Breathtaking performance, breathtaking price
We drooled all over the A3 2.0T when it came to our shores last year. Audi's little wagon, er, hatchback is a driver's car; a performance-injected machine designed to stir your soul and cart you around in style.
The A3 3.2 pushes the driving experience several notches higher.
This entry-level Audi is so rewarding to drive, that you'll be emptying the carton of milk down the sink just to find a good reason to go out. "Honey, we're out of milk! I'll have to get some more!" Of course, you'd come back only 2 hours later, completely forgetting what you supposedly left for in the first place.
Sweet powertrain
That 250-horsepower engine is marvelous. It combines a seamless amount of low-end torque with a melodious soundtrack. The 2.0T engine is good, but the V6 is even better. It's mated to the Volkswagen group's 6-speed DSG automated manual, baptized S-Tronic in Audi-speak.
Don't worry, the gearbox sounds complicated to use, but works just like a conventional automatic, although more thrilling. The S-Tronic flips through gears with lightning-fast reflexes, and paddle shifters are located on the back of the steering wheel. So, with a racy engine and a race-car gearbox, how do you think you're going to end up driving?
Everything about this car seems to be built for speed: the suspension setup, the strong brakes, the straight-line performance, the talented Quattro all-wheel drive. The ride of the A3 is a little stiff, yet surprisingly compliant that you could drive all day without your organs begging for you to pull over. By the way, my super-unleaded fuel consumption average is 15.0 L/100 km.
We drooled all over the A3 2.0T when it came to our shores last year. Audi's little wagon, er, hatchback is a driver's car; a performance-injected machine designed to stir your soul and cart you around in style.
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| The A3 looks particularly good in that red livery. |
The A3 3.2 pushes the driving experience several notches higher.
This entry-level Audi is so rewarding to drive, that you'll be emptying the carton of milk down the sink just to find a good reason to go out. "Honey, we're out of milk! I'll have to get some more!" Of course, you'd come back only 2 hours later, completely forgetting what you supposedly left for in the first place.
Sweet powertrain
That 250-horsepower engine is marvelous. It combines a seamless amount of low-end torque with a melodious soundtrack. The 2.0T engine is good, but the V6 is even better. It's mated to the Volkswagen group's 6-speed DSG automated manual, baptized S-Tronic in Audi-speak.
Don't worry, the gearbox sounds complicated to use, but works just like a conventional automatic, although more thrilling. The S-Tronic flips through gears with lightning-fast reflexes, and paddle shifters are located on the back of the steering wheel. So, with a racy engine and a race-car gearbox, how do you think you're going to end up driving?
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| The 3.2L V6 sings beautifully. |
Everything about this car seems to be built for speed: the suspension setup, the strong brakes, the straight-line performance, the talented Quattro all-wheel drive. The ride of the A3 is a little stiff, yet surprisingly compliant that you could drive all day without your organs begging for you to pull over. By the way, my super-unleaded fuel consumption average is 15.0 L/100 km.