2008 Audi A3 Reviews

Audi is often in the forefront of vehicle design and the A3 is a classic example. The company was the first of the upmarket German marques to make the bold, some thought foolhardy, move to smaller, relatively affordable cars.  Prior to the Audi A3 you had to spend upwards of $60,000 to get into one of the big make

Audi is often in the vanguard of vehicle design and the A3 is a classic example. Audi was the first of the iconic German makers to make the bold move of moving down into smaller, relatively affordable cars.Prior to the Audi A3 you had to find something north of $60,000 to get into one of the big make Germans. The A3 dropped the starting price to the sub-40 grand region. There were mutterings that this would devalue the prestige rating of the larger, more expensive models in the range. That didn’t happen and soon arch rivals Mercedes and BMW joined Audi in introducing smaller, affordable cars.Though the Audi A3 is considered a small car by Australians, in Europe it’s often used as a family car. Four adults are more comfortable than you might expect given the relatively small size of the car. Rear-seat access in the three-door is better than in just about any other car of its type with front seats that move right out of the way in an ingenious fashion. Having said that, the five-door is obviously more practical if the back seat is going to get a lot of use.The Audi A3 has the solid feel that’s very much part of the marque.There’s plenty of stowage space in the cabin so this is a practical machine that suits many people living in crowded suburban regions in Australia. Two good sized suitcases can be carried in the boot together with some small bits and pieces. Tie-down clips secure the load in a crash or under heavy braking.Audi A3 sales were reasonably good from the May 1997 launch of the three-door, but didn’t really get up to full speed until the introduction of the five-door models in October 1999. Many of the earliest A3s are now on the used-car market, but they may be nearing the end of their lives - and they aren’t as cheap to repair or service as more mundane cars of this size.The Audi A3 has the solid feel that’s very much part of the marque and this has shown up in good durability as the years have gone by. Handling is very good, though there is perhaps just a little too much understeer at the limit to suit the full-on driving enthusiast.Engine choices in the original A3 were a 1.6-litre single-cam unit with two valves per cylinder and two 1.8-litre twin-cam models with the Audi trademark of five valves per cylinder (three intakes and two exhausts). The 1.8 came with or without a turbocharger, with the turbo engine tuned to give flexible torque and economy at low to mid-range engine speeds, rather than flat-out sports performance.Power in most Audi A3 models is transmitted to the front wheels.The second-generation cars retained the 1.6-litre in the entry level models, but also offer a 2.0-litre FSI petrol unit, with or without a turbo. It was also available with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Best of all is a 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine that gives a huge amount of get-up-and-go in a relatively small car like this one.Power in most Audi A3 models is transmitted to the front wheels, the 2.0 turbo-petrol can be specified with Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel-drive system. It comes as no surprise that quattro is mandatory with the big V6 engine.Audi S3 is the high-performance variant. The S3 has a sporting three-door body and uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine driving all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.Audi has been on fire in the Australian sales race over the last few years and the number of authorised dealers has increased as a result. Naturally, there’s a concentration on the major metropolitan areas, but some regional areas are starting to get into the act as well.Spare parts and servicing are reasonably priced for a prestige car but fairly expensive for a machine of this size. If you are shifting up to an Audi from an Asian or lower priced European car ask the dealer about servicing costs.Check your insurance company’s policy on turbo-petrol engines as some charge very high premiums that can add significantly to the purchase price of a used car.WHAT TO LOOK FORMake sure the engine starts quickly and idles smoothly even when it’s cold. If there’s any hesitation from the engine under hard acceleration there could be computer problems.Check that a manual gearbox changes smoothly and quietly and that an automatic transmission doesn't hunt up and down the gears when climbing moderate hills with light to medium throttle openings.Uneven front tyre wear probably means the car has been the subject of some hard driving, so is more likely in one of the high-performance models.Uneven tyre wear may also mean one of the wheels is out of alignment as the result of a crash, though that crash may have simply been a hard thump against a kerb.CAR BUYING TIPUpmarket cars almost invariably cost more to run than everyday ones, be sure to factor this into your purchasing budget.

