A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI or 3.0 TDI
A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI or 3.0 TDI
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Discussion

T5SOR

Original Poster:

2,032 posts

256 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Looking at the specs for the 2.0 TFSI it is only slightly down on power against a 3.0 TDI and in terms of performance again only slightly slower. What are the benefits of the 3.0 over the 2.0? Are they better engines?

Most Avants seem to be 2.0 now with few 3.0s about.

The 2.0 TFSI is still 4WD etc, so I was wondering if the 3.0 is really worth the extra outlay, tax, fuel and Insurance?

Andy JB

1,321 posts

250 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Well - you don't state what models those engines are in. An A6 is heavier than an A4 for example so suits the derv unit.

I have both engines and while they are IMO very good units I do take the TFSI whenever I'm out for a spirited run. Also a quieter and more fuel efficient unit.

Having said that I woulnd't want a TFSI 2.0 in my heavy A6, so the 3.0 TDi suits it very well with the torque along with the tiptronic box.

T5SOR

Original Poster:

2,032 posts

256 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Thanks Andy. It's the A4 Avant (as per the heading) winkhehe

RammyMP

7,741 posts

184 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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I had the same dilemma when I was looking at A5s, in the end got the petrol as it was a fair bit cheaper to buy. I think I made the right choice over the 3 years I've had it. It pulls better with super plus petrol but it isn't as quick as the 3.0 diesel.

silentbrown

10,997 posts

147 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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Many B8's with 2.0 TFSI suffers from chronic oil consumption, so check it's either been sorted (pistons+rods) or has enough service history that Audi will fix it gratis. That aside, it's a great engine.

Not all 2.0TFSI's are quattro, but all 3.0TDIs are. Very few manual 3.0 TDIs around...




Easternlight

3,964 posts

175 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
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My 2.0 tfsi had the thirst for oil. It was also FWD so suffered from torque steer,tramp, and lack of traction.
On the positive side it was quite quick and very economical, on a run kept under 80 it would do 40+ mpg
If you can find a quattro that doesn't use oil they map up to just under 300 bhp fairly easily make a good substitute for an S4

mickytruelove

426 posts

142 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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I all depends what you plan to do with it really. I am slightly biased because i own an a5 3.0 TDI.

If you plan to do any towing at all the 3.0 TDI is the one to go for. The engine is bullet proof with not many common faults, next month i am off to get it remapped which in most cases take it to about 300hp and 500lbft (not slow).

But before you make your decision search Youtube for 3.0 TDI exhaust noise.. with an aftermarket exhaust they make a rather nice noise for a diesel engine.


acme

3,036 posts

229 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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I know it's been said already, and you'll find lots on the internet (& Watchdog!) but a mate bought an A5 2.0TFSI earlier in the year from a main dealer, three weeks into ownership the low oil light started to come on. Eventually Audi agreed to repair the engine, almost a bottom end rebuild. I'll allow you to work out if it was an existing problem or not..........

SteBrown91

3,159 posts

160 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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silentbrown said:
Many B8's with 2.0 TFSI suffers from chronic oil consumption, so check it's either been sorted (pistons+rods) or has enough service history that Audi will fix it gratis. That aside, it's a great engine.

Not all 2.0TFSI's are quattro, but all 3.0TDIs are. Very few manual 3.0 TDIs around...
You could get a fwd 3.0 a4/5 but it was detuned to 204ps and was manual or multitronic iirc. Think it's been discontinued now for the 190scr 2.0 engine

Dr G

15,991 posts

273 months

Saturday 5th September 2015
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A late or sorted 2.0T quattro is a nice thing and as already pointed out is very nippy with a simple remap. I've never seen 40 MPG out of one, though wink

3.0TDI has absolutely loads of shove, excellent residual values, rarity, economy, torque and range on its side. They're excellent cars.

You won't be disappointed with either.

AudiSport

1,499 posts

247 months

Sunday 6th September 2015
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Out of interest, what is the 2.0T Quattro drive train like in Auto format?

Dr G

15,991 posts

273 months

Monday 7th September 2015
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S-Tronic is good; the gearbox software is biased towards economy and CO2 emissions that can draw complaints that it does not have in-built telepathy for when a lower gear is desired. Use the paddles when required and all will be well.

S-Tronic needs 40k oil changes that the earlier torque converter, 'tiptronic' boxes did not.

Andy JB

1,321 posts

250 months

Monday 7th September 2015
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T5SOR said:
Thanks Andy. It's the A4 Avant (as per the heading) winkhehe
Yes my fault I actually meant what year of car B7, B8 etc. I know the B8 TFSI had some oil/cam issues which sound expensive and this has been discussed previously, the B7 TFSI IMO is very efficient, quick, fuel efficient, and I've found over 6 years very reliable.

