Once you get this baby packed, it will haul you like Speed Racer on deliveries, so make sure the eggs are in hand
 |
| The clutch is soft but precise, and the short stick is also form-fitted for my hand and each gear easy to find. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
(the passenger's hand, that is) or well padded, because you won't be able to resist tracking curves at high speeds, braking late and burning out of corners, or dropping Mr. Lead Toes on the gas pedal and playing get-up and get-down with every shift of the 6-speed manual. Yes, it was the manual and, yes, it was sweet. The clutch is soft but precise, and the short stick is also form-fitted for my hand and each gear easy to find, with only a touch of grabiness to keep me from getting too lazy or sloppy.
One notable absence was quattro all-wheel drive, but with wide tires up front any loss of grip was more from a desire on my part to see if it was even possible to induce Audi's very patient electronic stability control (ESP). All told, it only kicked in during my snow adventures, exuberant standing starts and maybe once on a massively overpowered entry into a curve - I couldn't help myself, I just had to try it.
Through
 |
| Through corners the A3 stayed flat in pretty much any scenario. (Photo: Jonathan Yarkony, Canadian Auto Press) |
corners the A3 stayed flat in pretty much any scenario, its low, wide stance reinforced at the front with MacPherson struts, lower wishbones, anti-roll bar and a track stabilizer while the rear had a four-link suspension with separate spring/shock absorber arrangement and another anti-roll bar. I can tell you that between its engine, its size, its weight and these components, there is magical fun to be had on clover leaf ramps, twisty roads, highways, stoplights, sharp turns and pretty much anywhere else there are paved roads. Granted, when you hit a bridge expansion joint, streetcar track or potholes, you feel it loud and clear, but I really wouldn't have softened it up one bit, because that tradeoff would mean more roll and less feel in corners. I'll take my corners with control, thank you.
