2014 A3 Petrol or Diesel Engine Most Reliable?

[steady driver]

Hi

I'm looking to buy an A3 Sport, I've got about £10k and want a circa 2014 model. I do about 15,000 miles PA, and want to know if you take away running costs which engine is the most reliable out of the 1.4 TFSI , 1.6 TDI or 2.0 TDI?

Also is there anything else to look for when buying an A3 of this age?

Thanks

 

[Retroman]

Modern diesels have DPFs and all the associated electronics and so if you do a lot of short, town journeys with the car not getting up to temperature, you will have regeneration issues. On the other hand if you do a lot of motorway cruising, the larger diesel engine will give you the necessary effortless torque and fuel economy.

Some people claim that smaller diesel engines tend not to return the fuel economy claimed by the manufacturers.

Generally, because diesel engines are built have to cope with higher internal compression and do not rely on spark initiated combustion - they are more reliable.

Most teething problems ironed out by 2014. From around 2014 Audi UK introduced an overriding time period for cam belt changes so it became the first to occur of the mileage in the handbook or 5-years if sooner

 

[tigerhonaker]

Don't have a clue about the Diesel so can't say which is the more reliable car/Audi.





Terry

 

[JohnM100]

Also bear in mind that not all 2014 diesels were EU6 compliant; some were EU5 and that could impact road tax and ultra low emissions zone charges.

I am not a diesel person but some info here:

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/vag-admit-cheating-diesel-emmissions.253242/page-8


Having had a 1.6 TDI as a courtesy car which seemed a bit gutless, I suspect they are more likely to have been driven hard.



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[Neil C]

I have a 2014 2.0TDi S-Line Sportback. No reliability issues at all (apart from the air con condenser problem that many A3 owners encounter)
Can belt and water pump changed at 5-year mark (£500-ish).
Great fuel economy.

 

[cuke2u]

There's one then to be honest all those engine have been around for a few years now and aside from the odd issue, which is expected with any engine, they are all generally reliable unless treated without respect and not serviced correctly...

 

[Neil C]

I have a 2014 2.0TDi S-Line Sportback. No reliability issues at all (apart from the air con condenser problem that many A3 owners encounter)
Can belt and water pump changed at 5-year mark (£500-ish).
Great fuel economy.

Sorry, should say CAM belt.
****** auto-correct

 

[6EGA3]

I picked up a 64 plate 1.6 TDi with a little over 40,000 miles, and have now completed about 6,000 miles so far. Although the 1.6 doesn't have a lot of punch, it certainly is good enough for anyone who isn't a racer boy.

Since I got it, I have averaged 55mpg with maybe 70% motorway/A roads and the rest in traffic. Drove to Mancs yesterday from Surrey and with Cruise set to a little over 70 I returned 67 mpg on a clear run so not bad in my book.

Engine is very quiet and refined for a fairly small diesel.

From around 2014 Audi UK introduced an overriding time period for cam belt changes so it became the first to occur of the mileage in the handbook or 5-years if sooner

I have never actually understood this and I know it's been covered in other threads, but how do Audi UK explain the vast difference in their idea on when the belt should change versus the Audi book that says something like 130,000 miles with no time limit. I assume that every other country goes with the book's recommendations and it's not like we have massive extremes in weather in the UK that are any worse than say Germany.

 

[Ormesome]

I have never actually understood this and I know it's been covered in other threads, but how do Audi UK explain the vast difference in their idea on when the belt should change versus the Audi book that says something like 130,000 miles with no time limit. I assume that every other country goes with the book's recommendations and it's not like we have massive extremes in weather in the UK that are any worse than say Germany.

Correct! Countries in europe that I have owned Audi’s in do not follow the UK pattern. In my opinion, it is a way of making money and scaring the owner into getting more maintenance or perhaps changing their car at the famous “3yr” window of opportunity! Of course, no one will admit this and even private owners here will swear blindly by it.

Anyway, back on point! I had the car you are looking to buy! 1.6tdi 2014 sport model. Loved it. 60mpg on a trip, did low low miles when in school periods and then all over Europe during school holidays. No problems with the DPF, never had any warning lights even mid generations. I now have the 2.0tdi in my Q2. It’s the 190bhp version and it is way faster than the 1.6tdi. I’m not sure what bhp the A3 has with the 2.0tdi but I would probably recommend it over the 1.6 if you can get it. It’s just easier to live with, overtaking is easier and effortless acceleration. The 1.6 is fine, no problems at all but I dont think I would get another now Iv lived with the bigger engine, specially as the mpg isn’t affected.

