CR TDI Big surprise!

[NHN]

Interesting read

http://www.swedespeed.com/news/publish/Features/printer_272.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_rail

 

[h5djr]

You're slipping Dave

Yes so I've just noticed. My excuse is I'm using a rather old computer, with no spell checker etc at the RSPB where I spend Friday's doing some volunteering work with Excel spreadsheets for them. Feebly excuse really!!

 

[h5djr]

Yep the CR came out in 08 with the a3 cabrio

The first A3 3-door and Sportbacks to have the 140 Common-rail were the 09 Model year released in about July 2008 with the 170 version being available from around September 2008.

 

[mitch78]

...Feebly excuse really!!

Should that not be feeble?

 

[NHN]

Yes so I've just noticed. My excuse is I'm using a rather old computer, with no spell checker etc at the RSPB where I spend Friday's doing some volunteering work with Excel spreadsheets for them. Feebly excuse really!!

Dont sweat it dave, you're allowed to have a chink in your armour, nobodies perfect mate, shows you're human afterall

Should that not be feeble?

lmfao

 

[V6Pete]

Yes so I've just noticed. My excuse is I'm using a rather old computer, with no spell checker etc at the RSPB where I spend Friday's doing some volunteering work with Excel spreadsheets for them. Feebly excuse really!!

Do you know if they'll be doing similar work with the Ospreys in 2010?

 

[NHN]

lmfao

 

[V6Pete]

lmfao

Not sure what's funny? They have done some fantastic work introducing Ospreys back into the wild. Unfortunately many of them met their death in the Atlantic. D'oh!

Friday is a good choice for working there though - I believe it's bubble and squeak in the canteen today?

 

[NHN]

lmfao, your thought process is making funny reading for me atm.

 

[ragsterx]

Yaaaaawn

I believe you. My previous A3 was a 170 PD and my current one is a 140 CR. Both SE Sportbacks with the same trim and levels of options, so a very direct comparison. When I first test drove an A3 with the new 140 CR engine I was surprised. It had almost as much power available as the 170 and it seem a little quieter and gave slightly more torque than the 170 CR I also test drove on the same day. Hence I ordered a 140. I've had it since May 2009 and I must say I'm very pleased with it.

I have also had it remapped by Performance Torque and it now picks-up a little quicker and feels even better. I've no idea what PS it is now producing but that doesn't both me. It just feels a little better and smoother and gives me a few more mpg than before. Worth it for the £295 I paid for the remap.

 

[h5djr]

Not sure what's funny? They have done some fantastic work introducing Ospreys back into the wild. Unfortunately many of them met their death in the Atlantic. D'oh!

Friday is a good choice for working there though - I believe it's bubble and squeak in the canteen today?

Don't know what they intend with the Ospreys, more of the same I would expect.

Friday is Fish day in the canteen. Fried fish and chips, scampi etc. As a volunteer I do get my lunch for free. I've worked with quite a few different teams since August 2007 and they all make you feel very welcome and part of the team. Because I have quite a good knowledge of Excel I have several teams asking for my help at the moment. It's nice to know I can still be of some use. I also do some work from home checking prices of birdfood products on the internet and at local stores and garden centres to compare with RSPB's own prices.

 

[smudge_don]

The new diesel range of Audi's are a real pleasure to drive

The 2.7TDI V6 that i had in an A4 recently was just a lovely engine, really smooth, very nippy but still managed 50mpg on the motorway at 80mph

 

[rickyquicky]

I doubt the new common rail is much faster tbh, its much more likely getting confused as being quicker because it has maybe more low-down power and better power delivery.

Modern diesels often feel quicker than equivalent petrol engines when 'day to day' driving, but it doesnt mean they are any faster!

 

[mitch78]

Yaaaaawn

Well your user title says it all really:

I wouldn't really like to be known as a rear ender.

 

[cameron1]

Dave do you work at the RSPB reserve in Sandy, Beds?

I pop down there every couple of months to pick up graphics work.... its a gorgeous place

 

[h5djr]

Dave do you work at the RSPB reserve in Sandy, Beds?

I pop down there every couple of months to pick up graphics work.... its a gorgeous place

Yes that's the place. As you say a gorgeous place.

