Wanting a new car.

[Shaunbing]

Good afternoon,

I would like some advice if at all possible, I am looking into getting a new car soon because at the moment my car is costing me too much on fuel and alot of my driving is long distance up and down motoways.

Ideally am thinking about the 1.9TDi version but in all honesty I don't know a huge amount about it. I have read bits and pieces about the 130 I think it is, is this a good engine? Also how tuneable are they? As ideally would like something closer to the 170 mark is this very difficult to do?

This car is going to be completely different to my current car which is a 160bhp rover petrol which although is massively fun to throw around the twisty stuff on the motorway it is very rarely below 4k RPM.

Thank you in advance for all advice and help you can offer.

Shaun

[guymcc]

Hi Shaun

Im selling my passat, 1.9tdi SE not sure if its any use to you but may as well pop up the link. Cheers

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 SE TDI 5dr Diesel Estate 2006 (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201244491008968/sort/default/usedcars/colour/red/price-from/3000/body-type/estate/price-to/4000/model/passat/make/volkswagen/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/ab314jy?logcode=p)

[Shaunbing]

Hi Shaun

Im selling my passat, 1.9tdi SE not sure if its any use to you but may as well pop up the link. Cheers

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 SE TDI 5dr Diesel Estate 2006 (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201244491008968/sort/default/usedcars/colour/red/price-from/3000/body-type/estate/price-to/4000/model/passat/make/volkswagen/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/ab314jy?logcode=p)


Thank you for the offer mate, but I am not really interested in the passat, also red doesn't really work for me.

[spartacus 68]

The Passat is a quality car, and at £3,995 great value for a 2006 model. Red's not my favourite colour, but on plus side its bigger than the A4 avant in the rear seats and boot area, has half decent headlights, and is comfortable to drive for long periods. Also has PD diesel technology, so

Back to the original post, the 1.9 changed to 2.0 TDi in 2005. If you're specifically looking for 170PS you're probably better considering 2.5 TDi V6 (180PS), but in quattro. All that power is wasted if you can't plant the foot without wheel-spinning. The 1.9 TDi, also available in quattro is relatively scarce and highly sought after. Go for late model (up to 2004) and under 100k if you can find one, with all the toys in sport trim.

[Scoop]

Not sure what exactly you are after, but Mine is for sale if you are interested:


2004 (54) AUDI A4 AVANT TDI SPORT 130 6 SPEED New Pics & MOT | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-54-AUDI-A4-AVANT-TDI-SPORT-130-6-SPEED-New-Pics-MOT-/181024433868?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2a25e5a6cc&_uhb=1)


Harry.

[Shaunbing]

When you say it has half decent headlights does that mean that the ones on the a4 aren't very good? If so then can you recommend a sensible upgrade?
To be honest space in the rear isn't a massive deal for me for 2 reasons, one is I never sit there, and the other is that it is quite rare for me to have people in the back and if I do it is usually my niece's who are both kids so will fit happily.

I will look a little more into the 2.5, are they easier to find with quattro?

Scoop I like your car but at the moment it isn't for me, going to do a little more research on the 2.5 and see price differences between that and the 1.9.

Thank you all for the great replies so far, they are helping and giving me a few things to think about.

[spartacus 68]

Think VW and Audi headlights are as bad as each other. I drove a colleague's VW Passat Estate a few years ago and it was better than my B5 projector headlights. Part of the reason why everyone wants to upgrade to HID headlights, but there are MOT restrictions due to the requirement for auto levelling and wash feature. The B6 isn't any different as they still use halogen bulbs. Sure you can upgrade the bulbs to Philips X-treme Vision, Ring Nightbreaker, or the rediculously expensive Bosch Plus 100 bulbs, but the results are fairly marginal in my opinion. Still better than standard H7 bulbs though. The only decent headlights are full Xenon HID headlights... the dog's danglies!

Regards engine choices - the 2.5 is more commonly available compared to the 1.9 unit especially in quattro guise. Came as standard 150bhp to 2001 (B5) then 180bhp to 2004 (B6). Quattro adds a few more mpg purely because of the weight and fixed 4-wheel-drive, but it's worth every penny in terms of drivability, laying down power regardless of road conditions.

This 1.9 quattro isn't too far from me. On plus side, under 100k, FSH, one previous owner with mint alloys. Down side still £6k, gun metal grey, cloth interior and standard Concert radio/CD player.
Audi A4 1.9 TDI 130 QUATTRO SPORT 5DR 2002 (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201246492312002/sort/default/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/transmission/manual/body-type/estate/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/model/a4/make/audi/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/ab338ua/radius/1500/page/1/keywords/quattro?logcode=p)

For roughly the same money, this 2.5 quattro. Plus side, leather, nice metallic blue, 74k, heated seats, Bose stereo. Again, not far from me! Don't see any negative points, apart from higher road tax, and slightly thirstier if you do town driving. Perfect motorway cruiser though.
Audi A4 2.5 TDI 180 QUATTRO SPORT 5DR AUDI HISTORY 2002 (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201242489560881/sort/default/usedcars/body-type/estate/fuel-type/diesel/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/transmission/manual/model/a4/make/audi/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1500/page/1/keywords/quattro/postcode/ab338ua?logcode=p)

[Doctle Odd]

If you buy aftermarket HID's God will punish you via some big guys big hand. Nightbreaker bulbs is/are all you need
When you say it has half decent headlights does that mean that the ones on the a4 aren't very good? If so then can you recommend a sensible upgrade?
To be honest space in the rear isn't a massive deal for me for 2 reasons, one is I never sit there, and the other is that it is quite rare for me to have people in the back and if I do it is usually my niece's who are both kids so will fit happily.

I will look a little more into the 2.5, are they easier to find with quattro?

Scoop I like your car but at the moment it isn't for me, going to do a little more research on the 2.5 and see price differences between that and the 1.9.

Thank you all for the great replies so far, they are helping and giving me a few things to think about.

[Shaunbing]

Again sparticus thank you for the informative and helpful reply.

Biggest problem for me is they are very very very far up north (aka scotland) and I am very south of England.

It does give me a better idea of price and other things to look at, out of those 2 I would much prefer the 2.5, the interior is a massive bonus for the car, looks aren't entirely to my taste as have seen a couple with (what I believe is) the factory fitted body kit which gives it a much sportier look. However adding that into the equation the hunt for a car is going to become a whole lot harder.

The more I think about it the more I think I am being pushed towards the 2.5. Main reason being I reckon my mileage is split about 75/25 towards motorway/fast A-road driving and for the extra grunt it will be a better engine to have.

So first thing on the list to do is headlight upgrade by the sounds of things!