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Best Regards,
Shipo
272hp AWD 2.0T
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Having said that, my A3 is closing on 6 months with almost 11,000 miles on it. So far I have not had one negative to say about my car. The only problem so far has been the sun-screen sticking a bit, and this was corrected by the dealership no questions asked.
I agree that in the past Audi has had troublesome product, but I think you will find that their current generation of vehicles to be far more reliable and a better long-term ownership proposition.
Interest in A3 comes from smaller size, stronger body, AWD, and the 6 speed paddle trans.
However, isn't the A3 Quattro only offered in Sport version? Its lo-pro tires may not be a match for our freeway potholes!
Also looks like a larger set of engines are on the way for the A3 (270 or so HP for the 2.0) - those wanting more power might want to wait until they get here.
For what it's worth, the A3 3.2 Quattro comes equipped with the same tire and wheel size as the A3 2.0T FWD version. Said wheel and tire size is 17x7.5 and 225/45 R17, and unless you upgrade to the optional 18 inchers, you should be fairly well insulated from wheel eating pot holes.
As for the "larger set of engines", my understanding that the S3 that is in winter testing mode in the picture above is actually just a seriously breathed on version of the same 2.0T that is in the base car. That having been said, I'm fairly certain that the VR6 from the Passat will fit as well.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Audi USA gave me some info:
1. All wheels are cast aluminum (no forged options),
2. Quattro model is only S-line (no idea how much harsher that ride will be be .vs. regular A3).
The folks at drive.com said "pretty short", whatever that means...
Try to organize my writing in your mind, it's so out of order.
Audi will be asking (estimate) around $28,000.
Something nice about the A3 is that it comes with far more options standard than the Golf. I also love the look of the A3- it looks dynamic and sporty, while the Golf looks chunky (I saw a GTI at the VW dealership the other day). Also, the Audi has not only more options standard, but more options overall. You can't get a factory body kit or an 'Open Sky' glass roof in the Volkswagen. You're also getting the prestige of the Audi badge, of course- it just screams "young executive" (if you're young and buying an A3).
Hoping this helps
To steal more sales.
Remember how Volkswagen released the Phaeton? That is the same thing as having a competing Golf and A3, except the opposite effect is to happen. No one buys the Phaeton over the A8, because the A8 is an Audi, while the Phaeton is a Volkswagen. Of course, there are more reasons to buy an A8, but for people who don't know cars, that's really the main incentive.
The same thing is to happen with the A3/Golf- because Audi has more cachet, it may attract more buyers (and Volkswagen isn't admired in the U.S. of late).
Of course, there's a large chance that this will NOT happen, due to Volkswagen's experience with hatches. I admire any company that is not GM or Mercedes-Benz, so that would be fine with me.
"...because Audi is selling too few of them to get sufficient sample size."
At least in my county (Cook County, IL (Chicago)), the A3s are selling well enough. I see maybe six a week. That's a relatively large number compared to sales of other premium hatchbacks (excluding MINI- I see those on and off, but when I see them on, I see them very frequently). The Malibu Maxx is virtually not selling in Chicago, I've seen one 318ti in the last ten years, and the Lexus IS300 SportCross (if you consider it a hatch)... I don't want to go there. I liked it, but I saw my first one... today.
Well, it may not sell well there, but Audi is a very good seller in my area.
Was impressed by it all, coming from a G-35 still in a dilemma about moving over but the one thing that I will be going back to find out and reconfirm is the seat size for the driver. Does anyone feel it is a bit tight. I am 195 but not too big in the rump area. I sort of found the seat a bit uncomfortable but didnt have enough time to really adjust to my liking..but is the seat tight to others? It was the s-line with the sport seating and this will be the model I prepare to choose..
Thanks
"...because Audi is selling too few of them to get sufficient sample size."
At least in my county (Cook County, IL (Chicago)), the A3s are selling well enough. I see maybe six a week. ...
Well, it may not sell well there, but Audi is a very good seller in my area.
Well, 2005 total sales of A3 were about 5400, or about 600 per month. If you're seeing about 25 distinct cars per month, then you yourself alone are seeing roughly 4% of ALL of the Audi A3s sold in the entire country. Pretty amazing job for one person in a country of 300 million to see 4% of the A3s.
The numbers don't lie. For 2005, Audi sold almost 10 times the numbers of A4 as they did A3, and 3 1/2 times the number of A6s as A3s.
By the way, what is your source that A3 2.0t Quattro should be coming soon? I haven't seen that anywhere. April at Audiworld says that there's no gas tank for a 2.0t/Quattro/DSG. With that, my purchase is easy.
