A3/S3/RS3 Press Drives: 2013 Audi A3

[Levi68]

mark I Clio

IMO the only entertaining FWD small hatch. Did you drive the Clio Williams? Such a nice car. Clio RS II and Clio RS III also are nice. Clio V6 II was epic, almost kept up with M3 E46. A pity there was no Clio V6 III. As for Clio IV, I have no interest, even RS, it just can't be nice without the traditional NA 2.0l I4.

Sorry for off-topic.

 

[Giannis]

IMO the only entertaining FWD small hatch. Did you drive the Clio Williams? Such a nice car. Clio RS II and Clio RS III also are nice. Clio V6 II was epic, almost kept up with M3 E46. A pity there was no Clio V6 III. As for Clio IV, I have no interest, even RS, it just can't be nice without the traditional NA 2.0l I4.

Sorry for off-topic.

Υou touched a sensitive nerve now, so I gotta reply

The mark I Clio is certainly not the only entertaining FWD hatch. The Peugeot 106 (Rallye) is a hell of a drive, too, and much better actually! The 205 and up to a point the 206 and 306 are also very nice to drive.

As far as the Williams is concerned, no I haven't driven any (there are very few in Greece), but I do have driven the 1.8 RSi, which was an amazing engine. I had a short drive with the 2.0 "Williams" engine, but it was installed in a different car, a Renalt 9. The engine was very alive!

As for the rest of the Clios, IMO the second generation sucked big time. The third was fine, for a car that modern, it was fun enough to drive, compared to other hatchbacks of its segment. What I like, is that such cars don't need to have 150 or 200hp to be fun. Even a basic 1.2, let alone an 1.4l one can be great fun! Of course, the mark III RS is from another planet!

 

[Deckhook]

Am I the ony one who doesn't think that power is everything? I would prefer my car to have better feeling than more horsepower. After all, I don't need 250hp, but I do need it to corner better. I'm having the fun of my life with a car that has only 78hp, which is because it has very nice and communicative steering, an alive engine and fun handling.

There are people who like straights, and then, there are those who like corners. As a driver who prefers taking corners than reaching 200km/h on a dead straight, I don't care that much about power. But a very soft set-up, uncommunicative and light steering, numb controls (pedals, gear lever, etc) are a major let-down, unless I am looking for a car to get me from A to B.

An all-arounder, at least for me, has to make you smile when you want to. If find it more logical to have two cars if you are a demanding driver and that's what I do. A turbocharged Volvo for relaxed cruising with enough overtaking power, and an old french hatchback. It's all I need, and trust me, the lift off oversteer of the mark I Clio, is very entertaining. And it doesn't need more power for that.

Bingo Giannis I think you've got it.

Audi's dilemma is why change what is a winning formula and maybe alienate a section of their buyer after all the majority of customers don't sit of forums discussing cars like we all do. As for not needing bags of power to have fun, totally agree with you, I'm currently driving the son's new Polo 1.2 (60hp) and having a blast, when you've F-all aceleration you need to carry as much speed through the corner as possible.

P.S.
Lift off oversteer............those were the days. Reminds me of my Mk1 XR2.

 

[Giannis]

Audi's dilemma is why change what is a winning formula and maybe alienate a section of their buyer after all the majority of customers don't sit of forums discussing cars like we all do.

Because one way or another, Audis used to have a sporty touch, even the most basic versions. The B6 A4, for example, had a great suspension set-up for what it was, and it was the same from the basic 1.6 to the top of the line, non-RS model. I don't think that Audi is going in the right direction. Their products are of great quality, especially the last generation, so why not have a hint of sporty feeling, to be better competitors to BMW?

Why have a very nice design, with lots of various types of equipment and amazing quality, but the moment you turn the engine on, you feel as if you are driving your washing machine?

Sure, the majority of customers don't spend their time in forums, but there are still many that have experienced what a car should feel like, and are alienated by most modern automobiles. It's very sad that actual sporty cars are very rare, while pseudo-sport is what you can find anywhere you look.

And it's a shame that the A3 is that uninspiring behind the wheel. Because other than that, it's a great product!

 

[Deckhook]

A bit harsh don't you think, so what if it's not the last word in adjustability because it's still a very pleasing car to drive with precise steering (ok lacking on feel), powerful brakes, decent ride and a luxurious big car feel which is ultimately what most people want.

I personally look at the S4/5 and see Audi are fully capable of offering something that has all the right elements to best BMW finest equivalent so why couldn't the S3 do likewise.

 

[Zafiro]

Am I the ony one who doesn't think that power is everything? I would prefer my car to have better feeling than more horsepower. After all, I don't need 250hp, but I do need it to corner better. I'm having the fun of my life with a car that has only 78hp, which is because it has very nice and communicative steering, an alive engine and fun handling.