And, given the push-button convenience of the latter these days, the car's upper garb often comes off quicker.Spring is also, of course, the time when Carsguide preaches to the convertible.It's a task made easier by the ever-expanding range of topless four-seaters _ cars that combine a decent degree of utility with a goodly serving of desirability _ so that now ever more are converting.The facility to have it off and on at will (most such lids fold up or down in around 20 seconds and some can do it at 30km/h) is worth a lot more as a selling point than all the kilowatts and cornering force figures in the world combined. Otherwise, just buy a coupe.Not that BMW's 125i (priced from$63,755) lacks a means of propulsion or is in any way reluctant to address bends.Even detuned to 160kW/270Nm, this three-litre jobbie is a classic example of the Bavarian's trademark in-line six _ which, combined with rear-wheel-drive dynamics, is unique among current compact convertibles.Contrary to the hairdryer image of this genre, the only thing soft about the 125i is its roof which, in a world increasingly given to folding metal numbers, is of fabric construction.For a car that, even by the compromised norm of this type, is knee-crushingly cramped in the back, it's starting to get bloody dear _ though even that's relative, given it's $30K easier on the wallet than the identically engined 325i.Equally, the Volkswagen Eos TFSI (from $49,990) offers value _ indeed, allure _ that would necessitate spending maybe $40K extra on a more prestigious badge.The VeeWee also boasts the best top of all these sometimes-roofless Germans: one with a number of variations, all of which enable it to be completely convincing as either a convertible or as a coupe. In either guise, it looks great.The TFSI shares the Golf GTI's platform and drivetrains: a slick, six-speed manual or a twin-clutch auto driving that sublime two-litre, direct-injection turbo four-potter.If you tick the optional sports suspension with 18-inch tyres box, it can do a fair dynamic imitation of this now-ubiquitous warmish hatch.So can Audi's A3 2.0 TFSI Cabrio (from $54,900) _ as it should, given that it has the same underpinnings and go bits as the allegedly humbler Eos.But although perceived prestige badges can have a disorienting effect on some punters' sense of proportion, the Eos's trick roof is enough to see it shroud out its soft-topped cousin.It used to be that to go topless in traffic, you had to be Swedish; time was, indeed, that Saab's 9-3 was synonymous with this sort of behaviour.But that was 10 years ago. Today, a 9-3 Convertible is an unreliable and outclassed alternative to simply wearing a T-shirt that reads: “Clueless”.Fortunately for Scando enthusiasts, there's Volvo's C70 T5 (from $79,950). No, it doesn't get up and go anything like those mentioned above (despite a worthy 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo), much less handle.But it does have visual presence, GT composure, a smart folding metal roof and _ perhaps more to the Swede-lover's point _ a perceptible quality of having been hewn from something extremely solid and ever-so safe.Just as Lexus's IS sedan chucked a spanner into the compact prestige segment by doing a rear-drive/six-pots-up-front package that undercut the Germans for value, so too will the Lexus IS250C coupe/convertible.Seen at the Sydney motor show, this folding-aluminium-roof number is due in these parts in the second half of 2009 _ no doubt priced at a point to cause the Europeans maximum discomfort.The IS250C has a rear overhang some 50mm longer than the sedan, and Lexus claims class-leading boot space even with the lightweight, three-piece lid folded.Roof up, it looks better still, with a coupe sleekness that becomes the IS more than the four-door shape.The IS250C shares the sedan's 153kW/252Nm 2.5-litre V6 and six-speed, paddle-shift automatic.At $1.19 million, the ultimate convertible costs 20 times more than the least expensive car here, but the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is quite possibly the world's best car _so this seems only right and proper.We mention it mainly to have an excuse to run its exquisite likeness, because next to none of us is ever going to get into one.But it somehow helps to know that those who do have the wherewithal aren't wasting their dough on rubbish.Besides, as the stock market goes at the moment, a Rolls is probably a better investment than shares. 

