Audi A3

travelinman

travelinman: Just curious, what kind of deprectiation hit did you take on the LR3? Did you trade it in or sell it yourself?

I took huge depreciation hit (but I did put a lot of miles on it in just 7 months). The value of SUV's right now is plumetting, and I didn't want to ride that elevator to the bottom. I just traded it in (it was easier, because I don't have time to sell it myself.) I know I could've gotten more $$$ by selling it myself, however.

wale_bate1

That's good to know about Walnut Creek; thanks. I'm in San Ramon, so it's kind of a coin toss whether to go to north or east to Livermore for service (the Mrs. works in Walnut Creek). Sounds like heads is Livermore. I like the sales guy out in Livermore. First and only one I've ever talked to who was up on new product. I like that. A lot.

shipo

Thanks for the information, it's really good to know that Audi does in fact specify a synthetic oil for their blown engines, and that MOST dealers follow that specification. Having said that, given that I'm one of those throwbacks that still likes (demands) three pedals in my car, and still change my own oil (I use one of those dipstick extraction devices), any A3 that finds itself in my garage will get synthetic regardless.

Best Regards,
Shipo

dewey

Audi A3 2.0 Quattro manual
Audi A3 3.2 Quattro manual

The above is my criteria for purchasing an Audi. Currently my demands cannot be satisfied with a Audi A3 and I am disappointed.

I am as equally disappointed that there will not be a new BMW330xi touring.

I guess I will just patiently have to wait until I find an excuse to buy a new car(unless my current car self-destructs)

wale_bate1

Heck, Dewey, just go for the 3.2 Quattro DSG come January. If you really want to exercise your left leg, we'll get you an old dog to kick...

;-]

dewey

Kicking my old dog is not enough leg exercise for me. I need that additional pedal for my leg muscles!

nyccarguy

Broke Down was probably the wrong terminology. I never had an oil analysis done :surprise: I thought that it might be the engine breaking in, but since I started putting the Castrol Syntec in, the car hasn't burned a drop of oil. My analysis, kinda like shipo's butt dyno.

dl7265

Well, i was hoping he would chime in and correct me. In any case looks like we have the bluetooth questions answered at least in regards to the packages.

DL

allhorizon

That's good to know about Walnut Creek; thanks. I'm in San Ramon, so it's kind of a coin toss whether to go to north or east to Livermore for service (the Mrs. works in Walnut Creek). Sounds like heads is Livermore. I like the sales guy out in Livermore. First and only one I've ever talked to who was up on new product. I like that. A lot.

First, let me clarify that I was speaking about VW in this particular case - not sure about any Audi service in Walnut Creek. However, there are some sites such as
http://1.8t.org/dealers/
that rate dealers and their service. I have heard a lot of good things about Livermore (which is one of 2-3 places I am considering for the A3), so I think you should be in good hands. In addition, it is largely the VW only places, not the Audi or combined Audi/VW centers that have a huge service gap.

I relocated here a while ago from the San Diego area - as you can see from the list provided by the above URL, I am kind of spoiled...

billherrmann

Are there any problems/hazards with buying from one Audi Dealer and taking car to another Dealer for service?

shipo

As many of you know I am A) coming off of two consecutive leased BMWs, and looking to buy my next car if my current contract (requiring me to drive over 100 miles per day when errands and such are thrown in) gets extended, or lease my next car if my next gig (the current one ends in January) is closer to home. The leading candidate for the two different scenarios are the A3 6-Speed (three pedal) SP if I keep doing the long drive, and leasing a 330i SP 6-Speed (three pedal) SP if I can be reasonably sure that I'll only be driving 15,000 miles per year or less.

In its favor the A3 is likely to get a mile or two better fuel economy (not a small thing these days), offer a little more utility, and have a little more cache given that it is probably not going to be as ubiquitous as the 3-Series.

In favor of the 330i I would have a car that offers somewhat better acceleration (assuming that I don't "chip" the A3), power memory seats (one of my hot buttons), a little more elbow room for my passengers, and most importantly Rear Wheel Drive, something that I definitely prefer vis-à-vis FWD or even the heavier AWD.

I was just browsing around the TownHall and came across a couple of posts that got me to thinking... There are two other fairly significant items that can be put "Plus" column for the A3, both of which weight heavily against the E90:

1) Good old fashioned "GetsFlat" tires with an honest to God spare tire, and
2) A good old fashioned dip stick through which I can extract the engine oil when I do my own oil changes.

Geez, those two things might could well weigh so heavily against the E90, especially the lack of a spare tire, that I might have to opt for the A3 regardless of how many miles I'm driving.

