You've gleamed over the glossy brochures, endured the brown liquid the dealer claims is coffee, begged for a test drive (or three), and you've
wined and dined the loan officer/spouse.
That's it. You're ready for your new Audi.
As you like to drive, nimble handling combined with a powerful motor is a definite priority. But you also have a purchase budget that can't peak past $50 large. So now the decision is: which new Audi will it be?
Looking at the Ingolstadt-based company's lineup, with its compact shape and big-for-its-class motor, the A3 3.2 S line immediately pops out.
The front-engine, all-wheel-drive, five-passenger, five-door hatchback comes with a 250 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque 3.2-litre vee-six and the exemplary dual-clutch manumatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters (formerly known as DSG, but now branded S tronic in Audis). But if you're thinking the A3 3.2 S line is the result of the classic big engine/small car formula--a hot-rod--and must be a driver's first choice, read on...
Because, to meet your fun-to-drive-Audi-for-under-$50k needs, may I also present the not-that-dissimilar A4 3.2 quattro sedan. Similarities and
surprises between these two Audis run deeper than the four rings in their respective grilles.
Firstly, they share a four-valve, 3.2-litre 90-degree vee-six, and the same number of seatbelts. Audi does rate the A4's engine with five more horsepower and seven more foot-pounds of torque than the A3; negligible to say the least. The not-so-obvious similarities are curb weights that are within five kilograms of each other, and base prices that are only separated by $3,135.
Hmmm, so much for the perception that the A3 would be lighter or substantially less expensive than its big brother sedan. But the A3 3.2 S line must be the more fun-to-drive of the two, right?
One of the first A3 impressions when in motion is steering that seems overly light in parking manoeuvres. But the steering's adjectives quickly turn to predictable, accurate and weighty once car and driver are at speed. When slippery, all four wheels drive the A3, but it's a front-drive biased Haldex slip-then-grip system also found in Volkswagens and Volvos. Despite this, it takes big effort to induce understeer. And like any front driver, when you do start to plough, just back off the power and the A3's nose easily tucks right in.
The junior Audi's ride quality is well damped, but like most of the car's
feedback, the car's handling doesn't have the nimbleness the front-drive A3 2.0 T is blessed with. Most of the blame can be placed on all that extra engine and AWD gear; a A3 3.2 S line weighs 150 kilograms more than a A3 2.0 T. When attacking a series of twisty country back roads, all that weight up front is something that is felt in almost any corner taken with verve.
Subjectively, the bigger engine A3 didn't feel all that quick. But in fact, the A3 3.2 S line is quicker from naught to 100 kilometres per hour than the A4 3.2 quattro by 0.6 at 5.9, according to Audi's numbers.
Now into said A4 ...
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc, Auto123.com) |
That's it. You're ready for your new Audi.
As you like to drive, nimble handling combined with a powerful motor is a definite priority. But you also have a purchase budget that can't peak past $50 large. So now the decision is: which new Audi will it be?
Looking at the Ingolstadt-based company's lineup, with its compact shape and big-for-its-class motor, the A3 3.2 S line immediately pops out.
The front-engine, all-wheel-drive, five-passenger, five-door hatchback comes with a 250 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque 3.2-litre vee-six and the exemplary dual-clutch manumatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters (formerly known as DSG, but now branded S tronic in Audis). But if you're thinking the A3 3.2 S line is the result of the classic big engine/small car formula--a hot-rod--and must be a driver's first choice, read on...
Because, to meet your fun-to-drive-Audi-for-under-$50k needs, may I also present the not-that-dissimilar A4 3.2 quattro sedan. Similarities and
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc, Auto123.com) |
Firstly, they share a four-valve, 3.2-litre 90-degree vee-six, and the same number of seatbelts. Audi does rate the A4's engine with five more horsepower and seven more foot-pounds of torque than the A3; negligible to say the least. The not-so-obvious similarities are curb weights that are within five kilograms of each other, and base prices that are only separated by $3,135.
Hmmm, so much for the perception that the A3 would be lighter or substantially less expensive than its big brother sedan. But the A3 3.2 S line must be the more fun-to-drive of the two, right?
One of the first A3 impressions when in motion is steering that seems overly light in parking manoeuvres. But the steering's adjectives quickly turn to predictable, accurate and weighty once car and driver are at speed. When slippery, all four wheels drive the A3, but it's a front-drive biased Haldex slip-then-grip system also found in Volkswagens and Volvos. Despite this, it takes big effort to induce understeer. And like any front driver, when you do start to plough, just back off the power and the A3's nose easily tucks right in.
The junior Audi's ride quality is well damped, but like most of the car's
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc, Auto123.com) |
Subjectively, the bigger engine A3 didn't feel all that quick. But in fact, the A3 3.2 S line is quicker from naught to 100 kilometres per hour than the A4 3.2 quattro by 0.6 at 5.9, according to Audi's numbers.
Now into said A4 ...