Go and try GT86 or BRZ. The driving experience is only something you experience with a Cayman but for half the price. Although GT86 only have 200 hp the driving is so much fun and different from other cars. One word for GT86: Amazing!
Neither A3 or 1-series are close to the GT86 from a driving point of view.

 

[Giannis]

A bit harsh don't you think, so what if it's not the last word in adjustability because it's still a very pleasing car to drive with precise steering (ok lacking on feel), powerful brakes, decent ride and a luxurious big car feel which is ultimately what most people want.

I personally look at the S4/5 and see Audi are fully capable of offering something that has all the right elements to best BMW finest equivalent so why couldn't the S3 do likewise.

Ι am not most people. As said many times, all I want from a car is feeling, a communicative connection between my hands and feet and the wheels. I want to know how stressed the tyre is, where it is pointing, how much grip is left to take advantage of.

When I go to a dealer to ask for a test drive, I go with the Volvo. It's a respected car here. But when it is time to drive the car, I always go with the Clio. I want to feel the difference between the set-up in question and my all-mechanical set-up. The closer the two are, the better the car is.

As I said two or three times before, the A3 is a great package, but for me, it lacks the feeling that I want from cars. It's just my opinion, my personal preferences, what I want. Of course it is perfect for most people, but for me it doesn't cut it.

That said, I don't have any problem with it being FWD, apart from the lack of drifting ability. After all, both my cars are FWD. But I really have feeling (not performance), on top of my criteria list.

PS. Why am I harsh? After all, isn't this, more or less, what EVO wrote about the new A3? Or pretty much, almost every magazine?

 

[Levi68]

Go and try GT86 or BRZ. The driving experience is only something you experience with a Cayman but for half the price. Although GT86 only have 200 hp the driving is so much fun and different from other cars. One word for GT86: Amazing!
Neither A3 or 1-series are close to the GT86 from a driving point of view.

Still a tough choice between GT86 and M135i. You get quite alot over the GT86 for 10K more, but you lose exclusivity and still have to add another 10K for the options you "need".

 

[Giannis]

Go and try GT86 or BRZ. The driving experience is only something you experience with a Cayman but for half the price. Although GT86 only have 200 hp the driving is so much fun and different from other cars. One word for GT86: Amazing!
Neither A3 or 1-series are close to the GT86 from a driving point of view.

I have only one issue with the BRZ/GT86. I can't afford one at the moment

 

[Zafiro]

Still a tough choice between GT86 and M135i. You get quite alot over the GT86 for 10K more, but you lose exclusivity and still have to add another 10K for the options you "need".

Engines aside , neither A3 or 1-series can touch the GT86 from a driving point of view.

 

[klier]

Still a tough choice between GT86 and M135i. You get quite alot over the GT86 for 10K more, but you lose exclusivity and still have to add another 10K for the options you "need".

Not really a tough choice at all, the M135i is so much more awesome it's not even funny An 125i, too All the other 1ers not so much

As for Clio IV, I have no interest, even RS, it just can't be nice without the traditional NA 2.0l I4.

Sorry for off-topic.

Very narrow minded, I see......

 

[Human]

New Audi A3 vs rivals



Audi invented the premium hatch when it launched the original A3 in 1996. Can the new car take it back to top of the class?

Audi appears to launch a new model every week, but this is the car that really matters to the company: the A3.
Over the past 16 years, sales of this model have made up a fifth of Audi’s total revenue – laying the financial foundation for adventurous low-volume cars as diverse as the R8 and A7.
So what does the third-generation A3 have in store? It’s the first car to use the VW Group’s all-new modular MQB chassis, which will underpin everything from the next TT to the MkVII Golf. It also gets a modern interior, with the latest tech.
For now, the A3 is available only as a three-door, so to bridge the price gap to its five-door rivals, we test it here with the 2.0-litre TDI engine in entry-level SE spec.
Can it topple our reigning class champ: the fun and cost-effectiveBMW 116d EfficientDynamics? The 1 Series is less powerful than the new Audi, but it’s one of the cheapest company cars around, and is surprisingly practical, too.
Completing our trio is the Volvo V40. It lost out to the BMW by a tiny margin in our previous test, and could give the Audi a run for its money. So can the A3 return to the top of the class it created?


