A3 TDI, suprisingly impressed!

[f1nn]

I've "inherited" an 08 Audi A3 Sport 2.0TDI 170 3dr from work.

Never really seen the point of the A3, as it always seemed like just a posh Golf, when the Golf was posh enough.

Done about 10k in it over the last few months and I have to say I am becoming quite fond of it.

It's everything you would expect, but what has surprised me is the way it handles. I expected grip galore, but switch the traction control off and push it hard and it is suprisingly keen to turn in and is quite adjustable, despite the inconsistant delivery of the CR motor. It can be provoked into being quite tail happy, and has certainly brightened up my 19 mile country road blast to the office.

I never expected that!

[delmatt]

Without wanting to sound like an old safety fogey, I hope I dont meet you on a country road.To get the tail out on an A3 you must really be chucking it around! or have very bald back tyres!

[f1nn]

I'm talking slip angles that tighten lines/quell understeer rather than unrecoverable slides.

One annoyance, why do VAG cars not allow left foot braking at the same time as acceleration?, It dips power for 3 seconds or so unless you release accelerator and re-apply. Silly.

[Accelebrate]

Doesn't sound like the same car I've driven.

Numb steering, heavily over assisted brakes. Yuck.

[useyourdellusion]

f1nn said:

I'm talking slip angles that tighten lines/quell understeer rather than unrecoverable slides.

One annoyance, why do VAG cars not allow left foot braking at the same time as acceleration?, It dips power for 3 seconds or so unless you release accelerator and re-apply. Silly.

Because they are invariably designed to be work hacks and nothing more?

[martin mrt]

Accelebrate said:

Doesn't sound like the same car I've driven.

Numb steering, heavily over assisted brakes. Yuck.

Exactly what I thought of my A3 when we had it, it was bloody terrible

[S Line Luxury]

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

[OllieWinchester]

S Line Luxury said:

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

The what?

I enjoyed my 2004 one when I had it on lease, I know a bit better now though...

[Accelebrate]

S Line Luxury said:

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

[Debaser]

S Line Luxury said:

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

An Audi A3 TDI? One of the top ten cars on the road?

[topless_mx5]

S Line Luxury said:

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

Errr...
That's so wrong I don't know where to start really.

[S Line Luxury]

Cant think of many cars that have all the boxes ticked

like i say, comapare it to most cars and you will struggle to beat it

[f1nn]

Errr............

Can I just distance myself from the top 10 cars comments...........

My point that I was expecting it to be terrible in extremes, and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

Numb steering and over servoed brakes is a given on VAG stuff these days surely.

[maniac886]

Accelebrate said:

S Line Luxury said:

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

[useyourdellusion]

S Line Luxury, did you once own a Ford Probe?

You kind of remind me of this chap:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gareth-Cheeseman/360...

[Debaser]

S Line Luxury said:

Cant think of many cars that have all the boxes ticked

like i say, comapare it to most cars and you will struggle to beat it

How much are Audi paying you?

[Mr Gearchange]

Accelebrate said:

S Line Luxury said:

superb cars, the finish, the power, the handling, the imagine

i would say mine they are one of the top 10 cars on the road, real luxury

Made my day has that.

[pilchardthecat]

That engine is better than the previous PD efforts from VAG, but it's still an average engine at best.

[Mr Gearchange]

Have a look at 'S Line Luxury's' post history. EVERY single one is a peice of quite incredible VAG fanboyism.

Edited by Mr Gearchange on Sunday 4th July 15:51

[Munter]

S Line Luxury said:

Cant think of many cars that have all the boxes ticked

like i say, comapare it to most cars and you will struggle to beat it

Audi A3 FWD
Lada Riva RWD

Lada wins.

It clearly does not have any of the all the boxes ticked.

Edited by Munter on Sunday 4th July 15:59