Just how loud are audi diesels

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I have got £10000 to spend on a new car and want to get a facelift A3.(currently drive a 51 astra 1.6 sxi)

There seems to be loads of 2.0 Tdi`s around for the kind of specs im after. so could go out tommorow and pick one up, but a friend of mine warned me about diesels sounding like taxi cabs.

what do 2.0 Tdi`s sound like ?

and would i be better off waiting a while for a decent 2.0 FSi to crop up


Thanks
 
Ive herd some a3s that sound quieter than others but the one on the next street is painfull sounds like a tranny van .. do a search or just look through the threads there is loads of petrol verses diesel threads .....2.0 fsi gets slagged on here but i cant comment on that mines a 2.0tfsi
 
Also, i recommend you also search for peoples opinions on the 2.0 fsi.

Might make you put up with a little bit of engine noise from outside, but as you are inside does it matter? :p
 
audi upgrades
The very latest facelift 2.0TDIs with the latest Common Rail diesels are much quieter than any of the previous models. I am on my third 2.0TDI and this one is a new common rail version and it is noticeably quieter and better sounding than any of the others. Having also driven a 2.0TFSI recently I would say that, certainly from the inside, my 2.0TDI-140 is just as quiet.

The best thing is to go and test drive some. But make sure they are the latest common-rail versions if you looking for a quiet engine. Having said I'm not sure if you will be able to pick up a CR engine version for your £10k price. The engine code for the CR versions are CBAB for the 140hp (103kW) and CBBB for the 170hp (125kW). If you look under the floor covering in the boot area there should be a car data sticker. On the left-hand end of the 5th line down is the Engine Code. The same sticker should be on the inside cover of the Service Book.
 
When your at a stand still and idling, the noise is quite noticeable. However, when your moving there is barely any engine noise, apart from if you decide to floor it or something.

At 70mph it revs at about 2k rpm and there's only a slight murmur sound from the engine.

Not too sure about the 2.0 FSi as I haven't really tried one.
 
10blazin said:
Ive herd some a3s that sound quieter than others but the one on the next street is painfull sounds like a tranny van .. do a search or just look through the threads there is loads of petrol verses diesel threads .....
Click to expand...

If it sounds like transit van it must be a quite an old version. The latest ones are soooooo much quieter, both inside and out.

Not sure if the OP is going to be able to get one of the latest version for his £10k budget. Having originally tried a 2.0FSI before my first 2.0TDI-140, personally I would not touch one with a barge pole.
 
I've got an FSI and its very quite, I however cant compare it to the Tdi as I havent driven one LOL
 
cold mornings, it sounds like a flippin transit! but once its warmed up, you can tell its a diesel but no so loud - go test drive a few and see if you can live with it.

insides quite quiet though!
 
My 2.0 Fsi is very quiet, inside & out.
However the deisels are just as quiet, once your actually moving that is!
On idle the tdi's a bit off-putting.....
Thats if the noise really bothers you.
 
The extra grunt and extra £££ in my back pocket when taxing and fuelling the thing are far more important to me than what it sounds like.

TDi's are the law these days, especially across the VAG brands.


......and sounding like a taxi is no bad thing, Taxis are used all day every day and take some hammer. The bloke who picks you up from the pub in the rattly old Octavia with 300k on the clock isnt using it because its costly to run ;)
 
seems to be when the timing is a tad out they are alot noisier brother did mine a few weeks back noticably quieter now
 
I would put up with the little extra noise on cold tickover for the superior driveablility and economy of the diesel over the 2.0FSi. It'll certainly be faster mid range too. Mine being the 170 is definately quicker all round.

The only time mine is a bit clattery is when its cold 1st thing in a morning. When cruising along the only noises I can hear come from the tyres and wind. Even around town once its warm and with the windows down the main noise you can hear is the turbo...

The only petrols I would have in the A3 range are the TFSI's. You need to have a drive for yourself, I think you would be pleasantly suprised.
 
Why do these stupid ****** pictures always get posted on here now? Loads of threads end up with them then the thread just goes totally off topic with other people joining in.
 
just a joke mate dont get upset vidoes were posted that dont show the true sound i was just making a point if you want i can swap them for video's...there you go matt ive swapped em for external sounding videos hope this is ok mate

tbh i would choose a 170 diesel any day over a 2.0 tsi better on feul and quicker the only think that would pee me off is the sound and the limited revs (boring)...
 
