Has anyone driven the Audi A5 with the new 1.8 TFSI engine?

[mercGLowner]

Anyone have any experience, views?

The new 1.8 TFSI in the A5 pushes out 170bhp and has performance figures better than the 2.0TDI (which is £2500 more) and the economy figures are impressive too - 49 MPG combined and emissions of 134 gm/km.

[Poverty]

needs atleast the 2.0TFSI, its a big car

[PKLD]

My dad had an early A5 with the 1.8t engine which I think had 170/180bhp. It was comfortable - swift but not fast. He did loads of miles in it and loved it. It's not an only car though so outright speed wasn't the issue he just liked the big 19" wheels and the look of the thing which was very nice.

It would probably suit the 3.0tdi more though as it was a big cruiser - the new engine would be better in a lighter car...

[mercGLowner]

The stats in the brochure put the new 1.8 TFSI engine pretty close to the 2.0 TFSI and the diesel. 0-62 7.9s, torque 320/1400-3700 and it is 125 kg lighter than the 2.0, which is a Quattro. 2.0 TFSI Quattro manual Is 0-60 6.4s, torque 350/1500-4200.

[PKLD]

mercGLowner said:

The stats in the brochure put the new 1.8 tfsi 0-62 7.9s vs 2.0 TFSI Quattro manual Is 0-60 6.4s

That's quite a difference in the real world. I had a 2.0tfsi TT that the book said was 6.3 or 6.4 0-60 (dsg box helped) and mine was a fair bit quicker than my dads A5. As in he could go flat out eh, 'joining a motorway from a standing start on a slip road' and I would over take him from behind quite easily.

I only knew he was flat out as afterwards he was that my 'hairdressers car' was 'better' than his grown up Audi :rollseyes:

[barky]

in the real world 0-60 figures aren't all that significant .... if it was an a5 quattro with a 1.8 it might well be a bit sluggish but with front drive it'll be what they call perfectly adequate ... & way better than a 120ps a4 engined a5 would be *shudders*

[NelsonR32]

The new engine the OP is referring to is a totally reworked engine for the facelift A4 and A5.

On paper it seems fantastic; over 50mpg combined from a 95RON petrol 1.8T. I've yet to drive one but it's another nail in the coffin for diesel if it actually does decent MPG on the road.

[Blueeleven]

No 170s in the UK yet. The 160 was very good. Not fast but smooth free reving, a well balanced unit. 170 should be better.

[anonymous-user]

NelsonR32 said:

On paper it seems fantastic; over 50mpg combined from a 95RON petrol 1.8T. I've yet to drive one but it's another nail in the coffin for diesel if it actually does decent MPG on the road.

Its a big 'if', I'll believe a 1.8 turbo petrol lugging that big car around gets 50mpg when an owner with experience can vouch for it!

Are official mpg figures ever that realistic these days?

[NelsonR32]

yellowbentines said:

NelsonR32 said:

On paper it seems fantastic; over 50mpg combined from a 95RON petrol 1.8T. I've yet to drive one but it's another nail in the coffin for diesel if it actually does decent MPG on the road.

Its a big 'if', I'll believe a 1.8 turbo petrol lugging that big car around gets 50mpg when an owner with experience can vouch for it!

Are official mpg figures ever that realistic these days?

Well the 1.6TDi A1 claims 74mpg yet the best I've ever got (and that was 4 hours at 55-60mph to Leeds) is 71mpg. Even if this 1.8T can manage 43+mpg average then it should be good.

[mercGLowner]

Blueeleven said:

No 170s in the UK yet. The 160 was very good. Not fast but smooth free reving, a well balanced unit. 170 should be better.

The one I have been offered will be the dealer by the end of next week.

[va1o]

I haven't driven one but based on the figures it sounds quite good to me. Disagree with the comments about it been a too small engine for a car that size.

[Chris Stott]

mercGLowner said:

The one I have been offered will be the dealer by the end of next week.

I'd be interested to hear what it's like as I need to order a new company car in the next month or 2 and due to the way our scheme works, taking a 1.8 petrol would allow me to get an S line A4 Avant or A5 Sporback as opposed to an A4 Saloon.

The main questions are 'what's the real world consumption like?', and 'what's the low/mid range torque like vs a diesel?' If it will average c.40mpg and doesn't require red lining to make decent progress I'd seriously consider one.

[roscozs]

I drove an older 1.8TFSI and I wasnt expecting much however I was suprised. It pulled well and didnt at all feel that sluggish. Ive just done a quick check and the A5 1.8 TFSI weighs in about the same as a Ford Focus give or take a 100kg so its not too heavy for the engine.

[mercGLowner]

roscozs said:

I drove an older 1.8TFSI and I wasnt expecting much however I was suprised. It pulled well and didnt at all feel that sluggish. Ive just done a quick check and the A5 1.8 TFSI weighs in about the same as a Ford Focus give or take a 100kg so its not too heavy for the engine.

Thanks for that, it's no street racer but It could be a good engine I think.

[Crafty_]

if its anything like the 2.0 TFSI engine I'd run a long way away.

[russy01]

Sorry but I cannot see a 1.8t doing 50mpg. Most diesels in the a5 struggle to reach that in real world. (plus don't believe what the trip computer tells you!)

[mercGLowner]

Crafty_ said:

if its anything like the 2.0 TFSI engine I'd run a long way away.

Care to expand? I thought the new 211ps engine was highly regarded.

[soad]

Poverty said:

needs atleast the 2.0TFSI, it's a big heavy car

Edited for accuracy.

[Crafty_]

mercGLowner said:

Crafty_ said:

if its anything like the 2.0 TFSI engine I'd run a long way away.

Care to expand? I thought the new 211ps engine was highly regarded.

Mate works at a dealer, he's replacing one a week at the moment 40-60k on them, compression rings failing, oil control rings failing, valves not seating, witness marks in bores from pistons tipping and the skirt touching.. seem to be very cheaply made and poorly engineered.