1.8TFSI 180ps vs Facelift 2.0TFSI 190ps

[Baka]

Hi, shopping for one of the above, not bothered about the body shape but it will be a manual, and I'm after a sport with SE suspension.

Are there any preferences or concerns with either of these, I should be worried about or considering?

I was steering towards the facelift, mainly for Android Auto and having a track forward button on the wheel! But I can change the wheel and buy a phone bracket, so not a big deal.

I'll be mapping it and they seem to achieve much the same with a map, 250hp, 300ftlb ish. No tuning beyond that though.

Thanks.

 

[Matt Titanium]

Water pump leaks would be the main weak spot.
My 1.8 suffered injector problems at 21k miles but haven't seen many other reports of this problem.
Mine was stock FWD and the skiddy light was a regular occurrence. If you want to up the power and use it I'd suggest you add Quattro to your wish list.
An A3 with this engine, manual 'box, Sport spec with dynamic suspension will be as rare as hen's teeth though and you may have to travel a long way to find a decent one.

 

[JohnM100]

PFL 1.8s are rare in any spec.

FL will age slower and be more future resistant.

BTW PFL does have skip track - push the volume button on centre console left or right (not turning it) or programme the * button on steering wheel for next track.

I don’t know if the FL 2.0 has dual injection - the PFL 1.8 does have both direct and indirect fuel injection so less likely to carbon up the valves.

Agree with Matt that FWD will be on the limit of traction control when pressing on in anything other than a straight line.

My 1.8 injectors were fine at 63k but I did suffer the water pump issue.

 

[Baka]

Hey guys, thanks for the info. Would love a quattro, but I think they only did it with the DSG.

I know what you mean about availability, almost everything is an S-Line, but there are a few about.

Good to know about the skip track, thanks!

The FL is looking a better bet then, they had dynamic suspension as standard, rather than having to opt for it on the PFL. All the FL sports I've seen are dynamic suspension, judging by the ride height.

 

[Audicfc]

I have a 1.8 manual 3 door sline with sport suspension and feel like the sport suspension is too soft and there is too much body roll, also feel the car sits too high on sport suspension, the 1.8 engine is ok but feels under powered at times unless revving like mad, torque on the 1.8 is the same as 1.4 tfsi and 1.6 tdi which should probs be higher in the 1.8 a3 as the polo gti 1.8 has more power than the a3 1.8, mpg in stop start is 25 mpg and motorway can get 40 mpg easily, overall a decent engine thats feels like its been holded back but doesnt feel as nippy as my old 1.4 a3 8p sline

 

[Baka]

Thanks, If I could I'd keep the MK7 GTI I bought recently, but due to my previous injuries it's too hard a setup for me. So your 1.8tfsi sport set up sounds good!

APR got 256hp and 300ft/lb with just a remap on the 1.8tfsi, so you're definitely right about it being pegged back, especially in the torque department. They also sold a 2.0tfsi quattro with 220hp in most other markets, so I guess they didn't want to step on its toes.

Sounds like good mpg, I live in the country and never drive in traffic, so with my right foot I'll hopefully get about 30-35.

 

[Audicfc]

Yes i would say it is comfortable suspension if thats what your looking for its just not as sharp in the turns as i hoped.

Yes a APR remap does look very good i am thinking about that myself.

But i would make sure the thermostat/waterpump has been changed if considering a 1.8 as mines was needing fixed at 30k miles right after i bought it privately at a cost of £675

And if going for the sport model the FL is much better looking than PFL sport model.

Sline models still look good in FL and PFL models and age better i think

 

[pburv]

Not sure on your budget but this one seems to stand out amongst the 45 that are in your spec on Autotrader at the moment
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...-engine-size=1.8&radius=1500&make=AUDI&page=1

 

[Baka]

Yes i would say it is comfortable suspension if thats what your looking for its just not as sharp in the turns as i hoped.

Yes a APR remap does look very good i am thinking about that myself.

But i would make sure the thermostat/waterpump has been changed if considering a 1.8 as mines was needing fixed at 30k miles right after i bought it privately at a cost of £675

And if going for the sport model the FL is much better looking than PFL sport model.

Sline models still look good in FL and PFL models and age better i think

I think I'm going for a FL for sure, they just seem the more sensible buy, given the price difference isn't that great.

Would love an S-Line but they almost all have the 25mm lower suspension and 18's, so same problem as the GTI for me. They do look great though.

Thanks I'll keep an eye out for the waterpump / thermostat. It seems to be an issue with everything EA888 shaped.

Not sure on your budget but this one seems to stand out amongst the 45 that are in your spec on Autotrader at the moment
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202001276636288?fuel-type=Petrol&year-from=2014&transmission=Manual&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=price-desc&model=A3&postcode=ll572dl&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.8&radius=1500&make=AUDI&page=1

Thanks hadn't seen that one, that looks great, especially the paint job.