So determined are Audi to inform us that they are improving the efficiency of their new vehicles, they have started adding a reminder to their model names.They tell us that an ‘e’ version – a super efficient variant distinguishable by the letter ‘e’ tacked onto the end of the model badge - will be available in all core model lines by the end of 2008.There are a number of engine and transmission choices for the A3 Sportback range – we tested the 1.9 TDIe.Drivetrain The TDIe is powered by an in-line four-cylinder, OHC diesel engine with a VTG turbocharger. It produces 77kW and 250Nm of torque, with a five-speed manual transmission – with synchromesh on all gears - getting power to the wheels. This set-up will reach a top speed of 194km/h and if pushed will hit the 100km/h mark in 11.7 seconds.Exhaust emission is managed by a maintenance-free particulate filter and controlled exhaust-gas recirculation. Put simply, the TDIe releases a paltry 119g/kg of CO2 and only uses 4.5 litres of diesel every 100km.Electro-mechanical speed-sensitive steering combined with the A3’s dynamic chassis makes for a well-balanced ride that allows for a punchy sportiness without sacrificing comfort.Exterior With a high shoulder line, striking front and distinctive rear, the five-door A3 Sportback aims to combine the sportiness of a classic coupe with the practicality of a roomy hatchback. On the outside the major difference between the 1.9 TDIe and the rest of the range is its 16-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers, rather than the 17-inch alloys on the other models. Low roll-resistant – and therefore fuel efficient – 205/55 R16 rubber also contributes to the green direction Audi are steering towards with the ‘e’ version.InteriorOn the inside, the A3 Sportback is what we have come to expect from Audi – simple, intuitive controls with comfortable, attractive seats and trim – put together with quality materials and workmanship that reflects the attention to detail the big German marque is famous for.EquipmentRemote central locking, security engine immobiliser and electric, body-coloured exterior mirrors, automatic air conditioning with dual climate control, power windows, a Driver Information System (DIS) and leather steering wheel are standard, with numerous options including sun roof, xenon headlights and a rear parking system also available.Split fold rear seats and an mp3-compatible concert sound system – also standard – ensure that longer trips and cargo placement are fairly pain free.However, cruise control and automatic headlights were a surprising omission from the standard list for what is positioned as a premium vehicle.SafetyA substantial airbag package plus ESP – which incorporates ABS with brake-assist, Electronic Differential Lock and Anti Slip Regulation – heads up the impressive line of standard safety features in the A3 range.You also get head restraints and three point seatbelts for all five seats, the Audi backguard that holds your upper body in place in the event of rear-end collision, and a safety steering column with tilt and telescopic adjustment.PricingThe Audi A3 Sportback range starts at $37,200 and tops out at $65,800 for the 3.2 Quattro with a sports pack. The TDI e starts at $38,900.Driving Without the benefit of the more advanced technology found in other Audi diesel engines, such as direct injection, even with the turbocharger the little oilburner struggles a lot of the time.It sounds a bit agricultural, especially at idle and at the start of trips, although it doesn’t intrude badly into the cabin. And most of the time you don’t feel any benefit from the turbo.There was quite a bit of wind rush around the pillars when you manage to reach higher speeds, and it’s joined by a considerable choir from the fuel-efficient rubber.And while it was set and forget on the highway, around town the five-speed manual transmission became tedious – as did the nanny alert on the info display that suggests you change up a gear (for better economy).But economy is certainly not a problem with the 1.9 TDIe’s. It gave an overall consumption of 5.2L/100km after a week of driving, with highway running dropping as low as 4L/100km. Cost-wise, this is good enough to pit against some of the hybrid technology out there. The Audi A3 1.9 TDie sportback was awarded Carguide Best Green car for 2008 

It wasn't a promising start. The temperature was toying with single figures; the rain was sheeting down; the wind was gusting to 50km/h and there was a convertible to drive.Fast forward two hours and a flight north. The temperature was in the mid 20s; there wasn't a cloud in the sky; the wind was a mere zephyr (not the Ford kind) . . . and the Audi A3 Cabriolet was mine for the rest of the day.What was there to do but to drop the soft top — the optional fully automatic roof stowing in around nine seconds flush to the body (no tonneau needed) — folding to leave exactly the same boot space as when it is up, 260 litres, and thanks to 50:50 split-fold rear seats, swelling to 674 litres with both rear seats folded down — the largest luggage area in its class.There is also a semi-automatic version with a centrally placed handle unlocked by hand before the automatic release rapidly opens the lid.There was little cabin turbulence in the four-seater — even less with an optional wind deflector in place.However, positioned immediately behind the driver and front