A6 TDI Engine & Gearbox Recommendations?

[ini]

Now the kids are getting bigger, i am thinking of swapping the A4 for an A6.

It is probably going to be a 1.9 or 2.5 TDI for economy.

What are peoples recommendations on preferred engine and gearbox combinations?

What is the model to go for?

[chat]

I have gone for the 1.9 TDI Sport with multitronic gearbox. You have to ensure that the fluid is changed in the box at 40k miles or problems can occur, but this combination is judged by many to be ideal. The 1.9 is more economical than the 2.5 (About 50mpg compared to 40 mpg combined) and is quick by any reasonable standards. The multitronic gives a seamless build up of speed and the 1.9 is not as torquey as the 2.5 which many say puts undue strain on the gearbox. The Sport suspension is a little firmer than the SE but if you can live with this I think the larger wheels and carbon fibre look trim rather than wood, look better. Best bet is to test drive the 1.9 and the 2.5 in manual and multitronic / tiptronic formats.

[paul b]

I got a 1.9 TDI Sport but it's manual 5 speed. It's the 130bhp version, which would be the pick of the 1.9s. The 110bhp etc are probably a bit slow. If you do buy the 'Sport' model, I don't reccommend putting bigger wheels than it already has, as the ride is firm enough. Some people claim the SE's are wallowy at motorway speeds, I wouldn't know about that but my Sport model isn't. Some people claim that the 6 speed gearboxes require too frequent gear changes, so I bought a 5 speed.
Paul

[adamss24]

I would go for a PD 1.9 Tdi 6 speed with the sport suspension...decent power and pick-up but it wont match a 2.5 Tdi for torque and in-gear acceleration ! Avoid multicronic/auto gearboxes at all costs, because they are very expensive to repair when they go wrong. Look for a model with as many extras as possible, as they hold value better. I suggest you test drive both engines as the power delivery and feel/smotheness is different between the 1.9 ad the 2.5 litres. Also, the pd engine is more environmentally friendly(lower emisions) and it uses a special oil (expensive !) , but the 2.5 is a v6 engine,with 24 valves and twin camshafts and the cost to maintain it will be higher than the 4 pot engine. Look for one with cambelts done, as it will save you a good 5-600 pounds ! Front suspension is identical across the range.

[diddly]

I agree!! mine is the avant 1.9 130 and i feel this is the best all rounder for fuel road tax rip off insurance etc mine is the se model which is far superior to the sport model (just kiddin paul) but i dont find it harsh or wallowy on the motorway at all. Friend of mine has the v6 diesel and fair enough it seems smoother but more expensive to fix uses more fuel and i dont really think it is all that much quicker. Join the 130 brigade

[paul b]

I agree!! mine is the avant 1.9 130 and i feel this is the best all rounder for fuel road tax rip off insurance etc mine is the se model which is far superior to the sport model (just kiddin paul) but i dont find it harsh or wallowy on the motorway at all. Friend of mine has the v6 diesel and fair enough it seems smoother but more expensive to fix uses more fuel and i dont really think it is all that much quicker. Join the 130 brigade

About the SE thing... it's not bad... sometimes I wish mine was an SE! But other times I'm glad it's not. When I said about being wallowy, the person who I heard it from was talking about the saloon, not the Avant. Am I right in saying the 2.5 TDI has 163bhp? Or am I getting it mixed up with something else? If it is 163bhp then it isn't a huge advantage considering the added fuel bills. If you're that bothered get it re-mapped.
Paul

[ini]

That is a good point, what are the differences between the 2.5ltr 150, 155, 163, and 180bhp engines?

What are peoples actual mpg's in standard and tuned cars.

[paul b]

Another thing I forgot to add. You can get the PD 130 re-mapped to give you 163 bhp and make your mpg better than it was at 130bhp. Slightly pointless really. I would only consider the 2.5 TDI if it was 180bhp. Sorry ini but I wouldn't know about the costs of each 2.5 TDI, all I know is it's about 10 mpg less than the 130, but the 180bhp will be even worse.
Paul

EDIT: I get 46 mpg combined motorway and city miles. Do a good even mix.

[a6mother]

Another thing I forgot to add. You can get the PD 130 re-mapped to give you 163 bhp and make your mpg better than it was at 130bhp. Slightly pointless really. I would only consider the 2.5 TDI if it was 180bhp. Sorry ini but I wouldn't know about the costs of each 2.5 TDI, all I know is it's about 10 mpg less than the 130, but the 180bhp will be even worse.
Pa
EDIT: I get 46 mpg combined motorway and city miles. Do a good even mix.

I used to own a 1.9tdi pd 130bhp manual a6 and recently I've got a 2.5tdi 163 multitronic auto.

I find the 2.5 nicer to drive - it took me some time to get used to it.
My immediate impression was that it's not as punchy as the 1.9.
However, the 1.9 was very sluggish off the mark - leaving in a hurry at lights and roundabouts was often frustrating. At above 1500rpm the acceleration was phenomenal if a little short lived.
The 2.5 doesn't deliver that sort of punch but it is much smoother, it revs more enthusiastically and I think it has more torque than the 1.9 above 2000-2500rpm - it generally feels more competent and more adequate for the car. It has it's own flatness low down but that's nowhere near as bad as in the 1.9 which requires a lot of patience when moving off.
The 2.5 sounds really nice and the 1.9 like a tractor.
I got 35mpg from the last tank - motorway 70-90mph and city driving.

This is of course my opinion and perhaps a slightly unfair comparison (due to different transmissions).

I think the 2.5tdi v6 and cvt multitronic combo is awsome but the mutitronic - as reflected by many posts on this forum, can be a disaster.

[adamss24]

That is a good point, what are the differences between the 2.5ltr 150, 155, 163, and 180bhp engines?

What are peoples actual mpg's in standard and tuned cars.

The 150/155/163 BHP are pretty much identical engines bar the ECU and mappings. The 180 Bhp AKE is a revised engine, has a better designed head, lower compression, bigger turbocharger, bigger injectors (7 holes as oposed to 6 on AFB/AKN etc.), revised ecu, cam followers and a revised oil breather that won't clog as quick as on the previous models. It only came in the quattro a4 and a6 with the sport trim and it will shift ! I have transplanted the AKE into my 98 a4 quattro and i am very happy with the way it performs. Pretty bulletproof as well, just have to watch the clutch as it tends to slip a bit more due to the torque increase- over 400 Nm and the clutch is hard to work too ! Also it has a PSI Motorsport chip on it as well and that's supposed to increase the bhp with another +20-40 Bhp as well (it has 4 different torque/Bhp settings and is on the max setting !) - need to find a 4 wheel rolling road to see how many Bhp she has ! I do 35-45 Mpq depending on how i drive it, never baby-it !