Ask the Car People.SM


Audi A4 2005+

1366 messages,  Last post on Mar 10, 2011 at 1:05 PM

You are in the Audi A4 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Sedan

Messages Page 129 of 138

#1273 of 1366 BMW to the rescue? by markcincinnati

Aug 29, 2006 (5:41 am)

It's not that I think Audi needs to be rescued, but I must admit I was somewhat upset when Audi announced their new engine line up and I found no more V6 turbo motors were offered.
 
My personal history with Audi's turbo motors began when I picked up a 1987 5000CS quattro -- equipped with a 5 cylinder, two-valver rated, as I recall at 160HP. Over time, we (my wife and I) had a 1995 S6 with the 20 valve 5 cylinder turbo motor, three TT's and an allroad 2.7T -- all of these Audis were equipped with stick shifts and of course were all turbo'd.
 
First and especially second gear acceleration in every one of these cars was amazing, intoxicating even.
 
As we came to trade in time in 2005, the Audi turbo V6 had completely vanished and the V8 turbo was only available in a really high performance and high priced car.
 
The outgoing A6 SLine, for 2004, had been tweaked by the factory to 265HP and 280 ft lbs. The incoming 3.2L was 255HP and 243 ft lbs. There was no longer, from where I sat, any middle child (as the 2.7T had been.)
 
The new A4 with the 3.2 was very smooth and powerful, but there was no rush, no urgency, especially early on when the only transmission offered was the auto (what were they thinking?)
 
Oh well, I thought, the turbo is dead in all but the high high buck cars and the 2.0T, although a great engine and a more than worthy replacement for the 1.8T still wasn't even up to the outgoing 1.8T in our TT which was rated at 225HP unchipped.
 
Who cares, anyway? BMW doesn't use turbos and everyone (sarcasm) knows that BMW's opinion of Audi must be that they aren't as capable of building a high perf engine without some breathing apparatus -- which clearly BMW eschews and must look down its nose at.
 
Hmm.
 
Ok, now the buzz is the new i6 BMW trubo motor as seen in the 335 coupe and you can bet your inhaler will be seen in other BMW sedans -- those beginning with both a 3 and a 5 here in the US (and this engine will probably even make it in other models not exported here.)
 
What goes around comes around? What is it, do the Audi and BMW engineers get in a room and agree, BMW: "well you guys from Ingolstadt have had the turbo gas engines for quite a while, it's time for you to de-emphasize them while we crank up the blowers." Audi: "ja, it is time for us to move to Fuel Stratified Injection or Fuel Straight Injection until we can get some better petrol in zee states. Enjoy turbo charging you 6 cylinder engines, Hans."
 
When the 3.2L came out, I thought it was darn near as great SOUNDING as the 4.2 V8 -- and I repeatedly wondered what a very small bi-turbo implementation would do. Easily 295HP and weapons grade torque, I thought (and wrote.) Of course the non FSI 4.2 at its newly minted 335HP would be practically irrelevant were the 3.2 to be given bigger lungs. So, of course, it wouldn't happen.
 
Then announcements about the A4 with a factory chipped 2.0T able to comfortably output 220HP came about, and the 3.2 soldiers on at 255? What is up?
 
BMW's 335 coupe is outputting 300HP from a 6 that is less thirsty AND cleaner than an 8. In the days we now live in, more power and more efficiency are twin desires -- yes?
 
Now Audi has a 255HP 3.2 FSI -- ripe to be transformed into a 3.2TFSI -- perhaps this little bit of one upmanship from Munich will be sufficient motivation for those guys in Ingolstadt -- who know a thing or three about turbocharging -- to unleash the 300+HP beast currently dormant in that wonderful 3.2 (3.1, technically) engine.
 
Audi = "to listen?"
 
 

#1274 of 1366 Re: Question on special order color [audia4wanted] by rjlaero

Aug 29, 2006 (11:44 am)

Replying to: audia4wanted (Aug 18, 2006 9:31 pm)
It's usually between 1800-2500 to have a custom color from quattro GmbH.
 
The one determining factor might be that the papaya orange is a discontuned color in the US. It's a little less expensive to have colors that are current being used on some production model.
 
Here's a pic of an orange RS4 that was done over in Europe. If you're going to do that here, I'd at least put an S line package on it to really make it look good. Papaya is a very stong color and you need to have some big wheels and tires on it to make it work.
 
http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?id=2762482

#1275 of 1366 Re: BMW to the rescue? [markcincinnati] by jaydunn

Aug 29, 2006 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 29, 2006 5:41 am)
Audire="to listen"
Audi="hark" or "listen up"

#1276 of 1366 Re: Question on special order color [rjlaero] by edwardsf

Sep 12, 2006 (2:19 am)

Replying to: rjlaero (Aug 29, 2006 11:44 am)
Thanks for that link. I just perused the galleries and the it seems the Euro designs are much more aggressive and interesting looking than the American designs. The roof slope even looks different on the Avants. Can one order a Euro A4 with American emissions technology?

