A3 2.0TDi S-line review; 1 year on...

[Nelson_R32]

Well, the time has come. 2 weeks and my A3 will be probably be gone. I thought as I had the time I would do a full write-up of the car in the year I’ve had it. Just so I can put into words how much I am going to miss this car.

My reason for purchasing an A3 was one of convenience rather than one of want. In December 2006 I wrote off my year-old A4 S-line by driving it into a tree. I love my 4 door Saloons, especially my A4 S-line, and the thought of having to ‘downgrade’ to an A3 wasn’t something I was looking forward to.

The problem was, my work (Ipswich Audi) were kind enough to keep me mobile for the next two months while my new car was being made, so unless I wanted to pay a fortune in hiring costs, an A3 it was!!

So, whilst recovering from the accident in early January I had 3 weeks at home to choose my specification. After some thought my musts were;

• 3 doors

• Centre Armrest

• S-line model

• BBS 14 spoke wheels

• Cruise Control

• Interior Light Pack

• Misano Red

Every other option would simply be a bonus. The choice of Misano Red was made because every car ordered by my Audi Centre was Blue, Grey, or Black, because they were ‘safe’ colours.

Me being me disagreed strongly with my Sales Manager on this and to make my point wanted to order the colour that I feel suited the A3 S-line best. When the sun hits Misano Red it gives of a small hint orange which looks fantastic. A car is a personal choice and people who chose colours to suit the market probably end up getting fed up with there cars much sooner than they’d like.

3rd week of January I immediately look into ordering my chosen specification. But a problem immediately arose; at the time Audi couldn’t build A3’s fast enough! It was an 18 week wait for a factory order. So I was now limited to a choice of stock cars

The biggest problem with stock vehicles is that the specifications chosen by Audi UK border on the insane; options which customers rarely specify, such as electric and heated seats and RNSE, are fitted, which makes any stock car an expensive purchase for someone now on a budget for Insurance reasons!

The answer came in a car which we had already ordered for ourselves for our Demonstrator stock, an A3 Sportback 2.0TDi S-line in Mauritius Blue, completely standard. It wasn’t ideally what I wanted, but it was cheap due to the lack of options, and I could have it within 2 weeks…

…or so I thought. A day later a massive storm hit Europe flooding many areas in the UK, Holland and Germany. This damaged Audi’s in German ports and caused a backlog of over a month. This created a big problem as I needed to be mobile as soon as possible.

At this point, I was checking Dialog (VAG linkup) every day for new stock vehicles arriving in the hope that something would turn up and by a stroke of amazing fortune something did! The car you all know;

A3 2.0TDi S-line 3dr in Misano Red with;

• Full leather

• Symphony 2+

• BOSE

• Centre Armrest

• Interior Light Pack

• Reversible boot mat

• Luggage Net

The car was slightly over budget, but the timing was perfect as I could have it within 2 working days. So I set to work getting it on order

Less than 36 hours later, this arrived;

Thankfully damage free, and absolutely gorgeous in gleaming pearl effect red

The collection of the car was unceremonious; I had to tax it, put the tax disc holder in the car, fill it with fuel and even had to put the money through for it in the PDQ machine (all £21000 + of it) but then I guess I wasn’t really a ‘normal’ customer. It certainly didn’t feel like I was about to drive away in my new car.

My first impressions of the car were documented here HERE so I won’t go into too much detail on this.

First (and only) long trip in the car was to the Nurburgring. This trip had been planned before the A4 was written off and I love the atmosphere of the Nurburgring so much I decided to still take the A3 as the ‘Support Car’ i.e. carry everyone elses crap.

In a strange way I felt I almost needed to visit the ‘ring in order for me to overcome some of my fears since being back behind the wheel. I managed to get 4 laps in and whilst I was driving VERY gently I noticed how much more of a better handling car it was than the A4 and also finally overcame the ‘granny-style’ driving attitude I had since the accident.