I remember a talk given by Grahame Wynne the Chief Exec where he said he was original offered a job with RSPB, before he became CE, following an interview in London. When he went to start his new job at the The Lodge he thought he had gone to Paradise.

 

[PaulAr]

BHP and Torque are not the be all and end all of everything.

I have no idea 'exactly' how fast my car is (or was before it was remapped) it just felt as fast as my previous 170PD and much quieter and smoother and almost as fast as the 170CR I drove on the same day. I'm not in the least bit interested if the 170CR is a second or so faster in some 0-60 tests, it's what it feals like to drive thats import to me and the 170CR was not, in my view, worth the extra £900 in performance terms. Perhaps in qudos by thats all.

It's works out better value to buy a 140CR and have it remapped (£295) in my case than buy a 170CR in the first place and pay £900 extra. Yes you could buy a 170CR and have that remapped but then that would be a 200hp car and probably cost £1200 more that the 140. Worth it? Not to me.

Dave,

Obviously you are happy with your remap but dont seem blown away.
From my experience remaps have always been a `night and day`affair , where you realise a significant before and after difference.

Is this not the case?
I appreciate you didnt do it for a whizz bang hit of boost (like I did) but usually you do get a marked improvemnt in performance , torque, and overall delivery.

cheers
Paul

 

[h5djr]

Dave,

Obviously you are happy with your remap but dont seem blown away.
From my experience remaps have always been a `night and day`affair , where you realise a significant before and after difference.

Is this not the case?
I appreciate you didnt do it for a whizz bang hit of boost (like I did) but usually you do get a marked improvemnt in performance , torque, and overall delivery.

cheers
Paul

Yes I am very happy with it. There is quite a bit more overall performance there if I wanted to use it and the car feels smoother and picks up speed quicker in the mid range. It also gives better mpg. These days there are not that many chances to use the overall speed so I've no idea yet if the top speed is higher than before. Perhaps I'll find out in April when I go on holiday for a week in Germany!! It certainly seems to take a lot less effort to be doing 90 than before. It's a good job I've got my Micro-Pilot speed camera locater.

Would I have it done again if I bought another A3 140. For the money Yes I would. Gives better performance than a standard 170 for £600 less money.

 

[PaulAr]

Yes I am very happy with it. There is quite a bit more overall performance there if I wanted to use it and the car feels smoother and picks up speed quicker in the mid range. It also gives better mpg. These days there are not that many chances to use the overall speed so I've no idea yet if the top speed is higher than before. Perhaps I'll find out in April when I go on holiday for a week in Germany!! It certainly seems to take a lot less effort to be doing 90 than before. It's a good job I've got my Micro-Pilot speed camera locater.

Would I have it done again if I bought another A3 140. For the money Yes I would. Gives better performance than a standard 170 for £600 less money.

Loud and clear Dave.
I think there is something quite satisfying about making a car `better` without dipping too far into AUDIs design limits and spending more than is necessary to get more overall performance.

Ive spent way less than 1K (REVO, H&R springs & RNSE retro) on a car that now delivers so much more than what left the factory.
Its the first time Ive ever had a car for 18month and not had the itch to change.
(In fact Ive NEVER owned a car for more than 18month before!)

The downside of that, is I need to spend many £1000s to raise the bar again. So cant see past a mildly tweaked S3 at the mo.

Unless I buckle under the pressure of Iggu and Auldreekie and dip my toe into Stage 2+.....

Not yet anyway.

cheers
Paul

 

[h5djr]

I couldn't agree more. Basically I like the A3 just as Audi designed it. A small tweak has 'taken some of the slack' out of the engine and made it even better. I only have the standard SE suspension but with the optional 17" wheels and it more than copes with what I want it to do and is a very comfortable car with 'adequate' performance.

Lets hope the 'new' A3 when it arrives is just as good.

 

[PaulAr]

Lets hope the 'new' A3 when it arrives is just as good.

Amen to that.

Im not swayed by the nay sayers.

Biased? You bet:icon_thumright:

Btw, REVO + RNSe + H&Rs is more like £1.5K but whos counting

cheers
Paul