[Secret Squirrel]

Hi All,

I have been considering a Q5 for a number of months. My last foray was stopped as the NCAP tests were still pending. As the car has now been awarded 5 crisp stars I am of on my hunt again.

The quandary I have is which engine to opt for. I am pretty set on the S-Line with S-Tronic, Tech Pack and drive select, but which engine to bolt on to it.

Initially I was set for the 20TDi, but an extended test drive showed it was a bit lacking in grunt, and the engine was having to work quite hard to keep the relatively heavy chassis on the go. Now this may well be because I am used to a BMW 525 6 cylinder diesel. So I then turned to the 3.0TDi. This was a lovely engine, but with only a short test drive I was unable to detect the sometimes mentioned under steer experienced with the V6 lump installed. My Dealer then mentioned the 2.0TFSI (211BHP) as an option. Now this was interesting as the two other dealers I had discussed the car with both advised me to avoid the petrol engines. So my questions are:

1. Is the 20TDi a good engine for general driving. I have a young family so I am not going to be tearing round the country lanes. Is my perceived lack of grunt just because I have been used to a straight 6 3.0 BMW Diesel for 3 years. I do the annual holiday to France each year so it is important it can take a full load on a 600 mile journey

2. Is the 3.0TDi worth the extra ?4000 odd difference in price I know the list price is difference is more but when you take into account the options changes between the 2.0TDi and the 3.0TDi it comes out at just under ?4000..

3. I haven't test driven the 2.0TFSi yet, but if anyone has any comments on this version it would be appreciated.

Any thoughts or guidance

Thanks everyone

 

[Guest]

Hello,

I test drove the 2.0tfsi s-line with auto gearbox, and paddle shift at our dealer and found it a nice drive. Quiet, responsive, smooth.
Only down side to this was the mpg the trip computer was showing was rather low compared to the listed mpg in the brochure.
We have a young family too so for the type of driving we do (mainly local, occassional long trip, yearly holidays), i saw little difference to the diesel models (probably due to lack of regular high speed driving, motorways, A roads and the like).

We couldn't justify the additional cost of the 3.0tdi compared to the 2.0tdi especially as the car won't spend great deals of time on the motorway, and by going for the 3.0tdi then adding a few options you begin to push the price into q7 territory.

We had the 2.0tdi on an extended test drive with our local dealer and found it was more than enough for what we needed, quick enough to get you out of trouble, but not that fast that the boys in blue begin to hassle you.
This coupled with the low car tax band and the high mpg, meant we would notice little difference in running costs to our existing A4 and is why we went for the 2.0tdi in the end.

Hope that was of some help.

 

[stevepen]

I few reasons why I went for the 2.0tdi

I wanted a manual gearbox
Cost - not just the 4k cost but the mpg, tax. servicing and resale value.
Test drove a 3.0 demo but the 2.0 just felt more agile and surefooted
The 2.0tdi will easily accelerate upto 100mph, would you ever go above 100?
Might be just due to the gearbox but the 2.0 sounded quieter

Hope this helps a bit

 

[huwy]

I have a 2.0 TDI Manual, we have been togther for 6 months and 15K miles, I too have a young family (3 kids aged 3,7 & 10) and this is the best car I have ever had. I find the diesel engine is spot on for performance, smoothness and MPG on the annual trip to Cornwall this year we were avaeraging about 36-38 MPG.
I found that after that initial settling period the engine just gets better and better ( I had a T5 Volvo before) I find the whole package just right in terms of performance, cruising and MPG and the torque on the Mway is more than adequate..

Good Luck

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses - very helpful info, but has just made my decision harder. The problem I had with the 2.0TDI was not the top speed (A couple of lengthy discussions with Her Majesty's Constabulary in my earlier life have taught me that). It is more the getting up to speed. At the moment if I want to over take say a slow moving lorry I have a peer if the road is clear foot down and boomf job done. With the 2.0 TDI I just didn't get that feeling. That said it only had 1200 miles on the clock and was probably still very tight, whereas the 3.0TDI at 8K on the clock, so should have been well on the way to loosening up.

If am honest I am trying to justify to myself the extra cost of the 3.0 but haven't found a decent reason yet.

Oh well off to test drive the 2.0 TFSI tomorrow, so I'll see how that goes.

Thanks again

 

[guyguyke]

Coming from a A4 2,6 V6 with petrol engine, my Q5 2,0 TDI is my first diesel, a reasonable choice in Belgium.
After getting used to the different way of driving (shorter but more powerfull shifts, much lower in rpm's...) I now find the Q5 simply quicker than the former A4. The 2,0 TDI suit the Q5 perfectly, as it is not a sportscar

 

[Mike L]

Hi,

I have had my 3.0TDi SE for almost a month now and have got about 1100 miles on the clock. I love driving, but must admit I'm not a hell bent road racer

, so the extremes of the handling envelope aren't really an issue for me. What i can tell you though, is that even with the big and heavy engine up front on the SE (with 20" rims), I have never experienced any understeer or wayward handling on the country roads I've been on.
If you go for the S-line, i can only imagine any understeer would be even less than on my SE, so i don't see the 3.0 diesel being a problem.
I have been "enthusiastic" only a couple of times so far but am still very impressed with the overall comfort and ride of the car.
Also, if you are trying to convince yourself that the 3.0TDi is worth paying extra for..... Well.... it is

Every time I give it some welly, i just can't help grinning inside. I'm so glad we just said "hang the cost... it'll be worth it".

