A3 quattro v A3 FWD with DSG, same engine dilemma!

[texasjohn]

I suspect this has come up as a question before, maybe not here, maybe in peoples minds who have considered Audis lately.. apologies if it is a regular repeat question.


The question here is basically a choice between Front wheel drive with fancy DSG gearbox or the quattro four wheel drive which is available only in manual transmission.

Assume both cars have the same engine (2.0T petrols and 2.0T diesels are available) but specifically I have the 170PS diesel in mind...

Here are my thoughts:


Has anybody driven the newer shape Audi A3 with the quattro system, preferably a diesel version?

Is it much better than the FWD?

My experience of (relatively powerful) FWD diesels is that they struggle to get the power down but 350Nm going to all four wheels could be fun, Fabia vRS I had back along 1st gear was just a flurry of wheelspin in certain conditions...

Or there is always the FWD with DSG, if I didnt go for quattro.

The thing is that you can either have the 4WD quattro in manual transmission, or the FWD with DSG (or manual transmission) but you cannot have both the quattro and the DSG.

May be selling the Z and getting a company car (as above, it would be a sport model maybe with one option) the list price in Uk of the 4wd is the same as a 2wd with DSG, so it really is down to just the drivetrain choice rather than a difference in price to consider.

So has anybody driven or owned any of these A3s or any 4wd car?

I also remember clarkson driving the blue 130i BMW and the Golf R32 back to back and saying that the 4wd was the better quicker car due to grip but the 130 more fun (drifts) although slower point to point due to 2wd.

Ive never owned a four wheel drive car (nor even driven one any real distance) so appreciate any advice.

[somouk]

On our roads I would go for the four wheel drive if you will be going cross country on B Roads. If its going to be a town car or motorway car then go for 2wd with the auto box.

HTH
Mart

[brum]

Would certainly go for the 4WD - extra security when it's wet, icy, snowy, hailey etc.
2WD is only more fun when its RWD - unless understeering on wet roundabouts is your idea of fun?

[texasjohn]

Understeering isnt fun of course, TBH part of the reason I preferred the idea of quattro was that I thought it would hold the road better, and thus more confidence inspiring than FWD (and therefore leading to more fun!).

[Dr G]

Unless you're really pushing on the big advantage of quattro is off the line and out of corner traction in poor conditions.

It does cost you a little in fuel economy but it's definitely more fun and will help out come resale time.

[agent006]

It's pointless buying any Audi unless it's got Quattro.

[catso]

I have an A3 Quattro with DSG but I think that option is only available on the 3.2 & S3, I like having both but the other day whilst mine was being serviced I had an A3 diesel FWD manual as a courtesy car & whilst it went OK it has a very narrow usable powerband 2500 - 4500 RPM and I found myself constantly changing gear but if any car needs a DSG it's this one, however the ESP was also forever cutting the power due to wheelspin, either that or with ESP off it was spinning wildly so it needs the Quattro sysytem - dilemna indeed

So it's down to the choice of DSG for ease of driving, particularly overtaking as it changes gear faster than a driver can, with better performance (once off the mark and in the dry) and with a better MPG, OR Quattro for better drive in the wet/off the mark but constant 'pudding-stirring' of the gear lever - the manual gearbox does, however have a nice slick action, (the diesel engines can be easily remapped for more power not sure if this gives a wider powerband?).

Certainly my 3.2 would lose much more usable performance as a FWD DSG than as a Manual Quattro, as such I'd have to say Quattro is the better choice, however my advice is to forget the sootchucker and get one with both DSG and Quattro - you know it makes sense.......

[texasjohn]

Well I drove the 2.0 petrol quattro and it handled well, just not quite quick enough. It would be great with a chip, or alternatively I should try the 3.2 and not have to modify.

I also drove the FWD 170diesel but it was disappointing after the 200ps petrol 4wd. Still, not a bad car though.

As per the advice above, DSG and quattro is available on the 3.2.

The A3 manual transmission on the 2.0 had a lovely action and the clutch was nice and light too. Even so, on the 3.2 I would go for DSG as per previous posts it is something I wanted, and also every MPG counts on that big motor!

