Audi A5 for big miles - Which engine 2.0TFSI or 3.0TDI

[Scoobman]

I know very little about Audi.
I went in a friends 2.0TFSI and it seemed to be the car for me.

So I very much fancy a used A5. Year 2009 ish mileage 100-150k ish
Manual. I will not be looking to sell. I will keep it until it dies and it will be very well maintained.
I will put big big Motorway and Autobahn mileage on it.

(I currently have a BMW with 320.000km on which I will run alongside the Audi)

Any opinions on which engine to go for 2.0TFSI or 3.0TDI?
And any known common faults with A5s of this vintage to look out for or to expect a bill for.

Thanks

[CJG98]

3.0 TDI 100%.

The 2.0TFSI is known to drink oil and at that kind of miles will most likely cause problems. The 3.0 TDI is a great Engine.

[ruggedscotty]

3.0 tdi 245 hp remapped to 300hp. it flies

[SuperchargedVR6]

3.0 TDI all day long. A 2.0 has no place in a big heavy car like the A5. As mentioned, Audi had serious oil consumption issues with the 2.0 TFSI in longitudinal installations, where as the transverse Golfs and Skodas etc were OK with it. Odd, but true.

[RammyMP]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

3.0 TDI all day long. A 2.0 has no place in a big heavy car like the A5. As mentioned, Audi had serious oil consumption issues with the 2.0 TFSI in longitudinal installations, where as the transverse Golfs and Skodas etc were OK with it. Odd, but true.

You’re wrong. I had a 2.0 TFSi for 60,000 Miles with no problems, 1l of oil every 10k miles but it was a 12 reg, they were sorted by that age. Some of the older ones with a problem were fixed by Audi on the quiet for free.

I bought the petrol as they were a fair bit cheaper than the 3.0 tdi and it didn’t run on diesel.

[Scoobman]

Thanks guys

[Mr Taxpayer]

I have a 2010 A4 2.0TFSI. The pre-2011 2.0 had a quality control problem with the piston rings in that they seem to be made of chocolate. Mine, when I bought it last April was on 54k miles; I soon discovered that it was drinking a litre of oil every 300 miles. Audi rebuilt the engine for free.

If the car you're looking at is 150k then it's had the fix done and should be fine. You could always ask Audi, if unsure. If the rings were going to go, they'd have gone by now.

The 2.0 is 211bhp and that's plenty and can be mapped to 265 if you're greedy. Yes the 3.0TDI has more grunt but it's also a lot heavier lump and you'd feel the weigh in the nose if you venture off the autobahn onto something twistier.

[Dr G]

2.0 TFSI seems to be fine once the rings are sorted and it's a really nice engine to drive but fuel economy is pretty disappointing.

3.0 TDI is very tough, good on fuel, and seemingly goes on forever. At some point it will need EGR replacing and clutch/flywheel if you're looking at manuals. DPFs don't give any real trouble. They feel really quick at motorway speeds too; big old well of torque makes for quick and totally effortless progress.

[Mr Taxpayer]

Dr G said:

2.0 TFSI seems to be fine once the rings are sorted and it's a really nice engine to drive but fuel economy is pretty disappointing.

3.0 TDI is very tough, good on fuel, and seemingly goes on forever. At some point it will need EGR replacing and clutch/flywheel if you're looking at manuals. DPFs don't give any real trouble. They feel really quick at motorway speeds too; big old well of torque makes for quick and totally effortless progress.

I get 38-41mpg on my 40mile daily commute form my 2.0TFSI. The cost of replacing a EGR, DMF or DPF will wipe out any fuel saving over the life of the vehicle. As will the timing belt service; the petrol has a chain.

[racin.snake]

Mr Taxpayer said:

I get 38-41mpg on my 40mile daily commute form my 2.0TFSI. The cost of replacing a EGR, DMF or DPF will wipe out any fuel saving over the life of the vehicle. As will the timing belt service; the petrol has a chain.

A good point which is lost on some blinkered diesel owners. I'm fairly certain the 3.0 tsk has a chain too

[Mr Taxpayer]

Dr G said:

2.0 TFSI seems to be fine once the rings are sorted and it's a really nice engine to drive but fuel economy is pretty disappointing.

3.0 TDI is very tough, good on fuel, and seemingly goes on forever. At some point it will need EGR replacing and clutch/flywheel if you're looking at manuals. DPFs don't give any real trouble. They feel really quick at motorway speeds too; big old well of torque makes for quick and totally effortless progress.

I get 38-41mpg on my 40mile daily commute form my 2.0TFSI. The cost of replacing a EGR, DMF or DPF will wipe out any fuel saving over the life of the vehicle. As will the timing belt service; the petrol has a chain.

[AudiSport]

I had the EGR valve and EGR Cooler replaced on my B8 A4 Avant at a cost of £700. The cooler was only replaced for good measure (on Dr Gs advice), as it hadn’t failed. The EGR valve cost on its own would have been approximately £400 with genuine parts at my local indi.

So I suspect that if your doing significant mileage the diesel will still be the better option. It is also a magnificent engine, and with a remap is very fast. But, having also run a B7 2.0T Quattro for some years that is also a cracking car. Mine had a Revo map and felt very quick,

But, my favourite was my 2005 A6 3.2 FSI Quattro. The noise, performance and instant power with no lag was just perfect for me and my driving style.

[Dr G]

Mr Taxpayer said:

I get 38-41mpg on my 40mile daily commute form my 2.0TFSI. The cost of replacing a EGR, DMF or DPF will wipe out any fuel saving over the life of the vehicle. As will the timing belt service; the petrol has a chain.

In my experience that sort of economy is wishful thinking from a 2.0T quattro (unless in a current S3). 32 more likely.

3.0TDI does indeed have a timing chain.

Flywheel and DPF in 3.0 TDI aren't problematic unless used excessively for urban journeys. EGR tends to last something like 100k.

Had 2.0 TFSIs and 3.0 TDIs for in excess of a decade; driven hundreds of each over at least a couple of hundred thousand miles.

[RammyMP]

Mr Taxpayer said:

I get 38-41mpg on my 40mile daily commute form my 2.0TFSI. The cost of replacing a EGR, DMF or DPF will wipe out any fuel saving over the life of the vehicle. As will the timing belt service; the petrol has a chain.

I averaged about 38 mpg in my A5 2.0 TFSi but it was front wheel drive not quattro.

[va1o]

I've got the 2.0TFSI in my TT and it regularly returns over 40mpg. Overall average is sitting at 36mpg from mixed driving

[RammyMP]

va1o said:

I've got the 2.0TFSI in my TT and it regularly returns over 40mpg. Overall average is sitting at 36mpg from mixed driving

I had an ‘08 2.0 TFSi TT, that averaged about the same as yours.

[AudiSport]

My B7 A4 2.0T FSI Quattro averaged about 24mpg on my mixed drive to work, and would see 35 - 39mpg on a good ‘conservative’ run. At about 55mph. The aircon off.

Who does that...?!

[Mr Taxpayer]

Mine isn't Quattro (I don't need it. Winter tyres served me perfectly well recently when Herefordshire was covered in snow and -12C).

Also there are only 4 traffic lights on my mostly flat commute, so once I'm at 60 I can generally sit there all the way to work. Yes there are occasions when I get a bit lively, and then it drops to the mid- to low-30s.