The main thing when talking a the diesel engines in an A3 is when the car was made. The new ones are so much quieter than any of the previous models are are now on a par with the turbo petrol engines.

My 2004 2.0 TDI-140PD was a much better car than the 2.0FSI I test drove at the same time, but it was noisier both a tick-over and when driving.

My 2007 2.0TDI-170PD was better than the previous 140. Smoother and quieter, especially when driving and a little more performance.

My latest 2009 2.0TDI-140CR was so much quieter than either of the others because it has the new common rail engine. So much so that I think it's no noisier than a 2.0TFSI when driving. I tested both the 140 and the 170 versions and the 170 was a little noisier than the 140 and personally I was more than happy with the performance of the new 140 and preferred the way the engine behaved to the 170.

So as you will see the age of the design can make a big difference when talking about the 2.0TDI engine.
 
audi upgrades
I haven't listened to the videos. I'm not offended by the photos at all but its like its turning into a joke forum - not a car forum!
 
i think your going over the top abit its happen's in fairly few threads....

every forum has joke's and a bit of a laugh , and your always gona get it on a petrol verses diesel thread and i dont know why but its always the diesel guys that get upset :whistle2:
 
dave why do you prefer the 140 over the 170 ??

they have improved loads diesel and i think my next car just may may be diesel just becuase of cost of fuel insurance etc ....

but im gona have to go for a few test drives and know for a fact it wont be like a 2.0tfsi for revs fun sound but i may have to take that on the chin because cost offeul and insurance is a joke
 
10blazin said:
i think your going over the top abit its happen's in fairly few threads....

every forum has joke's and a bit of a laugh , and your always gona get it on a petrol verses diesel thread and i dont know why but its always the diesel guys that get upset :whistle2:
Click to expand...

its been going on in other threads, it just so happens this is the 1st one I've decided to say something about it!

some of them you get so far through and it just turns in to people posting daft pictures trying to score internet points or something.

I'm sure I wont be the only one thinking this.
 
If you are going from an astra to audi i think you will be surprised at how quiet the diesel engines are.

I went from a mkiv tdi golf to the audi a3 tdi and its much quieter, i also sat in my friends 2.0 130bhp jaguar which sounded quite loud.

In conclusion the a3 diesel is a great engine and pretty quiet. Go for it, you wont be dissapointed.
 
I dont think its internet points its called humour and i dont think ive ever not been on a forum that dosent do it i think its human nature to have a bit of fun ....

Anyhow back to thread on a serious note did you hear the v6 diesel on fifth gear the other night o my gosh you couldnt tell it was diesel it sounded great really did if audis get like that il buy one tommorrow serious
 
Matt said:
I haven't listened to the videos. I'm not offended by the photos at all but its like its turning into a joke forum - not a car forum!
Click to expand...

i put up two videos, one of a diesel car and the other of a petrol car, both a3 and both showing what they sound like.

the OP asked how loud diesels were and would it be better to get a quieter 2.0fsi, so i put videos up for him to see, is there anything wrong with trying to help out someone!
 
i will second what people say on here, the new VAG diesel engines are surprisingly quiet. yea on tick over when cold is not too nice, but hey, i could live with 4-5 mins of a bit more noise.

do you do enough miles to benefit from a diesel?
 
He was on about the pics i put up gixxer so i swapped em for videos to ...he didnt mean you pal..
 
10blazin said:
dave why do you prefer the 140 over the 170 ??

they have improved loads diesel and i think my next car just may may be diesel just becuase of cost of fuel insurance etc ....

but im gona have to go for a few test drives and know for a fact it wont be like a 2.0tfsi for revs fun sound but i may have to take that on the chin because cost offeul and insurance is a joke
Click to expand...

When I decided to change my 2007 Sportback it was mainly to get one of the new common-rail diesels. I had a test drive for around half a day in both a 140 and a 170. What I noticed was that the 140 seemed a little quieter than the 170 and also a little 'torquey'. I had to change down more often at roundabouts and corners in the 170 than I did in the 140. Discussing this with one of the master techs at my local dealer he said that the main difference between the common rail 140 and 170 engines is the 170 has a slightly larger turbo which could explain the less 'torquey' feel as well as the slighly more noise.

