A3 preview

[h5djr]

I have just received a letter from my dealer inviting me to a preview of the new A3 next Tuesday.

It is obviously a limited preview vehicle as the letter says it will only be at their showroom for a limited period.

 

[KhalifaA3]

You going? Be sure to post some pictures if you do!

 

[a6_chris]

I seen it weeks ago!

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=158487

 

[phil_w]

I got one for York Audi - Saturday 21st July / Sunday 22nd

 

[h5djr]

Well here are some pictures of the New A3 taken earlier this evening at the preview.

I will post my comments on the car when I have more time.

 

[h5djr]

Well having now seen a New A3 in the metal what did I think....

Exterior - looks fine, personally I think the Sportback will look better, but I think that of the existing A3.

Interior - This is where the problems start - all looks quite nice but there are a few things that I'm not so keen on.

For a start when setting the radio or other media using the MMI controls if you look at the screen and then have to look down at the controls they are a long way apart and you have to look far too far from the line of vision. Perhaps over time you could get used to the layout of the controls and not have to look down at them but there are a lot of them and in my case I am right-handed and will be trying to operate them with my left hand. At the moment I prefer the current setup with the controls around the radio screen. It would not be a real problem for me personally as a hardly ever listen to music or the radio when I'm driving.

The electronic hand-brake seems fine and I'm sure I could soon get used to it.

The new design of light switch is poor as far as I'm concerned and seems as though it will not switch off the front and rear fogs when you turn the lights off. If this is the case then I'm sure there will be quite a number of drivers driving with the rear and/or front fogs on when they should be off just because they have left them on when they last used the car just like a lot of other makes. With the current switch you cannot do that. It may be that Audi have built-in some electronics into the switch to prevent this but we will have to see.

The instruments are OK but I still prefer a separate fuel and temp gauges rather than ones in the speedo and rev counter.

Most of the switches on the dash and in the doors are OK and the multi-function steering wheel did seem to have a lot of buttons.

Fit and the finishes were fine as were the materials used.

The DIS screen was much more detailed that the existing for example almost showing a photo of the car with the open door or tailgate coloured in red rather than the current diagramatic version.

It also seems that you can change the headlights for driving on the other side of the road using the screen and the MMi controls.

Well these are my first observations. At the moment I'm very glad I have just bought a new Sportback of the current model.

 

[jojo]

8th A3 already Dave!?, I'm still on my first, albeit an S3. Lol

 

[mfspen]

At the moment I'm very glad I have just bought a new Sportback of the current model.

Assuming that the new Sportback has a very similar interior when it arrives, will you still buy one, despite the niggles ?

(I've recently ordered a 1.4TFSI Sport, as I would very rarely make use of the extra doors).

 

[Ste_Nova]

mmi control is much easier on the center console, i'd had my a6 3 months and i can work it without thinking about it now, i tried driving an a1 on friday last week and i was like wtf! when i was having to steady my hand and aim for buttons on the dash lol

same for the electric brake, its much simpler to use, auto releases when you pull away etc

 

[h5djr]

Assuming that the new Sportback has a very similar interior when it arrives, will you still buy one, despite the niggles ?

(I've recently ordered a 1.4TFSI Sport, as I would very rarely make use of the extra doors).

If Audi offer the right engine with an s-tronic geabox in SE trim, very probably. If not then I may be visiting my local Skoda garage. But as my current Sportback is only 4 months old they have some time to get the model range sorted.

 

[mfspen]

If Audi offer the right engine with an s-tronic geabox in SE trim, very probably. If not then I may be visiting my local Skoda garage. But as my current Sportback is only 4 months old they have some time to get the model range sorted.

I'm sure that S-tronic as well as SE/Sport/S-Line options will be available right across the range eventually.

I did consider going for the 1.8TFSI when I ordered my car, as it is the only model to (currently) have the S-tronic box. But the pricing seems ridiculous at £4k more than the 1.4 version. The S-tronic adds £1.5k, so they are charging £2.5k for an extra 400cc !! All other specs stay the same. It is as though they don't actually want to sell any of the 1.8 models.

 

[Vertigo1]

Pricing is 90% marketing anyway. A loaded A8 might cost three times as much as a loaded A3 but it doesn't cost them anywhere near three times as much to make it.

