Help! 3.2 FSI quattro or 3.0 TDI quattro

[dmahon]

My wife wants a car and she pretty much fell in love with an A4 cabriolet. Plan is to buy 2/3 years old.

We took one out from the dealer at the weekend and she was very happy, but would like an automatic gearbox. I managed to get out of work early today and took both a 3.0 TDI quattro and a 3.2 FSI quattro today (different dealers) and liked them both! So would she. The petrol car is 6 months older and has done 20k less miles, but is 2k more expensive.

Opinions on the two cars please? I'm in a position to buy one tomorrow. Both are fully loaded.

Roughly what should I be expecting from the dealer as a % off the sticker price so I don't get taken for a ride (and how low should I start the haggle)? No trade in, might take out the lowest finance possible to get the two years free servicing deal.

[Crasher]

Both are great engines, the TDI torque is amazing and even better when re-mapped. I am a petrol head but I don’t think I could resist the TDI’s benefits even with petrol running through my veins. I have seen some rather worrying cam chain faults with the 3.2FSI as well, extremely expensive to fix and utterly catastrophic if they fail completely which I have seen.

[kodkod.84]

In my mind- diesels and drop tops just don't mix, you want to hear the exhaust sounds and look cool with the roof down, not hear the tractor-type noises

So if I was buying a cab it would be the petrol!

[dmahon]

What kind of discount can I expect off the window price from an Audi dealer. I'm happy to pay cash or to take out a minimum finance package (to benefit from the 2 years free servicing). No part-ex involved.

[adamss24]

In my mind- diesels and drop tops just don't mix, you want to hear the exhaust sounds and look cool with the roof down, not hear the tractor-type noises

So if I was buying a cab it would be the petrol!

You need very sharp hearing to distinguish the sound a v6 tdi does compared with the petrol when the car is moving. Its just a very faint clatter when you start the engine from cold and you let it iddle, there are no noticeable vibrations as well compared to the petrol lump ! The torque, fuel economy and the overal feel of the diesel lump makes-it a very sensible buy !

[Mr_Meeks]

Diesel mixed with a drop top = "No No & No"

[bez101]

TDI
go petrol

[Crasher]

To be honest, the 3.2 V6 FSI doesn’t sound too nice, much like a 3 cylinder Polo 1.2 most of the time. I am not a great fan of diesels myself but in this case it is a non contest decision if you have driven both of the specific cars.

[toff]

Having read through the comments above, I have to say:

"TDI torque is amazing and even better when re-mapped. I am a petrol head but I don’t think I could resist the TDI’s benefits even with petrol running through my veins"
Agreed - when chipped you can get upto 270bhp from the 3.0 TDI (although stick to 250 for longevity) and 525lb/ft torque and it'll still return 550 miles to a tank if you drive sensibly most of the time!

Because the 3.2 is naturally aspirated, it's very expensive to tune and you'll only get small returns.

"In my mind- diesels and drop tops just don't mix, you want to hear the exhaust sounds and look cool with the roof down, not hear the tractor-type noises"
I do agree with this, but as someone else pointed out, when you are on the move you barely notice. Besides, the V6 TDI with a whistly turbo sound quite nice to my ear (unlike the 4 cyl 2.0 TDIs)

I've had an Golf with the 3.2 engine and an A4 with the 3.0 TDI - the 3.2 is a more fun & responsive engine but the 3.0TDI has more torque and is way way more economical!
If you'd asked 5 years ago and I'd say go for the 3.2 but as I'm nearly 30 and have different priorities in life - I'd say go for the 3.0!

Dealerships are pants with discount, go to a reputable Audi specialist motor trader (like Pioneer Automotive).

Al.

[Crasher]

Although the Golf 3.2 engine is a completely different design in all respects.