2005 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.

Not so long ago you would have been laughed at if you'd suggested that your aspiration was to own a small car, but that's how far the market has matured in a very short time.Such is the maturity in our market that when Audi launched the A3 in 2004 it was quite open about its ambition for it to be a small car people would aspire to own.Audi said upfront that it wasn't out to become the volume leader in the segment; its ambition for the A3 was for it to be the benchmark in the class.MODEL WATCHThe A3 was the entry model in the fast growing Audi range and that put it up against cars like the BMW 1-Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volvo S40 and even the Alfa 147. Although it looked less aggressive than its predecessor, and was 55 mm longer, 30 mm wider and 10 mm lower, there was still a familiarity about it that reminded you of the old model.While the A3's looks were underwhelming there was big news under the skin with a number of innovations including new suspension, electro- mechanical steering, a new and innovative direct injection engine and a direct shift gearbox.The engine range was made up of three petrol engines and a turbo- diesel. It kicked off with a 1.6-litre single overhead camshaft four- cylinder engine that produced 75 kW at 5600 revs and 148 Nm at 3800 revs and ended with a 3.2-litre V6 that offered 184 kW at 6300 revs and 320 Nm at 2500-3000 revs, but the real interest was in the 2.0- litre FSi engine and the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that fitted in between the bookend engines.The FSi was a direct injection engine where the fuel was vaporized in the combustion chamber and not in the intake manifold, as is the case with most petrol engines. Audi claimed significant improvements in response, economy and efficiency for the new engine, which put out 110 kW at 6000 revs and 200 Nm at 3500 revs and promised 0-100 km/h sprinting in 9.1 seconds. The turbo diesel produced 103 kW at 4000 revs and 320 Nm at 1750-2500 revs.The 1.6-litre engine was available with a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed tiptronic auto, FSi buyers could choose between a six- speed manual and six-speed auto, while diesel buyers got a DSG sequential-shift manual shift six-speed.The DSG was an innovative gearbox that had two clutches working in tandem for smooth, seamless shifting. While one clutch was engaged the other one preselected the next higher gear; then when it was time to shift up one clutch disengaged and the other automatically engaged bringing the higher gear into play.It works much like an auto 'box without the losses that come with an automatic transmission, and without the sloppiness that characterized the shifting of most other automated manual shift gearboxes.Audi offered two models in the A3 range, the entry level Attraction and the uprange Ambition. The Attraction came with a choice of the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre FSi engines, along with 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth trim, split-system air, eight-speaker CD sound, stability control and traction control. The Ambition was available with the 2.0-litre FSi engine and the turbo-diesel. Perched above them all was the Quattro Ambition with the 3.2-litre V6, all-wheel drive and DSG transmission.IN THE SHOPOverall the A3 appears to be holding up well since its launch in 2004. The things most reported by mechanics are oil leaks and brake wear, the latter a common issue raised by owners of most European cars. Check for a service record to make sure the oil has been regularly changed; old oil can be a killer of engines.IN A CRASHWith front airbags, head and side airbags the A3 had plenty of protection in a crunch, while standard ABS braking, ESP stability control, and traction control it was also packed with the electronics to help avoid the crunch. When tested by ANCAP the A3 was given a four-star rating.UNDER THE PUMPThe turbo-diesel is the hero when it comes to fuel consumption with a claimed average of 5.7 L/100 km. Of the petrol engines the 2.0-litre FSi sets the pace with a claimed average of 7.7 L/100km, while the 1.6-litre has an average of 8.1 L/ 100 km and the V6 9.9 L/100 km. When Cars Guide tested it the 2.0-litre FSi Attraction averaged 8.9 L/ 100 km.OWNER SAYSThe only thing Aldo Scodella doesn't like about his 2007 Audi A3 is the cost of servicing it. It costs a "fortune" he says. It's a 1.8- litre TFSi and he's done 20,500 km so far without any trouble to report, but says he's still getting used to the hill-start assist and is having trouble getting away smoothly.LOOK FORUninspiring looksGood build qualityFSi performanceDiesel economyRobust and reliable.THE BOTTOM LINE: A well equipped, smooth and advanced small car that grows on you.