A week after coming back from the ‘ring (4700 miles on the clock) a high pitched noise started to emit from the Turbo. It was found that there had been a faulty batch of 2.0TDi Turbo’s with dry bearings in late 2006 (when the car was built) and it was duly repaired with the car coming back as good as new. The car really started to come alive after that and the acceleration felt almost ‘bouncy’ as you rode the torque.

However, after having 187bhp in the A4 I was starting to miss the extra grunt I previously had so I paid a visit to the Suffolk REVO dealer to see what they could do. Mike Pease managed to liase with REVO and get a custom map put on the car which managed to push out just over 190bhp out of the car. The best thing is that the power is still as smooth as stock. With no torque spike I’ve experienced in previous remaps.

At the same time I also decided to fit a set of S3 retrofit pedals from the Audi Accessories range. These Retail at £88.00 and compliment the S-line inlays beautifully. If anyone is considering these the part numbers are;

Manual: 1K2064200

DGS: 1K2064205

Since July the ownership has been uneventful, simply commuting to and from work and she’s managed to do me proud. No rattles, no common gripes, nothing broken, no more Warranty claims, in fact the only Warranty claim I’ve ever made on one of my Audi’s is the Turbo and even then that was done without bother.

If I was really pushed to make 1 complaint about this car; it would be that the ride can sometimes get unsettled by a series of bumps. But other than that the handling is go-kart like with only a slight bit of heaviness to the front due to the Diesel engine. But the power delivery of the engine and the 47 MPG it has always achieved since owning it have more than made up for that even with the REVO (which has been turned off in order to sell, but can still be turned back on by the next owner.)

OVERALL

Best car I have ever owned, without a doubt. I love everything about it; the colour, the options, the economy, the looks, the practicality, the handling, the quality, the BOSE, the Digital Speedo, the interior…just everything!!

The thing I love most about this car is the fact its soo good at what it does that you don’t realise it. I ordered an R32 because I thought I was bored with the A3…

…but I wasn’t bored with it. It just does everything I ask of it so well that I didn’t realise how much I loved it and now I’m thinking I’ve made the wrong decision.

I’m sure it could be just new-car nerves, I don’t feel I’m cutting myself short with the R32. But the A3 is so good I feel like I’m giving it away (well, I’m selling it after a year, so probably am )

It’s only now that I am selling it have I had the chance to realise this is actually a better car than my A4 and the best car I have ever owned (and I’ve owned a few in my short 5 year driving history!).

I could’ve bought a 1 series, but that would’ve been expensive, impractical and more importantly ugly. I could’ve bought a C-class Coupe, but that again would have been expensive, have poor residuals, be unreliable and a ‘poor mans Mercedes’.

The difference with the A3 is that its talents aren’t immediately apparent from the first glance. It won’t knock you out on first glance

A BMW is the ultimate driving machine; the A3 whatever you want it to be and I’m gutted she’s going She will be up for sale at Ipswich Audi very soon on here and on here for a steal Thanks for reading!

[Nelson_R32]

Blimey, I didn't realise that post was going to be quite that long But shows you how much I love the car

[PeterS]

Great review - thanks

And I think you've hit the nail on the head with the descriptions of BMWs; they are the ultimate driving machines (well, ultimate might be going a bit far, but they are very good ), but Ido feel that's at the expense of other attributes sometimes; ride being one

Peter

[Nelson_R32]

Thanks Peter

The only thing I probably forgot to put in that review was why I was changing from an A3 to an R32...

The reason is because my average mileage used to be 17000 miles a year. In the 3 months that has dropped to probably less than 10000 miles so I no longer have the need for a Diesel and I the benefits of a Diesel on such short journeys would now be irrelevant. It would also do the car no favours either.

Therefore I made the decision I'd always wanted to make when buying a car; a big engine with no regard whatsoever to fuel economy, insurance of maintenance costs The interior isn't in the same league as the A3, but the only time it will be used now is as my weekend and the only time rattles in my previous cars bugged me was on the morning commute to work when I wanted piece and quiet, not when I was having fun in them. For all I know the Golf might not rattle either

[Golfer]

I hope you enjoy your new toy neil, I am enjoying mine

[bells0]

Nice write up, sounds like it'll be a sad day when she go's. But i reckon the pain will be short lived. The R32 will be awesome.