As I can only speak about the B7 (>2008) I would choose the TFSI everyday of the week far more fun to spin in the lighter A4 in performance and handling stakes. You rarely find a 3.0 TDI in an A4 particularly of this vintage as its a bit pointless. A good engine the TDI never the less esp in a larger model.

blade7

11,311 posts

247 months

Monday 7th September 2015
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Andy JB said:
Yes my fault I actually meant what year of car B7, B8 etc. I know the B8 TFSI had some oil/cam issues which sound expensive and this has been discussed previously, the B7 TFSI IMO is very efficient, quick, fuel efficient, and I've found over 6 years very reliable.
I'd check the fuel pump cam follower on a B7, just to be safe.

Bluesmurff09

336 posts

199 months

Monday 7th September 2015
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I went for the 3.0 supercharged s4 and it a great car so far as I've had it for nearly 3 months now.

I even managed an average of 34mpg at 70-80 mpg over 180 miles coming back from Leeds last night.

No real issues with this engine and its massively tunable if that's your thing smile


Mat

Andy JB

1,321 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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blade7 said:
Andy JB said:
Yes my fault I actually meant what year of car B7, B8 etc. I know the B8 TFSI had some oil/cam issues which sound expensive and this has been discussed previously, the B7 TFSI IMO is very efficient, quick, fuel efficient, and I've found over 6 years very reliable.
I'd check the fuel pump cam follower on a B7, just to be safe.
Off topic - however, I do wonder if this is a real issue on the B7 TFSI or one of those forum issues which get over inflated and only affects a few cars. Its one I am aware of but not sure whether to change parts as surely you would hear the chain rattle getting worse first? I'm all for preventative maintenance but I'm struggling to justify the £4-600 for this on the off chance. I suspect if I didn't read forums I'd be none the wiser....

blade7

11,311 posts

247 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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Andy JB said:
blade7 said:
Andy JB said:
Yes my fault I actually meant what year of car B7, B8 etc. I know the B8 TFSI had some oil/cam issues which sound expensive and this has been discussed previously, the B7 TFSI IMO is very efficient, quick, fuel efficient, and I've found over 6 years very reliable.
I'd check the fuel pump cam follower on a B7, just to be safe.
Off topic - however, I do wonder if this is a real issue on the B7 TFSI or one of those forum issues which get over inflated and only affects a few cars. Its one I am aware of but not sure whether to change parts as surely you would hear the chain rattle getting worse first? I'm all for preventative maintenance but I'm struggling to justify the £4-600 for this on the off chance. I suspect if I didn't read forums I'd be none the wiser....
Chain uncommon, follower enough incidents for Audi US/Canada to extend the warranty on related parts I believe. Follower was around £35 when I swapped mine I think.

Skier

488 posts

254 months

Tuesday 8th September 2015
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I have a 2013 B8 A4 Avant 3.0TDI Quattro S-Line (245PS) with the S-Tronic box. The engine is superb and for day-to-day driving the torque figure is more important that bhp in my view. It's a quick car and the engine revs freely to the red line if you need it to. I considered an RS4 and even an RS6 (when I was thinking I might get an A6 Avant) and whilst clearly it's not in that performance bracket it's quick enough.

Only you can decide what suits you best but I would strongly recommend a test drive in a 3.0TDI A4; I suspect you'd like the driveability.

Kell

1,708 posts

239 months

Wednesday 9th September 2015
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All other engine issues aside, if you do a lot of town driving I'd go for the petrol and a lot of out of town, then the diesel.

My last three cars have all had relatively big diesel engines (2.5 V6, 3.0 straight six, and now the 3.0 V6 you're on about) and they all suffered really badly in town for MPG - our 2.5 A4 TDi once went down as low as 8mpg.

Sub 17mpg on our current auto A6 is not uncommon. I think partly because when it's sitting idle, the instant MPG figure is something like 15mpg.

Other than that though, I think the engine is a peach.


Sitoni

51 posts

166 months

Friday 11th September 2015
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I have just (this evening) put a deposit down on a 60 plate A4 avant 2.0 tfsi Quattro s tronic. Highish mileage but it has full Audi history plus the gearbox oil changes and the recall for the oil consumption. Apparently it uses no oil now. Time will tell. Looking forward to Saturday when I pick her up.

I know this doesn't answer the question but it is so much quicker and nicer to drive than the 2.0 tdi multitronics I looked at. Plus I don't have to worry about cam belts and Dpfs.

Didn't drive any in 3.0 tdi flavour. They seemed to be more expensive and rare. I agree that round town the petrol is probably better but on the motorway the 3.0 tdi must be immense.

I wonder how long before I remap it.