B8 Audi A4 2.0 TDi e..... Some thoughts on my time with it.

[T89 Callan]

I've had a brand new 2.0TDi e (with the start stop) for a couple of days now while Audi have struggled to fit new shocks to my S4, and thought I would give it a quick review.....

.....And it isn't good.

Audi really seem to have lost their way on this one particularly with the interior, it is hideous, cheap and uncomfortable. It's just a horrid place to be, badly laid out (buttons just randomly placed it seems), low quality gawdy materials and some of the worst seats I have ever sat in. The whole car just seems nasty and cheap. And whats with the crappy push in key? Man I hate it, pure tat.

Dynamically it's fine and looks are 'each to his own'.

What I am most shocked about is how poor it does in my direct comparison, no I'm not comparing it to my S4, I'm comparing it to my previous Audi, a 1995 Audi 80 TDi.
Audi seem to have taken a huge step back from there 90's/early 00's heyday. The quality, layout and comfort of the interior are worse than the 80.
Worst of all though the TDi e engine seems slower than my old 80TDI and it does not get as good MPG!!!! 46mpg average, while my 80 would get 49mpg average.

Anyway just some thoughts, I really can't wait to get my car back so I can actually drive round without my shoulders aching.

ETA: Oh yeah forgot to mention the Stop-Start system, it works fine but fk me it's so annoying, you get that horrible diesel engine 'shudder' through the car verytime you stop and start in traffic, it got turned off after 5 minutes in a jam.

Edited by T89 Callan on Monday 30th November 12:25

[Dr G]

Blame the marketing department for making the base models poop!

Have to agree with you on the key mind

[Muzzer]

T89 Callan said:

Worst of all though the TDi e engine seems slower than my old 80TDI and it does not get as good MPG!!!! 46mpg average, while my 80 would get 49mpg average.

I'd wager that you've got the rose-tinted specs out there.

I have a 140 2.0 TDI engine and, having driven a 1.9 TDI engine from the 90's, there's no way it's slower.

Also, you're comparing MPG on a brand-new engine to one from your old, run in one.

The newer engines are about the same MPG-wise in my experience, with better performance.

[marctwo]

Even on the top models the interior is poor. I sat in a B8 S4 and, whilst I liked the seats a lot, the quality of the dash and buttons is very poor and there are just buttons everywhere. Felt more like a Subaru than an Audi. I personally think they peaked with the B7 RS4 and have gone downhill since then.

[T89 Callan]

Muzzer said:

T89 Callan said:

Worst of all though the TDi e engine seems slower than my old 80TDI and it does not get as good MPG!!!! 46mpg average, while my 80 would get 49mpg average.

I'd wager that you've got the rose-tinted specs out there.

I have a 140 2.0 TDI engine and, having driven a 1.9 TDI engine from the 90's, there's no way it's slower.

Also, you're comparing MPG on a brand-new engine to one from your old, run in one.

The newer engines are about the same MPG-wise in my experience, with better performance.

Maybe 0-60 the new car is quicker but in the real world it felt slower. It seems to have lost all of it's mid-range grunt for motorway work. Just felt flat and not punchy.

[va1o]

The CR TDIs are very smooth and petrol like, unlike the older TDIs that had quite a narrow power band.

[T89 Callan]

va1o said:

The CR TDIs are very smooth and petrol like, unlike the older TDIs that had quite a narrow power band.

The problem with that is that it has lost the one thing that made a diesel engine good, the mid-range clout for easy motorway use and towing ability.

It might as well have just been a 1.6l Petrol.... actually that would have been better, it wouldn't clattered and droned and made my hands stink of diesel when I went to the petrol station.

[va1o]

T89 Callan said:

va1o said:

The CR TDIs are very smooth and petrol like, unlike the older TDIs that had quite a narrow power band.

The problem with that is that it has lost the one thing that made a diesel engine good, the mid-range clout for easy motorway use and towing ability.

It might as well have just been a 1.6l Petrol.... actually that would have been better, it wouldn't clattered and droned and made my hands stink of diesel when I went to the petrol station.

I prefer the newer type myself, much smoother and quieter than before. Didn't like the 'peaky' nature of my old Golf mk5 tdi pd, too much turbo lag, power all comes at once, then it runs out of puff. Each to there own I suppose.

[Dr G]

Audi even released updated software for the earlier TDIs to smooth out the delivery as the big lump of torque was eating clutches.