Buying Audi a8 3.0 tdi 2004 financial suicide?

I just can't believe Jiz suggested in a bare-faced fashion that the 3.0 in an A8 would be slow. Just what planet do you think the average punter is from when sub 8 seconds in a car the size of an A8 is 'so so slow'? You'll probably keep ducking the issue, but I'm hoping you're brave enough to justify that ridiculous comment.
 
Robbie G said:
I just can't believe Jiz suggested in a bare-faced fashion that the 3.0 in an A8 would be slow. Just what planet do you think the average punter is from when sub 8 seconds in a car the size of an A8 is 'so so slow'? You'll probably keep ducking the issue, but I'm hoping you're brave enough to justify that ridiculous comment.
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Why does he need to? In the context of W12 A8s, V12 biturbo W220s and V12 E65s, the 3.0TDI is lolslow. It's also unrefined but hey ho.
 
Robbie G said:
I just can't believe Jiz suggested in a bare-faced fashion that the 3.0 in an A8 would be slow. Just what planet do you think the average punter is from when sub 8 seconds in a car the size of an A8 is 'so so slow'? You'll probably keep ducking the issue, but I'm hoping you're brave enough to justify that ridiculous comment.
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It is quite amusing that you have you seemingly taken such offence. I do not need to justify myself to anybody. I will admit though, that when used to rather low end cars (as i assume you are if i remember what you drive?), it would be easy to have the viewpoint that you do. Do you not think though, that with this viewpoint your comments are best directed at people interested in the same tier of cars that you are? :)

In the context of the models available, the type of car these are, and the running costs associated with these type of cars, the 3.0TDI is pretty much the runt of the litter, it feels absolutely rubbish in the A8. I guess Audi pretty much agree, hence offering it as the base engine alongside the V6 petrol, alongside quite a selection of more powerful and more refined engine choices.
 
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I looked into getting a 4.2 TDI as a replacement for the A6, but in terms of potential bills the costs are at another level compared to where they are for me at the moment.

Absolutely superb cars though, and the list of faults that Rilot faces are certainly not common (well, the suspension compressor was relatively common with the pre-facelift), but I've had no such problems with the same shared components (electronic parking brake, rear demist, any electronic modules, nav screen, etc).
 
paradigm said:
I looked into getting a 4.2 TDI as a replacement for the A6, but in terms of potential bills the costs are at another level compared to where they are for me at the moment.
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Out of interest, why did you look at the 4.2TDI over the 3.0TDI? Did you find it underpowered for the high end car and commitment that running an A8 is?
 
A8 is 217hp, 1.7 tonnes, so ~127hp/tonne

A4 is 138hp, 1.4 tonnes, so ~98hp/tonne

So potentially faster than a base diesel engined A4 rep-mobile, but also a much higher class of car with associated costs to go with it. I would expect more than 127hp/tonne in a car in this class.
 
Jez said:
Out of interest, why did you look at the 4.2TDI over the 3.0TDI? Did you find it underpowered for the high end car and commitment that running an A8 is?
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I found it sluggish in the A6 (but not slow), so figured it would only be worse in the A8.

The 4.2TDI to me offered the best compromise of power delivery, economy, and refinement over any of the other engines available.
 
Too old really, I'm not wanting anything older than 2007.

Although if I wasn't so hung up on age then the 4.0 pre-facelifts make a lot of sense, as you're getting pretty much the same car for a lot LOT less cash.
 
Yeah, they are getting so so cheap now.

PMKeates has also mentioned to me the remap possibilities of the TDI engines. Travelling in his mapped 535d really opened my eyes to how good a diesel can be. There are some rather silly torque figures available through these V8 diesels. :eek:
 
DRZ said:
It ingested a turbo I think. Whatever it was it was terminal! The bill was covered under warranty and was tens of thousands of pounds :eek:
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A reason to stick to the N/A V8/W12 petrols i guess, if not so concerned about fuel efficiency?
 
Jez said:
A reason to stick to the N/A V8/W12 petrols i guess, if not so concerned about fuel efficiency?
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The W12 one has it's fair share of complexity, the V8 petrol is the pick of the bunch if you aren't concerned about fuel economy IMO.
 
Jez said:
In the context of the models available
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Why are you talking in that context though? Have you read any of the thread or the requirements of the op, or did you just come in here to peddle your 'V8 or gtfo' clap-trap?

The guy comes in considering Mondeos 155s and you are telling him the 3.0 will be intolerable. Just amazing.
 
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Robbie G said:
Why are you talking in that context though? Have you read any of the thread or the requirements of the op, or did you just come in here to peddle your 'V8 or gtfo' clap-trap?
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What is your problem exactly?

It's a complicated engine with none of the performance or refinement you'd expect from a car of the A8s class. It has nothing to do with the cylinder configuration nor the fact that it runs on diesel, just that it doesn't really suite the car. You end up buying an underpowered (yes, it actually FEELS underpowered, regardless of the stats on paper), relatively complex engine, with almost as many problems as the larger engine, and not exactly biblical amounts more economy. They just don't make that much sense.

Have you driven one, or are you just peddling your usual "have to oppose what is said by member x mentality"? I guess he should actually go and lease a brand new Golf.
 
My problem, as already stated, is that jez said it would be so so slow. Which is wrong and silly.

Anyway it's got a better 0-60 than your 'hilariously underpowered' 2.0 tfsi, so presumably you find that intolerably slow? Which of course is why you've kept it for so long.

And yes coming from my Golf a 3.0 Audi would probably feel like a Bentley (almost as comically irrelevant as his first reply), but at no point has Jiz asked himself what the op is himself coming from when considering a worthy response to this thread and before advising that the op purchases a hideously thirsty and expensive to fix model.
 
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Robbie G said:
My problem, as already stated, is that jez said it would be so so slow. Which is wrong and silly.
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I'll refer you to the rest of my previous post explaining just WHY it's not a suitable engine choice in reality, and ask again, have YOU driven one, or is your opinion based entirely on wanting to be different?
 
Refer all you want. I can only confront the specific point made by jez. Feel free to argue about complicated engines etc on your own.

It's faster and more economical than the 'stopgap' 2.0 tfsi that you've had for months.
 
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