There’s two issues with long life oil/servicing if you ask me…
1. The actual length VW/Audi say you can go without a service. When you take apart an engine that’s adhered to long life servicing at the higher end of the recommended service interval they are disgusting inside… Long life servicing is nothing more than a sales gimmick
2. Most of us on this forum are at some level of tune, and enjoy the occasional enthusiastic drive. And when these engines/turbo’s get hot (as small framed turbo’s inherently do) 5w30 is just too thin IMO...
Yes you can counteract point 1 with more regular servicing like you have Gaz. And in which case, for every day pootling around, I’d agree you may indeed be better off running 5w30.
However if you drive your car like you mean it, 5w40 all the way. . . If you’ve ever parked up your car while the turbo is a little hot, 5w40 WILL provide better protection for when you next turn the key, fact.
I fully believe 5w40 is better suited to the way I used my car. And I think that’s probably what it comes down to. Which to be fair none of us have asked!? . . However even if long life oil is best suited to you, the service interval it’s self is still a joke!