Autobahn Cruiser - 2.0 or 3.0 TDI?

[flatsix.ant]

Hey,

I am based in Germany, and the majority of my driving is on the Autobahn. Most of the usage of my car is sat at 160-200kph, for around 110km stints to where my office is based, along with trips across the country. Probably around 30000km per year.

I would like to avoid a discussion about speed, if I really do that, etc. Any posts around that will be ignored, I just want to discuss the car please!

I am looking to replace my Mk7 GTI with a diesel soon. I note that an Audi 2.0 TDI with the 190ps drivetrain has a top speed of 230kph, but the 3.0 has more legs. I do not need the acceleration of the 3.0, but would like the car to not feel stressed or problematic at this speed.

Question: Is there a reason or rationale for going for the 3.0 purely for a reliability perspective? Is the VAG 2.0 TDI engine from 2017-2020 going to give issues when being worked like this, or is it fine?

Cheers!

Edited by flatsix.ant on Friday 24th January 09:57

Edited by flatsix.ant on Friday 24th January 09:57

[mmm-five]

Don't know much about Audi engines...so are they both 2 litre engines with just different numbers on the boot, or are they physically 2.0L and 3.0L engines?

For comfortable cruising you probably want to see which has the better torque at the RPM needed to maintain that speed.

I've just swapped a 320D (2.0L) for a 335D (3.0L) and the 335D feels much nicer cruising at the UK speed limit (i.e. indicated 80mph / 77mph real ) than the 320D, and when cruising at slightly slower speeds responds to a tickle of the throttle with much more urgency for those overtaking manoeuvres...and did the same 250 mile trip at the same MPG.

I'm not saying the 320D is terrible either, as we did a relatively high speed Germany tour last year and legally sat at 130MPH for periods where the traffic & road conditions allowed.

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 24th January 10:25

[K321]

3.0tdi
Its under stressed at high speed and has lots of torque

I’ve had mine for ten years and still going strong now on 190k miles

I got the 3.0 TDi instead of 2.0tdi as it’s a better engine
Just change oil every 8k miles and car should get to 200k with no engine issues

My friend in Italy has one and with a simple ecu remap and limiter off it can reach 280kmh on autobahn

Edited by K321 on Friday 24th January 23:49

Edited by K321 on Friday 24th January 23:54

Edited by K321 on Friday 24th January 23:57

[BlueJ]

Another vote for the 3.0 - as said above, the extra torque over a 2 litre will allow you to get up to and maintain those speeds in a more relaxed fashion.

I can't speak for Audis but I've had a 330D touring and E400d estate and they were fantastic motorway cruisers with pace.

[Rob 131 Sport]

You don’t think an EV would be more suited to your usage

In seriousness the 3.0 would be preferable although the 2.0 would do the job. My son had a few years ago a 2017 Audi A4 TDI 190 S Line that I occasionally used. It had great performance and I really enjoyed driving it.

[samoht]

FWIW, cruising at a constant 200 km/h is only using two-thirds the power of 230 km/h (power corresponds to speed cubed), so the 2.0 engine is some way short of flat out at that speed.
One would hope that Audi of all companies would ensure the engine is reliable in such usage. So I'm not convinced that the 3.0 would be lower maintenance overall (considering it's a larger engine so some services may cost more, and it won't necessarily be more reliable).

I would prefer the 3.0, but just because it would make it quicker and easier to regain speed when someone moves out of the leftmost lane, and generally less stressed for likely similar fuel economy, but I don't think I'd consider it a reliability issue.

[ZX10R NIN]

The 3.0d is the pick as it'll be the more relaxed drivetrain.

[flatsix.ant]

samoht said:

FWIW, cruising at a constant 200 km/h is only using two-thirds the power of 230 km/h (power corresponds to speed cubed), so the 2.0 engine is some way short of flat out at that speed.
One would hope that Audi of all companies would ensure the engine is reliable in such usage. So I'm not convinced that the 3.0 would be lower maintenance overall (considering it's a larger engine so some services may cost more, and it won't necessarily be more reliable).

I would prefer the 3.0, but just because it would make it quicker and easier to regain speed when someone moves out of the leftmost lane, and generally less stressed for likely similar fuel economy, but I don't think I'd consider it a reliability issue.

This is very interesting to consider. Thanks all for the feedback.

I think I'll be looking for the 3.0 TDI, then!

[andy43]

2017-2020 means out of warranty so yeah, 3 litre as it’ll be a bit more chilled out at those speeds.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Can't help with the answer to the question but just want to say, as someone else living in Germany and commuting everyday on the Autobahn, I can only dream of those types of speed. Must be a hell of lot quieter in your part of Germany, I'm lucky to get higher than 130kph on my commute, the traffic volume means it is probably closer to 100kph on average.

[flatsix.ant]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Can't help with the answer to the question but just want to say, as someone else living in Germany and commuting everyday on the Autobahn, I can only dream of those types of speed. Must be a hell of lot quieter in your part of Germany, I'm lucky to get higher than 130kph on my commute, the traffic volume means it is probably closer to 100kph on average.

Haha. Predominantly on the A61 Koeln to Koblenz. The 130kph limit is on sometimes but if its quiet, mostly derestricted. Bulk of the traffic would be along the A3 from Koeln to Frankfurt.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

flatsix.ant said:

Haha. Predominantly on the A61 Koeln to Koblenz. The 130kph limit is on sometimes but if its quiet, mostly derestricted. Bulk of the traffic would be along the A3 from Koeln to Frankfurt.

Yeah, my commute is rush hour around Stuttgart on the A81 and A8 (which are always busy).