#1277 of 1366 2006 A4 certified fuel question by donthegreek

Sep 14, 2006 (8:54 pm)

Thinking about buying one with 2 to 8,000 miles on it.These require Premium fuel correct?? Can i run regular or the next step up? Will it harm the engine or void the warranty???
Thanks guys!
don

#1278 of 1366 Re: 2006 A4 certified fuel question [donthegreek] by shipo

Sep 15, 2006 (3:37 am)

Replying to: donthegreek (Sep 14, 2006 8:54 pm)
Oh geez, here we go again...
 
Yes, Audi recommends premium fuel. Yes, you can run a lower grade of fuel; however, your fuel economy and performance will suffer accordingly. As for the engine itself, in the short term, or if run on the odd tank of lower octane fuel now and again due to availability, no, it won't cause any problems. That having been said, in the long run with prolonged usage, you might very well find that your engine has suffered damage.
 
The question is, "Why?" Why would you want to buy a car with a high performance engine and then not feed it the fuel it was designed to consume? Cost? The truth of the matter is that cars that "recommend" premium fuel will deliver higher fuel economy for any given horsepower hour that you extract from your engine. Drive the car hard and you will get more power for any given unit of gasoline, drive it easy and sedate and you will get more miles per unit of gasoline. Said another way, feeding any late model Audi with "Regular" gasoline is false economy.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1279 of 1366 Thanks Shipo by donthegreek

Sep 15, 2006 (1:33 pm)

I wasn't planning on using regular, but was curious.I read a lot of conflicting chat about using regular vs premium, etc....If i buy an A4 or A3 i will be using premium.I've read your posts for a long time, and enjoy them.
Oil question....conventional or synthetic? Does audi care about either???
How bout extended warranties?? I worry bout reliability?
Thanks for your input.
 
don

#1280 of 1366 Re: Thanks Shipo [donthegreek] by shipo

Sep 15, 2006 (5:03 pm)

Replying to: donthegreek (Sep 15, 2006 1:33 pm)
"Oil question....conventional or synthetic? Does audi care about either???"
 
Most definetly so. VW and Audi absolutely require, as a bare minimum, oils that can meet the stringent VW 502.0 standard. Oils meeting 503.1 are even better, and both are only available as synthetic oils, however, not all synthetic oils meet the 502.0 much less the 503.1.
 
Given how hard working these engines are and given the sludging problems that some older VWs and Audis have had, I cannot emphasize enough that you should use the best oil available. FWIW, Mobil 1 0W-40 meets both of the above VW standards (and a few others as well). As I've heard stories of some VW/Audi dealerships using whatever bulk oil they happen to have in the shop, were I in your shoes, I'd either do my own or buy the oil and watch as they pour it in.
 
Regarding extended warranties, the truth of the matter is that warranties are a profit center for who ever sells them (assuming they stay in business). Many folks advise that if you are inclined to buy an extended warranty, you'd be much better off by simply taking that amount of money and placing it in an interest bearing account, and then drawing from it in case of a repair. I by the way concur.
 
Looking at this from my history of cars, I actually sprung for the extended warranty on a car that I bought in 1988, cost: $1,500. In exchange it paid for the replacement of the alternator, and the fuel pump, cost if I'd had to pay for them myself: $350. Yeesh. My wife and I have since had seven new cars and we haven't spent a single cent on extended maintenance contracts even though they were offered. Total money not spent, >$17,000. Against that savings we've only experienced one failure, a $2,600 transmission. Of course, even if I had purchased the extended warranty I still would have had to pay for the transmission because it failed at 109,000 miles on that car, well beyond the term of the extended warranty I was offered. By my math I've saved over $17,000 and as such, I wasn't at all upset when I had to shell out a small pile of cash for the new tranny. So, said another way, DON'T DO IT!
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1281 of 1366 Re: Thanks Shipo [donthegreek by donthegreek

Sep 16, 2006 (11:12 am)

Thanks again for the input Shipo, i do appreciate it!
 
Now comes the hard part...trying to find a leftover A3 or...maybe an A4....i'm not rich, so not sure if i can afford a new A4...but will try...

#1282 of 1366 Re: Thanks Shipo [donthegreek [donthegreek] by shipo

Sep 16, 2006 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: donthegreek (Sep 16, 2006 11:12 am)
"i'm not rich, so not sure if i can afford a new A4...but will try..."
 
Hmmm, all else being equal (including price), I'd much rather have the A3. The fact that the A3 is a little less expensive (apples to apples as far as options go) is just icing on the cake for me.
 
So, what is it about the A4 that has you yearning for it?
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Messages Page 129 of 138

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement