CVT or Tiptronic?

[GTW]

Evening all

Having discovered that I don't fit inside an A4, I'm now looking at an A6 to replace my Passat TDI.

While looking at various ones for sale, I notice that some are CVT and others are Tiptronic (I have to have an auto).

I know enough about the tip boxes but nothing about the CVT's. Has anyone any experience of the CVT, or preferrably both, and if so what do you think about them.

Some CVT's for sale have covered high mileages, so presumably stand the test of time, but I'm old enough to remember Daf 33's and 66's and having the CVT then was akin to having the pestilence

Any views or advice would really be appreciated.

Oh, and as a brief aside, can a '97 A6 TDI really have a 130 engine? I was under the impression that the 130's were a post 2000 PD engine?

Gaz

[adamss24]

It could be that is the old shape a6, with the 5 cyl. 140 Bhp. PD 130 has been fitted after 2001 on audi a4 and latter on Vw passats b5.5 (facelift) .CVT gearboxes are fragile compared with old style auto g'boxes with torque convertor and they are noisy on start up. They have steel belts running on conical shafts . Bassically, they need oil changes like clockwork, otherwise they stretch too much.

[darkskies]

The press and value guides all suggest the CVT is a much better bet, and hold value and more are more sought after.

Plus you get much better fuel consumption (near a manual). An auto also reduces power by 20% due to the torque converter.

Audi's CVT box is totally different to the CVT's you've encountered and different even to modern versions (such as Honda's).

If the CVT is looked after, there are no problems. Oil changes should be every 40K miles.

The CVT is much smoother and has a tip-tronic mode with 6 speeds. I have a CVT and much prefer it to an auto. I regularly hire a new Passat TDI with a DSG box which although quite sporty, I hate as the box is jerky, changes at annoying times and just isn't as nice as the CVT.

Buying advice:

Go for a 2001 onwards model and check the service history with a VAG to ensure the oil has been changed and also to check if it had the recall on the clutch plates (old 6-plate models had problems and were upgraded to 7 plates).

Typical signs the gearbox oil needs changing include: Jerky starts and changes in auto mode, shuddering/jerking when moving, when cold, they need a lot of revs to move off. (Always test-drive from stone cold (arrive 30 mins early to ensure it hasn't been warmed up) as problems are obvious when the gearbox oil is cold.


Hope this helps.

Rob

[Sam]

Nothing of any use to add except;

Oooooh A6....oooooh

[GTW]

Many thanks for the replies so far Adam(?), Rob......and yes, you too Sam

Guess the CVT isn't out of the picture then. Time to try some out and I agree - I'd never buy a car without seeing it stone cold first; that's a mug's game!

My ceiling's £4000, so that's going to be a factor in relation to age.

Regards

Gaz

[A6_JAck]

I have an A6 with a CVT coupled to the 2.5 V6 Tdi engine 163 bhp
It is a great combination for relax cruising.

If you want to have so fun or go faster, there is the "S" position or use the 6 speed.

My only wish is that when cruising at constant speed at 80mph I would like the RPM to be lower to save a bit more fuel .

Jack

[GTW]

Jack

Does this 6 speed bit merely mean six staggered points on the CVT range then?

And what's the rpm at 80? I can see it being a bit of a nuisance when all the V6's torque is so low down

Gaz

[A6_JAck]

The 6 pseed are as you said just staggered points on the CVT range.

When it is in D it just do what it wants according to the position of the accelerator
The RPM is about 2.5K at 80mph when you can feel the torque peaking. It is usefull when overtacking but less so when cruising.

I'm just being very picky really! And I like modifying things Not sure it it feasable though.

Jack