Help please - Audi a4 B5 1.6 mpg?

Curly Watts

Bein offered a 00 a4 1.6 petrol by a cousin of mine. Anyone have one of these and what are they like on fuel? I do about 300-350km per week as it is, and will be changing to diesel in september as I'll be doing alot more, anyone any idea what they are like on fuel are they astronomically bad?

Thanks in advance need to know asap he is heading to Australia friday and if I don't take it another of my relatives will I need transport

EPM

I had that engine and on a steady cruise of 160 miles at 140kph it returned about 27mpg. At around 100kph it will easily return close on 40 however.

Curly Watts

How did you find it? Also have my eye on a 1.6 (non vvti) 1999 toyota avensis. Which, if you had the choice, go for?

Is the audi a pig on fuel in urban driving? I wouldn't be doing much more than 120kph on any main road/motorway runs, alot of my driving is main road driving about 25 miles a day and 5 of that urban.

Should i go for it? What are the common problems on the a4?
Thanks EPM

Bobo78

I recon they take about 10 to 11 liters of petrol in city driving, which is what i get in passat with the same engine.

Curly Watts

Wont be much city driving though, but that is fairly heavy.. Would you recommend a toyota engine (1.6 non vvti) over it? will be purchasing one of either tomorrow so need help swing the decision, would slightly prefer the audi thought, but if its gonna be very heavy on the pocket I might leave it off.. ..

bazz26

Pre VVTi 1.6 Avensis is a lean burn engine, they were designed for extra fuel economy. The MkI Avensis is also a lighter car so they are very good on fuel. Downside is that the gearing is also aimed at fuel conservation which means you had to rev the nuts out of it to get it going. Cannot imagine it any less lively than a 1.6 A4 though.

Curly Watts

So you reckon it would be a fair bit better on fuel than the audi? I understand they won't be exactly fast but that doesn't bother me, coming from having nothing only turbo'd jap cars for the last 7 years I want something reliable, and a decent mpg figure.

I'm swaying towards the audi, although bland, its not AS bland as the toyota.
Toyota parts are cheap should anything go wrong, and I do like Toyota.

Wish someone would make up my mind for me
So the Avensis would be much better on fuel then?

Thanks for the replies lads, much appreciated believe me.

mickdw

The 1.6 avensis is woeful in every way.
The 1.6 in the audi is the wrong engine too. There is no reason to be considering either of them really. A diesel in the audi is a better option if doing a fair bit of driving.
Having said that, I was recently driving a 1.6 petrol passat 2001, and I found it quite reasonable powerwise if you really abuse it but fuel ecomony would be low 20s driving it like that. Diesel is the only real option if doing mileage.

johnos1984

mickdw wrote: »

The 1.6 avensis is woeful in every way..

Rubbish

I had one and found it very good if unoffensive in every way

Good fuel economy, good to drive and uber reliable.

Had the same engine in a Golf and found it nice to drive also but the fuel economy was woeful compared to the Avensis no matter how I drove it so I can't see it being that good in an A4

mickdw

mickdw wrote: »

The 1.6 avensis is woeful in every way..........

The ole lad clocked up several thousand miles in one, woeful he didn't find it. Not too bad to go for what it was, comfy, light on fuel ans reliable.

We're talking about 12 year old family saloons to be fair

Curly Watts

Cheers lads, swaying towards the avensis now, fuel economy seems to be a fair bit better according to everyone on here.

@mick, I don't want a diesel can't justify it at the minute as my commute is only around 12 miles each day to work, and thats about it really apart from maybe 100kms on weekends.

Anyone else any input on the Audi engines mpg?

@Johnos1984, given the choice again you would choose the avensis then?

johnos1984

Curly Watts wrote: »

@Johnos1984, given the choice again you would choose the avensis then?

Given the chance I'd have another Avensis of that vintage but bear in mind you'll be looking at a 12 year old car so base your decision on the condition it's in.

I found Toyota parts cheap and easily available. Audi parts will be more expensive.

May I also add to your list two cars, Mazda626 and a Nissan Primera

Bland yes but cheap, reliable and economical for their size

Leonard Hofstadter

I can't see what's so special about a 1.6 A4 that makes it worth going for over a 1.6 Avensis.

Both are bland, boring lumps of metal that would make anyone even remotely interested in cars lose all interest in a matter of hours.

Given the choice between the two, I'd have the Avensis.

The lean burn engine is bulletproof. It is underpowered, but that engine really did justify the "Best Built Cars in the World" claim such is the reliability of that old 4A-FE engine. The Avensis will be more economical since it weighs about as much as a feather.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the B5 A4, it has a much nicer cabin than the Toyota (that wouldn't be difficult, mind) and of course it has the "badge" factor as well, but it will be heavier on juice and is more likely to give trouble, although compared to some of the more modern Audis it is very reliable.

If you're going for that shape A4 the old 1.9 TDI is the only way to go, that too is bulletproof.

If you want a reasonably comfortable decent sized car that will cost nothing more than tax, servicing and fuel then the Avensis is the only way to go.

Curly Watts

thanks lads your answers sum it all up pretty well.

Captainspeed, the a4, while bland, the interior is a much nicer place to be, and if the fuel economy was in around the same or not much worse, i'd go for the audi.

Just looking for peoples experiences with the fuel economy etc on the audi now as the avensis has pretty much been established as old faithful

It will just be more or less a runaround for now and the summer months.

Thanks again

mickdw

RoverJames wrote: »

The ole lad clocked up several thousand miles in one, woeful he didn't find it. Not too bad to go for what it was, comfy, light on fuel ans reliable.