Verdict
Picking a winner from these fierce rivals is no easy task. The depth of talent on display proves that customers searching for a new premium hatch are now spoiled for choice.
All of these cars excel in different areas, so it’s cruel that the Volvofinishes last. Its relaxed character and smart styling provide the sort of charisma that the A3 lacks, but limited practicality and steeper deprecation put it third.
The Audi makes up for a conservative exterior with a first-rate cabin, while its engine strikes a fine balance between performance and economy. Yet despite a new chassis, the handling hasn’t moved on from the old car – the firm ride and numb steering make it capable rather than fun.
So the victor – by a slender margin – is the BMW. It’s not only the cheapest and most practical car here, it also proves that efficiency and fun can go hand-in-hand. Even the extra practicality of the upcoming five-door A3 would not have changed this result.
But with the sleek new Mercedes A-Class around the corner, it may not be long before the BMW loses its top spot.
READ MORE!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/a3/60417/new-audi-a3-vs-rivals

 

[Tumbo]

The A3 1.4TFSI and the A3 2.0TDI went a head to head with the new A-classs in the Swedish magazine Teknikens Värld. They said that the A-class is a very good car, but the A3 is better on every aspect. Better handling, design, quality, consumption, interior, performance.. Everything. It's the best buy in the class, they say.

 

[Human]

The A3 1.4TFSI and the A3 2.0TDI went a head to head with the new A-classs in the Swedish magazine Teknikens Värld. They said that the A-class is a very good car, but the A3 is better on every aspect. Better handling, design, quality, consumption, interior, performance.. Everything. It's the best buy in the class, they say.

Because I like the A-class design/looks I have made an effort to read as much as possible about the little Benz, only to realize that it's a let down for PREMIUM hatches. Really Daimler made too many little mistakes - especially perceived and tactile quality also on secondary ride and handling. AND it's not that they (Daimler engineers) did not have 2x perfect templates to work from (A3 + 1er) !?

 

[Iamnotme]

A french driving report:

http://www.leblogauto.com/2012/06/essai-audi-a3-2012-3emegeneration.html

Interesting the fact that this is the single report I read that says that the version they tested (1.8 TFSI [180 cv] Quattro) had a tendency to oversteer during hard acceleration or extreme cornering.

 

[Levi68]

Because I like the A-class design/looks I have made an effort to read as much as possible about the little Benz, only to realize that it's a let down for PREMIUM hatches. Really Daimler made too many little mistakes - especially perceived and tactile quality also on secondary ride and handling. AND it's not that they (Daimler engineers) did not have 2x perfect templates to work from (A3 + 1er) !?

The A Class is the only among the three to have leather (fake? but whatever) covered dashboard, and I like it very much. It feels much better than any plastic. If I remember correctly, the 147 was the only and first model in class that had optional poltrona frau leather for dashboard and doors. Now, the new Giulietta doesn't have that option, nor the 1 Series, even not through Individual, and neither the A3, even not trough Audi Exclusive.

 

[Human]

The A Class is the only among the three to have leather (fake? but whatever) covered dashboard, and I like it very much. It feels much better than any plastic. If I remember correctly, the 147 was the only and first model in class that had optional poltrona frau leather for dashboard and doors. Now, the new Giulietta doesn't have that option, nor the 1 Series, even not through Individual, and neither the A3, even not trough Audi Exclusive.

Fair enough but the odds vs the evens

Again, the competition screams premium vs that exposed painted metal. The latter is reserved for NON-premium products only. So I'd rather have a soft-touch "plastic" dash than an unsophisticated - looks as if trim is missing cabin

 

[Deckhook]

I've now sat in all of them and in my opinion it's only the A3 that really does feel the premium product here, serious thought has went into it's interior design and it shows compared to the others. In fact I would go as far as to say I would rate the Golf a more quality feeling interior to the others.

Audi mightn't get everything right but preceived quality is one thing they are shit hot about.

 

[Levi68]

Fair enough but the odds vs the evens

Again, the competition screams premium vs that exposed painted metal. The latter is reserved for NON-premium products only. So I'd rather have a soft-touch "plastic" dash than an unsophisticated - looks as if trim is missing cabin

You posted the A Class, entry level BMW. K-A is that right to mention that about the 6 Series GranCoupé, where there also is exposed metal.


I find that plastics in todays car are very bad. they are not "soft" at all. For me they are hard, but feel soft because the quailty is so bad. Mercedes has very bad plastics, that is why I think they covered it with leather. And that is now better than any other plastic. I prefere shit under leather than HQ looking plastic with shit feeling when you touch and press it. VW is the same bad, and BMW also. In fact all, because they have more or less the same material supplier.

 

[IanDriver]

In A class where that is not covered with "leather" is terribly shoddy plastic, which you will not find in the competition.
And the dashboard does not have to be soft because I don't hug with it. More importantly, the material that looked good, it was solid, well-folded.