- Joined
- May 8, 2017
- Messages
- 215
- Reaction score
- 167
- Points
- 43
After deciding that I wanted an A3 S Line, the next decision was diesel vs petrol.
I test drove the 2.0 TDI / 1.6 TDI / 1.4 (140ps) TFSI.
All test drives went well. The main conclusions I took from the engines were (S Tronic):
1.6 - Lacking a bit of poke compared to the others (but that was to be expected)
2.0 - Really nice. Enough power to overtake. Really nice on the motorway/dual carriageway.
1.4 - Smooth. Engine was like butter. Quiter than the diesel (but not massively). Packs a punch when you put your foot down.
In all honesty I would've been happy with any of these engines had they been in the right spec (which was the following):
S Line / Sportback / S Tronic / Under 30,000 miles / 2013 and above / Privacy Glass / Audi Sound System or B&O / Comfort Pack / Hill Hold Assist.
So on Autotrader I went.
I found a car which had all of the above, plus Panoramic Sunroof, Storage Pack, Interior Light Pack, 10 Spoke Diamond Cut alloys, Roof Rails, Folding Mirrors, Tech Pack High.
However, my only reservation was that it was 1.4 COD - I've always leaned towards diesel because I do between 12-15K miles a year. Half of which are 500 mile round trips to London (at least once a month) and having previously had a 2013 Golf Cabrio 1.6tdi and a 2015 2.0TDI Golf Hatchback, they are so so so economical. Yielding 58-63mpg on these long trips.
So yes, there was some hesitation with the 1.4 petrol but it had such a good spec, that I bit the bullet and purchased it.
N.B. I did quite a bit of research on the web and on here regarding the economy of this engine before purchasing. Figures varied wildly from 35-65mpg and I figured that I would be somewhere in the middle around 50mpg (which I would be happy with) but this is where the hesitation stemmed from.
So the first journey to London was imminent. I would use this as an opportunity to see what mpg I can get out of the car.
My plan:
On a full tank of petrol, for the first leg of the journey I would maintain a speed between 65-70mph. This would be 90% dual carriageway (A1) and 10% around town.
The drive:
Really smooth and quiet. I was playing around with the two cylinder mode and testing it's limits. How much of an effect it has on the mpg I do not know but what I can say is: On four cylinders the engine is like butter, however (as a few people have said on here) when in two cylinder mode it does feel a tiny bit rough but hardly noticeable if you weren't paying attention.
After a 3 hour drive, 174 miles I got a reading of 51.7MPG. This was driving as carefully as possible (minimal braking, feathered acceleration, trying to maintain 2 cylinder mode as long as possible etc...)
The return leg on friday (bank holiday traffic) took 5 hours, 222 miles, with an average of 54.5mpg.
I filled up with £62.50 before I left and had jus under half a tank left upon my return.
So roughly speaking £35-40 in fuel costs.
Overall:
Am I happy with the petrol? Yes.
Am I happy with the motorway MPG? I guess so. But to achieve those figure, it was incredibly boring and not particularly enjoyable. So for future journeys, I'll not be adhering to those parameters.
*Hypothetically* If I had the option to swap the engine out the 1.6/2.0 TDI, would I? Yes. Because I could've driven faster and still yielded better economy.
BUT. I'm happy with the car and I'm going to enjoy it!!!!!!!
Anyway chaps. That's my 2 cents.
Happy to be part of this forum and looking forward to being a proud owner of an Audi A3.
P.S. Apologies for the picture angle...my driveway is extremely steep
I test drove the 2.0 TDI / 1.6 TDI / 1.4 (140ps) TFSI.
All test drives went well. The main conclusions I took from the engines were (S Tronic):
1.6 - Lacking a bit of poke compared to the others (but that was to be expected)
2.0 - Really nice. Enough power to overtake. Really nice on the motorway/dual carriageway.
1.4 - Smooth. Engine was like butter. Quiter than the diesel (but not massively). Packs a punch when you put your foot down.
In all honesty I would've been happy with any of these engines had they been in the right spec (which was the following):
S Line / Sportback / S Tronic / Under 30,000 miles / 2013 and above / Privacy Glass / Audi Sound System or B&O / Comfort Pack / Hill Hold Assist.
So on Autotrader I went.
I found a car which had all of the above, plus Panoramic Sunroof, Storage Pack, Interior Light Pack, 10 Spoke Diamond Cut alloys, Roof Rails, Folding Mirrors, Tech Pack High.
However, my only reservation was that it was 1.4 COD - I've always leaned towards diesel because I do between 12-15K miles a year. Half of which are 500 mile round trips to London (at least once a month) and having previously had a 2013 Golf Cabrio 1.6tdi and a 2015 2.0TDI Golf Hatchback, they are so so so economical. Yielding 58-63mpg on these long trips.
So yes, there was some hesitation with the 1.4 petrol but it had such a good spec, that I bit the bullet and purchased it.
N.B. I did quite a bit of research on the web and on here regarding the economy of this engine before purchasing. Figures varied wildly from 35-65mpg and I figured that I would be somewhere in the middle around 50mpg (which I would be happy with) but this is where the hesitation stemmed from.
So the first journey to London was imminent. I would use this as an opportunity to see what mpg I can get out of the car.
My plan:
On a full tank of petrol, for the first leg of the journey I would maintain a speed between 65-70mph. This would be 90% dual carriageway (A1) and 10% around town.
The drive:
Really smooth and quiet. I was playing around with the two cylinder mode and testing it's limits. How much of an effect it has on the mpg I do not know but what I can say is: On four cylinders the engine is like butter, however (as a few people have said on here) when in two cylinder mode it does feel a tiny bit rough but hardly noticeable if you weren't paying attention.
After a 3 hour drive, 174 miles I got a reading of 51.7MPG. This was driving as carefully as possible (minimal braking, feathered acceleration, trying to maintain 2 cylinder mode as long as possible etc...)
The return leg on friday (bank holiday traffic) took 5 hours, 222 miles, with an average of 54.5mpg.
I filled up with £62.50 before I left and had jus under half a tank left upon my return.
So roughly speaking £35-40 in fuel costs.
Overall:
Am I happy with the petrol? Yes.
Am I happy with the motorway MPG? I guess so. But to achieve those figure, it was incredibly boring and not particularly enjoyable. So for future journeys, I'll not be adhering to those parameters.
*Hypothetically* If I had the option to swap the engine out the 1.6/2.0 TDI, would I? Yes. Because I could've driven faster and still yielded better economy.
BUT. I'm happy with the car and I'm going to enjoy it!!!!!!!
Anyway chaps. That's my 2 cents.
Happy to be part of this forum and looking forward to being a proud owner of an Audi A3.
P.S. Apologies for the picture angle...my driveway is extremely steep