Best Regards,
Shipo

kyfdx

Good points...

The tire thing is major.... I hadn't considered that...

Dipstick? I think I answer to that at home....

shipo

Compared to Dip Stick (which BTW happens to match my initials), she's being kind compared to a few of the things that I've needed to answer to at home... ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

blueguydotcom

Shipo did you find the footwell narrow for the 3 pd A3? I had a helluva time getting my left foot down enough to fully engage the clutch.

shipo

Hmmm, I didn't notice the foot well narrowness per-se, but then again I wasn't really looking too hard in that area. I suppose the fact that I only have a size 9 or so shoe size doesn't hurt. I'm going to try to fit another test drive into my schedule later this month so I'll keep this in mind and take a peek.

Hmmm (number 2), thinking back on my first test drive, I may not have noticed any foot well restrictions because the car had the front seat so far back that when I first got in my feet couldn't reach the pedals (which as a point of reference was something that wasn't possible in either my E46 328i or my E39 530i where my preferred seating position was full back in both cars). Checking the specs for all three cars I find this last statement somewhat curious because of the three, the A3 has the least amount of leg room at 41.2" versus 41.4" (328i) and 41.7" (530i).

Hmmm (number 3), me thinks that not all legroom numbers are created equal, time for a closer look.

Best Regards,
Shipo

allhorizon

me thinks that not all legroom numbers are created equal

Could not agree more. Shape has much to do with it (like in many honda products, where I cannot find a comfortable position for my feet as passenger), but the way things are measured must be really ill-defined. Subarus always feel much narrower to me (I often touch the glass or door with my elbow or shoulder) than the numbers would indicate.

As far as the driver's foot well in Audis is concerned, it may also depend on whether you are used to sitting with your legs mostly aligned with your body, or more squat with the knees to the side. I have heard from several people (and it may have been discussed here, previously) with the latter style that they find their knees and feet squashed in Audis. Of course, I never drive like that...

Another pet peeve of mine (of which the B5 Passat is somewhat guilty) is short seats, and seats that tilt way down towards the back. This hole is on some seats built to accomodate the back portion of the seat when that back is brought forward. Pardon me, but on those seats I feel like I am sitting on my prostrate - not comfortable!

blueguydotcom

Ah, i'm a 10.5 and that little bit extra size may be the difference. Also, I'm more of a splayed knees kind of driver, so the A3's huge transmission tunnel bangs into my right knee.

And I agree about the legroom numbers not really telling the whole story.

steher

Hi,

here are a few pics of my '06 Audi A3 3-door-version. I thought you might be interested in it.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

http://www.audi4ever.at/tb/auto.php?auto=2812&type=2

shipo

Hmmm, this is now the second time I've seen those nice two piece wheels on an A3. Said wheels remind me very much of the beautiful Type 42 wheels I had on my 2002 530i SP. Yum. I'm wondering if they are available here in the U.S.A. or of they are a European A3 3-Door option only.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shipo/detail?.dir=578b&.dnm=562e.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/shipo/detail?.dir=578b&.dnm=1d1f.jpg&.src=ph

Best Regards,
Shipo

dl7265

3 door S line Nice! thats the VW Corrado I never had

DL

seanesta

Anyone having issues out there? I have 8k miles on mine and so far the radiator has been replaced and the AC is dead. The part to fix the AC is on back order with Audi because many are experiencing the same issue. It's with the 'High Pressure Sensor' which regulates the air being pushed through, right now I get nothing but hot air through. Hoping there isn't a heat wave in the Northeast.

Wondering if anyone else has anything to report so that I can ask to have them address proactively.

Car is fun to drive but isn't reliable with only 8k miles on it, will be long gone before the warranty runs out...that's for sure.

mapin

only 2500 miles on my A3 purchased 3 months ago, and no problems yet. But i'll keep you posted (and my fingers crossed).

joemale

I'm considering buying an A3, but someone I ran in to has one and said
he's not happy with it because the cabin gets very hot.
The liner I guess is not solid and allows a lot of heat in.
Any help with this feature would be appreciated.

pmag

A number of people on other forums have noted that cars equipped with OpenSky seem to get pretty warm. The sunshades obviously help, but on a really sunny day I imagine it can still get toasty. I decided against the OpenSky for another reason -- it decreases the amount of headroom in the rear.

My brilliant black A3 without opensky stays relatively cool when sitting in the parking lot all day and cools down quickly.

--Paul

shipo

"I decided against the OpenSky for another reason -- it decreases the amount of headroom in the rear."

