2.0T vs 3.2 Regrets???
04-24-2007, 03:59 PM
#1
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2.0T vs 3.2 Regrets???
First off, to all who contributed to a thread I had on the 328ix, G35x and Audi A4, thank you - it helped with my decision process.
So I will be going with an A4. My initial thought was to go with the 2.0TQM and have actually put a deposit down at a dealer. Here's the thing....there's a 3.2QM optioned out to essentially the same car and would be a premium of about $2500 after negotiation. I didn't notice anything different with the test drive (all non-highway) except the louder, less smooth sound on the 4. Pick-up felt the same. I am willing to lose my deposit if I really thought the 3.2 was worth it as I hold my car til it dies.
My concerns are the longevity of a turbo engine (never had one and have heard horror stories of the sludge with the 1.8) and performance (yeah, I know I can chip it, but I'm 38 years old, going on 50 if that makes sense). Of course, the 2.8 I am coming from had it's share of problems (oil leaks) and my concern is the 3.2 is a descendant, possibly prone to the same problems (admittedly an irrational thought).
So, I have a couple of follow-ups for those of you who have considered both engines.
1) What do you have and what led to the decision at the time.
2) If you had to do it over again, would you make the same choice.
3) Any other comments?
Thanks for the input.
So I will be going with an A4. My initial thought was to go with the 2.0TQM and have actually put a deposit down at a dealer. Here's the thing....there's a 3.2QM optioned out to essentially the same car and would be a premium of about $2500 after negotiation. I didn't notice anything different with the test drive (all non-highway) except the louder, less smooth sound on the 4. Pick-up felt the same. I am willing to lose my deposit if I really thought the 3.2 was worth it as I hold my car til it dies.
My concerns are the longevity of a turbo engine (never had one and have heard horror stories of the sludge with the 1.8) and performance (yeah, I know I can chip it, but I'm 38 years old, going on 50 if that makes sense). Of course, the 2.8 I am coming from had it's share of problems (oil leaks) and my concern is the 3.2 is a descendant, possibly prone to the same problems (admittedly an irrational thought).
So, I have a couple of follow-ups for those of you who have considered both engines.
1) What do you have and what led to the decision at the time.
2) If you had to do it over again, would you make the same choice.
3) Any other comments?
Thanks for the input.
04-24-2007, 04:06 PM
#2
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1.8T had a 4.1qt oil capacity, the 2.0T has ~6qts.... way less likely to sludge
I had a 99' 2.8 before I bought my 06 2.0T and I don't miss it at all.
The 2.0T is great engine as long as you can live with the noise at startup.
The 2.0T is great engine as long as you can live with the noise at startup.
04-24-2007, 04:23 PM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
I wish that were true. The 2.0T engine oil capacity is 4.8 qts they just spec full synthetic now.
To combat sludge issues. 6.3 qts is for the 3.2. I know... the Audiworld model guides are wrong as well as most of the other PDF info floating around out their. It must have been a typo that just got copied over and over.
04-24-2007, 04:37 PM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
My opinion.
1) What do you have and what led to the decision at the time.
From my sig you can see I have a 2.0Tq Tiptronic. Quite simply lease deals, incentives and overall $$$$ led to this choice. They wanted $5k more sticker for a 3.2 and the MF and residuals were far worse at the time I got my 2.0T.
2) If you had to do it over again, would you make the same choice.
No. If they were priced closely enough and I wasn't going to chip then I'd surely get the 3.2. The tiptronic really exacerbates the 2.0T's shortcomings. A chip makes up for some, but not all of the issues. Since you are going with manual it may be a non-issue. Take my opinion with a grain of salt though. I came from a B5 S4, and the 2.0T definitely lacks some of the smoothness you get from a V6.
3) Any other comments?
The 3.1L engine in the 3.2 is not a descendant of the 2.8. IIRC it is almost completely new, so any concerns you may have about issues with the old motor will mean issues with the new one are unfounded. So ne need to worry there.
One other thing to think of may be gas mileage...if that's a concern. I've read some people complain of the 3.2's city mileage as actually being quite low.
From my sig you can see I have a 2.0Tq Tiptronic. Quite simply lease deals, incentives and overall $$$$ led to this choice. They wanted $5k more sticker for a 3.2 and the MF and residuals were far worse at the time I got my 2.0T.
2) If you had to do it over again, would you make the same choice.
No. If they were priced closely enough and I wasn't going to chip then I'd surely get the 3.2. The tiptronic really exacerbates the 2.0T's shortcomings. A chip makes up for some, but not all of the issues. Since you are going with manual it may be a non-issue. Take my opinion with a grain of salt though. I came from a B5 S4, and the 2.0T definitely lacks some of the smoothness you get from a V6.
3) Any other comments?
The 3.1L engine in the 3.2 is not a descendant of the 2.8. IIRC it is almost completely new, so any concerns you may have about issues with the old motor will mean issues with the new one are unfounded. So ne need to worry there.
One other thing to think of may be gas mileage...if that's a concern. I've read some people complain of the 3.2's city mileage as actually being quite low.
04-24-2007, 04:58 PM
#6
I absolutely agree but I would get the 2.0T again
I have the 2.0T Quattro Tip.
I came from a B6 1.8T and my experience with that really made me want the V6 for my next Audi.
But..... I bought mine as opposed to leasing. There was a minimum of a $4,000 difference between the 3.2s and the comperably 2.0T I bought.
Now, I'm stock and will stay that way.
The 3.2 was smoother and felt richer, but the 2.0T performed so well stock (as opposed to the 1.8T I came from) that I just couldn't justify the extra expense and decreased gas mileage of the 3.2.
For me, the 3.2 was better but, for me, it wasn't $4k better.
When I left the lot I worried that I'd end up wishing I'd gotten the 3.2, and truth be told, if money was no object I would have wished that.
But I don't. I'd gladly buy a 2.0T again. It's night and day difference from the 1.8T/automatic experience in real world driving and the 2.0T is a fantastic value.
I came from a B6 1.8T and my experience with that really made me want the V6 for my next Audi.
But..... I bought mine as opposed to leasing. There was a minimum of a $4,000 difference between the 3.2s and the comperably 2.0T I bought.
Now, I'm stock and will stay that way.
The 3.2 was smoother and felt richer, but the 2.0T performed so well stock (as opposed to the 1.8T I came from) that I just couldn't justify the extra expense and decreased gas mileage of the 3.2.
For me, the 3.2 was better but, for me, it wasn't $4k better.
When I left the lot I worried that I'd end up wishing I'd gotten the 3.2, and truth be told, if money was no object I would have wished that.
But I don't. I'd gladly buy a 2.0T again. It's night and day difference from the 1.8T/automatic experience in real world driving and the 2.0T is a fantastic value.
04-24-2007, 05:06 PM
#7
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You should not lose your deposit if you decide to get another car
It is non-binding. Also, if the 3.2 is at the same dealer it will probably be a non-issue.
That said, while the 3.2 may be smoother, everytime I get gas I'm glad I stuck with the 2.OT.
Also, the performance just doesn't seem to justify the higher cost.
That said, while the 3.2 may be smoother, everytime I get gas I'm glad I stuck with the 2.OT.
Also, the performance just doesn't seem to justify the higher cost.
