Anyone got a A3 3.2 V6?

thepharcyde · 13 Jan 2008 at 13:55

I am changing my car next month trading in my 12/2002 330CI sport with 52k on it part ex. I am hoping for around £12,500 exactly the same as the owed BMW finance, and also looking to put down an extra 4/5k on top of that.

How do you rate it? I know next to nothing on VAG cars but whats the general impression of A3 3.2 V6? Got a budget of 15-17k and have one on my test drive list. How do these compare to the R32 Golf MK4, do they share the same platform and identical engine? Also how would this compare to the Mk5 GTI something which also falls in budget. Whats the handling like between the 3? One thing having owned an E46 sport I am worried about it being a downgrade when it comes to the B road bash. The E46 is the most planted of all cars that I have owned Focus ST170 and Mini which did have run flat tyres.

Open to other car options, which will offer me reliability and hastle free motoring under 40k miles from a franchise dealer. Possibly an ST2/3 as I have enjoyed hastle free motoring having owned a Escort, Fiesta and Focus in the past.

Thx

thecremeegg · 13 Jan 2008 at 14:01

2001 M3 for £15k

thepharcyde · 13 Jan 2008 at 14:03

thecremeegg said:
2001 M3 for £15k

No BMW's until I move location in the future

zain · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:01

I feel like I am in a grey area with the 3.2 V6, the Audi website displayed the performance figures around 6.9 for 0-60, which at the time was the same as the 2.0T. At the time of the S3 coming and the new R32 I saw the figures update a little.

You will be going for the older A3 model, the noise is always a pleasure, the quattro performs well even in the wet and it is fast. I'd get a sport not s line though for full leathers.

Never sat in the mk4 R32, only the mk5.

In terms of an older 3.2 V6 or a 330ci sport I can't see why you would want to change, if anything you are down grading.

fonzee · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:03

whats wrong with the sport? i see no logic behind why you would rid one car for another which performs similar... just wondering thats all

Dr House · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:12

I would go with a 2.0T and remap it over a 3.2.

for that sort of money you should be able to get a new S3 which you can remap to 300 bhp with revo

oweneades · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:22

Its a great car (see sig

) althou it won't really be any better than the BMW you are selling.

As for me well I love the noise it makes, the way it looks (odd I know but I like it lol), and I also like the way it drives.

The steering is a little light (as are all audi's) but its responsive enough, there is fantastic grip and the brakes are lets just say excellent. I would probably say it won't be as good for a b road bash as your 330 but it will still be good.

I mainly got mine over say a 330 sport as mine specifically has electonic lumber support (which was very important to me as I have back trouble) _ I know it may seem odd to limit myself to 1 car but I tried quite a few and this one was just right for me.

So to sum up:

+ Quick (same I would assume as the 330CI)
+ Grips very well (especially in the wet)
+ Comfortable
+ Well built
+ Looks smart (subjective I know)
+ Engine note
+ Fuel consumption if you don't gun it (Mine achieves on average 30mpg on the commute)
+ Price isn't that bad compared to a MKIV R32

- Steering is a tad light
- Not as good on the back roads as a 330CI sport (assuming here)
- Fuel consumption if you do gun it (9mpg is fun)

Please note I am writing this based on my own experiences of owning the car is question.

Heres a quick pic of mine when I bought it:

oweneades · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:24

Paras said:
I would go with a 2.0T and remap it over a 3.2.

for that sort of money you should be able to get a new S3 which you can remap to 300 bhp with revo

A new shape S3 for 15-17k?!

Griffo · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:30

Owen, I've heard (heard, not my opinion, and people often lie to me, especially the tv and interweb) that the Golf R32 was somewhat less agile than the GTI, due to the heavier 3.2, not sure if this was for Mk4, or current also. Do you find this in the Audi? I suppose it's a bit hard to tell unless you've driven a 2.0T or 1.8T or whatever it is/was.

Goodbye!

oweneades · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:37

I think less agile is probably the wrong wording. I havn't driven a GTI/A3 2.0T to compare but I assume that the R32/3.2 V6 would understeer more at the beginning of a corner until the quattro system fiddled with the power.

I have noticed understeer myself but my dads 2.0TDI sportback is much worse than my 3.2 V6.

It was noted on top gear when the MkV R32 went around the track that on the hammer head it ran wide initially due to the heavy V6 engine causing it to understeer (from clarksons voice over) although it did appear to gets is composure back mid corner.

