Audi A3

dhanley

Well, i'm a little miffed about this. I never got my 33 itunes, and auditalk doesn't seem to be able to dig up my records, even though i have a copy of my confirmation e-mail, etc.

I see online that the dealer has received very poor marks, and i guess they're well-deserved.

Andre, did you ever drive the a3?

nippononly

all the sources I have read seem to be pretty well agreed that the 3.2 won't arrive until early next year.

bellamusica

I am seriously considering an A3 for replacement of my 2001 A4 1.8T. I have really appreciated the input I have seen on this board. I took one out for a spin the other day. The dealer only had two on the lot, both completely base models with manual. I am deciding between getting the premium package or getting the sport package (and maybe adding the convenience pkg to get the other doo-dads that the sport package lacks). I will order the car to get it just how I want once I make up my mind to get it.

Has anyone driven the A3 with and without the sport package? How much is the handling improved? Is the ride quality compromised? Also, are the sport seats an improvement over the regular seats?

I appreciate any help I can get.

walkerhound1

I drove both premium/base suspension & a sport pack. Obviously, you should drive both yourself. Sport suspension is firmer, but not a lot; I measured it as 7/16" lower than the base set-up. Difficult to tell from a test drive how much better the handling is. If there is a handling-related weak point, it's the tires, not the suspension, IMO. Sport seat was less comfortable for me-- no lumbar adjustment, harder seat-- so I went with the premium. I've heard equally good reasons for choosing otherwise, though.

wale_bate1

My best reports on the 3.2 all say January, and Quattro will only be available with the bigger plant. At this time of course.

Anybody else heard that S-Line will be an available pkg for the 3.2?

rjlaero

The information I've seen from Audi showed the S line package being standard equiptment on the 3.2 Quattro A3. That could change and it'll be a couple months before the 'offical" order information will be available.

I guess Audi is going all out on the 3.2 model to make it look great from the factory w/ a standard S line package.

matthewsr

manual, lava grey, open sky, sports,package, cold weather

This really works for me. I last had an SUV and I wanted some performance and agility in my next car. I admit that I am going through some withdrawal because I no longer sit so high up. But I think that I will get over it soon enough.

The torque is my fav feature. First gear doesn't offer so much torque, but the other gears get me up to speed fast. Maybe it is because I have been in an SUV for two years, but I forgot how qucik and agile a car can be.
Good Audi interior, of course.
Since this is my first Audi, I am a little nervous about how long these materials will hold out and overall reliability. I don't want to get to know the dealer service dept mechanics by name....
The only gripe I have is: My driving knee rests uncomfortably on part of the center column that juts out to prevent your knee from hitting the gearshift. In any case, it starts to rub (literally) you into irritation. I am thinking of putting some kind of black pad on the side of the plastic to smooth things over.
The other regret: I didnt get the upgraded stereo with 6-in dash CD. I should have. But i couldn't find one anywhere at the local dealers and I didnt have time to wait for an order since I was very specific about wanting a manual that was lava grey.

Sylvia

Congratulations and welcome to the Forums! Thanks for posting in the Prices Paid discussion as well. It really helps others in the shopping process.

jaramabeige

Thanks to everyone for their postings. I enjoy reading your comments and information. I have a question: has anyone driven the A3 through the GrapeVine mountain highways in Southern California? Did the A3 have enough power for the uphill job, or was the car struggling? Were the brakes OK going downhill? Was your A3 loaded with cargo and passengers or were you the only person in the vehicle?

blueguydotcom

Haven't done it but 200 hp with 207 lb-ft of torque from 1800-5000 rpm = easy drive up the grapevine. Hit the hill at 80 and never let up, you'll be fine. As for coming down the grapevine, you should never need to use the brakes. Or at least I don't recall ever touching my brake pedal (save for when one of the fascist CHP goons gets near me).

misterjj

mathewsr wrote:
"Good Audi interior, of course.
Since this is my first Audi, I am a little nervous about how long these materials will hold out and overall reliability. I don't want to get to know the dealer service dept mechanics by name...."

