2009 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.

This small — but growing — band of eco-warriors has an armoury not of high-tech gadgets and expensive systems but rather a collection of small ideas and commitments, the sum of which make a powerful argument.Among this common sense army is a small number of Audi faithful who proudly sport a small letter ‘e’ on the exterior badging of their otherwise unremarkable A3 Sportback rides.The ethos of the ‘e’ car philosophy — started with the A3 1.9 TDIe — is largely common sense and involves use of design strategies available to any manufacturer. There is no breakthrough technology in the engine, no super-efficient gearbox.Drivetrain and fuel economy What allows the A3 1.9 TDIe to post genuine hybrid-challenging fuel efficiency — 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the official government cycle and, quite remarkably, achievable in real-world driving — is a series of rather small tweaks that together result in an 8 per cent improvement in economy and the consequent improvement in emissions.The road to Audi's greener vision is paved with a couple of in-house adjustments: specific tuning of the electronic control of the ageing 77kW 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine and lengthening of the ratios for third and fifth gear in the five-speed manual box.The changes mean better fuel efficiency under most circumstances — and considerably better fuel efficiency if the driver has any real commitment to the cause.And you don't have to have the ear of a piano tuner to pick an optimum change point for the gears — that is all done for you by the engine management system and indicated on a digital dash-mounted display.The only other changes from a standard A3 are that the "e" car has 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.Driving If you really want to concentrate, give up the little luxuries in life such as air-conditioning and spend as much time as possible on neutral throttle you can get returns of around 4-litres per 100km even in city traffic.It is not fun and anyone who is not a fully paid-up member of the green movement is going to tire of it pretty quickly.Still, even the average punter will see benefits from this car. The sum total of the little improvements in aerodynamics and engine mapping are enough to compensate for the occasional heavy right foot.In many ways it is the 1.9 TDI e's lack of obvious change that makes it more acceptable to the average buyer.The car boasts most of the nice things you will find in any other Audi. Billet-like build quality, a nice touch of plushness, quality fittings and fitment, the all-round nice drive quality and the growing prestige of the four rings badge.There are some trade-offs: you can't get an automatic and you don't get cruise control. There is also a slightly harsher ride on the lower suspension and low rolling resistance rubber and the engine — at least from outside — is unmistakeably diesel.Then there is the little matter of paying to feel good about yourself — the 1.9 TDI e starts at $38,900 before statutory fess and delivery charges. That is not cheap for a manual compact hatch.The Bottom line A sensible way to feel good about your fossil fuel use.

Of course, that’s part of the reason Audi has so many options available in the range – the aim is to provide something for everybody.DrivetrainsBoth engines are DOHC in line fours with gasoline direct injection, and have an exhaust turbocharger with intercooler.The 1.4 puts out 92kW at 5000rpm and 200Nm at 1500-4000rpm, while the 2.0 gets 147kW at 5100-6000rpm and 280Nm at 1700-5000rpm. Audi’s S-tronic dual clutch system is fitted to both units but the 2.0litre is a six-speed – not a seven – and has paddle shifters.With a top speed of 236km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds, the 2.0litre quattro is significantly quicker than the front wheel drive which tops out at 203km/h via a 9.5 second 0-100km/h.Fuel consumption is impressive for the smaller-engined car at 5.8l/100km(combined). CO2 emissions are equally frugal at 137g/km. The 2.0litre car burns a combined 7.6l/100km and releases 180gm/km of CO2.ExteriorThe high shoulder line and striking front and distinctive rear of the five-door A3 Sportback combines the sportiness of a coupe with the practicality of a roomy hatchback.On the outside the major differences between the 1.4litre and the 2.0litre A3’s are the inch bigger dark wheels and the sport suspension on the quattro.Electric mirrors, remote central locking and an engine immobiliser are standard on both cars, and features like Audi’s park assist system, xenon adaptive headlights and the sunroof are available for extra dough.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 German marque is famous for.As standard for both cars you get dual climate control, a driver information system and electric windows but in the 2.0litre version you also get a multi function leather sports steering wheel, with paddle shifters, sports front seats and a six-disc symphony stereo. The rear seats are split-fold and there is plenty of handy storage space.SafetyAlong with the comprehensive airbag package, both cars have electronic stability program, ABS, hill hold assist and anti-slip regulation, as standard.PricingAudi A3 1.4 TFSI starts at $39,950. Audi A3 2.0 TFSI quattro starts at $53,200.DrivingIn this day of multiple variations per model type, we are used to considerable performance difference per variation. The standard six cylinder Falcon versus the six cylinder Typhoon is a prime example. However never before have we driven two cars so similar on paper with such a vastly different driving experience. The 1.4-litre seven-speed A3 up against the 2.0-litre six-speed are chalk and cheese. Actually it is more like dross and bullion.One Carsguide staffer gave the 1.4 the unfortunate mantle of “the worst car I have driven”. On the other hand the 2.0-litre A3 is a car we would put near the top of its sector. The cars feel like they were built by two different manufacturers, one a start-up Indian company, the other Audi.The smaller car is borderline dangerous, with poor feel and response in both braking and acceleration. It just does not inspire any confidence to overtake.On the other hand the bigger one feels dependable and trustworthy. Touch the accelerator and you know you will get a good response, hit the brake and you can trust it won’t grab.One of the main faults with the 1.4-litre seems to lie with the transmission. The seven-speed auto just seems to get confused but that’s not the only issue. There seems to also be an inordinate amount of turbo-lag. You don’t find any of these issues with the 2.0-litre car.Verdict 2.0T – buy one – 8.3/101.8T – don’t touch it with a barge pole – 3.3/10

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.