A4 or A6 1.9 or 2.5 TDI?

[andy97]

Thinking of changing my car (currently an A4 1.9TDi (115) saloon) for an A4 or A6 Estate (and preferably a quattro version). Any views on which engine to go for.

The car will be used for a daily commute of about 45 miles each way and the occasional business trip so economy is pretty important but a few times a year the car also has to Tow a racing car and trailer of just less than 1200Kg and carry the paraphanlia associated with racing.

My current 1.9 TDI car tows OK but I am bit concerned that a 1.9 TDI in an A6 bodyshell, & with the quattro system, might struggle.

I guess that I am looking for an 02-04 year car.

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 11th December 10:23

[problemchild]

Hi Andy,

We've got an 1.9 tdi 130 A6 Avant in the family and I think its actually OK. Nice big safe bus for commuting / family duties. The engine is quite nice coupled with the manual box - nice big dollop of torque gets it moving, unlike the more revvy dervs of today. I used to have access to a 2.5 auto and don't think it was much faster - just felt heavier and got 10mpg less.

Ours is not quattro - not sure how much power you lose vs FWD? Not sure about towing either, though I would have thought that wheelspin could be an issue. Near us there's a long steep hill which at 40mph in 3rd gear still gets the traction control twitching on a wet morning.

I just tend to mooch long on part throttle in the torque zone, quietly impressed that it feels quite nippy. It's then you realise it's a con - extra revs and/or extra throttle when required equals very little additional forward motion!! But it's a bus, so easily forgiven.

Hope that helps a bit.

Edited by problemchild on Wednesday 12th December 08:06

[agent006]

If you want economy then the 2.5 isn't really for you.

[andy97]

agent006 said:

If you want economy then the 2.5 isn't really for you.

But what are we talking about, mpg of low-mid 40's at average motorway speeds -75-85mph?? It depends on how you define economy & What Car Magazines quote the following stats for an A4 Avant Quattro Sport TDi:

Cubic capacity 2496
Cylinders V6
Max Power (bhp/rpm) 178/4000
Max Torque (lb ft/rpm) 273/1500
Town mpg 25.9
Out of Town mpg 46.3
Average mpg 35.3
Fuel Diesel
RUNNING COSTS
Insurance group 15
Service Intervals 24/22000

Out of twn mpg of 46.5 sounds damn good to me.

[problemchild]

Not too sur about the A4, but the A6 2.5 pretty much never got much more than 30mpg from a tank. It wasn't thrashed, but it wasn't driven like miss daisy either. Fair mix of town and faster A roads.

Even the A6 1.9tdi manual we have very rarely gets above 40mpg.

I'm no technical expert but Audis are heavy cars, esp the quattro, and these dervs are well behind the cutting edge tech that's out there today.

HTH

[agent006]

andy97 said:

agent006 said:

If you want economy then the 2.5 isn't really for you.

But what are we talking about

I'm talking about struggling to get 30s in combined cycle. If you factor in purchase price, the 2.5 comes out more expensive to run than a 2.8 petrol unless you're doing huge mileages.

[V41LEY]

Just bought an A6 2.0 S-Line TDi. What a car. 45 mpg. Beautiful in Brilliant Black.

[v8 jago]

I was in the same situation as you. I was looking for an estate tdi for towing my race car a few times a year. I thought of the 130bhp passat estate or the audi A4 avant 115bhp. The A4 never had enough space inside for me and it would only tow up to 1600kg. Then looked into A6 110bhp avant and it can legaly tow 1900kg and has loads of space inside. I put £40 and did 410 miles 200 on decent open roads and the other 210 around town and i live in a hilly place. It is steady diving at that though. I am going to get it remaped as for about £270 i can get the economy remap 35+bhp and up to 5 mpg more. If i was you i would deffo go A6 1.9tdi 130. If you were thinking quattro for towing , Its not needed, But thats something only you know if you need it.

[istoo]

i have an A6 1.8T avant and just sold the old coupe quattro and now have a A4 2.5tdi quattro sport. Size wise the A6 is a much bigger car. both inside and out. The 2.5 tdi unit at 180 guise is good, ok the economy isnt brilliant but so far i have been averaging about 36 mpg the drive home with it (390 miles) gave me 41mpg at motorway speeds which is not bad at all with that much torque on tap.

The A6 will car loads of kit/ people in comfort if you travel with others. The A4 is not so roomy for these occasions. On a few year old car there will be little difference in price between the A6 and the A4... Our A6 will be replaced with a tdi but it will be at a 130 model to get the torque.

[V41LEY]

Looked at an A4 Avant but rear leg room was rotten which is we plumped for the A6.
It's now a partner to my 1994 Audi 100 2.0E.