Don't worry about the interior materials. VW/Audi interiors will outlast most, if not all, japanese cars, all american cars, and most any others. My 95' Jetta with over 191,000 miles on it has an immaculate interior despite a lot of abuse. Reliability is debatable though. Technically Audi is worse than most of the Japanese and German competition for number of defects but they are not much worse. Someone worked it out to being less than .5 more problems per year worse than the best. Also, this is based on NUMBER of problems only. I've had lots of small things go wrong with my VW's but the two-year old Nissan that the wife owned had a water pump freeze, leaving us stranded short of Lake Tahoe, and also developed a severe oil leak that required the removal of the entire engine to fix! Luckily it was a certified pre-owned that was under warranty.

nsomnac

While I don't drive the Grapevine - I'm on the CA Central Coast and drive the Cuesta Grade in SLO county daily. I've got the A3 2.0T DSG and it powers the grade and is willing to give me more. While not as long as the Grapevine, it's definitely as steep. I've done this trip with no more than 3 passengers.

billherrmann

I'm trying to decide whether to order the sound pkg. Is the sound quality THAT much better[ I myself cannot tell ] or would I be paying $900. for 6CD in dash?

maldini

Test drove the 2.0 T DSG today in the bay area. Had a lttle slippage with the FWD off the line but otherwise was impressed with that little engine. The 4/50 maintenance and warranty is a huge selling point with me. Sounds like the 3.2 AWD is a xmas gift at best, huh? Sure would be nice. I think I might be able to hold out if the actual date was released but this faithful waiting is not for me.
Some nice lady almost got bamboozled at the finish line with a last-minute "coat protector" for 7 or 9 hundie. Good girl.
Any thoughts on MP3 technology? Is it the same as Bluetooth? And do any of the lot cars have it? That would eliminate lots of clutter in the future. Wonder if you even need the 6 CD with that.
Tracking back it looks like near $1000 under MSRP is the norm--is that about right? Any thoughts on the price of the 2007 or AWD version?

walkerhound1

Recently bought a DSG premium & the free maintenance during the warranty period was a big selling point for me, too.

AWD/quattro? Do not regret getting FWD-- yesterday, went through a nasty thunderstorm and the car was as sure-footed as it could be. Snow might be another story, but we'll see. Which brings me to the tires: was not thrilled about the Pirelli P6s--- which have a lot to do with the 1st-gear wheelspin off the line IMO-- they were great in yesterday's downpour. Although these tires get dinged in some reviews for their dry grip (or lack of) & sidewall flex at the limits, I'd have to say they are a decent all-season tire choice for everyday, spirited driving. Modulate your stoplight takeoffs & get into 2nd quickly for brisk, chirpless acceleration.

Pricing: You might be able to do better than $1000 off MSRP; it depends on the market in your area. I got $1615 off sticker (I'm in the Chesapeake Bay area) & I've seen posts on other A3 boards that indicate discounts in the $1300-$1700 range.

toxie

Bluetooth is a separate option. A dealer I visited yesterday said it would be $435 additional. No one seems to know much about it except it will let you make calls in your car without an annoying headset.

MP3, I believe, is only available with the DVD/Nav system and on SD memory cards. Last I read, the CD player would not read MP3 files. However, there is an iPod integration option (in lieu of Sat Radio or CD changer).

Hope that helps.

bellamusica

Hmmm... So if the iPod integration is "in lieu of" Sat Radio or CD changer - does that mean I give up iPod integration by getting the sound package (because it includes the 6 CD changer)?

That would be unfortunate.

I too am curious if anyone can speak to the sound quality of the upgraded Bose system. I was not overly inmpressed with the base system when I test-drove.

mapin

It just means you'll have to unplug the CD Changer b/c the iPOD uses the CD changer connector. I'm sure there's a 3rd party solution to somehow splitting the input, but I doubt it's very elegant.

