[Audi A3/S3] Quattro or not?

[Zman]

Hi,

I'm looking to order the 2.0 TDI Sport in the next couple of weeks (for an '06 plate) but cannot decide whether or not to go for the Quattro. With only 140bhp does anyone have a view as to whether the car warrants the 4 wheel drive? Will I only be able to tell in the snow?! or if I drive like a mad man?

Also, if i went Quattro I have the option to go S-Line. It seems like good value for money but I guess I'd loose the Quattro badge off the front? (I've always had a 'thing' about owning an Audi Quattro since I was 10 so it would be a shame for it not to say so!). I'm not normally into 'labels' one bit but this is a bit different.

Any views very welcome.

Cheers,

ZMan.

[Colmartin]

I’ve got the A3 Quattro S Line 140 TDi, (like you, I always wanted an Audi Quattro ) it’s got it’s moments when it’s awesome, the one downside is it’s heavy and does slow down the initial 0 – 60, once moving though there is no stopping it. I followed a standard 140 TDi A3 2 nights ago on a twisty back road and was all over it, it had it slightly on the straights but as soon as I hit a bend it had no chance!

The other main advantage it has is when pulling out of junctions in the wet, it gives you confidence to just go rather than worry it’ll slide!

One last thing to note, I took it for a spin on wet grass the other day and it handled like a dream, with my old 306 it would have spun like mad and churned it all up, the wasn’t a sign I’d even been there!!!

[Zman]

Thanks Colmartin,

interestingly the Audi website gives the same 0-60 for the FWD versus Quattro? Have you drive the FWD in order to compare?

Also, do you have the SLine badge <u>and</u> the Quattro badge on the front?

Thanks,

ZMan.

ps. I have also heard that dues to weight the Quattro can take longer to stop - I guess it must be very close though.

[Paul]

"S and RS " get quattro without the badges.

normally nothing on front or rear. Just "Quattro" badging on the glove box.

[Roswell]

[ QUOTE ]

Thanks Colmartin,

interestingly the Audi website gives the same 0-60 for the FWD versus Quattro? Have you drive the FWD in order to compare?

Also, do you have the SLine badge <u>and</u> the Quattro badge on the front?

Thanks,

ZMan.

ps. I have also heard that dues to weight the Quattro can take longer to stop - I guess it must be very close though.

[/ QUOTE ]

You get the S-Line badge at the front and Quttro badge on the rear....best of both worlds!

[Colmartin]

I test drove the DSG 140 BHP and that felt about as quick as my 306 XSi 2.0 Petrol. The Quattro feels slower at 0 – 60 but once you get it moving, it’s very quick.

The one thing I will say is you’ll be forever changing gear which is the one advantage of the DSG and is one of the reasons why I have thought about changing for the 2.0 T petrol (but I don’t think I could now, I like the 45 MPG I get out of the TDi)

As I said, the one area where it’s got a huge advantage is road handling and cornering, it is much better than the DSG in that way, but at the same time, perhaps not quite as much fun (although you can always turn off the ESP like I do )

I live out in the country and most of the roads I use are country lanes so I think the Quattro is very useful, seeing as I’ve had more than one occasion where the back end has stepped out on me. I think the confidence it gives is well worth the loss of a little 0 - 60, I just let the Boy Racers go, and then have then 2 miles further up when they are sliding everywhere and i'm still planted