whosyourdaddy

I posted a few days back about my first 02 1.8T CVT Sport test drive and how I was disappointed by its "standing start" performance since it appeared to have a .5 sec delay before actually moving. I guess I was just comparing it to my previous two A4's (97 & 2000 1.8 Sport) and it seemed like a step down in terms of performance.

Well, I'd like to buy a new one but I'm really on the fence now. A couple people sugggested looking into the 3.0 instead but I was wondering if the delay is in fact caused by the CVT (which I must have since my wife will be driving this car also) wouldn't the 3.0 suffer from the same delay?

I drive about 70 miles a day (all freeway) to get to work, but there is a light coming home that has 3 lanes merging into 2 and I regularly find myself in the ending lane needing to get a jump off the light to get in the other lane before the driver next to me. Sometimes I get burnt, but most of the time I make it and I would hate to lose that capability.

Any nuggets of wisdom out there? Should I just look elsewhere (MB C230, Inifinit G35 perhaps?). One more thing, I will not mod the car, I pretty much just drive em they way they came from from the factory. Thanks in advance.

vplaza

The 3.0 CVT should give you the necessary oomph you're looking for. You need to test drive it to make sure, though, but there really is no comparison between a 1.8T Tip or Multi versus a 3.0 Tip or Multi. (Now, if you're talking manual to manual, there's more debate in that.)

You mentioned the G35 and yes, you should also test drive that car. It will hand any stock A4 (3.0 or 1.8T) it's lunch every time from stoplight to stoplight. You just have to realize that there are some compromises, such as a lower quality interior (IMHO), cornering and handling that is just a notch below the Audi (w/ Sport Pack), and exterior aesthetics that may grow old quite rapidly.

Just my $0.02.

MGrant

I noticed during my test drives that the CVT does have a delay in both the 1.8 and 3.0. Have you looked at the Tiptronic?

aepiua

I too noticed the delay when I test drove the car, but after having it for a week I have figured out the delay and hardly even notice it now. Sometimes it seems like the delay is gone, other times I notice it, but if it really bothers you throw the car into the manual mode.

FCL

My 2 cents worth,

The delay gets a lot better after the break-in period. CVT is tricky to get used to. To accelerate without delay,you will have to tap the throttle and then step on it once the car gets moving which is very different from my previous experience. But acceleration at any speed other zero is pretty decent. Like you, I don't plan to mod the car and I found the car very fun to drive. I test-drove Tip as well and was very disppointed.

However, I will say this, knowing what I know now, if I live in places where it's hot all year round, I wouldn't have bought the car. This car performs so much better in cool climate vs. hot

Good luck

ChuckTigre

Just a random question, was it really hot when you took test drives?

jellycom

Just came back from test drive of 1.8 CVT.
How do you guys deal with the lack of power?
I was making a right turn and trying to accelerate to keep away from incoming traffic but it just didn't have power. Everything else was state of the art compare to my 2000 TL.

whosyourdaddy

I live in AZ, it's always hot. Was ~105deg. on the test drive.

whosyourdaddy

In manual mode, is the delay gone?

ChuckTigre

I have noticed a very noticable decrease/lag in the performance of my 1.8T when the temps are just 95-100f (as opposed to just 80-90f weather we've been having recently up here in PA). I imagine anymore around your area and things must just always suck.