What do u guys think trade a TL for an audi A3?

the 2006 A3 comes with DSG Gearbox , double sunroof, better handling...

and (2.0T) 200HP is just good enought for that weight...

German car, better quality (well, at least no rattle) ...

smaller car, fun to drive.

any opinions?

ps: love the "big mouth"~

 

Is DSG similar to SMG?



Well, no rattle, I'm not sure... But that FWD A3 looks lighter and less-power... Not sure. Have to test-drive it.

 

DSG... i heard that it is even faster and more smooth than SMG...

 

its a hot car, i think i would rather wait for the gti though.....

and what do you mean better handling?

 

well it weighs less, so that could be expected.

 

on a TL forum your answers may be a little bias, the guys in Car Talk may be able to help you as well.

 

Better handling...definitely yes. Audi’s in my opinion are the best handling cars out there due to Quattro. No rattles - you got to be kidding. I used to have a 2002 A4 which I called the snap crackle mobile. Better reliability - probably not especially for a first year model car combined with the fact that Audi is at the bottom of the barrel for reliability according to consumer reports.

 

i think it depends on the tl...

6sp tl w/ aspec and ps2's = one of the best handling cars ive owned...including the s2k....

dsg is much smoother and faster than smg..it is considered more of an 'auto' than the smg...

http://mydreams.go.ro/art_direct_shift.html

Q: What does DSG stand for?
A: Direct Shift Gearbox.

Q: Is DSG just another automatic transmission?
A: Yes & No. DSG is something that has never been offered in production vehicles before and is a direct result of racing technology from 20 years ago coming down to consumer levels. When the DSG in "D" (Drive.) it behaves just like a regular automatic for the most part except that at a stop the car goes into neutral. When you start to ease off the brake, the clutch will smoothly engage just like a manual transmission. Drop the transmission in "S" for sport mode, the transmission is still in “automatic”, until you click on one of the paddles. In sport mode it’s very aggressive, the transmission keeps the revs in the optimum power band.

Q: How much with the DSG option cost?
A: Maybe about the same as a TriTronic transmission, $1200(?)

Q: Does DSG have a clutch peddle like a normal manual?
A: No.

Q: Can you go up to redline on the DSG with out ‘it’ shifting on me?
A: Yes you can go to the redline, but when you hit the redline it WILL shift for you to the next gear

Q: Does DSG shift slow?
A: No, in fact it shifts faster then a manual transmission. This equals better acceleration.

Q: How much more does it weight?
A: The DSG transmission weighs about 66 lbs. more than the standard manual MQ350 six-speed

Q: What about fuel economy?
A: Gas mileage is better than the manual transmission

Q: How much torque can a DSG transmission handle?
A: Right now it tops around 240lbs-ft. VW might create higher torque rated transmissions depending on the engine application.

Q: What if I want to add power upgrade to my car that exceeds the 240lbs-ft?
A: The entire system is electronically monitored and controlled via a mechatronics module inside the transmission. This module communicates with the engine ECU and other electronic systems as well. Because of this, it will make adding a forced induction system or any other heavy duty power upgrades extremely difficult next to impossible. You might be able to get away with minor power upgrades.

Q: How does DSG work?
A: Here's how it works (try to stay with us here): At a stop, the transmission drops into neutral. When you start to lift your foot off the brake, the clutch connected to input shaft 1 will smoothly engage moving the car forward much like a manual transmission except electronically and automatically. Input shaft 1 is now controlling first gear providing power to the wheels. While input shaft 1 is in first, input shaft two has selected 2nd gear in anticipation of the next upshift. When the transmission requests 2nd gear (either via the paddles, gate or automatically) clutch one opens up and clutch two engages in as quickly as .008 seconds. There is a certain amount of slippage in the clutches to ensure a smooth transition from gear to gear. In the event of a downshift, the transmission will request a throttle blip from the engine ECU to match revs and then shift down a gear - this happens in as quick as .6 seconds including the throttle matching. The transmission can even shift from 6th to 2nd gear without having to sequentially run down through every gear. In this case, DSG will switch input shafts from 6th gear going to 5th temporarily on input shaft 2 and then into 2nd with input shaft 1 while blipping the throttle to match revs - all in less than .9 seconds.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1779303




and the quattro a3 wont be here until next year.

 

I love the way Audis' drive. I don't think I want another one in my garage or pocket though. Best of luck.

 

deandorsey, thanks.

 

The A3 being imported this fall is a front-driver, ie, no quattro.

 

No rattles? I have a friend with a 2004 A4, and he made 8 trips to the service department trying to fix an annoying rattle.

 

seem them a lot in Switzerland, never seen one over here though. They also have an S3 which is a beast. And i think i've heard something about an RS3 which would be insane

 

isn't the A3 just audi's version of the golf? the TL is a much larger sedan and not really in the same class as the A3(maybe just price wise). it looks way to small to consider it as a replacement or trade for the TL. if i were to get a 2 door i would probably get the G35 coupe instead as that looks like a better deal than tha audi.

 

Not really. According to the April, 2005 auto issue of CR, Audi is "just" 10% worse than average reliability, on average. They aren't very close to the bottom. At the bottom is Land Rover (180% worse than average), Jaguar (80% worse), Hummer (70% worse), VW (40% worse), Lincoln and BMW (slightly less than 40% worse), Mini, Saab, Saturn, Porsche, and Cadillac (all "worse" than Audi). Acura is at the 40% better than average mark, with Honda, Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, and Scion beating it. That data is from all models averaged together for several model years. It's from pg. 18 of the magazine, taken from a bar chart (numbers are approximate for that reason).