I decided that the 140 gave me sufficient performance for my type of driving as well as better fuel comsumption and a quieter drive. The number of times I would actually use the extra 30bhp would be few and far between. I don't drive slowly, as the couple of speeding fines over the last few years tesify, but I do tend to drive smoothly and high revs no longer appeal hence the greater torque of the diesels suit me and my driving especially with the s-tronic gearbox in tiptronic mode.
 
gixxer600k4 said:
i put up two videos, one of a diesel car and the other of a petrol car, both a3 and both showing what they sound like.

the OP asked how loud diesels were and would it be better to get a quieter 2.0fsi, so i put videos up for him to see, is there anything wrong with trying to help out someone!
Click to expand...

I was replying to blazing, he said the videos didn't show the true sound, my point was only that I dont know if they do or not as I haven't listened to them!

I was having a rant about the stupid photos that keep appearing - not your videos! :thumbsup:
 
Matt said:
I was replying to blazing, he said the videos didn't show the true sound, my point was only that I dont know if they do or not as I haven't listened to them!

I was having a rant about the stupid photos that keep appearing - not your videos! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

oooooo, sorry mate, i do apologise :beerchug:
 
h5djr said:
When I decided to change my 2007 Sportback it was mainly to get one of the new common-rail diesels. I had a test drive for around half a day in both a 140 and a 170. What I noticed was that the 140 seemed a little quieter than the 170 and also a little 'torquey'. I had to change down more often at roundabouts and corners in the 170 than I did in the 140. Discussing this with one of the master techs at my local dealer he said that the main difference between the common rail 140 and 170 engines is the 170 has a slightly larger turbo which could explain the less 'torquey' feel as well as the slighly more noise.

I decided that the 140 gave me sufficient performance for my type of driving as well as better fuel comsumption and a quieter drive. The number of times I would actually use the extra 30bhp would be few and far between. I don't drive slowly, as the couple of speeding fines over the last few years tesify, but I do tend to drive smoothly and high revs no longer appeal hence the greater torque of the diesels suit me and my driving especially with the s-tronic gearbox in tiptronic mode.
Click to expand...


im getting really convinced on diesels now tbh with a remap ther quick and fuel is good

i was thinking of trading mine in or a swap but my cars spec is the dogs i gonna wait till paid up then at the same time s3 sportback is screaming at me so is bmw diesels ?? choice choices
 
They make even more sense now that petrol is pretty much the same price as diesel - with a light foot can get 60mpg on long runs, low 50s if driving mix and as Dave says the CR engines are a massive step forward in refinement & noise.
 
Depends on your requirements really as to which car you get. I do a lot of business mileage, so diesel it was. I love the low end torque and yes it probably is a bit cheaper to insure/tax etc. My car had a remap at 250miles in to ownership and now 36750 miles later, it hasn't missed a beat. It is a tad noisy when cold and when you put your foot down, but that goes with the territory really.

I had a 1.8T A3 and an 1.8T A4 recently when mine was in for work and they were very quiet - also was nice to be able to give them some revs - LOL :laugh:
 
How does the 140p TDI compare with the 150p 2.0 Fsi on performance?
On paper the petrols quite a bit quicker, But everybody ive spoken to says its not really much of a difference.
Never been in an Audi TDI, Allthough been in a Chrysler Sebring with a 2.0TDI from the VW Passat. I assume the 2 engines are extremely similar.
It felt very torquey but im guessing you just cant boot it like a petrol.
Anyone shed some light?
 
Brad89 said:
How does the 140p TDI compare with the 150p 2.0 Fsi on performance?
On paper the petrols quite a bit quicker, But everybody ive spoken to says its not really much of a difference.
Never been in an Audi TDI, Allthough been in a Chrysler Sebring with a 2.0TDI from the VW Passat. I assume the 2 engines are extremely similar.
It felt very torquey but im guessing you just cant boot it like a petrol.
Anyone shed some light?
Click to expand...

I had a 2003 Audi 1.8T sport. When I came to change I thought the 2.0FSI would be the obvious choice but when I test drove one it was horrible compared with the 1.8T. I think the main problem was the lack of a turbo which mean, whilst the FSI had 150bhp, you have to get the revs up near the top end to get anything like it. Out of corners etc it was hopeless. This was before Audi offered the 2.0TFSI engine in the A3.

