cpd replied on 28/09/2013 16:11
Posted on 28/09/2013 16:11
Hello. I have towed with diesels for many years the last car had dpf problems due to the lack of mileage & short journeys I drive during the week. I felt the best thing to do was to change to petrol and the A4 tfsi 1.8 appears to be perfect (check the torque & power figures and they better the TDI engines) it certainly tows really well with infrequent gear changes same as the diesel but a bit quieter & smoother. However the one problem I do have is a problem during standing starts on slopes where I initially move off only for the engine to seemingly loose power. It can be really difficult to get it moving and sometimes a bit brutal use of the throttle and clutch is the only way and I am left with smelly clutch and squealing tyres (this behavour is not ideal and not the way I drive at all). I should point out I had a similar problem without the caravan, when I had to give way to a car on a narrow road in Wales it was on a hill (fairly steep) and again I had to use brute force to get the car to move off. Once I have obtained 10 miles an hour or so the car pulls away fine.
The car is off to the dealer on Monday and I wondered if anybody else has experienced this worrying behaviour.
I look forward to your replies.
cpd