seat passenger this does take out the rear seats.With the double insulated rag top — a good weight saving here — up, the `wind' may have dropped but there was more road noise.As launched, the A3 Cabriolet range features two sporty, yet economical engines — the tried-and-tested 118kW 1.8 TFSI and 147kW 2.0 TFSI, both taking advantage of Audi's direct injection engine technology combined with turbocharging.Both engines, says the maker, return a fuel consumption figure of 7.6 litres per 100km (37 miles per gallon). The turbo motor responds extremely quickly at 2000rpm, the 1.8 TFSI producing maximum torque of 250Nm in just 1.2 seconds, firing the car to 100km/h in just eight seconds when mated with the standard six-speed dual clutch S tronic transmission.The 2 litre TFSI engine, named Engine of the Year in its class for four consecutive years from 2005, at 1800rpm produces 280Nm of torque on the crankshaft with its peak at 5000rpm.It is available with a choice of two transmissions, including a six-speed manual or the S tronic which can accelerate the A3 Cabriolet to 100km/h in just 7.3 seconds. In manual mode 7.4 seconds.I can vouch for the slickness and smoothness of the 2 litre with both S tronic and six-speed manual transmissions, and assume there's not much lost in either with the fractionally smaller motor.Airbags for driver and front passenger, plus head and thorax side airbags, are all fitted as standard. All four seats feature head restraints.An electronic stability program with anti-lock braking, electronic brake force distribution, electronic differential lock and brake assist also is fitted as standard across both models. Prices start at $49,990 for the 1.8 TFSI Attraction (S tronic), the 2.0 TFSI Ambition (six-speed manual) is from $54,900, while the 2.0 TFSI Ambition (S tronic) is from $57,500. Prices have been calculated with 25 per cent luxury car tax. Audi Australia will cover the extra 8 per cent LCT on behalf of its customers until August 26, when the outcome of a Senate Economics Committee inquiry on the tax is expected to become known.Audi is letting us have 300 A3 Cabriolets this year, half of which have already been sold. 

A soft spot for tradition is the basis for Audi's A3 cabriolet.At a time when most carmakers are turning to folding metal roofs, Audi insists on providing a soft-top alternative.“I have always believed that a small segment of customers are true believers — those who want their soft-top car to be a soft-top,” Audi Australia's general manager for marketing, Immo Buschmann, says.“They are the people who believe that part of the joy of open-top motoring is the attraction of a cloth roof.”Buschmann was speaking at the launch of Audi's baby soft-top last week. The A3 is the latest in Audi's line-up of `original' soft-top convertibles.“The A3 cabriolet is a logical extension for the brand,” he says.“We are one of the oldest brands in the world and from the very start cabriolets were at the heart of the brand. In 1910, when we first started, all Audi cars were cabriolets, roadsters or phaetons.“Mass production and wider market demand led to sedans becoming the cars of choice, but we always recognised that segments of the premium market still wanted cabriolets.” ENGINESTo satisfy that `small' segment of true believers, Audi is launching the A3 with two engines and a pair of gearboxes. It expects to move 300 examples this year and 400 in a full sales year.The 1.8-litre TFSI (118kW, 250Nm) will be available at $49,900 with the single gearbox choice of the six-speed S tronic, Audi's version of the double-clutch automatic.For the more powerful (147kW and 280Nm) 2.0-litre TFSI, shared with the VW Golf, the S tronic is $57,500 and the six-speed manual is $54,900. Audi has not shut the door on a possible diesel variant, but it is not in immediate plans. EQUIPMENTStandard equipment levels are reasonably high. The 1.8-litre has four airbags, electronic stability control, anti-skid brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, 16-inch alloy wheels, speed-sensitive power steering, two-layer semi-automatic cloth roof, engine immobiliser, cruise control, dual climate-control airconditioning, trip computer, eight-speaker sound system with single-disc CD, split-fold rear seats and a cloth trim interior.The 2.0-litre adds 17-inch alloys, sports suspension, rear parking sensors, front fog lights, sports steering wheel and seats, leather trim and upgraded sound with six-disc CD.But the devil is in the options list. Metallic paint is $1300, a three-layer fully automatic roof also $1300, Xenon headlights $1900 and adaptive corning technology $800.Lumbar adjustment for the front seats is $600 and heating $750.A Bose sound system adds another $1350, mobile phone Bluetooth preparation $950 and navigation from $4400.There is more if you start off with the entry-level car. BOOT SPACEWhat the A3 cabriolet does offer, whether it's with the standard roof or the fully automatic, is reasonable boot space that can be expanded to impressive by folding the rear seats.The compact fold of the roof means boot space does not alter whether the roof is deployed or stored away. DRIVINGThe launch drive of several hundred kilometres through far north Queensland highlighted several things about the A3 cabriolet, none of which were unexpected.The 2.0-litre with its sports suspension and 17-inch wheels was a less fussy drive than the smaller