218 PS Engine

**creampoint** · 20-06-2016,02:15 PM

Thinking of changing my current A6 SLine 190 Ultra. It is almost perfect for my requirements except I wish it was a bit smoother.

Sadly the UK don't get the 2.0 TFSI so looking at 6 cyl diesels instead.

Have had test drives in both the 272 and the 320. Both impressively smooth and the bitdi very very quick. However, both are a bit expensive and in reality I don't particularly need quattro. Unfortunately the Dealer is unable to locate a 218 Ultra for me to try.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this engine in either the A6 or A7? On the web there are several reviews for that engine in the Q7 and the A4 B9 - indeed Whatcar has made the A4/218 car of the year. However I cannot find much about the 218 on an A6 save for someone commenting on this forum that it could not pull the skin off a rice pudding!

Appreciate your comments.

**Whippy53** · 20-06-2016,04:27 PM

I had one out a little while ago, it was very nice, smoother, quieter and a bit more refined. As well as a tad more urgent.

**A6S** · 20-06-2016,04:35 PM

It's a lot of money to shell out to change from a 190 to 218, not thought about a remap or chip box instead?
I've driven the older one think it's 208 and that's was surprisingly fast and very smooth.
It was effortless compared to my old standard 177 and 190. However in my old 177 I got a chip box for it and it made quite a difference. Much better in gear acceleration and less need to rev it as hard to get it going and would say almost if not quicker than the 208. Need to remember the 6cylinders are front end heavy compared to the 4 pots

**Whippy53** · 20-06-2016,04:54 PM

Wont make it any smoother though, will it.

**B5NUT** · 20-06-2016,05:24 PM

V6 TDi are smother running engines than the 4 pot TDi. But as comments above it's a lot of money to waste on an extra 30BHP.

I think the fact the dealer cannot locate a 218 should be ringing alarm bells, the extra cost for the 30bhp is a lot of money, and not a popular engine choice. Also 218bhp through the front wheels is a bit much in my opinion, I've got the 190Ultra/stronic, and it's spins the wheels in the damp. I think people that are looking for the 3.0TDi will want at least 272PS engine.

**Greedy** · 21-06-2016,03:50 PM

I have to agree with B5NUT about the 190Ultra. I find the lag a bit irritating at junctions (and the super eager Idle Stop) so I tend to keep knocking it into Sport and it spins on pull away even on smooth dry roads (even with 255 50 19's) so I wouldn't want to put anymore power through 2 wheels.

**isleaiw** · 22-06-2016,12:59 PM

I had one - with the quattro drive. It wasnt a sports car but it was sufficiently responsive and very refined. As a motorway cruiser it was unmatched. For regular overtaking on single carriageways I would probably have preferred a bit more punch (my car history includes 330d and it wasnt as quick as that) but compared to the 4 pot E220 I also had previously it was night and day, smoother more refined and faster.

Ian

**brummygit** · 22-06-2016,11:58 PM

The Audi demonstration centre recently let me have a 218PS Avant Black Edition for 48 hours. On the back of this I ordered one with 2WD.

I currently have a 13 plate 2.0TDI Avant S-Line with multi-tronic.

I found the 3.0 V6 much smoother, but still subject to the S-Tronic box changing up far too soon in the interest of economy. I think the broad spread of torque in the 3.0 copes with this better. On top of that whilst on paper it isn't much quicker, I found that the all important oomph when overtaking was much better. It was all round a much quicker car.

My 2.0TDi runs out of puff for overtaking etc when loaded up, and I expect that the 3.0 will cope much better.

I'll let you know in September

**ukgroucho** · 26-06-2016,06:24 PM

I drove an allroad with the previous version (204 bhp if I recall). Obviously quattro 'cos it was an allroad. It felt very similar performance to my C6 Avant 3.0 Tdi (225 bhp) which makes sense as it is lighter car than the C6.

I'm going to challenge comments about "it's a lot of money to pay for an extra 30 bhp"... you should be comparing torque and torque / power delivery not the "headline" BHP figure. I have not looked at the specifics but I have driven 190 Ultras and - as has been commented - the accessibility of 'urge' from the V6 is chalk and cheese compared to the 4 pot.

**brummygit** · 26-06-2016,07:10 PM

Originally Posted by ukgroucho

I'm going to challenge comments about "it's a lot of money to pay for an extra 30 bhp"... you should be comparing torque and torque / power delivery not the "headline" BHP figure. I have not looked at the specifics but I have driven 190 Ultras and - as has been commented - the accessibility of 'urge' from the V6 is chalk and cheese compared to the 4 pot.

That was my experience when trying the 3.0TDi and why I ordered one. Here's the comparison note that 3.0 Quattro gets more torque, but that I'm looking at 2wd

engine data.JPG

So on 2wd max 2.0 power is in 400rpm between 3800 - 4200 compared to the 3.0 producing max power for 1000rpm between 4000 - 5000. The same is true for torque delivered across 1250rpm at 1750 - 3000 vs 2500rpm between 1250 - 3750.

On the road the 2.0 Ultra has 800rpm between max torque dropping off and max power being achieved, whereas the 3.0 V6 has just 250rpm. Add to that the behaviour of the S-tronic hanging on to gears up to the red line when using max acceleration and you are going to get a much better experience instead of power falling off and that top end being laboured.