"Audi For Life" (audiforlife)
05/28/2014 at 11:05 • Filed to: Review, Audi, Audi A3
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"Audi For Life" (audiforlife)
05/28/2014 at 11:05 • Filed to: Review, Audi, Audi A3 | 0
| 12 |
I had a chance to take the keys and drive a 2015 Audi A3 1.0T for the extended weekend and it was an opportune time to compare my experiences in it and the A3 1.8T that I got to drive two months ago...
Back in March, I had the opportunity to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , while my S5 was in to get its summer wheels and tires put back on. My first impression of the A3 1.8T was relatively positive, with high notes being the new MMI Touch infotainment system and the 1.8T can pack a bit of punch for city driving. That said, it wasn't all roses with the lack of oomph when trying to pass or moderate acceleration on the highway and the S Tronic transmission loving to hang on to low gears for a long time in S mode. I still really wanted to drive the A3 2.0T quattro to compare how much power the 2.0T packed and if the S Tronic transmission shift points were any better.
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Fast forward two months and I got a chance to get the keys to a Glacier White A3 2.0T quattro from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for the Memorial Day weekend. Initially, my hopes would have been to get the keys to an A8 L 4.0T for one or two quick day trips. Unfortunately, another customer already had dibs on it and the A3 2.0T was the only other choice. Well, I take that back… there was a Q7 TDI wearing Black Optics available, but I'll spare you my thoughts on the Q7 and most crossovers (hint: I despise crossovers and SUVs for various reasons).
Like the A3 1.8T that I got to drive, the A3 2.0T was equipped with the MMI Navigation plus package. The Cold Weather package that was included was not put into service due to the mild to warm weather that hung around almost all of the weekend. Every time I get to drive a newer Audi with Bluetooth audio streaming, I curse Audi for not including or providing a proper, OEM Bluetooth audio streaming option for the 3G MMI in my S5. That said, I didn't really make to much use of the two SD slots that the MMI Navigation plus system afforded and found that the coin slots behind the MMI Touch knob to be perfect SD card holders.
On the way back home from Audi Wilsonville, I took the on-ramp to the freeway and used it to see how much of a difference two-tenths of a litre and quattro can make… and boy, they did! The extra two-tenths of a litre not only provides an extra 50 HP and 58 lb-ft of torque, it can also shave just under 1.5 seconds off of the 0-60 MPH time. The quattro set up also helped send the power to the wheels without the front tires slipping, even on dry pavement.
ddavidn
> Audi For Life
05/28/2014 at 12:01 |
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I don't want to be spared your thoughts on the Q5/7!
And those SD card holders are the best.
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Audi For Life
> ddavidn
05/28/2014 at 12:15 |
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I don't usually use coin holder slots as SD card holders, mostly because the other ones that I've seen (like the one in my S5) are too long and the cards kind of slide around. The ones in the A3 were the perfect size for the cards and kept them in their place for the first part of the drive. I plopped them into the unit in the glove box so that I could catch up on a few podcasts.
As far as my thoughts on the Q5, Q7 and almost every other crossover (including the supposedly "small" and "compact" Buick Encore is that they are just plain bloated and most them of them look bleh with all of that extra sheet metal. Not to mention, so many of them have have wibbly-wobbly boat-like suspension and the higher center of gravity saps much of the fun of driving. That said, there are a handful of crossovers that have decent handling and oomph, but still have the issue of looking so darn bloated (Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, Evoque, X6 M).
The other problem I have when them is that you have to carry a larger step ladder to actually make use of a cargo box or securing something to the top of the beast. Not something you have to do in a proper sport wagon.
I guess to sum things up, I'm a deep down Euro wagon fan (you can add the TSX wagon to the mix as well, since it is based on the Euro Accord) and are perfect as utility and grocery haulers. Seeing crossovers or other crossover-like-beasts imitating wagons (Ford Flex, Toyota Venza, etc.) makes me want to lose my lunch many times over.