Will have to find one to drive and make a choice between that and the 130i - as it is in the same price range.


Definately not the FWD Audi though

[baz1985]

I'd contend that 'Quattro' provides more traction it doesn't increase the fundamental grip level. Turn off the ESP and you can induce a little oversteer if you floor it through the apex; it's more a sensation of the car going a bit skittish rather than oversteer per se. The other course of action is to increase the rear tyres pressures a little.

[zagato]

Unless you live with both you'll never fully appreciate how awful FWD is. AWD everytime.

DSG is way down the list, with all the other toys. ie, totally non essential.

[matt3001]

agent006 said:

It's pointless buying any Audi unless it's got Quattro.

Don't be stupid. In April this year I had the same dilemma, I looked at the 2.0TDI 170 in FWD and AWD guises.

Using the car everyday the FWD is faster and better on fuel, the quattro doesn't make sense, the FWD provides so so much grip!! Only get a quattro if you live in the hills.

DSG or Box?? Hmm, mine is a manual which I think is better, it is a very smooth and short gearbox with a fantastic 4th gear that makes fantastic use of the diesel engine's torque (and hence more usuable in the real world than the 2.0T).

I know someone who runs a 2.0TDI 140 with a DSG and whilst the auto is good (if you like autos) the padel novelty wears off after a-while and tbh its no e-gear lamborghini system. the car really still does decide when you wanna change gear...

only advise is that you get the 2.0TDI 170 with a box, and fwd or quatt depends on whether you think it is worth extra £2k on the test drive? (i didn't)

[agent006]

There's no point buying a FWD Audi. The equivalent VW product will do the same job for less money in the case of the A3 and the 3 series is far better than a FWD A4 as is the 5 vs a FWD A6. It's a sad state of affairs that Audi's only unique offering is decent 4wd systems.

[zagato]

Yes but some people want the 'right' badge as cheap as possible

[matt3001]

agent006 said:

There's no point buying a FWD Audi. The equivalent VW product will do the same job for less money in the case of the A3 and the 3 series is far better than a FWD A4 as is the 5 vs a FWD A6. It's a sad state of affairs that Audi's only unique offering is decent 4wd systems.

But the new 3-series and 5-series are ugly cars!

[ChiliFly]

I just got an audi A3 2.0T Fsi quattro and i am really happy with it. I had a 2l T front wheel drive with DSG before this one also.
I would recommend that if you drive in traffic and on motorways and just occasionally take a drive on the B roads then go for fwd dsg as it is a great car with good grip. You do have to have some throttle control coming out of tight bends but with a bit of left foot breaking you can have plenty of fun with it.
The quattro is better to go for if you plan on driving in really bad snowy and icy conditions. I drove it quickly on some dirt roads and its really good there as well. It feels a lot different to the fwd but only when you really start pushing the cars to the limit.

It all comes down to what you want out of it. I would have gone for DSG and quattro but this time decided on quattro just for a change. The dsg does feel very sporty with the paddles and inspires you to drive quickly around some tight twisty bends. The speed of the shifts and paddles makes it easier to drive fast (if you are not a racing driver) as you change gear more often and play a lot more with the gearbox and the torque of the engine.
The quattro on the other hand gives you that confidence that you have that extra grip and it does feel more planted powering out of tight bends. It does need a blip on the downshifts and it keeps you working on tight scottish roads.

I do regret having a manual every time i sit in traffic though.

If you are just after having some fun though get the BMW 130. I owned a E46 BWM 330i and that car was more fun than both audis, and the handling was great even though you had to be on your toes when driving quickly. In slippery conditions however make sure you have a lot of room as the rwd bmw can step out very easily.

[FamilyDub]

Holy thread resurrection - six years!

[Dr G]

I was reading my reply above and thought 'hmmmmm don't remember typing this'.

Then I spotted the dates

[ChiliFly]

I just got my car and didn't even look at the dates when i posted the reply.
Been looking for some driving tips to make the most of the quattro on the tight roads i've been driving on