Diesel or petrol, you opinions please.

[Darjm]

If you were to buy an Audi Avant, around the 8k mark, would you go for a Petrol, or equivalent sized diesel version. i.e. 1.9tdi or 1.8t.

I might add, you would be doing an average of around 6k miles a year, mostly short trips, with the occasional weekend long run or 2! It would be nice to be quite economical, but also a bit of fun, if taken along some twisties!

Suggestions and reasons why. If youve got the time.

cheers!

[rharris]

If similar purchase money, the diesel (if you don't mind the noise) - I personally think with the extra torque you make better progress on the twisty stuff without having to rev the nuts of it. And of course the better mpg

[DBSK]

Diesel - Take it out for a thrash and you still get 37/38 or take it for a cruise and get 50+ to the gallon, plus torque is the new bhp.

[kite]

Diesel and quattro all the way....

[Darjm]

Thanks for the replies folks. Very helpful.

I can appreciate torque, my other weapon of choice is a Honda Firestorm V-Twin. None of this 12k rpm power band nonsense. Arms out of socket stuff as soon as u twist!

[Dark Horse]

I'm going to bat for the other side here, I prefer petrol, it's smooth, refined and classy. Can't stand the clatter or noise of a diesel, frankly it's embarrassing driving one in a built up area. Even the newer diesel Audi's make a racket.

Having said that, if you're only doing short trips with 6k per year mileage, diesel is prob better as it's more slippery and provides more lubricity from those cold starts. Just need to to peg it down the motorway every now and then to clear the particulate filter thing that can get clogged up if a diesel is not being driven hard enough.

[davee1987]

Diesel and quattro all the way....

Ive never been in a quattro but i really wanted one when i purchased my audi! (mainly because i live in scotland where it snows and i go skiing every weekend at this time of year) but i settled for a 2wd A4 and put on snow tyres (£60 a tyre as opposed to paying an extra £2k+ for quattro and extra fuel a quattro uses) and I was amazed when i had to help push an a6 quattro in the snow up in aviemore last month! ever since then i have lost heart with the quattro! a set of snow tyres is clearly the best option(financially,quattro with snow tyres would be amazing im sure) in the snow and i have driven up hills past x5s and similar type 4x4s!

So what make you say 'Quattro all the way' ?? what positives can the average joe expect if he/she buys a quattro over the 2wd option?

[kite]

I hear what your saying 2WD with snow tyres versus 4WD and fat tyres.
I find Quattro in everyday driving just feels better, no wheelspin out of junctions, roundabouts taken without drama, less understeer then 2WD.
and Audi's name a sporting heritage was built on Quattro.....bring back Group "B"