Audi A3

kyfdx

No.. the base model does not include the paddle shifters.. You have to have the Sport or Premium package to get the paddle shifters..

Does this make sense? NO...

billherrmann

I believe that XM satellite radio is the best thing to come along since air conditioning. Yesterday a salesman told me that on an A3 that arrives without XM Sat. Radio......the Dealer can install. Would this be a mickey mouse install or will it be OK?? Will appreciate any comments. Bill

kurtamaxxguy

The oriental cars I've driven tended to be peaky, difficult to drive around town, while the USA cars have a lot of low end torque but run out of air at the high end. Sounds like Audi nailed it wrt broad range torque and responsiveness!

Too bad one needs a "premium" package of some kind just to get paddle shifters. So with those is ok to assume $30K and up for the FWD version :confuse:

Will the "base" Quadro comming in the fall / next year :confuse: ) have paddle shifters? Or for them will you need an option package as well?

jerrybrazil

I work here in LA in the motion picture industry and the producer"s assistant, use to work at the corporate AUDI headquarters in detroit. He over heard rave about the A3 that I had test drove and so we chatted in regards to what was next for AUDI. He swore to me that in 3 months Audi will release the a3 2.0 QUATTRO. I told him that everybody I talked to including the dealer told me only the v6, he said he saw it in writting!! just wait 3 more months!! so there you have it hopefully he's not full of [non-permissible content removed]!!

I think it's worth the wait.

cheers

stickguy

most cars now have satellite ready head units. I'm sure that the A3 does, and if so, they can add the componenets needed (really just the receiver and the antenna) to complete the system. That would let you run the Sat right through the stereo, including steering wheel controls, just like a CD or normal radio.

slax

I test drove a DSG with premium today and asked that exact question, and the sales person said paddles are standard on all DSG trannys. However, I'm not entirely sure I that I trusted her knowledge. What amazed me - call me crazy - is that after driving both I actually prefer the six-speed manual. I wound out second and third gear in both transmissions and just felt way more connected to the car with the manual. You can barely feel downshifts in the DSG, which may be welcome for some, but it takes away some of the sportback spunk IMO. I'm planning on placing a custom order tomorrow as I know the chance of finding a six-speed base model in arctic white with open sky is next to zero.

kyfdx

I sat in an A3 with DSG.... the base car... NO PADDLES...

I guess that could change..

kurtamaxxguy

been in actual production? Has it been in Europe for awhile before Audi decided to bring it here?
Or is it truely an __all new__ car for Audi?

slax

That's what I figured. Nothing bugs me more than when I know more about a car than the sales person giving the test drive. Lucky for her, I want an A3 and will be placing my order this week.

captainkit

I love this cute little A3. Love the paddle shifters. Great idea. Problem is the model is way too new, we don't know reliability and they have no lease plan.

I can wait another year to see how things shake out but my first impression is: BIG WOW!
Fast, tight, great turning radius, a true joy.

I had a wonderful professional salesman from AUDI OF NORTH SCOTTSDALE. He was the A3 expert and he knew all the details. He also drives one himself.

A great experience except that there is no deal to be had at this stage.

blueguydotcom

This model's been kicking around europe for well over a year.

kurtamaxxguy

any feedback as to how it's holding up over there? Any injector problems?

Wrt USA market, once Quadro version gets here, should be quite unique.

Biggest concern remains very few dealers (none at all on a large portion of a trip I have to make several times a year). Several LA CA dealers I've seen here are very small (one of them's the tiniest I've ever seen - little more than a 30 x 30 ' kiosque)

kyfdx

It has the same drivetrain (basically) as the new A4 that came out in February.. So, I wouldn't be worried about reliability/durability... Any more than you would with any other Audi.... :surprise:

wale_bate1

Whoa, talk about back-handed compliments...
;-]

Saw my first on the road A3 this morning. Red with Sky and the bicolor wheels. Gray morning here by the Bay; just about perfect weather for a pristine red pocket rocket sighting. Made me feel like I was in Geneva, sorta kinda...

kyfdx

The bi-color wheels... Doesn't that mean it has the sport package?

rjlaero

You get the basic five spokes with the cloth car. The 14 spoke wheels look so much better w/ the sport package.

wale_bate1

Not necessarily. The multi-spokers are a no-cost option, and are also part of the Premium pkg.

Dang, but it's a hip looking thing, especially in motion.

ralpher

The A3 has been around far more than a year in Europe. It's been through two body generations.

kurtamaxxguy

sounds promising on reliability. will check interior out soon (wanna be sure I'll fit/be comfortable as trips last 12 hours) then wait for the quadros to get here, _then_ wait for the market to get sated a bit.

Does anyone know if the "attitude" of Audi Service is like that of VW?

onlysurfer

"attitude" of Audi Service, I hope, is not like that of VW. One of the reason why I'd prefer A3 over GTI is this "attutude" thing.

kurtamaxxguy

ditto.

