allroad V6 TDI slow build

[Ryeman]

Better to hang onto yr 2.5 than 'throw' it away.......it's worth vastly more to you than anyone else obviously.

[gldgti]

Mate I had a nice fang in a 3.0 A5 once, and the motor was brilliant. The car, despite looking gorgeous, was horrible to drive however.

How to you mean horrible?

I find my biggest gripe with the new one is that the electric steering is over-assisted in general (but it seems to vary aswell, depending on what youre actually doing).

I didnt like it much at first, but im used to it now and its not too bad.... even goiing between the heavy hydraulic steering in the C5 and the light electric of the C6.

In my mind the A5 couldn't be that different from the a6 of the same vintage... but perhaps they are.... just interested to hear what is you particular gripe

[gldgti]

Better to hang onto yr 2.5 than 'throw' it away.......it's worth vastly more to you than anyone else obviously.

yep, probably 4 times as much :-P

[Greg Roles]

The A5 has a horrible steering and "dynamic" feel, a lot of A5 guys complain about it, felt very unattached to the road compared to the smaller Golfs etc. Round corners it was very "barge" like too. I have found an element of that going to the Yeti, it's a softer overall feel, but you are still much more connected to the road than in the A5 I drove. It was only one particular model run from memory, they had messed with the placement of the front wheels and it had messed up the platform from how it was intended or something.

Mate all I can tell you is back in the GT TDI days the A5 was my dream car, a thing of beauty with the correct engine. Then I drove one, and all that changed. My lady's Veloster is a much more dynamic car to drive to put it in perspective.

[Ryeman]

I found the most tactile steering I've found in a 4WD/AWD was the Yeti.........the others have a dull, wooden feel......sometimes artificial heaviness to make it seem sporty.
The Yeti feels light and nimble in comparison.

[Greg Roles]

I guess it's personal, I like a car you have to manhandle a bit, the Yeti is far too light for me. I'm working on changing that.

Sorry to derail the thread - carry on!!

[Ryeman]

I guess it's personal, I like a car you have to manhandle a bit, the Yeti is far too light for me. I'm working on changing that.......!

Well you certainly don't get to wrestle a JK Wrangler.......feather light feelless steering with zero straight line stability.

[gldgti]

So where am i going with this car?

Just bought another muffler and an exhaust flap valve. I'm going to turn one of the 2 pipes into a quiet one, and de-baffle the other, with an electric flap valve at the y-pipe.
Trying to make it nice and quiet for the freeway but loud when I want it.

[TDIfan]

So where am i going with this car?

Just bought another muffler and an exhaust flap valve. I'm going to turn one of the 2 pipes into a quiet one, and de-baffle the other, with an electric flap valve at the y-pipe.
Trying to make it nice and quiet for the freeway but loud when I want it.

Which valve did you go for?

Interesting to see how long will that valve last under the sooty condition of non-DPF TDIs

[Mysticality]

Mate all I can tell you is back in the GT TDI days the A5 was my dream car, a thing of beauty with the correct engine. Then I drove one, and all that changed.

I'm glad its not just me...

So where am i going with this car?

Just bought another muffler and an exhaust flap valve. I'm going to turn one of the 2 pipes into a quiet one, and de-baffle the other, with an electric flap valve at the y-pipe.
Trying to make it nice and quiet for the freeway but loud when I want it.

This makes me moist.

[gldgti]

Which valve did you go for?

Interesting to see how long will that valve last under the sooty condition of non-DPF TDIs

Yes.... so I bought the cheapest valve only kit I could find on ebay, about $85. Its the valve in a flange, with the motor, wiring loom, controller and remote.

Its all a bit of an experiment, but I figured that (at least from the photo's and my own experience of these kinds of things) there could be no difference at all in quality between the sub 100 dollar ones and a 300 dollar one. We'll see i guess.

I love the idea of the wireless remote, cos then I dont have to do any cabin wiring (too lazy for much of that these days - removing and replacing trim is about my least favorite job on a car). Just run the loom up to the engine bay and run 12V to the controller, should be easy.

link to valve:
2.5" 63mm Electric Exhaust Catback Downpipe Cutout Valve motor +Remote Control | eBay

[Greg Roles]

Awesome work, love it. I'm probably going to go the exhaust cut out too, easier than rebuilding my entire back half exhaust. Watching with interest laddie!

[gldgti]

Did a nbit of an offroading excursion with some fellas a couple of weeks back. I didnt make this video - it was made by one of the other guys - the allroad provided most of the entertainment for the day

I was pleasantly surprised I didnt need a tow out anywhere. I did put the tow hook in in preparation, but in the end I didn't need it.

Good times!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W-us1RAWMk&t=54s

[Transporter]

Great job, you must have had a lot of fun there,

...and on road tyres.

[tinto]

That is awesome.
Love this model of allroad.

Reminds me of being up some trails I thought were pretty hardcore in my prado and then seeing someone flog past in a Subaru (or worse, commodore wagon). Puts things into perspective!

Also, splendid beard.