Are you sure about that? If anything, according to my Mark 1 eyeball scan of two A3s, one with OpenSky and one without, the car with OpenSky actually had more headroom with the sun screen open and about the same with the sunscreen closed.

Best Regards,
Shipo

salpal

I recently purchased the 2006 A3 through the military in Germany. It's American Spec and has American mapping for the GPS. I will be living in Germany for another 3 years and I need to get my hands on a Europe map DVD.

I could buy it from the dealer and spend a lot of money. But I opped to buy it off of Ebay, but I am not sure what software is compatible.

Can anyone help me??

travelinman

Just picked up my new A3 last night, and couldn't be happier. Mine has the Open Sky system, and I test drove a car without it. To me, it seemed like there was MORE headroom with the open sky than without. I don't know the exact measurements, but this was my perception.

In any case, I'm taking off early to zip through the hills of the Santa Monica Mountains, and then off for a cruise down Pacific Coast Highway.... can't wait!

pmag

I sat (and went for test rides) in vehicles both with and without the Opensky. Because of the angle in the backseat, my head was not directly under the OpenSky opening but rather under the rear lip. For me this meant signficantly reduced headroom. A number of reviews in the media have also commented on this

I guess this might vary a little bit depending on your anatomy and posture but my guess is that not enough to make a qualitative change in the comfort of the rear seat passengers. .

--Paul

mapin

I think it depends on seat position. The first time I sat in an A3 with open sky in a showroom, I felt that there was very little headroom. But in my own A3, after I've adjusted the seat to an optimal position for me, I find that i have plenty of headroom. (I'm 5'8", 160 lbs).

Yes I do wish the sun shade over the open sky was solid to block more of the sun/heat. But I don't find that that outweighs the beauty of having the system

Arrived on 6/2/05:
2006 A3 DSG, Lava Gray, Gray leather, Premium Pkg, Climate Pkg, Open Sky, Xenon.
Dension iPod kit, Motorola HF820 BT kit.
yay!

pmag

I think it depends on seat position. The first time I sat in an A3 with open sky in a showroom, I felt that there was very little headroom. But in my own A3, after I've adjusted the seat to an optimal position for me, I find that i have plenty of headroom. (I'm 5'8", 160 lbs).

At issue hear is the headroom in the backseat. I think that the headroom in the front is fine with or without opensky. The backseats don't adjust as far as I know (other than the backrest folding flat).

--Paul

travelinman

Dension iPod kit,

Mapin -- I haven't heard of this. Does it work well? Do you have the Navigation system and is it compatible with that? I am looking for ways (besides iTrip) to integrate my iPod into the A3's stereo system.

mapin

>>>At issue hear is the headroom in the backseat.

My bad, didn't realize that. Hmmm, well then I don't know how much worse open sky is in the back compared to without open sky.

mapin

I replied to your ipod question yesterday, but it seems the moderator removed it. I guess I can't link to other forums outside Edmunds.

My Dension iPod kit works very well. It was a snap to install, it just plugs into the back of the head unit (you'll need a couple head unit removal tools- get em on ebay for example). It replaces the cd-changer, so if you have a cd-changer you can forget about listening to your cds since the head unit cd changer controls will control the ipod instead. Below is a link to a picture of where I placed my ipod, right in front of the ashtray, there's a perfect little spot for it. Alternatively you can put in the glove compartment, but you'll have to drill a hole in the back of it to feed the wire through.

I have the base audio system, single-in-dash cd player. No navigation system. So I don't know if / how the kit would work with a navi system. You could call Dension and see what they say.

http://www.princeton.edu/~mpinsk/IMG_0157_3.jpg

">

8_track

Anybody know if 'hill hold assist' is available on the North American models, or if it is supposed to be available? I've seen this on various web pages describing A3.

"Audi hill hold assist helps the driver perform a hill start. When the foot brake is pressed for some time when stationary, the braking pressure that has been built up is retained momentarily after the foot brake is released. Thanks to this automatic brake intervention, the system makes it easier to perform a hill start without rolling backwards."

My A3 (base model) will roll on hills.

pmag

My A3 w/DSG seems to have hill hold even though it's not listed as a standard feature or option on the sticker. Some older DSG owners report signficant roll-back on hills (4-6in, like you'd experience with a MT), but my car doesn't seem to budge even on a fairly steep hill and in fact has the characteristic forward 'creep' that one typically associates with an automatic.

The chatter on some other A3 forums seems to indicate that all DSG equipped cars that have arrived stateside recently (mine came into port the 1st week of August) may already be equipped with hill hold.