You may be able to work the ipod and the satellite, but again, it may require additional 3rd party hardware. I'm not sure.

gerard8

I've taken delivery on my A3 and tried to find racks for it with little success. I'm a cyclist and wanted to put a receiver hitch on the car so i could mount a hitch-mounted rack (more convenient and aerodynamic) but couldn't find a single hitch manufacturer with a solution. Then I started looking for roof mount solutions. Was led to believe that the rails were available by my salesperson (described in several reviews link title and link title) but found that the rails are not available until this fall -- october.

An Audi customer advocate pointed me towards the audi base system that is available for $315 that is a special order from Audi and must be prepaid and then takes 3-5 days delivery. Not sure what other systems these crossbars are compatible with... (link title)

If anyone has any ideas on how to contact audi to test their racks, or how to get a hitch mounted for a rear rack let me know!

Thanks!

nowakj66

I drove an A3 yesterday with the 6 speed automatic and I was impressed. Impressed to the point that I would really like to believe it would work for our family of 3, soon to be 4 -- two in car seats -- and I am tall (6' 4").

Like most VW and Audi designs, this is really a good design for a driver with long legs.

In the end something like a Passat wagon probably makes more sense - but this was one sporty fun ride!

wale_bate1

What about an A4 Avant 3.2? Kind of a jumbo A3.
;-]

kyfdx

Yeah.. but does it come with that nifty DSG transmission?

If so, I'd agree, but we're talking a big jump in price...

wale_bate1

DSG? Not yet, unfortunately, and that's a good point, IMO. You know, I never realized just how long DSG has been in the Audi playbook, though not comercially available. They had it operational in competition back in '87 or '89!

Is it a big price spike to go A4? I haven't priced a Passat since '96!

nowakj66

I've always liked the A4 Avant too. I guess the A3 appealed to me as sort of an A4 Avant on the cheap.

The dealer did not have any A4 avants to try though. He did have a 2006 Passat sedan which was very impressive. I did not get a chance to drive it but the interior was quite spacious and well done.

I just really liked that frisky A3 personality!

wale_bate1

No, no, I'm with you on the A3 thought! I just figg'red if'n a 3 was a tad too tight, maybe a 4 might be the next best choice.

I'm in an IS300 SportCross as my daily driver, and it's very close in all dimensions to the A3. I have two young'uns (9 and 12) who are routinely conveyed to various functions and activities with ease. It gets fair regular Homeless Despot work as well and handles that fine (roof rack would really help though). And we use it for local distances (hour to hour and a half one-way) quite comfortably. But, but, but... we also have a Town & Country, that my wife drives, to handle the long distance duties. Annual pilgrimmages to Disneyland (6.5 hrs) and the like are better handled with a little more space for humans and their acoutrements!

So the A3 is on my short list to choose from when next I shop...

nowakj66

Wale - the new IS looks interesting. Do you know - is a sport cross coming to that model again?

wco81

What about a Passat with the same FSI 2.0T and DSG?

Probably will be priced above A3 for same config.

kyfdx

I wasn't comparing the A4 to the Passat on price... just to the A3...

I like the A3.. I say get a shoehorn, and those little buggers will fit....

nowakj66

Is there a good place to see Passat configurations? That ASG tranny was great in the A3. I think the wagon Passat comes a bit later - like later 05, early 06?

The A3 front legroom was very good and what a sweet cockpit. Really a lot of car for under $30k.

The 06 Passat they had was amazing on the legroom. When I slid the seat back it is like pushing back off the side of a swimming pool and gliding a long way! One of the few cars where I actually wanted to move the seat up when it got to its full extension.

wale_bate1

Unfortunately there are no plans for a replacement IS wagon at this time. There was talk of something akin to a baby RX (count me out, thanks ever so), but no real sport wagon.

dewey

DSG sounds like a wonderful transmission option.

My concern: Hefty replacement clutch costs! Two clutches could mean doubled costs.

I am a person who keeps his car for long periods and long term costs are an issue. I understand that the A3 3.2 will not have a 6 sp. manual option-but will exist only with DSG. Personally I would rather have the old fashioned stick!

nowakj66

No measurements on Edmunds or even the Audi brochure. Any numbers? from another source?

mapin

>>So the Denison Icelink is displaying the track info. on the head unit?
No, the limitation is in the head unit, not the Dension Icelink. The headunit
will display the playlist number it is playing (1-5) because it thinks each playlist is
a cd in the cd-changer. It will also display a track number (1-99) which are
just assigned to each track in your playlist (if you have more than 99 tracks
in your playlist, it'll just continue to say 99 I believe).

