performance of stock 2009 Audi A4 vs 2013 Audi A5

[dimstamat]

Hi guys,

I have a 2009 A4 2.0T quattro automatic and I noticed that my girlfriend's car (2013 A5 2.0T quattro automatic) is snappier. It is much more responsive than mine and definitely accelerates faster. They both have the same engine and same horsepower, not sure if they improved things from 2009 to 2013. My A4 has 76k miles and my girlfriend's A5 66k.
Shall I worry about my car's performance, or it might be normal given that the 4 years difference and that A5 is a coupe (lower to the ground).

Thanks a lot!
Dimos

[Anthony1491]

Hi guys,

I have a 2009 A4 2.0T quattro automatic and I noticed that my girlfriend's car (2013 A5 2.0T quattro automatic) is snappier. It is much more responsive than mine and definitely accelerates faster. They both have the same engine and same horsepower, not sure if they improved things from 2009 to 2013. My A4 has 76k miles and my girlfriend's A5 66k.
Shall I worry about my car's performance, or it might be normal given that the 4 years difference and that A5 is a coupe (lower to the ground).

Thanks a lot!
Dimos

Have you had your turbo replaced? I've heard the turbo got updated in 2013/2014 and that what leads the 2013+ to be slightly peppier. This is stright from a service advisor so I'm not sure how correct the info is

[yevgeniystupak]

Not sure if it's a similar feel but I had a 2017 Audi a3 rental while my 2012 a4 was being serviced for a failed turbo, it felt heaps snappier. I am thinking it was the different transmission as well as weight. a4 and a5 are probably comparable weight but perhaps the transmission was different. Or its just newer with a stronger turbo. Once I got my a4 back with the brand new turbo it definitely drives a lot better. Still not as snappy as the a3.

[dimstamat]

hmmm I bought my car 6 months ago used so I am not sure if they ever replaced the turbo. Also, it came out of the 75k service recently, so if something was wrong they would have told me.
Makes sense that newer cars have a better turbo!

[BeerBrent]

I got a 2017 A4 and Q3 loaners when Audi replaced my turbo. They where MUCH quicker than my 2010.

[spin0rz]

It could be several things. Did you ever replace your diverter valve? Was your turbo checked for a weak wastegate? Weak sparkplug/ coils? Did you reset your throttle body adaptations? Etc etc.

As far as I know. The 2013+ turbos don't really have changed aside from a stronger wastegate actuator, latest diverter valve.

Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[lettuce]

Most of it is probably due to the different transmissions in your cars. The 8 speeds shift faster and have more, shorter gears, so you get going quicker and stay in your ideal RPM range more. The rest is probably due to the faulty wastegate that plagues the early B8 turbos, leading to increased spool time and lag.

[JBAeroEngineer]

I got a 2017 A4 and Q3 loaners when Audi replaced my turbo. They where MUCH quicker than my 2010.

different engines, transmissions, and tunes. not a fair comparison.

[Steelerhater37]

different engines, transmissions, and tunes. not a fair comparison.

Exactly


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[ScottKC]

Your car has 75k miles. Have you had the carbon cleaned out of it? Carbon buildup on the intake valves is a notorious "issue" on the DI engines, however the service managers will skirt this and blame it on other things...

Sent from my SM-G955U using Audizine mobile app

[Zach L]

Not sure if it's a similar feel but I had a 2017 Audi a3 rental while my 2012 a4 was being serviced for a failed turbo, it felt heaps snappier. I am thinking it was the different transmission as well as weight. a4 and a5 are probably comparable weight but perhaps the transmission was different. Or its just newer with a stronger turbo. Once I got my a4 back with the brand new turbo it definitely drives a lot better. Still not as snappy as the a3.

The A3 is faster for a few reasons...

1) The 2017 A3 has the newer EA888 Gen3 2.0T, which is substantially more powerful than the EA888 Gen2 2.0T in the B8/8.5 A4.
2) Even if both had the same newer engine, the A3 would be faster due to substantially lower weight than an A4.
3) The A3 is basically a VW GTI, and uses the same transmissions as the Golf/GTI with shorter gear ratios (faster acceleration, higher cruising engine speed).

The Gen3 engine doesn't just have a bigger turbo, it's a COMPLETELY different engine, particularly regarding the design for the cylinder head and turbo. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the cylinder head, so the turbo bolts directly to the engine. This creates a far more efficient engine, with overall more power, and much more responsiveness. A Gen3 engine running just Stage 2 software makes as much power as a Gen2 engine with a K04 turbo upgrade. Far superior in every way pretty much.

The 3 reasons above are also the reasons a GTI is always more fun to drive than an A4. I currently own both. The A4 is a fat, slow pig of a car that's comfortable, quiet, stylish and great for highway cruising. The A3/GTI are louder, harsher, and cheaper feeling but with more responsive, tons more fun, and loved to be tossed around. Each is great at what it's meant to be.

[b6onboost]

This. So even in 100% good order, a 2009 is still quite a bit slower than a 2013. And a lighter A3 with DSG gearbox is even quicker.

"Audi switched from a six-speed automatic to an eight-speed auto, and it has had a transformative effect. Acceleration to 60 mph has gone from a lackluster 6.4 seconds to 5.6" - CARandDRIVER

Most of it is probably due to the different transmissions in your cars. The 8 speeds shift faster and have more, shorter gears, so you get going quicker and stay in your ideal RPM range more.

[Anthony1491]

This. So even in 100% good order, a 2009 is still quite a bit slower than a 2013. And a lighter A3 with DSG gearbox is even quicker.

"Audi switched from a six-speed automatic to an eight-speed auto, and it has had a transformative effect. Acceleration to 60 mph has gone from a lackluster 6.4 seconds to 5.6" - CARandDRIVER

+1, I forgot about the transmission switch from 2009-2011

[dimstamat]

hmm not sure whether they checked the Turbo wastegate in the 75k service. I will mention it at the next service together with the carbon clean! I also plan to perform an engine clean-up to improve the poor fuel economy (something like engine treatment).
If the slow acceleration still bothers me I might go for APR stage II! Do you think it worth it, or you put lots of stress?