Personally I would choose what fuel you want, then the engine and then spec. I think most of these engines are now quite tried and tested.

 

[Damo S]

The 1.6TDI can be more economical than the 2.0 but you would have to baby it all the time to get better returns, which would make driving really quite boring. If you always drive sedately, stick to speed limits, and are happy to sit behind everyone else all the time then get the 1.6. If you like a bit of fun from time to time, overtake the cars doing 50 in 60s, and like cruising around 80 on motorways then get the 2.0.

 

[hater]

Also bear in mind that not all 2014 diesels were EU6 compliant; some were EU5 and that could impact road tax and ultra low emissions zone charges.

I am not a diesel person but some info here:

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/vag-admit-cheating-diesel-emmissions.253242/page-8


Having had a 1.6 TDI as a courtesy car which seemed a bit gutless, I suspect they are more likely to have been driven hard.



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strongly agree with you. I have 2.0TDI 2014 and it is EU6. I wouldn't buy if it was EU5. @steady driver I am doing 20000km a year and have no problems with the DPF.

 

[6EGA3]

Correct! Countries in europe that I have owned Audi’s in do not follow the UK pattern. In my opinion, it is a way of making money and scaring the owner into getting more maintenance or perhaps changing their car at the famous “3yr” window of opportunity! Of course, no one will admit this and even private owners here will swear blindly by it.

I wonder if there is someone in Audi Germany I could email and find out their take on this whole UK Cambelt thing. I'd be interested in hearing directly from them if there is any difference at all between the models made for the UK and the rest of Europe and if not, what their feeling is on the difference in recommended intervals.

Anyone have an email address they could recommend?

 

[Ormesome]

I wonder if there is someone in Audi Germany I could email and find out their take on this whole UK Cambelt thing. I'd be interested in hearing directly from them if there is any difference at all between the models made for the UK and the rest of Europe and if not, what their feeling is on the difference in recommended intervals.

Anyone have an email address they could recommend?

I doubt its worth it mate. no one is going to own up to anything. its in their interests to sell more servicing they can. its an industry wide thing, not just Audi. I cant think of any reason why its different. People could say weather, but i live in Switzerland where it is colder, more salt on the road etc.... and the cambelt change is same as EU. Last year i posted about the Portugal Audi timeframe, hot country so the exact opposite to Switzerland but their timescale is the same.

This is what i posted about my UK car going through Audi Portugal. Remember its a UK car, not exported etc... This is Audi PT fidings based on their procedures! now compare that to UK Audi procedures. They used my VIN and not a PT car.

• CHECKED (NOT changed) at 7 years if low mileage

or

• CHANGED at 210,000kms regardless of age

or

• CHANGED at 180,000kms if at the 7yr mark.

My post here goes though a few of my findings and others commenting...

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-6tdi-cambelt-water-pump-intervals.339984/

ALSO, just to throw this in the mix. My Audi Q2 has a thing called the Swiss Package, Basically servicing and warranty fully covered for 10yrs. Cambelt service follows the same package as above.

 

[6EGA3]

I doubt its worth it mate. no one is going to own up to anything. its in their interests to sell more servicing they can. its an industry wide thing, not just Audi. I cant think of any reason why its different. People could say weather, but i live in Switzerland where it is colder, more salt on the road etc.... and the cambelt change is same as EU. Last year i posted about the Portugal Audi timeframe, hot country so the exact opposite to Switzerland but their timescale is the same.

This is what i posted about my UK car going through Audi Portugal. Remember its a UK car, not exported etc... This is Audi PT fidings based on their procedures! now compare that to UK Audi procedures. They used my VIN and not a PT car.

• CHECKED (NOT changed) at 7 years if low mileage

or

• CHANGED at 210,000kms regardless of age

or

• CHANGED at 180,000kms if at the 7yr mark.

My post here goes though a few of my findings and others commenting...

https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/1-6tdi-cambelt-water-pump-intervals.339984/

ALSO, just to throw this in the mix. My Audi Q2 has a thing called the Swiss Package, Basically servicing and warranty fully covered for 10yrs. Cambelt service follows the same package as above.

Interesting reading. I agree with you and I cannot see a single reason not to follow the handbook's numbers. My car came with a little over 40,000 miles and I know from searching the DVLA database that it sat for about nine months with very little use at all. I use it for longer drives on motorways and can't speak for the original owner. Not sure if the car sitting in a dealership means that the belt will degrade quicker than being used. Perhaps someone can throw some light on that.