New Audi A4

whisper · 02 February 2013, 11:10

Hi, I have to order my new company car and the only one that's any good is an Audi A4 2 litre diesel.

Is it worth having a tow bar fitted, will it pull and launch the Ribcraft 585 ok?

IanH · 02 February 2013, 11:18

Due to the advanced digital electronics required to change the stability control modes to a mode suitable for towing (amongst other things), the proper VAG tow electrics are very expensive and require the ecu to be reprogrammed.

You are looking at £1000/£1200+ from when i investigated this.

whisper · 02 February 2013, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

Due to the advanced digital electronics required to change the stability control modes to a mode suitable for towing (amongst other things), the proper VAG tow electrics are very expensive and require the ecu to be reprogrammed.

You are looking at £1000/£1200+ from when i investigated this.

Looks like its £655 factory fitted but its not available on the TDie models

spartacus · 02 February 2013, 11:50

One thing to watch with the Audis as tow cars is the rear springs. I've broken a couple of coil springs over the years so something to be aware of.

I've got an (2001) A4 quattro avant sport (2.5 TDI V6). The sport sits 20mm lower than stock, and the newer S line models are 30mm lower. I've towed a Zodiac Pro and Ribcraft 4.8m, so not particularly heavy loads. Probably over-loaded at holidays, as the A4 avant boot space is poor compared to the Passat in terms of load space.

Silverfox · 02 February 2013, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanH

Due to the advanced digital electronics required to change the stability control modes to a mode suitable for towing (amongst other things), the proper VAG tow electrics are very expensive and require the ecu to be reprogrammed.

You are looking at £1000/£1200+ from when i investigated this.

I've heard this too on Audis and that the radiator fan has to be up graded too.

AJ. · 02 February 2013, 12:49

Dude I have had fitted two detachables on the A6 2.0l 140 and the A5 there is a company I use that are mobile the A5 cost me £450 I think for the westfalia which is what audi recommend. Not the full kit as it doesn't disable the rear parking sensors but they did have to update on both cars the engine management system

AJ. · 02 February 2013, 12:51

Oh and it was a1/4 of the price audi wanted

AJ. · 02 February 2013, 12:52

Have you ok'd it with work?

whisper · 02 February 2013, 13:00

Not yet but I will ring on monday, I had no problem getting the BMW done. Audi are looking into the reasons why it can't be a factory option.

IanH · 02 February 2013, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ.

Dude I have had fitted two detachables on the A6 2.0l 140 and the A5 there is a company I use that are mobile the A5 cost me £450 I think for the westfalia which is what audi recommend. Not the full kit as it doesn't disable the rear parking sensors but they did have to update on both cars the engine management system

That sounds like just a basic kit, the sort of thing that can be fitted to any car. I could have got a standard towbar and electrics done for about £300. The VW Audi kit is a digital kit that digitally communicates with the ecu so the ecu knows that it is towing and can put the car in a special towing mode, ie turn off rear sensors but also puts the car in a stability program that is designed to work with a car towing. Apparently the tow program is very advanced and VW have investigated alot of time and effort into making the stability control program work as well for a car towing as it does when not.

Yes. It is much cheaper factory fitted.

http://www.fyldecoasttowing.co.uk/do...it%20works.pdf

whisper · 02 February 2013, 13:30

Or the other option is to go for a VW passat 1.6 diesel

but its free and then upgrade our Disco TD5

AJ. · 02 February 2013, 14:07

The A5 I had was the 2.0l 140 BHP which I think is the same as what you are looking at. It pulled fine only a few problems one of which you were there for and where you launch at very low tides you may need to use the rope method as traction could be a problem. I would go for the Audi that Passat would be well underpowered. Have you checked the towing weight of the A4

diver 1 · 02 February 2013, 14:35

Try looking at a Passat TDI 4Motion - I've had two now they pull very well and have haldex 4x4 same as audi quattro with very good fuel cosumption too.

VW now do a passat alltrack which has raised suspension and supposed to be a bit tougher.

Also subaru diesels are good although early ones (2008/2009) apparently had lots of clutch issues

Anyway I'd rate the passat 4motion and would def buy another. No reversing sensors on either of mine but the towbars were both retro fitted never bothered with re-mapping the ecu for towing, they tow fine in normal setup

Erin · 02 February 2013, 14:40

Alex

I used to tow my 5.8 Prosport with my A3 which had the 1.9tdi engine. Absolutely fine from a towing and launching perspective. I self fitted the oem Audi towing kit, which requires a simple bit of coding on the car electrics using Vagcom or getting your dealer to do it for you. It's mainly to tell it about the extra lights for it's bulb self-check circuit and to get the dashboard warning lights to show that the indicators are working on the trailerboard. There is a microswitch in the 13 pin towing electrics which disengages the fog lights and probably also tells it to turn off the reversing sensors. You can also recode the towing sensors to allow for the extra few inches that the tow bar sticks out.

whisper · 02 February 2013, 15:01

I used to be able to choose any car I wanted but now there is basically two cars worth looking at:

VW Passat Bluemotion 1.6 litre TDI 105 PS

Or

Audi A4 Saloon SE Technic 2.0 TDIe 136 PS

These are the models I have to choose from and there is no cash alternative.

This is a 4 year deal so I need to get it right.

Ian M · 02 February 2013, 15:09

Not much help to you, but my 3 litre quattro is an amazing tow car. Far more torque than the 2.5 litre engine. Factory fitted removeable (hinged) tow bar was a £700 option, for the convenience and ease of operation it is well worth it to my mind. And no dented shins

matt h · 02 February 2013, 16:11

Im thinking the 105 passat is going to be bloody gutless dude. The audi is sounding a better bet. I had a new a4 estate 140 and never was compromised in power. Audi wanted 1000 squids for tow bar and re mapping. So went honeyfield trailers and got a removable one for 300. Didnt tell leasing co as it was likely they would have said no!!

spartacus · 02 February 2013, 20:46

Go for the Audi, the VW will be fine as an every day car, but will be gutless when towing.

Quote:

diver: Try looking at a Passat TDI 4Motion - I've had two now they pull very well and have haldex 4x4 same as audi quattro with very good fuel cosumption too.

Not quite. Don't get me wrong, the VW 4Motion is a damn fine car, same space as an A6, more rear legroom, more boot space, a refined and comfortable drive in SE specification, and probably better fuel consumption overall.

Hadlex is part-time 4WD and kicks in when wheels lose traction? Primarily it's front wheel drive the rest of the time. Same as Audi TT and A3 quattro or S3, etc.

Only A4, A6 Q5, Q7, etc, are permanent 4 wheel drive and authentic quattro.

mick · 02 February 2013, 20:50

Do Audi and VW use the same engines these days

ppenman · 02 February 2013, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

Do Audi and VW use the same engines these days

Basically yes. Right now I've got the use of a new Audi a3 1.6 td (hire car) and a vw tiguan 2.0 td 140 auto. Despite the weight difference the lack of torque in the a3 is really noticeable. I used to tow an RC 585 using a 2.0 mondeo which was ok. I wouldn't want to use the a3 to tow the same boat.