>>And allows control from the head unit and steering wheel controls?
Yes, you can switch across the first 5 playlists on the headunit. You can change tracks within a playlist on the headunit and on the steering wheel. You can turn random on/off on the head unit as well. If you want to access more than the first 5 playlists, you have to go up to cd #6 on the head unit which activates the Dension menu on the ipod and then you can use the ipod to go pick a playlist.

>>Did you have to get behind the head unit to install it?
Yes, I never did that before, but it was painless. I followed the instructions on this website, where this guy installed a 3rd party ipod adapter (not a Dension), but basically same thing.
Here's this website: http://www.zaftig.net/node/327

walkerhound1

See Road & Track data panel, available at: http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/download/0507_audi_a3_data_panel.pdf

misterjj

"My concern: Hefty replacement clutch costs! Two clutches could mean doubled costs."

I wouldn't be too worried about this. They are multi-plate, wet clutches so they should last a long, long time. Also, they are smaller diameter than normal clutches so there is a lower velocity difference at the outside edges and since there is two of them, they each get used half as much as a single clutch would. On the other hand, you're probably talking 3 or 4 times more costly if/when they do have to be replaced.

I expect that they are intended to last for the life of the transmission. I have read messages that state that Audi guarantees them not to wear out for life, but nothing that could be confirmed. I would be a little more worried (maybe a lot) if you planned on "chipping" the car.

stickguy

one quibble, but i believe they both get used on every shift, so they will get just as much wear as a single clutch set-up.

And no, I would not want to be paying for a replacement if the DSG craps out out of warrenty!

kyfdx

...an automatic transmission.. with the same crushing cost of replacement or repair... I believe Audi will classify it the same way..

I don't think that Audi will consider the dual clutches a "wear and tear" item..

In other words, make sure you always have an Audi warranty on this car..

wco81

So Audi transmissions won't last as long as the service life of the car?

At least 15 years?

misterjj

"one quibble, but i believe they both get used on every shift, so they will get just as much wear as a single clutch set-up."

Not really. Using "In" for clutch in, "out" for clutch out, and 1,2,3... for place into that gear we get the following;

Normal stick would be:
In-1-out-in-2-out-in-3-out-in-4-out-in-5-out-in-6-out

DSG:
Clutch A:In-1-out-in-3-out-in-5-out-in
Clutch B:In-2-out-in-4-out-in-6-out

So just about half as much for each clutch in the DSG. One other thing to consider is that the DSG uses a mechanical means of shifting that should be considerably smoother than the human foot. I think even a normal clutch would last 300,000 miles if it was always shifted in a steady, smooth operation each time.

I can't imagine multi-plate, wet clutches being a normal wear-and-tear replace item! Also, from the looks of the cutaways for the tranny, it wouldn't be an easy thing to do. Sure would be nice to see some statement from Audi/VW about this though.

kyfdx

In my experience... NO transmission lasts the life of the car... If you are considering 15 years and 150K miles...

I'm sure it happens.. but, not regularly..

dl7265

My best one personally was a 1990 civic that is now being driven by my niece. It currently has 167k on the originale clutch, maybe more impressive that at least 2 owners learning to drive a manual on it . Then again that model was not Ohio produced .

DL

kyfdx

I put 130K on an '82 Accord... original clutch, etc... But, I think he meant automatic transmissions...

misterjj

"In my experience... NO transmission lasts the life of the car... If you are considering 15 years and 150K miles...
I'm sure it happens.. but, not regularly.."

You must drive american cars then. Any German car transmission should last way beyond that. Unless your just talking clutches. My 86' GTI went over 280k miles and just needed two clutches despite my abuse (I would lighten up when the smell of the burning clutch got to be too much). My 94' Jetta had 119k on the original clutch when it was totalled (sideswiped by a Bronco blowing through a red light). My 95' Jetta was bought at 82k miles and I now have over 192k miles on it. I did have a 78' (i think) Scirocco that I blew out the synchros on. Probably happened because I broke a clutch cable and drove around for a while without use of the clutch.