 

A3 is Sportback sedan, 4 drs. The first model in US Audi's lineup is I-4 FWD. (V-6 3.2Liter or Quattro won't be here until the next fall, 250 hp/236 lb-ft)

I think it's so eye-catching because of its DSG tranny. This is what Motortrend said: "...with the sublime 3.2 DSG Quattro setup. Backing either engine, DSG behaves just like a conventional slushbox in "D," but in "S" it shifts as you would, rendering the steering-wheel paddles almost unnecessary..." http://motortrend.com/roadtests/wago...udi/index.html

Try to test SMG and DSG cars, you will love them. IMHO...



Base price: $25,000 (est.)
Engine: turbocharged 2.0-liter in-line four, 200 hp/207 lb-ft
Drivetrain: Six-speed manual or DSG, front-wheel drive
Length x width x height: 168.7 x 69.5 x 56.0 in (77.1 inches wide with mirrors)
Wheelbase: 101.5 in
Curb weight: 2900 lb
EPA City/Hwy: 19-20/26-30
Safety equipment: Anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, dual front and side curtain airbags, tire-pressure monitor
Major standard equipment: Dual-zone climate control, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control, AM/FM/CD player anti-theft system, pre-wiring for satellite radio
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles

 

Man, that thing looks like a Jetta with a hatchback. No thanks.

 

no thanks doesn't strike me as something that i would consider purchasing. i am not a big fan of the station wagon type cars. i am aware of the SMG type trannies but still not a big fan of them. like i said the lack of a clutch pedal makes the car feel like it's missing something. i prefer the individual gates for each gear as opposed to sequential gearing. but who knows my tone may change later as more and more cars come equipped with this type of tranny especially higher end sports sedans.

 

Agree...

 

two totally different cars. Are you willing to lose the space from going to a smaller car?


If fun is the main reason then i think the A3 will be a blast. I got to sit in one at my last track event. The seats are soo nice, they hug you down. Quattro wont come for another year and i personally think the price they are asking is too much. But im sure it will be a blast to toss around.

 

I just got back from Switzerland and saw the new A3 and the new GTi. Not bad looking in person for that type of car.

 

where'd you go in Switzerland...i grew up there, moved in fourth grade

 

I don't see the parallel between that and the TL. The TL is a mid size sport luxary sedan. The Audi is a upscale GTI a pocket rocket car that has a station wagon body( more subaru like). Not the same type of car. If you want that type of car get a S2000 (pure sports car) or a WRX the wagon with some mean performance. The TL is a great enrtry lux cruiser with excellent performance.

 

you mean perceived as having better quality

 

Mercedes has the same rating in quality as Chevy, and Audi is below average in quality and reliabilty rating. They do have a great feel and drive great. But is seems that the japanese car are better built.

 

Sedan to Wagon?

 

Are you kidding me, do you see how ugly that car is?

 

I was considering waiting for the A3 but the lack of Quattro and having to wait until mid-May made me go with the TL. I had an 02 A4 and considered the new A4 but costs were hihg. The A3 is an excellent car; if you can wait for the Quattro and get the DSG, I would do it over the TL.

As far as rattles and cost, I have owned 2 VWs, an Audi and they have been no more expensive than the Honda, Infiniti FX and TL. The FX was very expensive to run/maintain. My current TL, which is 1 month old today with 3300miles, already has rattles. I love my TL but I am not sure why the bad blood towards Audi.

 

Geneva, I was there to work at the ITU....there is a Audi dealership (Amag in Switzerland) on Montbrilliant right across from where I was attending meetings. At Criswell in Annapolis (Audi and Acura) they have a demo red A3. Totally base model at 25K. I may get an RSX-S tomorrow. I liked the TL, but after having a big car I realize that I like a smaller hatchback for fun in the twisties so I took a peek at the A3. If the 3 door was available I might buy it instead. But its not comimng here, as it would confuse buyers with the new GTi.

 

If you go to the audi website and start config?ing that A3 they charge you extra for every single detail extra;; . . xenons, rear Airbags, gearbox, on the last page you have a bill for 35K ,,come on boy !! dont even think about it. That's a Pear White Tl with navy ., all you need it's tint, aem air flow, and eibach pro suspension pack .. . .with an A3 you'll get an small car ,. Think how this car will handle a heavy accident,. TL alrady comes with standars like xenon, side airbags for no exta cost,., and of Course a Baseline Heavy car with SAFETY Passed A+..

 

I think I'm at least the third person in this thread who had an '02 A4 before my TL.

That Audi was the best car I ever owned, bar none. My only real complaint was that the 1.8T was underpowered, for a 3300lb car.

Trading it for a TL was a big mistake; I noticed rattles on my way home from the Acura dealership.

 

Your right, the A3 price quickly goes up with options. As for safety, I don't care except it helps with insurance. I've wadded cars and bikes before and will probably do so again. It happens. I just like a smaller funner car thats all. I always recommend the TL to anyone shopping for that size of car. I went by Criswell this evening and they have the shiny new silver RSX-S with my name on it ready to go. It might seem odd to some to appear to "go backwards" but its what I like. Sort of like going back to brunetts after a fiery redhead .....You try and sample things and then back to what you like...It costs some dough, but that why I went to school..earn money and have fun with it...