RE: Driven: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI
Discussion
The A1 is gonna sell well on the allure of the badge and the quality of the interior,but it makes the bespoke Mini look like a bargain-a loaded 1.4 TFSI(122) is yours for 27K!
For comparison my Cupra is 17K and an equivalent 1.4(122) Ibiza is less than 15K;are the posh interior,the toys and the stop-start and brake regen worth 12K more
For comparison my Cupra is 17K and an equivalent 1.4(122) Ibiza is less than 15K;are the posh interior,the toys and the stop-start and brake regen worth 12K more
Sir_Dave said:
It looked so nice at Le Mans 
What a terrible shame that they are aiming it squarely at the type of people that usually buy an Audi, ie a Skoda with a posh badge, as opposed to someone who may actually enjoy their driving a little, ie a BMW.
Mind you, i doubt many Mini owners care what a car drives like either.
I'm not sure. The trick of the original Mini - that the new one seems to be emulating - is that it's disarming driving dynamics suddenly made petrolheads of ordinary people. Even the pink-clad 'I love my MINI' types seem to enjoy hurling the things around. Put it this way - I've never seen one crawling in the middle lane.What a terrible shame that they are aiming it squarely at the type of people that usually buy an Audi, ie a Skoda with a posh badge, as opposed to someone who may actually enjoy their driving a little, ie a BMW.
Mind you, i doubt many Mini owners care what a car drives like either.
I see the A1 as a huge missed opportunity. This is a market segment on the up and it seems to attract keen drivers (never seen a Mito, 1-series, A-Class Brabus or DS3 crawling in the middle lane either, no doubt we won't be held up by the forthcoming Saab 9-1 either), and they could have taken the very best from that end of the VAG parts bin, with a 4WD drivetrain, TSI engine as standard and aluminium bodywork keeping the weight down. That short wheelbase coupled with the urgent turbo and low centre of gravity would have resulted in a kind of mini-Group-B tearaway that would 'just happen' to appeal to urbanites as well.
However, it seems that 'substance' is somewhere on the options list with Audis, not standard.
Also, they really, really need to do something about their steering. I find it a liability, and it's not like its competitors feel that their customers can't handle a bit of steering feel is it?
Won't this render one of the cars further up the range redundant?
It seems now that manufacturers' smallest models have become so large that all this talk of creating new niches is in fact marketing pap disguising the fact that the "new" small car is in fact an updated version of the old medium car.
Witness the 1 Series BMW. It IS a nice car, fairly good to drive and spacious. Equipment levels are high and so on. However it is as big, dimensionally, as the E36. So really it is not a new car at all; but a replacement for the 3 series - which is now as big as the 5 Series and so on.
Thus the A1 is shirley the spiritual successor to the old A3 - that is a small Audi hatchback. I know there are mechanical differences between the A3 and 4, the engines are mounted differently and so on. However the majority of the public don't care about this kind of thing to the extent that they would shun anyone trying to tell them.
Thus with the A3 being the same size as the A4, but a hatchback, the A4 is in danger of becoming the Orion to the A3's Escort. Just a less practical version. Some will claim the range is valid as it contains the RS4 and the hot variants - but most are two litre turbo diesels conveying sweaty shirted executive dullards who genuinely care about how many rubber bands they sell.
So the point remains - with size and equipment levels on the increase Audi are heading towards parity across the model range. A 1.4 A1 with leather seats and Sat Nav offers nothing that a 1.4 A3 with leather seats and Sat Nav does not.
How will anyone choose?
Oh and it looks worthy but dull, in the same way all Audis are.
It seems now that manufacturers' smallest models have become so large that all this talk of creating new niches is in fact marketing pap disguising the fact that the "new" small car is in fact an updated version of the old medium car.
Witness the 1 Series BMW. It IS a nice car, fairly good to drive and spacious. Equipment levels are high and so on. However it is as big, dimensionally, as the E36. So really it is not a new car at all; but a replacement for the 3 series - which is now as big as the 5 Series and so on.
Thus the A1 is shirley the spiritual successor to the old A3 - that is a small Audi hatchback. I know there are mechanical differences between the A3 and 4, the engines are mounted differently and so on. However the majority of the public don't care about this kind of thing to the extent that they would shun anyone trying to tell them.
