2011 Audi A4 TDI buying guide FAQ and checklist

Nice video. IMHO, AWD just lets you get stuck farther in the snow It's nice to have in the rain but if you slow down then it's the same and unneeded weight.

Bluemojo said:

Nice video. IMHO, AWD just lets you get stuck farther in the snow It's nice to have in the rain but if you slow down then it's the same and unneeded weight.

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I've heard that argument but there is a difference.

Yes it weighs more and yes it's unneeded most of the time. But in the rain, low traction, etc., it does make a small difference over traction control. No it doesn't make any difference in stopping and everything else being equal, the greater weight will make stopping worse. But as long as you recognize that stopping traction is not go traction, you won't get into trouble.

I've driven through some deep snow when I HAD to be somewhere and judging by the number of cars I saw spun out on the side of the road, I know that quattro made a difference, especially since I could feel the rear end moving around and doing it's part. In retrospect I should have canceled because it was way too dangerous to be out on the road and dealt with it but oh well. It was like driving on a slip and slide.

First Post!

An Audi A4 TDI (particularly with the 3.0) would be my next car for sure. That is if I don't swap my 09 Jetta for an MKVI Golf 2 door TDI...which is always an option. :dunno

So is it a go or no?

The article says it's speculation. I also believe it's a go. With all those Audi TDI commercials on TV you'd think that they already had a full line up. I've also seen a lot of BMW diesel commercials.

This is all what I strongly believe. There's no concrete proof but if I had to make a bet I would do so.

More videos , pictures, and FAQ added.

The bluetec adblue fluid will last 15,000 miles. I've heard from another source that the A4 TDI is being developed right now but they were having problems fitting both the fuel tank and adblue tank in the sedan. The quattro A4 had hump shaped fuel tanks because of the driveshaft and differential in the rear.

Make mine a wagon :nana2: oh, and please put $10,000 in the trunk so I can pay for it :yum:

Stefan2006 said:

Make mine a wagon :nana2: oh, and please put $10,000 in the trunk so I can pay for it :yum:

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LOL, I don't know who you were talking to but me too. I've never been a big BMW fan but the BMW 335d looks good too. If I didn't need the car to be driven in the winter, I'd seriously consider the BMW.

Another benefit of quattro: when you're trying to find a parking spot after a heavy snow and the only empty ones are the unplowed ones. There's no way you can get in-out of them with 2wd.

How about a shovel in the trunk? During the winter when it's unneeded you can take it off too! Can't do that with the AWD bits.

chittychittybangbang said:

LOL, I don't know who you were talking to but me too. I've never been a big BMW fan but the BMW 335d looks good too. If I didn't need the car to be driven in the winter, I'd seriously consider the BMW.

Another benefit of quattro: when you're trying to find a parking spot after a heavy snow and the only empty ones are the unplowed ones. There's no way you can get in-out of them with 2wd.

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OMG - Why would they put it at the back of the engine!

Servicing the CATA 3.0L TDI engine's timing chain requires removing a number of components to pull the engine/transmission out of the car and tear down the back of the engine. Labor plus the replacement of more parts (which are also much more expensive than a timing belt) would probably cost around $6000 vs. under $1000 to replace a belt.

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greenflash said:

OMG - Why would they put it at the back of the engine!

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not FAIL - so you have to buy another car! It's smart!

tutstye said:

not FAIL - so you have to buy another car! It's smart!

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Lifetime chain baby!:ban

Yes, the chain is at the back of the engine. $6000 is a total guess based off the cost to do a chain on a somewhat similar gasoline V6 engine on Audi A4. You have to remove the wiring harness and fuel lines, disconnect the exhaust, the axles (if it's quattro then it's twice the work), disconnect the mounts to pull the engine, separate the transmission, and tear down the back of the engine, to get access to the timing chain.

I don't want to say that the chain drive system is good or bad since there is no long term evidence of this exact system in this exact engine one way or another. However, stating the facts and the repair bill IF the CATA (engine model name) 3.0L TDI engine needs a chain is something that I will say. If the first owner sells the car then it's not a factor for them anyways and unless the customer buys the used car from Audi with an extended warranty it's not Audi's concern either.

On another note, I just looked up the parts price for chain replacement on the 3.0L CATA TDI engine used in the VW Touareg or Audi Q7 TDI, and it's about $1000 for a basic chain and tensioner replacement (not including seals, gaskets, bolts, etc.). Add the sprockets and misc parts are you're at about $1900! Plus labor to pull the engine, separate the transmission, tear it down and replace, and $6000-$7000 sounds possible. I'm not saying it's not reliable and needs to be replaced often, but I am saying that if you need it replaced it's $$$. The number of chains and tensioners are not a simple SOHC 4 cylinder engine, there are 4 chains, about 7-8 tensioners, misc. parts.

PS, those prices are wholesale internet pricing, I'm sure if you bought it retail w/sales tax from the dealer the parts price would probably at least 25-30% higher, so now you're talking $2400-$2700!jaw drops

Don't they have hundreds of thousands of V6 TDI in Europe? I would think they would be pretty reliable by now.