The newbies include BMW's 1-Series, the second-generation A-Class from Mercedes-Benz, the born-again Volkswagen Golf and something just a little different from Audi.It's not really different, but a change from the two-door A3 hatch that has been carrying its colours.It still looks like an A3, but there are four doors and enough other changes to convince Audi to name the car its Sportback and present it as a fresh approach to the class.The whole thing is a stretch, for the car and the sales team, but it allows the latest development of the A3 to line up nicely against the new-age Euro rivals.If Audi is right with what it says, its Sportback combines "the versatility of a four-door hatch, sophisticated technology and well-defined driving dynamics" and will do something special for the car and the brand.Even if it's wrong, or not completely right, it will still be a solid addition to the range.Audi is already doing plenty of good stuff this year with new value pricing across its line-up, extra sales and significantly more buzz around the brand.It seems to have something happening every month, including adding the punchy S4 Cabriolet to its S-badged performance range.The extra length has been added in the tail, which Audi says makes the car ideal for young families or active singles who want to carry something like a bicycle, two golf bags or ski gear.The six models in the Sportback line-up start with the 1.6-litre Attraction model with a Tiptronic auto, moving through the hi-tech 2.0-litre FSI engine with the classy double-shift gearbox, to the flagship 3.2-litre V6 Quattro Ambition with DSG.Power runs from 75 to 184kW and prices start below $40,000, but run to $73,990 for the flagship car.The Sportback with the most potential is the 2.0-litre turbo, the A3 2.0 TFSI, at $49,950.All models are well equipped with the expected collection of airbags, CD sound and airconditioning, as well as electric assists, but the Sportback has sports suspension, active head restraints, and electronic stability control.But all this won't make life easy for the Sportback.Competition has never been tougher and it comes most obviously from the Volkswagen Golf.The German people's car has been impressively renewed and the GTI hero car is one of the standouts of the year.But the 1-Series is hard up against the new Audi with the advantage of a BMW badge, the A-Class is a Benz that's a lot better than the original, and there are even surprising Japanese contenders, including the Mazda3.Audi Australia responds to the questions by pointing out the Sportback's "exceptional build quality", its styling, the standard and optional equipment, the availability of the DSG gearbox, and the appeal of an Audi badge.ON THE ROADThe Sportback is a nice car. And a nice drive. But we had the fully loaded flagship and cannot see many people paying $73,990 for it. That's right, Audi wants $74,000 for the car and won't accept it is over-priced – or that the Golf is better value, or the BMW is a sportier drive, or that singles might prefer a Mini.The reason for the high price was the 3.2 litre V6 Quattro with DSG transmission.It ticks all the boxes, even if the basic body – complete with the slightly sloping roofline that Audi says is more coupe-like than a regular four-door hatchback – is still the same as the starter car.So it's probably not fair to be making comparisons with cars that are $20,000 and more below its bottom line, but that is what customers will be doing when they see what Audi wants.And, no matter whether Audi likes it or not, a lot of shoppers will compare the A3 with the Golf, particularly the GTI, which is our favourite among all the classy new compacts of '05.When you look at the Sportback on its own, the cabin space is impressive, it is well designed and well finished – with some clear cabin quality wins over the Golf – and it drives nicely.The ride can be choppy at low speeds and over broken city surfaces, but it picks up nicely from about 80km/h. It has a fluid feel on country corners and absorbs bumps nicely.Our Quattro V6 had plenty of zip and impressive grip, but wasn't nearly as responsive as the GTI. And here we go again.The DSG manual seemed to be programmed to be gentler, softer, and we wondered a few times if it was actually just an automatic and not the hi-tech six-speed manual we loved in the GTI.It didn't feel nearly as responsive, but that could have been partially down to the need to harness a full 184kW.The Sportback is practical, light on (premium) fuel, has good headlamps and is easy to park.Perhaps if we had driven one of the more-mundane models in the line-up, though Audi would argue that none of its cars is remotely mundane, we would have come away with more nice things to say.Then again, it probably would have been the same story, because the latest A3 is a solid performer at a time when customers are looking for – and finding – genuine standouts.At the end of the day, even if the Sportback star has the advantages of a V6 engine and Quattro drive and back doors, we would still prefer a Golf GTI. With cash in the bank.THE BOTTOM LINEIt is a nice car and it will do a nice job for nice people. But we don't think the basics are any better than a BMW and a lot of people will place more importance on the badge fitted to the A-Class.