 

[Tempz]

I have a 1.8 manual 3 door sline with sport suspension and feel like the sport suspension is too soft and there is too much body roll, also feel the car sits too high on sport suspension, the 1.8 engine is ok but feels under powered at times unless revving like mad, torque on the 1.8 is the same as 1.4 tfsi and 1.6 tdi which should probs be higher in the 1.8 a3 as the polo gti 1.8 has more power than the a3 1.8, mpg in stop start is 25 mpg and motorway can get 40 mpg easily, overall a decent engine thats feels like its been holded back but doesnt feel as nippy as my old 1.4 a3 8p sline

im looking (still!) to get an 8v 1.8. Currently have an 8p 1.4. If the 8v is lighter and has more power and torque, how can it not feel as nippy?

 

[Audicfc]

im looking (still!) to get an 8v 1.8. Currently have an 8p 1.4. If the 8v is lighter and has more power and torque, how can it not feel as nippy?

Obvcourse the 1.8 is out and out faster than the old 1.4 122bhp 8p but it doesnt feel it, there feels a slight turbo lag with the 1.8 that wasnt there with the 1.4, my older a3 8p had the proper sline suspension and the car felt planted to the road at all times and the steering was much sharper on the old a3 8p sline i had compared to the new steering with the different settings which i hate, the 1.8 comes alive in the high rev range i a can do 60 still in 2nd gear easily which pulls good but the 1.4 is brilliant for the slower stop start speeds around town which made it more fun to drive than my 1.8.
The manual gearbox was a lot slicker and smoother in my old 8p compared to the newer 8v.

I waited ages to find 1.8 sline in daytona grey and it was not worth the wait, i do like the looks better in the 8v model but the old 8p was much more enjoyable to drive in my opinion

 

[Matt Titanium]

I think I'm going for a FL for sure, they just seem the more sensible buy, given the price difference isn't that great.

Would love an S-Line but they almost all have the 25mm lower suspension and 18's, so same problem as the GTI for me. They do look great though.

My 1.8 PFL Sport had "sport" suspension (which for ride height and stiffness is in between dynamic and S) and 17" wheels. I believe this was standard on the Sport trim level and dynamic was a no cost option that needed to be selected. I found the ride quite compliant and the only time it ever felt too hard was in the lake district on rough mountain passes. But if a soft ride is your desire I would check the build code to make sure it has dynamic rather than believe a salesman that will tell you whatever you want to hear. A dynamic suspension car will also have very large arch gaps and some say the appearance of being on stilts.

I don't understand how people report such poor economy. My 1.8 long term indicated average was 42.5 mpg driven spiritedly with the occasional blat. Tank calculated always came in at 38-40 mpg with mixed driving. Long motorway journeys displayed average 46-48, one motorway journey of over 250 miles with too many 50mph restrictions returned 50.5 mpg

The 2.0 FL would be my choice. Never driven one but I believe better torque, better appearance, Miller cycle engine design should provide good economy and should be just as tuneable as the 1.8.

 

[Baka]

Thanks Matt, good to hear even on sports suspension they are quite compliant. The ones I've been looking at you could fit your head in the arch gap, so I'm fairly confident they are on the dynamic suspension.

One good thing about the FL sports, is that dynamic suspension was standard fit, and you had to option sports suspension. So hopefully most of them will be on dynamic.

I think mpg is really dependent on where you live and when you drive. I live out of town and never sit in traffic, so my bad mpg is just down to my right foot. I'm still getting 34mpg in a MK7 GTI despite booting it all the time. My Friend in Watford gets the same driving like a nun.

The 2.0tfsi 190 does look decent, all the remap figures I've seen are the same as the 1.8tfsi.

I think my car shopping is on hold for now though, what with the world imploding.

 

[rory182]

I have a 2.0 190 quattro sline, suspension is soft so it's good for speed bumps etc but feels soft when throwing it into the bends.

Where is everyone getting the 2.0 remap figures from? I've seen very few other than Celtic tuning and the tuning box alternatives.

The turbo is small so it spools up quickly, it's pretty quick in sports mode (s tronic) but I think with a remap the gearbox would come alive.

I don't believe they're only 190bhp, the torque figure is higher than my old 225bhp TT and 210bhp Scirocco.

 

[Baka]

Hi Rory, suspension sounds promising thanks, I can't corner quickly due to my injuries, so won't be loading up the suspension too much. My driving style has to be 6/10ths round the corners, then nail it in a straight line.

I got my figures from AMD and the one Superchips list for the A4 B9 2.0TFSI 190, which has the same engine.

AMD

Superchips

Superchips measured the engine at 210hp with a chunk more torque, which I can believe. I currently have a MK7 GTI PP and there's no way it's only got 230hp. Again Superchips measured it at around 260hp, which is what it feels like. VAG have been sandbagging their numbers for years.