french_audi
30-07-2017, 08:55 AM
Hi folks,
Well it is time to change out my A4 B7 3.0TDI quattro avant. Bought new in 2006 it has done 138,000km. It has been reliable it many ways except one where it had to have the injectors replaced after several dealer visits. This was a large €4,500 bill that I thought that a 100,000km car should not have needed. The battery failing in Austria during a holiday was another breakdown call out. Apart from that it has had new pads and discs at 120,000km and that is it and just the normal tyres and servicing.
So now the time has come to splash out a not inconsiderable sum on a new replacement.
Living in France the price of cars is a lot more - not sure why? Check Audi.fr to see the differences (metallic paint €1,010 or £645 in the UK for example) Additionally the eco-thieves are out in force in France. Buying a new car has a large C02 penalty. 127g = €0 whereas >190g = €10,000!!! (not a typo) with a sliding scale in-between. I can't stretch to another 3.0tdi with all the options I want (Audi options, who makes up theses prices!) so l have whittled it down to a 2.0 TDI 190hp Quattro or a 2.0 TFSi 252 quattro.
I am getting put off buying a diesel due to the recent bad press and of course the city pollution thing ( which is real and is causing a problem for health).
The petrol model has a €1,260 eco penalty the 2.0TDi none. It is all based on C02 and not diesel issues so the petrol model gets unjustifiably punished.
The petrol model will cost more in fuel but I only do 12,000km/year. The petrol model does have a chain drive rather than belt drive so that would save at least 2 cambelt changes during the lifetime that I keep my cars.
So I'm at a crossroads as what to do?
2.0 TFSI 252 quattro- For - nicer noise when revved, better performance than the 190BHP diesel, smells better when you are behind it, better for the health of city dwellers, no cam-belt changes every 4 years, no expensive super high pressure diesel injectors that fail and cost a lot. Against - €1300 eco-punish tax, costs more to buy than the 2.0TDI 190 Quattro, less range on one tank.
2.0 TDI 190 Quattro - For better range, better economy and less to fill up. €1500 less to buy and no eco tax penalty to buy. Against, diesel injector issues, cam belt change costs, inner city pollution (extra charges being considered, bans etc), less performance than the TFSi, smelly diesel and of course less smooth.
So there it is. I still want an Audi and it must be a Quattro. I looked at BMW and Mercedes but didn't like their offerings. I looked at non-German cars but couldn't see anything I liked.
Are there others out there who are also hesitating about the engine choice?
Any feedback from readers would be appreciated - positive or not.
Thanks, Mark
Well it is time to change out my A4 B7 3.0TDI quattro avant. Bought new in 2006 it has done 138,000km. It has been reliable it many ways except one where it had to have the injectors replaced after several dealer visits. This was a large €4,500 bill that I thought that a 100,000km car should not have needed. The battery failing in Austria during a holiday was another breakdown call out. Apart from that it has had new pads and discs at 120,000km and that is it and just the normal tyres and servicing.
So now the time has come to splash out a not inconsiderable sum on a new replacement.
Living in France the price of cars is a lot more - not sure why? Check Audi.fr to see the differences (metallic paint €1,010 or £645 in the UK for example) Additionally the eco-thieves are out in force in France. Buying a new car has a large C02 penalty. 127g = €0 whereas >190g = €10,000!!! (not a typo) with a sliding scale in-between. I can't stretch to another 3.0tdi with all the options I want (Audi options, who makes up theses prices!) so l have whittled it down to a 2.0 TDI 190hp Quattro or a 2.0 TFSi 252 quattro.
I am getting put off buying a diesel due to the recent bad press and of course the city pollution thing ( which is real and is causing a problem for health).
The petrol model has a €1,260 eco penalty the 2.0TDi none. It is all based on C02 and not diesel issues so the petrol model gets unjustifiably punished.
The petrol model will cost more in fuel but I only do 12,000km/year. The petrol model does have a chain drive rather than belt drive so that would save at least 2 cambelt changes during the lifetime that I keep my cars.
So I'm at a crossroads as what to do?
2.0 TFSI 252 quattro- For - nicer noise when revved, better performance than the 190BHP diesel, smells better when you are behind it, better for the health of city dwellers, no cam-belt changes every 4 years, no expensive super high pressure diesel injectors that fail and cost a lot. Against - €1300 eco-punish tax, costs more to buy than the 2.0TDI 190 Quattro, less range on one tank.
2.0 TDI 190 Quattro - For better range, better economy and less to fill up. €1500 less to buy and no eco tax penalty to buy. Against, diesel injector issues, cam belt change costs, inner city pollution (extra charges being considered, bans etc), less performance than the TFSi, smelly diesel and of course less smooth.
So there it is. I still want an Audi and it must be a Quattro. I looked at BMW and Mercedes but didn't like their offerings. I looked at non-German cars but couldn't see anything I liked.
Are there others out there who are also hesitating about the engine choice?
Any feedback from readers would be appreciated - positive or not.
Thanks, Mark