So I tried a 2.0TDI-140 and it was so much better. Very close to the 1.8T in the way it behaved. So I purchased my first ever diesel. I am now on my third 2.0TDI having had the original 140, a 170 and now a new CR140. It is a more 'relaxed' form of driving because you do not have to rev like mad to get the power out of the TDI and the acceleration is just as good. You may need to gear change a little more to keep it in the power band but as all my TDIs have had the DSG gearbox that is no problem.
 
redbutcher said:
Depends on your requirements really as to which car you get. I do a lot of business mileage, so diesel it was. I love the low end torque and yes it probably is a bit cheaper to insure/tax etc. My car had a remp at 250miles in to ownership and now 36750 miles later, it hasn't missed a beat. It is a tad noisy when cold and when you put your foot down, but that goes with the territory really.

I had a 1.8T A3 and an 1.8T A4 recently when mine was in for work and they were very quiet - also was nice to be able to give them some revs - LOL :laugh:
Click to expand...

How did you find the petrol 1.8T's compared with your remaped TDI? Which do you think felt quicker?

Also where did you get the remap done, 36,000 miles sounds reassuring.
 
Marc1 said:
How did you find the petrol 1.8T's compared with your remaped TDI? Which do you think felt quicker?

Also where did you get the remap done, 36,000 miles sounds reassuring.
Click to expand...

The power delivery was very different. In my TDI it's all at the lower rev range, but in the 1.8T it was higher up in the rev range. So i suppose my TDI felt quicker as it was accelerating faster at the lower rev range, but of course, higher up the rev range it would run out of puff, whereas the 1.8T would keep on going.

Remap is a Superchips Bluefin unit. Not the cheapest on the market when I got it, but not had any problems at all with it and I've been very happy with it - there's a plot of the power curve in my sig - not 100% accurate as it was done with VCDS (vagcom) but Jamie Turvey at Superchips has seen it and said it was a typical plot for a remap of theirs.

One day I'd like to get on the rollers to get a true figure.
 
I was given a Mercedes ML class as a hire car about 3 months ago, and I was amazed at how quiet the CDI engine was, both inside and outside the car.
 
h5djr said:
I had a 2003 Audi 1.8T sport. When I came to change I thought the 2.0FSI would be the obvious choice but when I test drove one it was horrible compared with the 1.8T. I think the main problem was the lack of a turbo which mean, whilst the FSI had 150bhp, you have to get the revs up near the top end to get anything like it. Out of corners etc it was hopeless. This was before Audi offered the 2.0TFSI engine in the A3.

So I tried a 2.0TDI-140 and it was so much better. Very close to the 1.8T in the way it behaved. So I purchased my first ever diesel. I am now on my third 2.0TDI having had the original 140, a 170 and now a new CR140. It is a more 'relaxed' form of driving because you do not have to rev like mad to get the power out of the TDI and the acceleration is just as good. You may need to gear change a little more to keep it in the power band but as all my TDIs have had the DSG gearbox that is no problem.
Click to expand...

I had a 1.8T sport on a T reg quite a few years back now, currently I'm driving a 2.0TDi sportback and I must agree with what you say about them being comparable. The cars performs near identical to each other on certain stretches of road IIRC. The 1.8T had the edge on cornering for me though... maybe as it was slightly lighter?

10blazin said:
im getting really convinced on diesels now tbh with a remap ther quick and fuel is good

i was thinking of trading mine in or a swap but my cars spec is the dogs i gonna wait till paid up then at the same time s3 sportback is screaming at me so is bmw diesels ?? choice choices
Click to expand...

I am smitten on the S3 sportback, and have had many a serious thought on chopping mine in for one... The only thing that has stopped me thus far is the price of them (circa £28k with spec I want) and the shape will be replaced, which will mean taking a hit come depreciation time.

BMW have nothing that excites me right now, I like the shoe like 1 series 2 door (not coupe) 3 series is ok but not really got alot going on, just a 3 series I guess... Anyway, not to take the thread in another direction.

IMO the 2.0TDi (mines a 2005), is a very nice engine, it's a diesel so you do get a bit of that sound as said on iddle, but on the move all I hear is turbo, and little grunt from the exhaust, kinda nice suprsingly. MPG is ok, I live in London and get between 37 - 50 depending, and I don't wait around.

The only thing about the diesel that annoys me slightly is the lag when pulling off from standstill, lights etc.
 
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