Re, these two A3s: German engineering and quality – check; understatedly classy interior – check; reassuring thunk of closing doors – check; badge desirability – check; bewildering array of acronyms – check; weepingly expensive – checkmate.The cliches apply in equal measure to the A3 3.2 V6 quattro DSG and its A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Ambition DSG. Try saying that in one breath.Audi's still-newish three-door A3 range has been joined by the five-door "Sportback" range. Translating as "hatchback", it is one of the euphemisms that so endear Audi to one.There's also "quattro" (all-wheel-drive), "open sky" (a big sunroof) and "Audi Symphony" (with, er, cassette deck). An Audi-made spade would be a "manually deployed excavation implement".Equally amusing is the emphatic nature of Audi's demographic statements:"The A3 Sportback will appeal predominantly to performance-oriented, active people aged between 25 and 39."Being four months off 40 and my wife being ever so slightly north of that (whoops – sorry, honey), this car is plainly not meant for us.It is, however, of no small interest given the salivating with which one of us (ie, me) awaits the arrival of Volkswagen's Golf GTI next month.VW, of course, owns Audi and its equivalent models are on average $10,000 cheaper. Despite this, or more likely because of it, both marques decry any attempt at comparison.So decry me, already.Both GTI and the A3 are built on the same VeeWee platform. The GTI and A3 TFSI share the delicious 2.0-litre turbo-charged direct injection engine, drive through the front wheels, and have identical DSG transmissions.The TFSI is good for 147kW and 280Nm from 1800 to 5000rpm. With its six-speed DSG, it gets to 100km/h from standing in 6.9 seconds – fractionally faster than a three-pedal manual. The GTI will also offer a conventional six-speed self-shifter. Audi Australia doesn't.There will, no doubt, be differences in ride and roll. Judging by the word of colleagues and images supplied, the Audi is the plusher and less lairy within.The A3 has by far the sweeter silhouette. It's also sweet to drive, and only those of carnival sideshow proportions could not find the ideal driving position.The blown version of the FSI provides genuine hot hatch (sorry, Sportback) performance. The A3 is by no means a WRX-like racer; it's far too civilised and well-rounded for that.Excellent road-holding from the 17-inch 225/45 tyres enables you to go where you're pointed – it's just that you won't have much sensation of doing so. The electrically assisted steering is too smooth – uncommunicatively so.Going backwards is the biggest problem, hopeless rear-visibility making optional parking sensors essential.One need hardly enter the realms of speculation to wonder what the A3's $49,950 gets you over GTI DSG's $42,290 – especially as this VW has more iconic status than its "prestige" cousin – beyond a nicer shape and four "O's" on the badge instead of two consonants, that is.An A3 that doesn't (yet) have a pesky VW to undercut it is the 3.2 V6 quattro.Its instant engine response extends to the DSG, which is just as well, because you can't get a conventional manual in this A3, either.Despite the DSG's practice, when in manual mode, of changing up automatically when redline is reached, it is happily married to the 184kW V6.Removing the joy of "proper" manual gear-changing seems to defeat the purpose of an ultra-hot hatch, though changing via steering wheel-mounted paddles or the gear lever is seamless. Sticking the stick into rorty Sports mode is almost redundant with this engine.Also coming as standard is quattro permanent all-wheel-drive. Fanging through the twisties there is turn-in understeer, but loads of muscle and poise to power out.The exhaust note is the result of Audi boffins tuning with the sort of precision employed by Pavarotti's throat surgeon. The importance of the potential purchaser's ears cannot be overstated, because the aural quality is one of the few points of difference between this halo model and cheaper A3s.The V6-equipped A3 gets you from standing to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds – that's 0.3 seconds quicker than the 2-litre TFSI. These are Audi's figures.Despite its discreet but discernible hyper hatch trimmings, the six-potter is, if anything, a compact tourer or cruiser.So, $25,000 more than the TSFI for all-wheel-drive, two fewer doors and a negligible speed edge? At $75K, you'd want to really, really like Audis and have an all-consuming desire to own what will be the rarest of niche models.Or you could think of it as a cheaper, better sorted and infinitely less impractical TT Coupe. At least the newer Audi isn't built on the old Golf platform.

Kickoff is $72,000 – a hefty old ask for what is essentially a three-door hatch.You could buy any variety of Subaru's Impreza WRX for that figure and still pocket plenty of change.But then, your new car would not be a German bahnstormer and it would certainly have a completely different feel to the super slick Audi which really hits the sweet spot.The naturally aspired 3.2-litre V6 produces a sizzling 184kW of power at 6300rpm and 320Nm of torque between 2500 and 3000rpm. It is currently the most powerful engine in the range, that is until we see what the new S3 has to offer.Drive is fed to the ground through all four wheels via Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system, with electronic stability control to keep things under control. The ESP can can be switched off if desired but really this is not necessary as we discovered because it is not intrusive.With the V6 on board you don't get a choice of transmissions. It is the double clutch DSG tranny or nothing. Having said that, it is much faster than a normal auto and with six cogs to play with, there's plenty to go round.We should make a special mention here of the Sport mode, which is not much good around town, but really comes into its own on winding country roads. The gearing is very aggressive, it changes quickly and only does so when necessary, leaving the driver to get on with the job of steering the car. You couldn't ask for a better compromise.In terms of power the A3 should trounce the Rex and it does, (at least the equivalent auto model) even though the Audi is a good 75kg heavier at 1525kg. This is like having someone in the seat next to you the whole time. Suffice to say the A3 goes hard, with a 0-100km/h taking 6.4 seconds and the top speed electronically governed at 250km/h.Handling is top notch, in a well balanced package that hugs the road. The ride is form but not uncomfortable. Brakes are excellent with big fat 17 inch alloys and 225/45 high performance tyres.Despite a heavy foot we still managed to still get 11.2L/100km from the 60-litre tank in just over 1000km of driving, which is excellent considering the size of the engine. Note however that it takes premium unleaded fuel and prefers the 98RON stuff if the budget runs to it.Lots of standard equipment including six airbags, suede leather upholstery and a first rate sound system.