Most of the complaints with German cars seem to center around electrical problems, noises/rattles, poor dealer service, and engine electrical/sensor/accessory problems. It is very rare to hear complaints about premature main engine component failure and/or transmission failure. I would consider blowing an engine or transmission before 200k miles as a premature failure in a well maintained German car.

kyfdx

Automatic... Automatic... Automatic...

We aren't talking clutches...

The last American car I owned was a '77....

dhanley

Well, we have a fair number of older american cars (GM) in the family, and the one thing that usually DOESN'T break at high miles is the automatic tranny.

That's not to say there's any correlation between that and audi's DSG.

misterjj

Has anyone seen any reliability comparisons for major engine/transmission problems? The only reliability data ever mentioned is the idiotic consumer reports ratings which place a door handle breaking as equivalent to the engine blowing apart!

It's really aggravating as a person that expects to own a car for around 10 years and 200k miles. All anybody seems to care about is if a knob breaks or a light bulb burns out within the first 3 years! I get so sick and tired of seeing all the terrible "reliability" ratings of VW's while my older VW's just keep going and going. Yes they have lots of little things go wrong over the years but I know of nobody with an american car that has even made it to 10 years old and/or 200k miles. The ones that have come close are a rolling disaster zone by the time they are sent to the junk yard because the major engine or transmission repair required would cost too much.

Anyway, I think the point is moot for me. As a "stick" driver all my life who is getting tired of slugging through the gears each day, the DSG is just too good to pass up.

north0f49

Well, my A3 finally arrived last week and I picked it up on Friday afternoon, just before the most beautiful weekend of the summer so far in Montreal, which was nice timing. Car looked gorgeous at the dealership; brilliant black on a sport looks pretty stunning, imho.

Extremely happy with my choice of options, i.e., Sport package, Open Sky and convenience. Although my kids did say that the ride was a little rough in the back seat. Okay by me, we've got the Subie wagon for family excursions. They did enjoy taking curves at higher speeds than usual.

Amazingly, yesterday I did not touch it, as it was a perfect day for cycling and my wife and I biked into Montreal on the Lachine canal path, never started up any of the cars. Proud of my self-restraint, and it made me look forward to my 45-minute commute today.

No disappointment, the car is handling and performing to my high expectations, nimble, smooth and responsive. My favorite part is those long circular banked access ramps going from one highway to another, there are several on my commute. There was a Bimmer 7-series right behind me as I entered one, he was a distant dot in the rearview as I pulled on to the highway. Then I was content to put her in cruise, enjoy the ride and let the Bimmer and a horde of Mazda 3's blow past. The power is there, I will use it when I need it.

So far, so good - early days but very happy. Although I am following Ralpher's window glitch with interest, hoping it is an isolated case.

Cheers,
kc

billherrmann

KC: How long did you wait for your ordered A3? I placed my order on 7/18 and am wondering how long the wait will be. Dealer says 2 1/2 months. Thanks
Bill H.

north0f49

Hi Bill:

It was not really a standard-process special order in my case. It was back on June 8 when I sat with my dealer and outlined my desired spec configuration; she went into a database and found an exact match to an A3 which was already in transit (on board a ship) for delivery to Canada, so she was able to then reserve it for her dealership.

From what I have been hearing, 2 1/2 months sounds about right.

Good luck,
KC

bouldermax

My A3 should be delivered in a couple of weeks and I think I've solved the rack problem. If you really want the Audi clamp on racks (which are pricey), there are photos on the vwvortex.com A3 forum. However, I think Yakima makes a much better product, and I talked to the owner of an A3 here in Boulder that is using a new Yakima rack system with no problems. Yakima hasn't officially released an A3 solution, but there is a local rack shop (Rocky Mounts) that made it work. I will probably go the same route, because love Yakima, I don't like the look or limitations of the Audi rack, and I won't consider a rear hitch.