Thus with the A3 being the same size as the A4, but a hatchback, the A4 is in danger of becoming the Orion to the A3's Escort. Just a less practical version. Some will claim the range is valid as it contains the RS4 and the hot variants - but most are two litre turbo diesels conveying sweaty shirted executive dullards who genuinely care about how many rubber bands they sell.
So the point remains - with size and equipment levels on the increase Audi are heading towards parity across the model range. A 1.4 A1 with leather seats and Sat Nav offers nothing that a 1.4 A3 with leather seats and Sat Nav does not.
How will anyone choose?
Oh and it looks worthy but dull, in the same way all Audis are.
hora said:
I remember the A2 values bombing. Seriously considered a 2yr old £7k TDI then I read about them abit more and went for a Golf. Looked not so long back - you know when you have a boring afternoon and I was SHOCKED at how leggy older A2's were going for silly money!!!!
What happened?!!!!!
Soon after Audi stopped producing them they suddenly came into massive demand on the used market as people realised they are actually quite good little cars. The 1.4 TDI is the pick of the range, offering good fuel economy and the CO2 is just as low as today's superminis meaning it qualifies for the £35 road tax. Seems it was a bit too ahead of its time when it came out, but these days now fuel economy is more of a concern and the governments tax bands favour low emission vehicles it makes a lot of sense.What happened?!!!!!
Twincam16 said:
Italic Textfrom the project outset the A1 team was tasked not with the goal of creating a sparky little performer with go-kart like handling, but on concentrating the existing Audi brand attributes into the smallest possible package. Which to be fair, they've done with remarkable success, because if the A1 is good at any one thing, it's being a 'proper' Audi.Italic Text
That's the thing though. What is a 'proper Audi'.
To me, it's got to have four-wheel drive technology. However, it seems these days 'Audi brand attributes'...
...
...
I'm sorry, I've just had to be sick.
...
That's got it
...
...any way, 'Audi-ness', seems to boil down to 'generic VAG looks that seem to revolve around an interchangeable grille shape that could be swapped with VW, Seat, Skoda or even Bentley without buggering the design up too much, attached to a generic 'rounded-squarish' shape designed not to offend the largest group of people as possible, a 'quality' interior that still manages to send you to sleep looking at it compared to an Alfa's, and a driving experience as exciting as being injected with surgical painkillers'.
In short, the vehicular equivalent of white noise, Boden Catalogue furniture and Dido.
Why people pay money for anything less than an S3 is beyond me, frankly.
Totally agree with you there.That's the thing though. What is a 'proper Audi'.
To me, it's got to have four-wheel drive technology. However, it seems these days 'Audi brand attributes'...
...
...
I'm sorry, I've just had to be sick.
...
That's got it
...
...any way, 'Audi-ness', seems to boil down to 'generic VAG looks that seem to revolve around an interchangeable grille shape that could be swapped with VW, Seat, Skoda or even Bentley without buggering the design up too much, attached to a generic 'rounded-squarish' shape designed not to offend the largest group of people as possible, a 'quality' interior that still manages to send you to sleep looking at it compared to an Alfa's, and a driving experience as exciting as being injected with surgical painkillers'.
In short, the vehicular equivalent of white noise, Boden Catalogue furniture and Dido.
Why people pay money for anything less than an S3 is beyond me, frankly.
Out of interest, I've just been on their online configurator and specced-up an A3 to the same level as my Citroen C4 - it came out at over £21,000. For a 1.6 diesel!
I don't know about anyone else here, but I can think of hundreds of better ways to spend that kind of money. That could buy you a 996 C2 facelift these days!
va1o said:
hora said:
I remember the A2 values bombing. Seriously considered a 2yr old £7k TDI then I read about them abit more and went for a Golf. Looked not so long back - you know when you have a boring afternoon and I was SHOCKED at how leggy older A2's were going for silly money!!!!
What happened?!!!!!
Soon after Audi stopped producing them they suddenly came into massive demand on the used market as people realised they are actually quite good little cars. The 1.4 TDI is the pick of the range, offering good fuel economy and the CO2 is just as low as today's superminis meaning it qualifies for the £35 road tax. Seems it was a bit too ahead of its time when it came out, but these days now fuel economy is more of a concern and the governments tax bands favour low emission vehicles it makes a lot of sense.What happened?!!!!!
