A8 4.2TDi - anyone driven one?

[AKA8]

I've searched for this topic but didn't have any luck and wondered if anyone's driven one and what they thought of it. I have a 4.2 petrol at the moment and like the growl but am starting to do more miles and am getting fed up of filling it up. I know the diesel will be quick, but is it as nice a car to drive as the petrol v8? I like the engine noise in mine and the smoothness, not sure if the diesel will be quite as good in that respect, but perhaps someone can shed some light?

Thanks

AKA

[Dr G]

4.2 is an odd, thirsty thing - strange noise too.

3.0 TDI is the one to have and goes particularly nicely with a remap. 4.2 is unlikely to save you anything vs a petrol in fuel costs.

[AKA8]

I did wonder if it would be much faster in the real world than a 3.0tdi (the 0-60 times are around a second and a half slower on the 3.0tdi according to magazines). I'm worried about remaps but realise that they can make a significant difference.

I average about 24mpg in mine when pressing on, on long journeys. If the 4.2tdi does 30mpg I'd be happier. Do you think this is likely at a constant 80-90 letpons?

[marctwo]

Didn't Clarkson do London to Edinburgh and back on a single tank in one of these?

[Waugh-terfall]

marctwo said:

Didn't Clarkson do London to Edinburgh and back on a single tank in one of these?

3.0TDI

[Dr G]

Unlikely, 4.2 is going to be in the 20s.

Ours showed an average in the teens!

[Dilligaf10]

Waugh-terfall said:

marctwo said:

Didn't Clarkson do London to Edinburgh and back on a single tank in one of these?

3.0TDI

4.0TDi, older engine

[AKA8]

Dr G said:

Unlikely, 4.2 is going to be in the 20s.

Ours showed an average in the teens!

ouchie, no point in changing then!

Thanks for your advice

[Fort Jefferson]

Artice said:

Our favorite British automotive blow-hard, one Jeremy Clarkson, is usually out to prove just how fast cars can go. During one episode of Top Gear he changed direction to see just how economically he could make the round trip from London to Edinburgh in an Audi A8 TDI. The A8 is equipped with a 4.2L twin turbo diesel V-8 that puts out 326hp and pushes the big A8 to 60 mph in 6 seconds.

[ukdennis]

Fort Jefferson said:

Artice said:

Our favorite British automotive blow-hard, one Jeremy Clarkson, is usually out to prove just how fast cars can go. During one episode of Top Gear he changed direction to see just how economically he could make the round trip from London to Edinburgh in an Audi A8 TDI. The A8 is equipped with a 4.2L twin turbo diesel V-8 that puts out 326hp and pushes the big A8 to 60 mph in 6 seconds.

The article is wrong. If you look at the TG episode, you'd see that the A8 was the D3 pre-facelift model (which had the 4.0tdi). The 4.2tdi only replaced the 4.0tdi at the time of the facelift in late 2005.

Edit : it was TG series 4 episode 4, first shown 30/5/2004 but unfortunately the clip seems to have been archived from the BBC iPlayer and no longer available.

Edited by ukdennis on Wednesday 15th July 19:47

[Dr G]

If you wish to drive a V8 diesel with all the gizmos turned off and run everywhere at a steady 55mph then I'm sure the economy is quite tolerable

Audi bung daft engines in normal cars. They're fun, but the economy is poo.

[awg454]

The car top gear ran was a 4.0tdi completely different engine to the 4.2tdi
I have averaged 28 mpg on mine over the last 2 years with a high of 38 on long runs,you need to drive one back to back with a 3.0tdi just to see how much better they are.

[Steve081974]

A different shape, but similar weight and same mechanicals - spent three weeks with a 3.0 TDi A6 auto recently and lowest mpg was 36 in town and fairly heavy traffic, highest 47 on a light run, typical 40-42 out of town. More than up to the job of pulling the thing around, and also liked the sound... not petrol V8 territory maybe but still pleasant.

If you're after a significant improvement in economy I'd think a 3.0TDi A8 the obvious choice - the cost of changing (financially and/or in terms of 'risk' of taking on any used car you don't already know) will more than offset the limited pump savings of a V8 diesel surely?

S.

[Dilligaf10]

I agree, the 3.0TDi is such a smooth, effortless engine with more than enough power to move my A8L around even before it was played with.

Economy for such a big car is always above 40 on a run and mid to high 30's around town. Admittedly if I am out playing on a rare occasion I can get it down to low 20's!!

Take one for a test drive, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

[ukdennis]

As much as the diesels suit the A8 (I have a remapped 3.0tdi example myself which is the dogs whatsits) you'd be crazy to get rid of a 4.2 petrol A8 to buy another with a different engine. Your fuel economy savings would be more than eaten up by what you'd lose on the sell/buy.

Edited by ukdennis on Thursday 16th July 18:54

[AKA8]

If it was a like for like swap I'd say it was senseless, but mine's 5 yrs old and I'm interested in getting something between 2 and 3 years old. In the absence of secondhand 4.2 petrols I thought I'd look at the 4.2 diesel because there are more around. The only alternatives would be (apologies in advance) a BMW 650i or a 750i, both in sport. I need a big car due to my height (6'10"), but don't need rear room particularly. The budget's around £25k, so not quite in S5 territory at the moment. After a car like an A8, I don't think I could have a 3 series, the seats are too small and it just doesn't feel special.

[james S]

Have you tried a 3.0D. I came from 100k in a 4.0 Jag and whilt it took me a month to get used to diesel, I havn't wanted for power yet.

In fact I've even ditched the idea of a remap for now. I'm sure it would improve it but its not enough of a priority. It is a v good engine.

I get around 650-700 from a tank

[Dilligaf10]

AKA8 said:

I need a big car due to my height (6'10")

Apologies but at that height you need a double decker bus with the ceiling taken out!!

You are right though, you do feel special in an A8 and it would be difficult to trade down in size.