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ddavidn
> Audi For Life
05/28/2014 at 12:26 |
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A stereo that reads SD cards... genius... (I'm probably way behind on car entertainment technology.)
I completely agree. My boss has a new white Touareg, which is lovely, but it's basically just a wagon that is higher. I'd much rather have an Allroad. There has to be some use for these SUV/Crossover things, though. Right?
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Audi For Life
> ddavidn
05/28/2014 at 12:32 |
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If you need to haul around 6 people and/or want to tow something while also having a good amount of cargo space, a crossover or body-on-frame SUV makes a lot of sense. But, to just be used as a status symbol (something I forgot to mention) or to only have one, maybe two, people ever in one at any given time, a crossover is overkill. Don't get me started on the whole "safety" mentality that surrounds crossovers either.
That said, a Touareg (aka tow-rag or toe-rag) does make for a nice towing vehicle for something like a track car. In fact, a friend of mine who attends Portland Cars and Coffee has a V10 TDI for that purpose :)
On the other hand, I've seen people tow their track car using a C5 A6 allroad as well. Just think of Audi would bring over an A6 3.0TDI Avant! Perfect people hauler, towing car and effing gorgeous as well!
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Audi For Life
> ddavidn
05/28/2014 at 12:34 |
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Yeah, the newer Audi MMI with Navigation include either one or two SD card slots for media. That said, I wished that they would include a standard USB port for media as well (and not just as a charging port) so that I can plug in a 64GB or 128GB USB stick with all of my stuff and not worry about SD cards anymore.
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ddavidn
> Audi For Life
05/28/2014 at 12:38 |
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Yes. The status symbol. Also, is that the same as people liking to drive big cars because it makes them feel more powerful or in control or something?
I get the towing aspect of it, I suppose. My dad has two Suburbans for this purpose and puts them to good use. I just feel like a lot of the crossovers don't have enough guts to pull much of anything, and therefore are made to not suit any particular purpose other than putting drivers up higher above the lowly wagon drivers.
Is the V10 TDI as cool as I think it is? That's an SUV I'd get. It's on my dream garage wishlist (it's a big list...). I'm just not sure if a new V6 is that useful to anyone. I suppose it could tow a small trailer.
Mmmmmm.... 3.0TDI...
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Audi For Life
> ddavidn
05/28/2014 at 12:45 |
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I think the Touareg 3.0TDI is the better choice for towing lighter loads versus the standard V6. Agreed that most of the entry-level engines in many volume crossovers are pitiful for towing, particularly if equipped with a CVT. That said, it would be funny to see a trailer behind an Evoque or an Infiniti EX :D
re: driving large cars, I think a lot of it has to do with being a status symbol as well as some more luxurious features are only available in the largest vehicles (LS, S Class, A8, 7 Series). The latter has a lot to do with expectations, but also it's easier to hide some of the more expensive features and demand a high asking price for options.
For me, I consider the A6/A7/5 Series to be as big as I would ever want to get. :)
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ddavidn
> Audi For Life
05/28/2014 at 12:53 |
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True. I actually kind of like the Evoque, but I think it's only because sometimes I rally one in GT6. That's fun.
I wouldn't mind driving an Alpina B7, on weekends, but other than that I'm definitely with you in the A6 camp. That's plenty big.
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Audi For Life
> ddavidn
05/28/2014 at 13:21 |
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An Alpina B7 would be really nice as well. I'm trying to figure out which weekend to snag the keys to the A8 L 4.0T and figure out somewhere to go in it. Thinking about a nice, scenic day trip...
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ddavidn
> Audi For Life
05/28/2014 at 13:59 |
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To.... Tacoma!
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Audi For Life
> ddavidn
05/28/2014 at 14:13 |
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I was thinking about possibly visiting the Olympic National Park and maybe a quick visit to Port Townsend.
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ddavidn
> Audi For Life
05/28/2014 at 14:22 |
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Very good choices.