 

[mfspen]

Pricing is 90% marketing anyway. A loaded A8 might cost three times as much as a loaded A3 but it doesn't cost them anywhere near three times as much to make it.

I agree.

But even so, who would be stupid enough to buy the 1.8 ?

 

[Vertigo1]

Anyone who wants the S-Tronic geabox or the additional performance I guess. The 1.8 is significantly faster than the 1.4.

 

[mfspen]

The 1.8 is significantly faster than the 1.4.

That's true, but I doubt the difference is huge in normal driving. The old (160bhp) 1.8T only felt marginally quicker than the 1.4 when I test drove both a while ago (but not as refined). Both engines have been updated for the new model - the 1.4 is now all aluminium.

 

[Vertigo1]

Well it's got 48% more power and is a clear two seconds faster to 60. I know that doesn't necessarily translate to everyday driving but I think the difference would be more than noticable. As they've currently limited the S-Tronic to the 1.8, it looks to me as if they're positioning it as a more "sporty" choice compared to the 1.4.

 

[h5djr]

Thinking about my comments about the MMI in my previous posts Audi really should have made the pop-up screen a touch screen. So many devices are touch screen these days, smartphones, tablets, sat-navs and the new Windows 8 etc, I sure it would have made for a better system.

My first reaction when I sat in the car and opened the screen was to touch the icons - but nothing happened.

 

[phil_w]

I think the positioning of it would be the issue and could possibly be dangerously distracting to use for a driver. Whenever I have to reach up to rejig Tomtom on my iphone I often feel that I've taken my concentration of the job in hand far to much. The restrictions and specs for automotive tech to get approved are soooo tight its unreal...

 

[Ste_Nova]

i had a touch screen in my old car, fine when parked, a pain in the **** when moving, also to be correct for viewing the screen is too far away to touch anyway

screens will be gone in the next 5 years anyway as it will go hud

 

[h5djr]

I have just seen an article in today's Auto Express about the new Seat Leon. The car featured was a 148bhp 2.0TDI but the article does say the other engines that will be available in the range will be the 'flagship' 181bhp 2.0TDI as well as a 1.6 TDI with either 89 or 104bhp. Turbo petrol engines include a 1.2 TSI with 85 or 104bhp, a 120bhp 1.4TSI and a 178bhp 1.8TSI. I assume the same range of engines will be available for the new A3 at some stage. Interesting that the most powerful 'normal' A3' will be a diesel rather than a petrol engine until of course they launch the S3 and perhaps RS3.

It also says the interior gets a step up in quality and kit while LED tail-lights will also be a feature as well as optional LED day-time running lights at the front. I must admit I prefer the look of the dash to the one on the new A3. No pop-up screen or MMI but a radio/CD unit in the centre and at the same level as the intruments with the other switches and air-con controls just below.

A racy FR will be offered with 18" wheels, electric sunroof and the optional LED headlights. Prices are expected to be around £2,000 less than the next Golf.

 

[mfspen]

Well it's got 48% more power and is a clear two seconds faster to 60. I know that doesn't necessarily translate to everyday driving but I think the difference would be more than noticable. As they've currently limited the S-Tronic to the 1.8, it looks to me as if they're positioning it as a more "sporty" choice compared to the 1.4.

Yes I think you-re right.
It begs the question whether there will be a new 2.0T, or will it jump straight from the 1.8T to the new S3 ?

It would be interesting to see the in-gear figures for the 1.4 vs the 1.8. I have tried the 125bhp (turbo) and 158bhp (turbo + supercharger) versions of the 1.4 Golf, and the lower powered engine is actually quicker up to 3500rpm, and not by a small margin !

 

[Vertigo1]

Well, judging by the engine options available for the new Leon, as Dave posted in another thread, it appears there's not going to be a 2.0T this time around, at least for now.

 

[mfspen]

Well, judging by the engine options available for the new Leon, as Dave posted in another thread, it appears there's not going to be a 2.0T this time around, at least for now.

Well spotted.

I wonder what the implications are for the new Golf GTI ?
Will the new GTI effectively become an equivalent to the new S3 ?

 

[Ste_Nova]

has the gti ever been 4x4?

 

[Vertigo1]

has the gti ever been 4x4?

No, I think only the Golf R32 was ever offered with 4x4, or 4-Motion as I think VW call it.