According to a recent Edmunds article VW really doesn't seem to care about the USA market; they introduce models long after their intros in Europe, and have really lost it in terms of reliability to where they are a J.D.Powers "celler dweller"..

It's sad - some of the engineering is very nice.. Fortunately (per another article at Edmunds) Audi seems to want to improve and is using the same engineering.. Fingers x'ed Audi doesn't fall into the VW rut.

slax

With Audi's warranty coverage and 4 years/50K miles of included service, I am buying one without fear. If it's got issues, they will shake out long before those terms expire and I'll get to drive a pimped out loaner car while they fix them.

blueguydotcom

It's "quattro"

kurtamaxxguy

thanks on quattro. Edmunds spell checker wasn't any help here. I will remember!

Longer Audi warranty is nice as well.
Does Audi try to sell factory backed extended maintenance agreements like GM does?

dewey

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=11142

Yes, that was not a misprint: A BMW 135Ti with 330HP. Would love to see the specs on this one! Hopefully it will be approved!

Audi will have nothing to worry about if BMW prices the 135Ti as if it was some kind of rare masterpiece(I will take this Bimmer over a Mona Lisa anyday)

qbrozen

how much lighter is the 1-series than the 3-series? Because, even if the M3 gets 400 hp, a lighter, more nimble bimmer with 330 could trounce it. I don't think BMW will let that happen. But we'll see, i suppose.

and then, of course, will we get it here?

kyfdx

The question is:

Will we get any version of the 1-series?

kurtamaxxguy

Apparently some of Audi's engines are prone to oil sludge, particularly the 1.8 T engine.

How was/is the new 2.0 engine redesigned to resist oil sludge?

Or should sludge removal be a maintanance item for this vehicle every so often?

dewey

"don't think BMW will let that happen. But we'll see, i suppose."

Dont know how much lighter a 1 series is compared to a 3 series. But it is lighter and with 330h this car will fly.

As you said there may be a likelihood we will not see a turbo 1 series---that would be a shame.

allhorizon

I think prone to oil sludge is a bit hard - I don't think there have been all that many cases. I am not an expert (since I have the NA 2.0 and 2.8 engines). However, from what I have heard, only cars that did not use engine oil to spec were affected. And "to spec" means synthetic oil in the US. Of course, I have also heard that not only ignorant drivers, but also some moronic dealers have used non-synthetic oil...

Apparently, mostly cars with the longitudinal lay-out where affected (the A3 is transverse).

At any rate, as with most turbo engines, use synthetic oil and you will be fine.

mofast

I've had my black on black A3 now for 3 days. Its fully optioned but with 6-speed.

Have been a bimmer owner since '97 so Audi is new territory for me....so far, I love it

On the NAV, I had punched in a destination the night I bought the car (a special route/destination). Now, every time I go to the NAV, that desination is still there (with the little checkered flag indicated). Any idea how I can get rid of it? The "delete destination" option is greyed out.

kurtamaxxguy

Do Audi engines run at higher temperatures than USA engines? This, I understand, is the leading cause of oil breakdown and sludge formation.

Is the A3 turbo water-cooled?

I'll keep in mind the synthetic oil requirement.

blueguydotcom

And synthetic oil is a must with ANY turbo engine. Let the engine warm up, let it cool down when you're done running and it'll be fine.

carsareus

yeah almost all companies have tried to turn their sterile designs into something sppealing for genreation Y. Of all the new and hip cars the Audi A3 is a definite favorite check out http://www.carlist.com/newcars/2006/ncr_374.html for some cool concept pics. It kinda reminds me of the pacifica

terryp2

Just bought A3, 6/25/50 for $200 over invoice (Sarasota, FL). Asked Dealer about fuel: They said, use 89 around town and 91 on hwy trips. Add Chevon Techron Fuel System Cleaner additive every month/3000 miles; $6.44 at Adv Auto Parts.

Asked Reeves Audi in Tampa, same question and got similiar answer: Use Chevron fuel (has Techron included), 89 around town and 91 on the hwy. The local Chevron stations are selling fuel at 3 cent/gal discount if you use cash or Chevron credit card. So there is a Chevron CC in my future and I will only put Chevron in A3 if available.

nippononly

yeah, it sounds like a good idea to use premium whenever it is going to be under load, like long loaded highway trips. I already do the Chevron thing.

rjlaero

I would always put at least 91 octane in any turbo car like the A3. It's not worth saving 15-20 cents a gallon being cheap. You'll get better fuel economy and your car will run better as well.

kyfdx

Ditto...

wale_bate1

Been through at least six threads by now regarding sludge issues from different mfrs. My take (as if anyone cared ) is that proper care and feeding by an informed owner/operator prevents "sludge". Always.

Saw two A3's within two minutes yesterday headed north on I-680. One red and one grey. Methinks the Bay Area will be a strong sales location for this car. Autosite shows sales for May at 561 and 736 total so far. Not bad.

dhanley

Agree. Use synthetic, change on time, and there will be no sludge.

