greens Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Another one getting towards decision time - have driven the quattro and loved it relative to my current A4 TDI, but can't get hold of the fwd manual to test for a direct comparison (I'm guessing no-one here has got one yet either) - it's a bit of an old chestnut but is the cost/weight/fuel penalty really worth it? Will the traction/grip on the fwd manual be that much worse? Bear in mind that although I like to press on I'm no Nigel Mansell (shows age ), I won't be taking it to a track and now expect to do 10k pa or less over the next couple of years. Also, though it gets wet down here in the South West, snow and ice are not really an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethH Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Don't forget the extra boot space on the FWD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iclarke Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Have driven a Golf GTI and the 2.0 TFSI quattro. Golf had the traction control light on at the second roundabout I went round ... never saw it at all in the A3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Quattro all the way, i regret not having it on my sooty having enjoyed it with the S3. Had a few scary moments its something you don't know its working until you no longer have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidicks Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Quattro all the way, i regret not having it on my sooty having enjoyed it with the S3. Had a few scary moments its something you don't know its working until you no longer have it. [/ QUOTE ] Having owned an S3, and with my wife having the 2.0TFSi Quattro A3, I'd strongly recommend paying the extra for Quattro. sidicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Welcome to TSN I went for the FWD (Click the review below if you want to read about my motor) because its a company car. Its much lower in tax and more economical so I had to go for it, co2s of 187 compared to 211 is quite a difference on the tax bill. The car is more relaxing to drive I feel than when I had a manual. You can accelerate smoothly and without drama, and its nice to have two hands on the wheel when you are going quick round the twisty bits. I have got 40mpg on the motorway and an average of 38.7 on some journeys on the motorway, stunning for a 200bhp car. However it does have issues with traction in the wet if you want to play boy racer that the Quattro won't have. It will be better to get you moving in the wet and snow, however be aware that the extra weight is also a problem to slow you down something people seem to forget. When I had the A4 quattro the extra weight seem to make quite a difference in slowing the car down in the snow, it gets you moving but is a problem when trying to stop. I would suggest that if you are no longer a boy racer and as you say snow is not a major thing to tackle thing about the DSG. Its relaxing to drive, very economical and a good toy to play with if the mood takes you. In the dry it can be nailed with no issues and is possibly the best handling car I've driven so far for the performance, its easily the match of a Golf GTI. Enjoy the choosing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runflat Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I love the DSG, it's grrrrrreat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whisky Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Like the guys say, you don't notice it until you don't have it. Great when the roads are wet, you can safely take gaps you wouldn't even think about with fwd. Makes the car feel so grounded and solid in any weather. In the dry the grip is phenominal. The DSG is a much more relaxed drive, I find Quattro manual a much more involved drive with a sense of security you just don't get on fwd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethH Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 My thoughts, neither is the "right" choice but to help decide: When to get Quattro: If you want to remap the car If you like to hammer it off the line or around corners If you regularly drive in poor weather (rain, snow) or on loose surfaces (gravel etc) If the car really does need it (e.g. The 3.2 is Quattro only where as on the 2.0T and TDI is optional) If you like to drive "activley" When to get FWD: If you want DSG (on the TDI and 2.0T, due to Audi config limitation) If you want a bigger boot (lack of rear transmission gives more boot depth) If you want slightly better performance (less weight) If you want slightly better MPG (less weight) If you drive "normally" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d3fy Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Have driven a Golf GTI and the 2.0 TFSI quattro. Golf had the traction control light on at the second roundabout I went round ... never saw it at all in the A3. [/ QUOTE ] I noticed that too, the biggest differance in drive between the GTi and the A3 was the the GTi felt skitish and bounced around, the A3 2.0T Quattro just stuck to the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 My A3 3.2Q felt like a boat after i test drove a GTI... so much so that i had to swap. both great cars though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greens Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Doh! Forgot to mention that I tested a GTi, wasn't getting traction problems but it was an accompanied test on a limited route (could also be that i'm currently programmed as a TDi driver)and didn't give me the feel that I got from spending a couple of hours on my own with the A3 on my favourite South Devon roads - measure of the service difference between VW and Audi? I couldn't live with the GTi interior for £20k+ espcially considering that with discounts (eg Carselect) the fwd manual Sportback is significantly cheaper! Come to think of it the quattro sport is marginally less too. I'll have to see if I can get hold of an fwd car with the same engine for a better test than I got in the GTi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Used to have both A3 quattro and S3. My girlfriend used to own a FWD A3 130tdi Sport. She drove the S3 and said it felt a much better car and far more planted on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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