords have a very snappy clutch (all or nothing) hard to pull away smoothly at times,
if your doing only urban driving the maf gets fouled up pretty fast in the fords, needs taking out and cleaning every 6mnth and expensive to replace, my old fabia vrs never got that dirty and like i say only ever use shell optimax. Each to there own i say, if you need a motor thats big and can swallow up a family buggy and toys with cheap running costs the mondeo does it with ease but dont expect the build quality of Audi, the heated screen and seats are a massive plus on them tho, sorry to ramble on, the only other thing with the fords are the injectors can fail along with dual mass flywheel both are an expensive fix but im sure audi have similar probs and costs. i loved my ford even tho it rattled like a biatch and could never solve it,but i love my Audi more its worth the extra £££ for the smile on my face and doesnt look like a taxi :)
 
I normally see around 400 miles out of the top 50 litres (when the alert comes on)... just over 35mpg.

I have seen just over 500 miles on a few occaissions, 550miles is my record, but starting with a warm engine and a <65mph steady motorway trundle (ferrying 90yr olds) and driving a bit past the light, probably 55 litres.... but that's >45mpg which is NOT normal for the 180bhp quattro.... 35mpg avg is more like it with some town trundling and agressive motorway driving.
 
audi upgrades
I went from an S3 to a 1.9 TDi remapped to 170bhp. 44mpg and loads of torque. I don't regret it one bit.
 
dam you guys :ohmy: i thought my quest was over and decided on the mondeo, but after coming back to the thread just now and reading more, im leaning back to the audi, you certainly know how to twist a mans arm.:eyebrows: all thats stopping me is the mpg, i wouldnt go for the 1.9 tdi with no quattro, knowing that the 2.5 is, and after having a subaru and then a s3 for my last 2 cars.
 
I thought you could get a quattro version of the 1.9TDi ???? If I were you, and you really wanted to be more concerned about mpg than the refinement and fun of the V6 engine ( Just listen to the sound of a decatted V6 2.5TDi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW0zzTq5gqE :p) then just go for the 1.9TDi in quattro guise if you can find one.
BUT I WOULD LEAN YOU TOWARDS GETTING THE COMPROMISE WHICH IS THE V6 :eyebrows::rock::applaus::yes:.

Of couse I am slightly biased though :cool:.
 
You certainly can get a 1.9q - they're not very common but they are out there!
 
As James said: 1.9TDI quattro's are pretty rare, but that's the only real downside.... they're a great option and a lot of people prefer them to the 2.5 as they're a lot lighter "more chuckable" is the phrase I've heard used a few times... and the fuel economy.

The quattro 1.9's are 130bhp as standard and they can be remapped to very nearly the same power as the quattro version of the V6 TDI quite easilly (160bhp for an economy remap, 170-190bhp is quite viable) - main downside is the need to be careful with the clutch the higher up that range you get.

Watch out for the multitronics - a lot of well documented reliability issues with them especially with the higher torque engines (i.e. TDI's): but they're only available on the FWD cars, so it sounds like you'd be staying away from those anyway.
 
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WOW they sound mint, another reason to buy one :)
could all you 2.5 owners maybe give me your mpg avg so i have a rough idea because i read only 25mpg but id of thought it was better than that, where i live, in a rural area its all hills small twisty roads, hundreds of speed bumps, i dont even get out of third gear sometimes, even when i get on the bypass's and coast road its like a max 50mph speed limit and that only lasts a few minutes lol. would appreciate a few avg mpg from you guys if any of you live in similar areas. im in the saltburn/redcar area.
 
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I do a mix of winding rural roads and fast(ish) A and B roads - DC's are very rare around here, and I push the car quite hard as I travel a lot when the roads are quiet.

Pre Tuning Box : 32/33mpg
Post Tuning Box: 35/36mpg

Real figures not DIS calculated.
 
Redcar - I know your pain I'm sure they've made the bumps bigger recently. I'm just outside Middlesbrough. Which side of Redcar are you? Some decent roads up near Marske but I must admit I would get pretty tired of them if I had to do them every day. Too much hard work and mpg must take a hit!
Anyway, My mpg...Pre tuning box 30mpg
Post tuning box 32-33mpg
Not a massive increase but it's about £5-10 per tank.

I have a 2.5tdi and regularly drive my dads Mondeo, it's a 1.8 petrol so not quite the same as the 155 but it's nice enough to drive, seems bigger in the back, has a more useable boot than the Audi as it's a hatchback and steering feels much lighter. Same age as mine. Whilst it's a good car its not as solid as the Audi, the brakes are far superior on the Audi too, as is the stereo. I can't really compare engines as it's a 1.8 petrol vs a 2.5tdi. Servicing and parts for the Audi are probably 50% more too, and tax for the Audi is double. It really does depend what you're after - the Audi is a much better made car but the mondeo probably ticks more boxes if you want a good all rounder
 
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on the worst side mate, saltburn skelton brotton total nightmare for speed bumps, and the roads are no better.
 
audi upgrades
fix or repair daily
f o r d put it together what do we have ford lol they got that name for a good reson
 
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