sibling.It rode well over some compromised surfaces and the engine — well proven in VW guise — could rarely be faulted.The coupling with the S tronic gearbox is a treat and after some early fascination there is little need to play around with the wheel-mounted shift paddles. The box's Sports mode will happily take care of most enthusiastic demands.The 1.8-litre — and the suspicion is that it was down to the more compliant suspension and smaller wheels — was less settled, with more vibration back through the steering wheel.Road noise with the roof down was again a slightly better proposition in the top-end car, with less tyre roar in particular.All the test vehicles were fitted with the more heavily sound-insulated, three-layer option roof and though that was very effective when deployed, judgment on the standard roof is going to have to wait.No matter how fervently the company may wish it, the rear seats in 2x2 convertibles are always going to be best suited to kids or the vertically challenged.In the case of the A3, the area is more comfortable with the roof off.But the real issue is knee room, particularly behind a driver of even average height. PRICE From $49,900 to $57,500ENGINE 1.8 litre/four-cylinder TFSI (118kW/250Nm); 2.0 litre/4-cylinder TFSI (147kW/280Nm)TRANSMISSION Six-speed S tronic auto; six-speed manualECONOMY 7.6 litres/100km (all engine/gearbox combinations) 

 It is only a small “e” in the nomenclature but it represents a huge corporate watershed for Audi as the “other” German brand steps up to show the world that efficiency can be had without a magic bullet. With the launch of the A3 1.9 TDI e Audi Australia has started an internal reformation that is going to rumble across every model line in the four rings' showroom and provide a real-world argument for intelligent design over rampant technology.“This is the start of Audi's 'progressive performance' message,” Audi Australia's Anna Burgdorf said at the launch of the new A3 derivative.The ethos of the “e” car philosophy is largely common sense and involves use of design strategies available to any car manufacturer. There is no breakthrough technology in the engine, no super-efficient gearbox.What gives the A3 1.9 TDI e its remarkable hybrid-challenging fuel efficiency — 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the official government cycle — is a series of rather small tweaks that together result in an 8 per cent improvement in economy and the consequent improvement in emissions. Audi engineers have tuned the electronics of the 77kW 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine — the same unit found in the standard A3 and the VW Golf — while lengthening ratios for third and fifth gear in the five-speed manual box, resulting in optimised fuel efficiency, particularly when the driver follows the recommended gear selection as displayed on the dash.The car has also been lowered to improve efficiency through the air, lightened, fitted with aerodynamic plastic covers for the 16-inch wheels and shod with low-friction Michelin rubber to reduce rolling resistance.From there it is down to the desire, determination and concentration of the driver as to how much lower the fuel efficiency can be driven.While it is unlikely that any day-to-day driver will consistently return the 3.8L/100km figures achieved on the 366km launch drive from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island — driving purely for efficiency with windows up, airconditioning off, wing mirrors folded in and as much throttle-off time as possible — impressive real-world figures will be possible. The control car, driven to the speed limits, returned 4.3L/100km for the 366km drive. There is little noticeable difference to the 1.9 TDI stablemate.“The 1.9 e is the most efficient car in the Audi fleet and it shows that hybrid is not the only solution ,” Burgdorf says.“We know the car is not going to be a huge seller, about 60 a year, but there will be an `e' version in all core model lines by the end of the year.”Audi Australia's marketing manager, Immo Buschmann, says the popularity of the “e” cars will grow with the arrival of the A4 and A8 models later this year when the cars will carry badge proof of their green credentials — which is something that the A3 cars currently don't sport.“As a premium brand we have been telling the story of progressive performance for some time,” Buschmann says. “What we haven't been talking about is safety and environmental impact ... it has just been a given that it is there.”Buschmann says the design of the badging is a work in progress but will emphasise the green characteristics.While the strategy is easily implemented there is much more to come from Audi as the philosophy is rolled out across the company and expanded to include more — and more complex — technology.“There are already significant advantages in efficiency over hybrid technology,” Audi Australia's technical manager John Roberts says.“There is the advantage of weight. You don't have to carry batteries.“And there is the packaging advantage — you don't have to give up boot space to store the batteries.”He says 30 per cent of consumption is dictated by driving style.It is this area that the “e” future will target, Roberts says. SNAPSHOT Audi A3 1.9 TDIePrice: from $38,900Engine: 1.9L/4-cylinder turbodiesel 77kW/250NmTransmission: 5-speed manualEconomy: 4.5L/100km (claimed); 3.8L/100km (tested)