If you're couting the pennies, then i can let you know I've got an overall average mpg of just over 28 so far. Once the engine really loosens up, I should hit the magic 30.

Cheers,

Mike.

 

[Guest]

Stepping out of a 6.0ltr, 270kW, 530Nm V8 and into the Audi, the engine choice was a no-brainer.

 

[Guest]

If it is any help, I have had the 2.0Tdi Stronic since May and done 6500 miles.

I changed from a 2.5l v6 petrol Lexus and can promise that the Audi does not disappoint in terms of performance and fuel consumption. Although on paper the 0 to 60 is slower, the Q5 feels so much more fun to drive.

On a recent journey to visit my daughter in the North of Scotland (457 miles door to door) I averaged 38.2 mpg. On the way back with my wife sharing the driving we averaged 40.3mpg. Think she may be lighter footed than me !

I have been a car owner for 45 years and this is one of the best.

Hope this helps.

 

[stevepen]

Same here!

I came from a 2.5 lexus as well. Not as smooth but a much better driving experience. On my best run got 620 miles from a tank full, nearly double the lexus

 

[Guest]

Go for the 2.0tdi and add the Oettinger ECU re-programme. Your performance worries will evaporate - about 1.3 secs quicker to 100 kmh, 10 kmh on top speed and lower fuel consumption. Works a dream! No, I am nothing to do with Oettinger!

 

[stevepen]

Had look on Oettinger website but can only see chip for 3.0tdi has anyone had one fitted to the 2.0tdi yet?

 

[Mike L]

Would chipping such a new car negate the manufacturers' warranty cover ???

 

[Kaine]

Mike - if the car has a problem and the dealer can see its been chipped then yes - the warranty will not stand. This only applies to issues related to the chip of course - all other parts of the car which are not modified, then the warranty still stands

Kaine

 

[Guest]

The Q5 2.0tdi re-programme (it's not a chip) is (I believe) the same as the current model A4 2.0tdi. The re-programme has to be carried out by an authorised Oettinger agent and takes about 30 minutes. Oettinger give their own 12-month warranty on engine, drivetrain and breakdown. They say the upgrade cannot be detected by Audi servicing equipment - the only way you can really tell is via a test drive.

 

[Bill]

I think if you informed your insurance company about this upgrade they would increase your premium, might be worth thinking about before you go ahead with the ECU remapping, could also put extra strain on the S-Tronic box if you have one fitted.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Hi All,

Thanks for al the advise. In the end I had to go for the 3.0 TDI S-Line with some toys, it was the misses wot told me 'onest gov.

My Dealer was endlessly patient and provided lots of test drives, but the silky smooth V6 won the day. I now have the joys, as has everyone else, of waiting for the build date and arrival some time in 2010.

Has anyone got any further info on the 15% VAT position. My dealer has told me that Audi UK advise that if I pay for the Car by 24th Dec the car can be sold at 15% VAT. My limited knowledge of all things VAT indicates this means that someone somewhere is having to fork out the extra 2.5% VAT differential. Audi UK get invoiced for the Car when it is consigned (lands at the docks in the UK) by Audi Germany. This means that someone in the UK is kindly handing over the thick end of ?900 for my car to the lovely man at HMRC.

Anyone else know anything different ?

Rgds
Secret S.

 

[guyguyke]

Go for the 2.0tdi and add the Oettinger ECU re-programme. Your performance worries will evaporate - about 1.3 secs quicker to 100 kmh, 10 kmh on top speed and lower fuel consumption. Works a dream! No, I am nothing to do with Oettinger!

I can't figure out why letting do this by Oettinger if ABT (house-tuner of Audi, and keeping the full warranty...) do the same through the official dealership

 

[leigh]

Oh Dear,

This does not help me at all. I was looking at the V6 TDI, then I was advised that the 2.0TFSI (the GTI motor) is a lot more fun. I then read here the 2.0TDI is great value for money.

My questions here are as follows

-What is the engine model number for the 2.0 147kw (Australian motor) i.e. is it the EA113 or the EA888 or other variant (Ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_petrol_engines#2.0_R4_37-88kW_.28EA827.29) I could not find one for the Q5 yet

-What is the average MPG or km/100 for each motor above (or all if we have these) based on general city driving and highway driving? Please do not quote me the Audi brochure reference as I have read that and have no faith in it as it is never a true quote, just a great indicator.

-General opinions on those who have driven all motors (thanks Secret Squirrel, your opinion helped me too) and other variants

thanks

L

 

[rapidcool]

Oh Dear,

This does not help me at all. I was looking at the V6 TDI, then I was advised that the 2.0TFSI (the GTI motor) is a lot more fun. I then read here the 2.0TDI is great value for money.

My questions here are as follows

-What is the engine model number for the 2.0 147kw (Australian motor) i.e. is it the EA113 or the EA888 or other variant (Ref http://en.wikipedia....8kW_.28EA827.29) I could not find one for the Q5 yet

-What is the average MPG or km/100 for each motor above (or all if we have these) based on general city driving and highway driving? Please do not quote me the Audi brochure reference as I have read that and have no faith in it as it is never a true quote, just a great indicator.

-General opinions on those who have driven all motors (thanks Secret Squirrel, your opinion helped me too) and other variants

thanks

L

If money was no object i would go for the 3.0 tdi engine.I would avoid the petrol just purely for the reported poor fuel consumption.But this is just my personal preference.

Rich