I saw a a3 on 290 here in chicago yesterday. It looked sharp moving in traffic

wco81

The A3 DSG is a rocket. Very tempting but I'm more inclined to buy and hold the car than lease it as you guys do. For that, the Acura obviously would make more sense.

The impressive thing about the 2.0T is that it's rated to get better mileage than the TSX's 4-cylinder 2.4.

But it appears the TSX has all the equipment except for Nav? So you don't pay extra for things like Xenon, Homelink. Don't know if TSX has power seats.

TSX would make the choice a lot easier if it had a small V-6. Isn't the Accord V-6 about the same price as the TSX?

How long has the TSX been in the market under the current configuration (body, engine, equipment)? Probably not due for a change for at least a couple more years?

I apologize if there's a TSX vs. A3 forum which would be more appropriate for this kind of comparo.

kyfdx

TSX came out in April of '03, as an '04 model.... TSX does have power seats.. The only option other than transmission choice is NAV..

At least the '08 model, before any significant changes..

A comparably equipped A3 is probably $4K-$5K more than the TSX...

I wouldn't lease an A3 either, at this point... The lease deals are pretty pitiful...

regards,
kyfdx

nippononly

you are even contemplating spending $4-5K more than the TSX, you should also look at the TL. It is a fabulous drive, DOES have the V-6 (with way more power than the A3), and is rated only ONE POINT lower in fuel economy than the TSX. Not to mention, if you get the 6-speed manual, a limited slip differential is included for the same price.

I wish I could afford one, but alas, even if I weren't so cheap, $32K for a car would be a little out of my ballpark...

Just in terms of "fun", the A3 has a much better powertrain than the TSX, which has little power down low. But the TSX is a very nice car in its own right, and beats the base A3 on handling. And the leasing vs owning thing is very much a question in my mind, what with Audi/VW's past, and people even in this thread making glib comments about how you do not buy Audis, you lease them. I want to buy, and preferably keep for a long time. The Audi makes me nervous in that regard.

fourrings

Was at a local dealer the other day to test drive an A6. Saw a couple of A3's. One was loaded with pretty much everything. The interior really looks nice compared to my 2003 A4. I think rear legroom is about the same. Rear headroom is a bit tight with the sky roof. Wife fell in love with the A3 and now wants it instead of the A6. I'd rather buy the A3 than lease. So many things you have to deal with when you lease a car. I've had my A4 for about 2.5 years and it has been problem free. Had two VW's(99 GTI and 2000 Passat Wagon)before the A4. The GTI was a headache and the Passat was great for about 3.5 years and after that it was downhill. Not sure about the A3's realiability.

toxie

Hearing a lot about Audi's commitment to Bluetooth in the A6 (Treo 650 integration, AD2P music over Bluetooth, etc.) but haven't heard much about Bluetooth making its way to the A3 and in what capacity. It is listed in the current A3 brochure as a standard option - coming soon. But no details on functionality.

Wondering if new A3's will just quietly start rolling off the assembly lines with standard Bluetooth - or if it might coincide with the 3.2 Quattro launch. Many of the A3's demographic are wanting this feature, just like iPod integration (good to know that is coming).

Not sure if the dealer will have the ability to retrofit current A3's with Bluetooth, so I will wait until more info is available before rushing to the dealer.

mapin

They're accepting orders for the bluetooth option now, no need to wait until the 3.2 Quattro launch. I read in another forum someone posted the following:

>I was told production would start in mid-July by my dealer, but I do not know the actual date. I >just placed my order and they accepted the BlueTooth option. (nice.)
>
>An A3 with BlueTooth was due to come into the NE region in mid August, so I'd assume they'd >start making it in the middle of July?

misterjj

Okay, I'm getting closer to my A3. Still not sure about the color or whether to go sport or luxury package. Either way, I hate the wheels simply because there's too darn many spokes to clean! Although the sport model with the two-tone would be the lesser of two evils. I'm wondering if it would be possible to get the 5 double-spoke wheels from the A4. I don't much care for the plain-Jane wheels on the base A3, nor do I like the idea of dropping a bunch of cash to replace brand new wheels.

P.S. I'm seriously considering waiting until a 2006.5 model (if there is one) or the 2007 model in hopes that they improve the wheels and the package options.

kurtamaxxguy

yes I'd appreciate hearing how easy it is to get different wheels/tires on A3. Am not interested in dubs or multispoke show wheels.

wale_bate1

The 16-spokes are a no-cost option with the sport or prem pkg's. I'd think a dealership should be able to switch them out for the 5-spokers without much trouble, but you'll likely have to take the crappy all-season rubber as well.

Still, for me, I'd rather take the 5-spoke and make a run straight to Big O or surf to Tire Rack and re-rubber first thing.

Real wheels have five spokes, ya know...
;-]

ppayne

So I have heard from one dealer that it will be arriving in October in the 3.2 & 2.0, another dealer said January for the 3.2, and another said March 06 for the 3.2, and never for the 2.0.

Anyone have any solid dates? I might just have to cave in for the 2.0T, but live in the bay area and would like the awd for the hills, rain, and tahoe.