Not to mention the small car/big badge approach which is really starting to gather momentum now.
Clivey said:
Totally agree with you there.
Out of interest, I've just been on their online configurator and specced-up an A3 to the same level as my Citroen C4 - it came out at over £21,000. For a 1.6 diesel!
I don't know about anyone else here, but I can think of hundreds of better ways to spend that kind of money. That could buy you a 996 C2 facelift these days!
£21k list for a well specced 1.6 TDI CR A3 is about what you would expect to pay these days. Remember that price will come down with 4 figure discounts after haggling.Out of interest, I've just been on their online configurator and specced-up an A3 to the same level as my Citroen C4 - it came out at over £21,000. For a 1.6 diesel!
I don't know about anyone else here, but I can think of hundreds of better ways to spend that kind of money. That could buy you a 996 C2 facelift these days!
Go and look at what Ford or VW charge for a Focus or Golf of the same spec, it won't be any cheaper.
Edited by va1o on Tuesday 22 June 19:15
Chicane-UK said:
Audi's endless quest to have a car that fits into every single fricking segment of every market continues unabated.
I was reading the GBU in CAR magazine last night and I hadn`t realised how many models Audi and BMW have nowadays.It used to be A3,4,6,8 & TT, now there are Allroads, Sportbacks, Q this and Q that....madness!
BMW are worse! X1? I have no idea who the 2WD X1 thingy is aimed at.
300bhp/ton said:
Is it just me, or is this an amazingly, yawn achingly dull car?
I'm definitely with you. It's just another desperate attempt of a german "premium manufacturer" to win some market share in the small hatchback class. It's not only dull but also overpriced.Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 22 June 13:06
Audi A1
Futuramic said:
Won't this render one of the cars further up the range redundant?
It seems now that manufacturers' smallest models have become so large that all this talk of creating new niches is in fact marketing pap disguising the fact that the "new" small car is in fact an updated version of the old medium car.
Witness the 1 Series BMW. It IS a nice car, fairly good to drive and spacious. Equipment levels are high and so on. However it is as big, dimensionally, as the E36. So really it is not a new car at all; but a replacement for the 3 series - which is now as big as the 5 Series and so on.
Thus the A1 is shirley the spiritual successor to the old A3 - that is a small Audi hatchback. I know there are mechanical differences between the A3 and 4, the engines are mounted differently and so on. However the majority of the public don't care about this kind of thing to the extent that they would shun anyone trying to tell them.
Thus with the A3 being the same size as the A4, but a hatchback, the A4 is in danger of becoming the Orion to the A3's Escort. Just a less practical version. Some will claim the range is valid as it contains the RS4 and the hot variants - but most are two litre turbo diesels conveying sweaty shirted executive dullards who genuinely care about how many rubber bands they sell.
So the point remains - with size and equipment levels on the increase Audi are heading towards parity across the model range. A 1.4 A1 with leather seats and Sat Nav offers nothing that a 1.4 A3 with leather seats and Sat Nav does not.
How will anyone choose?
Oh and it looks worthy but dull, in the same way all Audis are.
1 series BMW, spacious? what planet are you on? for the actual size of the car, interior space is poor. Same for the 3 series, which is no where near as big as an old 5 series! LOLIt seems now that manufacturers' smallest models have become so large that all this talk of creating new niches is in fact marketing pap disguising the fact that the "new" small car is in fact an updated version of the old medium car.
Witness the 1 Series BMW. It IS a nice car, fairly good to drive and spacious. Equipment levels are high and so on. However it is as big, dimensionally, as the E36. So really it is not a new car at all; but a replacement for the 3 series - which is now as big as the 5 Series and so on.
Thus the A1 is shirley the spiritual successor to the old A3 - that is a small Audi hatchback. I know there are mechanical differences between the A3 and 4, the engines are mounted differently and so on. However the majority of the public don't care about this kind of thing to the extent that they would shun anyone trying to tell them.
Thus with the A3 being the same size as the A4, but a hatchback, the A4 is in danger of becoming the Orion to the A3's Escort. Just a less practical version. Some will claim the range is valid as it contains the RS4 and the hot variants - but most are two litre turbo diesels conveying sweaty shirted executive dullards who genuinely care about how many rubber bands they sell.