[Nelson_R32]

I have no doubt it will bells I've just been listening to a few R32 videos on youtube. I'm going to be like a little schoolboy for the next few weeks after I've picked it up

Just a quick update;

The car had it's first AVS Service today and I also paid for it to be Audi Used Car checked by work

Nothing wrong! Except that after 16900 miles the front tyres were sitting at 3mil so I decided for the sake of the new owner it was best to order a new pair and get them fitted.

So a set of Pirelli P-Zero Rosso's going on the front tomorrow At a Cost of £250.00 fitted. Ouch!!

[vier_ringe]

I hope that its not to late to write about the subject.. But its my first time that I read your review. And I have to say that you made a wonderful write-up. I really enjoyed reading your every single word. Also, while I was reading, in your words and descriptions I could find mine too. Mine thoughts too.. Personaly, I drive an A3 pretty much the same as yours, only its a 5 door SB. Its from march 2006 my second new A3. Since then, I have had an A4 B7 too, for about 8 months. But my old love called me back. And now, just like you, I feel like I have to change my car again(after only 7 months). But reading your post, I realised that it might be a wrong decision like you mentioned. It really is a great car, and like you sad, it does it all soo good that you don't realise how much you like it, how much you enjoy it. As R32 concerns, you didn't make a wrong decision.. Its a great car, and it will bring you a lot of driving pleasures. The only thing you did wrong, is that you wont be looking at those shiny four rings whilst smiling behind the steering wheel. You and me know what does that mean ;-) . For me, AUDI is simply a way of life, full of emotions.

At the end, I'd like to share my options with you, and will be glad to hear opinions of these great guys. I was thinking about a new B8 2.0TDI multitronic, this time no s-line. because i wanted to have much more comfortable drive. Also, here is the new S3 SB, which we all know how good it is..simply putting smile on your face.. Still thinking, and wanted to hear from you guys.

[Nelson_R32]

I hope that its not to late to write about the subject.. But its my first time that I read your review. And I have to say that you made a wonderful write-up. I really enjoyed reading your every single word. Also, while I was reading, in your words and descriptions I could find mine too. Mine thoughts too.. Personaly, I drive an A3 pretty much the same as yours, only its a 5 door SB. Its from march 2006 my second new A3. Since then, I have had an A4 B7 too, for about 8 months. But my old love called me back. And now, just like you, I feel like I have to change my car again(after only 7 months). But reading your post, I realised that it might be a wrong decision like you mentioned. It really is a great car, and like you sad, it does it all soo good that you don't realise how much you like it, how much you enjoy it. As R32 concerns, you didn't make a wrong decision.. Its a great car, and it will bring you a lot of driving pleasures. The only thing you did wrong, is that you wont be looking at those shiny four rings whilst smiling behind the steering wheel. You and me know what does that mean ;-) . For me, AUDI is simply a way of life, full of emotions.

At the end, I'd like to share my options with you, and will be glad to hear opinions of these great guys. I was thinking about a new B8 2.0TDI multitronic, this time no s-line. because i wanted to have much more comfortable drive. Also, here is the new S3 SB, which we all know how good it is..simply putting smile on your face.. Still thinking, and wanted to hear from you guys.

Hi there, never too late to bump a thread on the Reviews section. Apologies for missing this post! Thanks for the kind words

After a year in the R32 it's going nowhere But having just read this review my opinion on my A3 hasn't changed a bit and I still miss it like crazy. The car was sold to a Southern Ireland Dealer in the end so god knows who owns it now but I bet they're having a ball with it! The R32 is ultimately the better car for me but only because it now suits my needs allot more. But if I ever (god forbid) had this car stolen or it was written off then I'd definately have an S3 Sportback with DSG.

I would recommend a drive in the new a4 S-line as it's ride is a revelation compared to the Old B7 S-line. Plenty of good deals going around too on stock cars as well!

[shark_90]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

[Mook]

Locking this thread as it's being targetted.