We're talking about 12 year old family saloons to be fair

I drove a 00 one for a while in 2003 when my 99 alfa 166 was having a repair. I genuinely reported back that there was something wrong with the car. It had nothing to give whatsoever. I figure if you are used to driving nothing else, it might seem normal but not to anyone else.
I drove another later as I was sure no modern car was that slow but unfortunately it was the same. What bhp are they? Feels like about 80 bhp IMO. Terrible.
The audi 1.6 is terrible too but Id have it over that toyota.

Curly Watts

Terrible in what way? I'm not looking for anything spectacular on speed, I've been offered one car by a family member and a friend is selling the avensis and I need to pick up something tomorrow so hence the question.

Dont want to be shelling out a fortune on petrol for either car. Assuming the Audi would drink a considerable amount more than the avensis, that is.

I agree, I too would have the Audi, but as the above statement, I really don't wanna be firing money into the petrol tank Are they honestly that brutally heavy on fuel?

Curly Watts

If it was around 35mpg+ I would be happy enough. But is that the case with the Audi? Whereas this is easliy achievable in the Avensis, or so it seems.

Foxhole Norman

mickdw wrote: »

I drove another later as I was sure no modern car was that slow but unfortunately it was the same. What bhp are they? Feels like about 80 bhp IMO. Terrible.
The audi 1.6 is terrible too but Id have it over that toyota.

As far as I know the 1.6 of that vintage was 100hp.

mickdw

mickdw wrote: »

.............
I drove another later as I was sure no modern car was that slow but unfortunately it was the same. What bhp are they? Feels like about 80 bhp IMO. Terrible. ..........

As mentioned the gearing is very tall in them, they're the guts of 13 seconds to 60 and 100bhp. 50bhp ish less than the 166 you had

In comparison to a 1.6 Vectra, Passat or A4 they're not too bad.

Curly Watts

Roverjames, would the avensis be alot better on fuel then than the a4?

Cheers

johnos1984

Curly Watts wrote: »

Roverjames, would the avensis be alot better on fuel then than the a4?

Cheers

With a VERY light foot and very careful driving I achieved 47mpg over the course of 3 tanks when I was tight on cash.

I generally averaged 44mpg and 38mpg if I put my foot down

The 1.6Golf with the same engine as the A4 could never better 37/8 mpg

Curly Watts

And the A4 being heavier, I'd be lucky to average low 30's with it I'd say, about 28-35ish mpg?

Realistically, doing 25 miles/day the difference between them won't be huge but the Avensis has the potential to be very light on juice, which would be handy if you start doing lots more miles which you reckon might be on the agenda.

EPM

My average in the Leon was usually about 33, the best I ever managed was 37. In saying that, the engine decent enough when driving. Noisy when you push it but pretty eager as 1.6s go.

What about an older model primera?

Curly Watts

Yeah never really considered one tbh EPM, will have a scout around. Just these two were handy for me as I didn't have to travel anywhere for them. Might chance the avensis, but the Audi, is in pretty good condition the interior and exterior are immaculate.

And as a car goes, I would prefer the Audi but would need the economy of the Avensis at a later stage. And it would be nice to make long trips with it not breaking the bank ha

Rowley Birkin QC

My boss and I started recording out fuel consumption using the Fuelog app a few months back. He's driving a 1.6 B6 Petrol and has returned about 28MPG average with mostly city driving.

Curly Watts

Most of my driving would be main road driving. I live in a rural enough area and commute into work about 12 miles in. So it would be using that road and other main roads mostly.

Anyone have experience with a heavy a4 on motorway/main road driving?

Need to make my mind up gonna pick one of em up tomorrow as I need a car for work asap.

Bobo78

Come on go for the Audi, you know you want it
On motorway driving you should be getting around 8 liters of petrol and thats driving around 130 kph.
P.S. I think that engine is quite nice to drive even thou it s a bit heavier on petrol it does like to rev and is smooth.

Curly Watts

Haha, yeah your reading me here.

I do want the Audi over the Avensis, no doubt about it. Just worried if I take it, I'll regret it as I can't afford to run it ha
My head says avensis, heart says fúck it go for the Audi

Will you buy it if I feel its too heavy on fuel for me :P :P

gb153

I have a 00 1.6 Avensis. It gets 500 miles to a tank every time and costs in the high 80s to fill from empty these days. Yes its boring to drive but acceleration and overtaking ability is fine. Very comfy seats and its super reliable.

As economy is one of your prime concerns I would say definitely go with the Avensis. The Audi looks nicer and the cabin would be a nicer place to sit in alright but I wouldn't get one unless it was at least the 1.9 diesel.

squod

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3011878

Danny911

I'd go for the audi. More comfortable, better looking, and with lots of mainroad driving as you say, it shouldnt be too much of a difference

Curly Watts

Fcuk it, going for the Audi. I know I won't be blown away by its paint peeling speed, but I'm not looking for that. I have a light foot anyway, so we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for all the comments anyway people will update on my views of its mpg

Rakshasa

Heya Curly Watts,

Just read this thread as i have a similar situation. Thinking of getting an A4 1.6, wanted to see how you got on with it? Nice to drive etc? I imagine the MPG isn't too bad from what i read online.

Whats your over all opinion of the car?

Would love to hear what you think

Curly Watts

Rakshasa, I bought the car after and I find it fine on fuel. I dont drive fast or high up in the revs anyway and mostly do main road driving at 100km/h.

Very comfy to drive, nice and smooth, plenty of space.

I'd go for it if I were you, if you find a nice example, well looked after you will be happy with it