So the point remains - with size and equipment levels on the increase Audi are heading towards parity across the model range. A 1.4 A1 with leather seats and Sat Nav offers nothing that a 1.4 A3 with leather seats and Sat Nav does not.
How will anyone choose?
Oh and it looks worthy but dull, in the same way all Audis are.
Audi's a dull? jesus...where did everyone's taste go? in between the awful new BMW's and frankly ostentatious Mercedes, Audi remains the only brand in my opinion that still produces genuinely desirable cars. I keep looking at a 3 series coupe (e90), and to be honest no matter how well it drives, no matter how strong the engines are, it's dull to look at and even worse inside.
You really are talking a load of rubbish here. For all you know these 'sweaty shirted executive dullards' have a fleet of supercars at home and drive the A3 TDI to work because it's one of the best small cars you can buy; quality, refinement, economy and class. Hell, a white, loaded, A3 170 TDI sportback quattro..surely an ultimate daily driver. Dull my arse, you're all becoming boringly predicable now. As i find with the R8, it looks A LOT better in real life than in photographs.
Just shows how even generic styling can cock up. That thing is ugly probably just falls short of the MiTo in the "Beaten with an ugly stick" department. Also what is it's reason to exist? It's not targeted at the Mini so isn't a "Premium sporty" car. So that leaves it fighting with such as the Polo, Corsa, Fiesta and Punto. The Polo looks nicer and drives well, the Corsa hits the spot for build, packaging and design, the Fiesta is a gorgeous looking thing with sporty handling to match and the Punto is for those who can't afford any of the above. And that's the point In this class Price matters and a rather ugly over priced Audi is going to have to fight for sales with the Polo on brand as it doesn't match the others for price. The Mini will continue to be the choice for those wanting a chuckable "fun" car.
To me A5s look like they've melted in the sun. And as those seem to be considered the best lookers Audi makes (except R8 and TT) I think their range is far more boring than a 3 series coupe. At least that is quite OK apart from the rear wheel arches...
But then I think a Merc CLS is shaped like a friggin' Dove bar - and therefore is most definitely ugly, as well.
But then I think a Merc CLS is shaped like a friggin' Dove bar - and therefore is most definitely ugly, as well.
Edited by ptopman on Wednesday 23 June 02:52
The Mini is cramped,ubiquitous,relatively limited in running gear choice and not so premium inside,while its retro looks don't appeal to everybody.Yet it sells well,so there must be a market for a premium supermini.
The A1 will appeal where the Mini is lacking(see above),while its shared platform shortcomings(less advanced underpinnings than the bespoke Mini platform with its independant rear suspension) won't matter to the majority of the prospective buyers.And the A1 will be even cheaper to run than the smaller Mini,making the high price little more acceptable for more budget conscious buyers.
The Mito and the DS3 don't have premium image,even the Polo is little ordinary.
Anybody still expecting aluminium,AWD and bigger engine in the forthcoming S1 will be dissappointed,i don't think that there is a business case for 30k supermini,no matter how good it is!
The new front wheel drive 1 series will be the real competitor for the A1...
The A1 will appeal where the Mini is lacking(see above),while its shared platform shortcomings(less advanced underpinnings than the bespoke Mini platform with its independant rear suspension) won't matter to the majority of the prospective buyers.And the A1 will be even cheaper to run than the smaller Mini,making the high price little more acceptable for more budget conscious buyers.
The Mito and the DS3 don't have premium image,even the Polo is little ordinary.
Anybody still expecting aluminium,AWD and bigger engine in the forthcoming S1 will be dissappointed,i don't think that there is a business case for 30k supermini,no matter how good it is!
The new front wheel drive 1 series will be the real competitor for the A1...
Edited by mainaman on Wednesday 23 June 07:15
The long term we will be driving smaller and lighter cars. It makes strategic sense to get into the market sooner rather than later and build the brand and image now. Cash in now and reap the rewards later. Mini has a great image today that stand them in a great position to capitalize later. Clearly Audi need to know where they stand in this and the A1 makes perfect sense.
Not sure on the styling though. Audi need some flare at this end of the market.
Not sure on the styling though. Audi need some flare at this end of the market.
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