Agreed that a 2.0TQ S-line would make the decison very quick indeed...
The figures were from sales from March - December. March's were only 47 units so that's a no go (why I used 9 months as my average). Granted, the A4/A6 were for 12 month periods, but still they are way above the A3 (A4 more than 6 times and A6 more than twice the rate).
Even if you take this as a 8 month average, you're still only up to 8k copies per year - behind a very low target.
I see them here and there fairly frequently. I wouldn't care to make book on actual numbers, but certainly they are moving.
Again, I don't think anyone expected them to be volume sellers in the least. This was identified as a niche car from the get go. What's promising is the buzz that it has created by way of a good mix of performance, styling and amenities. The fact that other mfr's are showing at least some interest is encouraging for those of us who prefer our sport with five doors.
Of the potential comers, it's Toyota's new Lexus IS-based hatch concept that has my attention downstream. The power goes to the correct wheels and the shape is everything the new IS sedan is not. The 130i was interesting, but frankly the design they settled on isn't all that attractive, and apparently we won't see it here anyway.
All in all, for the A3, I think a 2.0TQ S-line would be a killer.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I'll keep checking and let you know if I discover anything else out.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I checked out: http://www.ross-tech.com/index.html and sure enough, that's the device. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
I see you wrote LA...I'm guessing you mean Los Angeles. That's a competitive market and they'll play ball. Not that hard to find fairly bad roads either, but those aren't exactly roads on the level of say NYC or Chicago.
Maybe I'm seeing something closer to 2%, which sounds right for a city Chicago's size.
"By the way, what is your source that A3 2.0t Quattro should be coming soon? I haven't seen that anywhere. April at Audiworld says that there's no gas tank for a 2.0t/Quattro/DSG. With that, my purchase is easy."
My local Audi dealership. A gentlemen by the name of P. Bright told me that it would be coming soon, and he is the specialist at the dealership. I would believe him.
My local Audi dealership. A gentlemen by the name of P. Bright told me that it would be coming soon, and he is the specialist at the dealership. I would believe him.
Very interesting.
I've been on the fence since last May, and that would definitely put me on the other side.
My gripe about the sales number is just that compared to Europe and other places, where A3 sales are not far off from A4 sales, US A3 sales seem minuscule. Granted, the US isn't a big hatchback market, but even if you shrink the European rate by half or even down to a third, we're still not close to the proportionate sales of the A4.
I don't think this has to be a niche product. I think a lot more could be sold, if the proper mix of options were available around the country. But a lot of times you have to work hard to see what certain options/colors are like (took me a while to see an open sky roof in person). I'd rather not be driving a complete niche product - been there, done that (Alfas).
Audi has a good car here. I just wish they would show it off more.
Go drive the car and then determine if the suspension can't handle LA's pretty well maintained roads.
I'm really baffled by this constant harping on suspension travel and tires/wheels. Everybody else in LA is getting by just fine with 17s, 18s and 19s. I don't see why the A3 would be a problem at all.
;-]
Yes. Phishing here I think, Kurt.
Audi provided no answers, nor did other Audi forums I visited, but __you__ folks did. Sincere thanks!
Will check A3 out in comming weeks and see just what it can do.
Sorry host... I own an A3 2.0T DSG FronTrak, and mine, fully-loaded, costed $33K. I did get a deal, and got it for less than that, but that's not the point.
My A3 has a very nice, very expensive Audi body kit. It is NOT S-Line, but it costs $2500 and gives you a sport suspension. I believe it's rare, because I haven't seen many. Mine is the only one with it in my area.
So expect a fully-loaded A3 2.0T quattro to be the same price as mine, because it doesn't have the body kit, but will have the AWD system.
I like it, though...
regards,
kyfdx
PS: that post is from March, 2005.. At that point, we were just guessing..
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What happened in '05, stays in '05. That's not a guideline. That's a rule, man.
Maybe I missed something.
If I were you, and wanted an Audi, I would've waited three months for the Q7 4.2. Gorgeous- and it costs $2K less than the A6 4.2!
Obviously a personal taste thing, and one man's poison is another man's Pinot, but frankly I'd rather shove my head up a dead goat's butt than get stuck in any SUV no matter how swank. I can't even begin to tell y'all just how miserable I've been in the RX330 loaners I get time to time. Boats. Total boats.
Blecch!
:sick:
You have a very high standard for handling.
That particular Lexus is the most car-like luxury SUV in the world! It is very nimble for a car its size, and as quick as an X5 4.4i.