--Paul

dl7265

While at the grocery store i was reading a C@D mag article about the VW GLI. It occured to me that both are closely priced, but the A3 has

1.107lbs lighter
2. Hatch
3.Free maintence
4.Audi Snozz (like it or not)
and much more...

As usual makes you shake your head at VW pricing.

DL

blueguydotcom

And the choice is obvious...A3. The Jetta GLI is not worth 28k (the msrp of the car I drove).

dc83

anyone know when the AWD version of A3 would come out?would it be only with the 3.2 or would the 2.0t get it as well?i want to mod the hell out of the 2 liter turbo, s i want awd, but i dont know how much long id have to wait for it. maybe i should just pay a little more for A4 avant quattro. what do u guys think?

blueguydotcom

As of now, there are no plans for a 2.0 Q.

wale_bate1

You can plan a 3.2 Quattro test drive in January. BGDG's right, no 2.0t Q anitcipated at this juncture.

A4 Avant is a bigger, heavier package. I like it, but I personally wouldn't be looking at a 2.0t A4, if that's what you meant.

kyfdx

I think with the new 2.0T FSI engine, that the A4 Avant Quattro would be a viable alternative... You get a superior engine/drivetrain layout, and plenty of horsepower...

I do think that the old 1.8T was a little over-matched...

regards,
kyfdx
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travelinman

Mapin --
Thanks for the info on the Dension ipod kit. I tried itrip again today on my commute, and all I can say is that it completely sucks. I do have the CD changer, but I would willingly give that up for ipod capabilities (it's a shame you have to choose, however). I went to the Dension website, and it looks like you need some sort of adapter if you have the Navigation system, but that it is do-able.

mannyfresh

Could anyone please help me justify getting a Certified pre-owned 2004 Nogaro blue S4 w/ 39,000 miles (asking price is $35,000) on it vs. getting a fully loaded A3 for approximately $30,000?? Is the S4 a good value, i guess, is what I am asking.

wale_bate1

I agree on the 1.8.

Is the bump enough to put teeth into it? Bigger and heavier; I would think the fun factor would nudge the bar to the A3 side. I would think...

sunilb

depends on what you want:

S4 is more performance-oriented, and, as such, will drink gas more rapidly and have higher maintenance costs (once the warranty runs out)

A3 is a bit softer, but should be covered for maintenance during the first 4 years.

Engines are wildly different-- one is a 2.0L turbo while the other is a normally aspirated eight-cylinder.

Have you test driven them?

travelinman

I think a truly fully loaded A3 will run you $33-$34k, not $30k.

In my opinion, it depends on what you want. S4 is obviously powerful. It is also bigger. But it also uses more gas (if you drive a lot it could be an issue). If raw power is your desire get the S4. To me, though, the A3 is a great handling vehicle with a very high "fun to drive" factor.

Different cars for different missions. It just depends on what you want. For an every day commuter, I would get the A3.

dino001

S4 is definitely going to cost you more over long run: from gas, to service, to insurance, to maintenance. CPO gets you good warranty, but it has deductible, doesn't it? But I think it is going to be substantial amount of higher cost over A3, even with $30K for fully loaded being a bit too optimistic.

On the other hand, S4 will be much more entertaining to drive. 8-cyl power will trump even best turbo and man/DSG.

In utility I would call A3 winner, unless S4 is a wagon. If it is a sedan, sure it is bigger, but hatchback config of A3 is much more versatile.

S4 looks like a great deal, but can you sustain the bills that come later. I would love to have it myself, but unfortunately it is out of my reach.

A3 is a bit overpriced IMHO, but it is a great vehicle. I wish there were more hatchbacks in US, but Americans don't get it so far: for them it is either sedan, or behemoth frame-based truck/SUV, or a two-seater sports car. Anything in between is "weird" ("European" - in Seinfeld's meaning ).

dl7265

that cpo is a turbo isnt it ? and the New 06 S4 a V8?

DL

wale_bate1

No, it's got the 4.2L V8. 340 ponies. 0-60 in 5.6. Possibly the leather and blue Alcantara interior too.

Not that I'd be interested or anything...
;-]

vw79type2

I am a big fan of the A3 and its made my short list for my next car. In fact, it would be at the top of my list if it weren't for one thing, will this car make it in the U.S.?

I have yet to see any on the road. Additionally, when I talked with a dealer in the Pittsburgh area back in late July/early August, he told me the A3 they had on their lot had been there since early May.

I really like this car, but don't want to buy something that will be orphaned like the BMW 318 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe were. If this were Europe I wouldn't hesitate (Though I would have many more cars to consider).

Is anyone noticing A3's starting to show up? :confuse: