Discussion
Just came back from two days training on the new A3 in Munich. One of which was spent comparing the 2.0TDi Sport 150ps against the 118d and the 1.4TFSi SE 122ps against the equivalent Alfa Romeo Gulietta(sp?).
Being a BMW owner I was fully expecting the BMW to be the better drivers car being rear wheel drive and all. But whilst I don't think much beats being pushed out of a roundabout
I was gobsmacked about how capable the A3 is with the new Drive Select system (standard on Sport and S-line). When I first saw photos of the car I had the opinion that most people had (too dull and too expensive) but having seen the car in the flesh I was amazed. No other car in the class seems to offer the technology this car has as standard; it's literally like they've managed to squeeze an A8 into an A3!
The interior is a massive step forward on the old model in terms of quality and I love that the Drive Select, ESP switch and hazard light switch etc are easy to hand from the gearknob. The MMi is the usual intuitive system only enhanced further. The BMW left me confused and cold with its array of buttons.
I was actually left questioning if I had been brainwashed by Audi
But I really don't think I have. The new A3 is a great car and when the Sportback and saloon comes out next year probably the best car they make.
Picture of the gorgeous interior
Being a BMW owner I was fully expecting the BMW to be the better drivers car being rear wheel drive and all. But whilst I don't think much beats being pushed out of a roundabout
I was gobsmacked about how capable the A3 is with the new Drive Select system (standard on Sport and S-line). When I first saw photos of the car I had the opinion that most people had (too dull and too expensive) but having seen the car in the flesh I was amazed. No other car in the class seems to offer the technology this car has as standard; it's literally like they've managed to squeeze an A8 into an A3! The interior is a massive step forward on the old model in terms of quality and I love that the Drive Select, ESP switch and hazard light switch etc are easy to hand from the gearknob. The MMi is the usual intuitive system only enhanced further. The BMW left me confused and cold with its array of buttons.
I was actually left questioning if I had been brainwashed by Audi
But I really don't think I have. The new A3 is a great car and when the Sportback and saloon comes out next year probably the best car they make. Picture of the gorgeous interior
Edited by NelsonR32 on Tuesday 19th June 10:42
NelsonR32 said:
The interior is a massive step forward on the old model in terms of quality and I love that the Drive Select, ESP switch and hazard light switch etc are easy to hand from the gearknob. The MMi is the usual intuitive system only enhanced further. The BMW left me confused and cold with its array of buttons.
I did a thread on this a while ago, but can you explain what you mean by "quality"?The word used like that is pretty meaningless as something that smells of poo has the quality of smelling like poo. Without telling us what qualities it has you aren't telling us anything. Are the panel gaps tiny? Is it creak free? Is there a total absense of wind noise? Did it mark when you kicked it to check durability? Did all the cool little silicon damped movable bits lose their damping when you cycled them quickly? Did the glovebox lid open to reveal bits of wiring loom? Were there VW logos moulded in to the back of everything?
All you've said is the buttons for some of the controls are near the gearstick, which is the sort of ergonomics that could be equally successful in an 80s Citroen, rather than an indication of durability or thorough engineering, or even successful styling.
You could describe the materials too - obviously they are mostly plastics (or "cheap plastics" when talking about cars which aren't expensive and German) but are the shiny bits real metal or plated plastic, can you see sink marks on the breakaway airbag covers. Also how does it feel, just to let dashboard touchers know what the current state of the art for that fetish is.
Sorry to jump on this, but saying "quality has improved" without including any content reads like you've been brainwashed.
StottyZr said:
Why was the 2.0Tdi compared agains the 118i? 
surely the 118d/120d sport would be the equivelent.
The 118d uses a 2 litre diesel, and produces 143bhp. Not sure what this is in ps, but it will be similar. (The 120d uses a retuned 2 litre diesel to produce 184bhp.) surely the 118d/120d sport would be the equivelent.I'd say the comparison is about right. They're both probably the models that will sell the best, so sensible to train the salesmen on those.
300bhp/ton said:
Not knocking the tech.. but what sort of money is such an equipped A3 going to cost?
Looks like it will be the about the same as the same spec 1 series, A-class and Volvo V40, but be about 2k more than the golf. However Im guessing as with the current A3 it will hot its value better than all of them, not sure why it just does!DoctorX said:
Captain Muppet said:
The one with no doors or windscreen? I suspect not.
Probably on the options list knowing AudiCaptain Muppet said:
Are they as bad as Porsche now? I had this image in my head of someone actually being allowed to order a base 911 and getting a 5m x 2m x 2m crate delivered which is empty except for a receipt and a chassis plate.
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