Precisely so. Which is why a car like the A3, or my '03 IS300 Sportcross, or a pre-'05 325iT is very much preferred over any SUV on the road. By comparison, most other cars feel like wallowing pigs. Very hard to accept, especially when you realize there's very little utilitarian advantage to the bulkier tall wagons like the RX330.
Exceptional handling, close fitting and competent cockpit, well-trimmed but not baroque (hint: gathered leathers and wood are strictly for the geriatric ward) interiors, taut suspensions that convey in comfort yet still communicate what the road is saying and engines that can be politely heard performing rather than cloaked in the silence of the tomb - this is what real luxury is all about!
Like I said, one man's poison is another man's Pinot... :shades:
You have a very high standard for handling.
That particular Lexus is the most car-like luxury SUV in the world! It is very nimble for a car its size, and as quick as an X5 4.4i.
Cough, cough ... Well, car-like could mean many things, I guess. Like, it almost handles like an Avalon!. And what are Cayenne owners going to think about your statement?
At any rate, this is out of topic. I am just mentioning this because I don't agree that it takes high standards to desire better handling than an RX330 - unless a car or station wagon (think, e.g., new Passat, Legacy GT, BMW, or Audi), for whatever reason, doesn't fit your bill.
It can't touch an x3. Having driven several X3s, I can say without a doubt you're not gonna find an under 60k SUV with that kind of handling and certainly not in a Lexus. Lexus can't even make a decent sport sedan and their RX is marshmallow soft.
I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of a good handling Lexus in 2006.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Handling is one key indicator for me. I do think my standard is high, but only in the context of what the overwhelming majority of Americans are willing to accept. Let's just face the fact that a good 90% of the vehicles offered for sale in this country have mush for suspensions and steering from "Numb R Us", and people seem to like it that way! They don't know the difference nor even care!
Bit frightening really, that the average driver fusses so little about the actual driving part of the experience and focuses rather on cheesy wood, cupholders, MP3 inputs and Bluetooth compatability.
Dark times, says I!
:surprise:
Yeah, so true - many friends and websites from my old country make fun of that all the time. The biggest joke recenlty was American VW GTI getting giant cupholder in center (one for big gulp) - I don't even know if it's true, but even if it's not, it is well made up.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
That's a "bingo".
Major BINGO, actually.
That's what I did. I traded in a Land Rover LR3 for a new A3. I liked the Land Rover, but it sucked gas like nobody's business, was extremely heavy, and now that I have my A3, I have no regrets.
Believe it or not, a lot of people are "down-sizing" -- not in terms of handling, luxury, or performance, just in terms of size.
The SUVs which are actually fun to drive are in a completely different price bracket (BMW and Porsche). Only small sport wagons like the Subaru and Volvo (and Saab) go head to head with the A3 in terms of price/performance/reasonable gas mileage.
The comparisons depend on how you balance utility/performance and being careful to compare comparably equipped vehicles. Does a wagon offer more usable space? Maybe if you have people who will regularly sit in the back seat, maybe not if you don't. I see comments that the A3 3.2 Quattro is expensive, but the base A3 3.2 is pretty well loaded and is only a few thousand more than a comparably equipped Volvo V50 AWD T5. You have to be careful about too many ad-ons because you can bump up against another class of car (like Audi's own A4). Personally, I think the A3 3.2 Quattro with just the addition of the Zenon lights is a pretty good package that offers enough cargo space for most people, AWD (which is the main advantage of SUVs), decent gas mileage and a good fun-to-drive quotient. But it all depends on what you really need your car to do.
I also don't think price overlap is necessarily a bad thing, provided a desired package is the ultimate outcome. So, per A4 pricing, I personally don't have an issue if the loaded A3 3.2Q approaches or even eclipses it on the sticker. Overall, I would prefer the A3's more tailored size inside and out to the A4 Avant, and I'd certainly pay for the add-on baubles I want. When it stops making sense is when faced with deliciously subsidized leases on the A4 that really skew the picture. Just too hard to blindly pass up a bargain on a great car in very similar trim with very similar character (if not quite as sharp). That said, the A3 3.2Q with Open Sky, rear bags and 18" wheels would fit my bill quite nicely and isn't out of the running. HID's, Sat. radio, Bluetooth and NAV I have had(except the sat. radio) and I don't need.
Others may disagree, but I think a focus on the size of the car as principal indicator of perceived value is completely myopic in nature.
I need a drink after that post. :confuse:
My wife wants to get rid of her RX330 next year, and since we have an A3 on the side, the trunk is ample enough to do that.
We're going to the Chicago auto show with my car-involved son on Sunday, and looking at a Mercedes-Benz sedan for her because she wants something more "sophisticated."
Any suggestions? I wouldn't like to spend much over $60K. (We're buying people)