Housey · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:48

I found the R32 didn't feel as sharp as the GTi, probably down to its extra weight. The GTi comes in at 1336kg and the R32 at 1538 kg, so 200kg, which would be the reason why the GTi feels more 'chuckable' I would suggest.

zain · 13 Jan 2008 at 15:50

oweneades said:
I mainly got mine over say a 330 sport as mine specifically has electonic lumber support (which was very important to me as I have back trouble)

Not sure who I asked about this but I was completly ignored. Have you tried just using a cushion? May sound odd but it helped me, the lumbar support was more or less stabbing me! The cushion stopped any pain.

oweneades · 13 Jan 2008 at 18:24

zain said:
Not sure who I asked about this but I was completly ignored. Have you tried just using a cushion? May sound odd but it helped me, the lumbar support was more or less stabbing me! The cushion stopped any pain.

I have indeed tried a cusion to no avail. The electronic lumber allows me to get the seat exactly right for me (as it adjusts up and down as well as out) and then my wife can adjust it back for her.

Dr House · 13 Jan 2008 at 18:25

oweneades said:
A new shape S3 for 15-17k?!

yah sorry i just had a look, I did not know that cost that much.

[TW]Fox · 13 Jan 2008 at 20:22

I've test driven a 2005 A3 3.2 Quatto Sport with a manual gearbox. Here is what I thought.

It looks nice. Infact, its the nicest looking of any small hatchback in my opinion. The interior wasn't bad but I felt let down in the quality area - I know it's just a small hatchback but the way people go on about Audi build quality, and indeed the way the A6 is built, I expected more. It was noticeably better than the Mk5 Golf, but there were areas where some of the plastics felt unacceptably cheap in a car of this class and price. Asthetically it was fine - didn't like the fold down centre armrest, didn't feel solid at all.

On the road.

Performance. It felt fast - very fast. It felt faster than my 530i, and a quick check of the stats shows this to be the case - it's also less refined and so the sense of speed is greater making it feel even quicker. Absolutely no complaints about the performance whatsoever - I would say it's perhaps even slightly quicker than the 330i but not by a noticeable margin.

To drive..

Errr. I wasn't so impressed. It felt very nice heavy, and despite the 'Quattro' it felt very FWD. Nail it out of the junction and you got a bit of scrabble from the front wheels before the Quattro woke up and diverted power to the back. Was annoying. Infact it didn't really feel like it handled well at all - it changed direction easily enough but felt a bit ungainly for the type of car. I think the biggest problem was the steering. It was very light. This was welcome as I manevoured it out of the forecourt but it was less than impressive down a twisty A road at speed. Infact it didn't inspire confidence at all, and I think this is why the car didn't feel so sharp - my 5 Series is more responsive and thats a 1600kg barge.

It was less sharp than a 3 Series. A few bits rattled - nothing serious, but this annoyed me.

Overall?

I came away dissapointed but I cannot help this is becuase i went in with huge expectations. I was expecting a fast 3 door car with the build quality of my 5 Series and the handling of a Clio 182. This was obviously an unreasonable expectation and I was dissapointed in its result. As a car in its own right there is no doubt it's very good, but moving from a 330Ci to it would yield dissapointment in my opinion.

Plus you'd post incessant whinging threads about your dealer every 34 seconds becuase guess what - Audi are no better.

Ask Dandle.

Dandle · 13 Jan 2008 at 21:22

[QUOTE='[TW]Ask Dandle.[/QUOTE]

I won't be spending money on an Audi again, at least not until they get the quality of the vehicle right(for the price) and the dire customer services. In fact thats why ive bought a BMW and to think I was an Audi fan all those years. I think with the money crisis the VAG group have got Audi are doing what Merc did ten years ago when accountants nearly ruined the name with the cost cutting.

zain · 13 Jan 2008 at 22:14

[TW]Fox;10883705 said:
Snip

All the reviews on the A3 seem to point to quality interior, especially over its rivals. That and many A3 owners who like the interior and the fact the car is built well.

I feel very safe in an A3 and theres plenty of technological safety features which make it a nice place to be in.

As for services I've had one bad run in, they honour the warranty and I've heard stories from BMW, it's entirely down to situation so you can't say they have bad servicing because both their product and customer service have helped them become what they are today.

Dandle said:
I won't be spending money on an Audi again, at least not until they get the quality of the vehicle right(for the price) and the dire customer services. In fact thats why ive bought a BMW and to think I was an Audi fan all those years. I think with the money crisis the VAG group have got Audi are doing what Merc did ten years ago when accountants nearly ruined the name with the cost cutting.

Which car did you have? I think the only recent cheap issue I have heard of was the TT seats.

[TW]Fox · 13 Jan 2008 at 22:16

zain said:
All the reviews on the A3 seem to point to quality interior, especially over its rivals. That and many A3 owners who like the interior and the fact the car is built well.

So what? How does that suddenly change my opinion on the quality?

I feel very safe in an A3 and theres plenty of technological safety features which make it a nice place to be in.

Ok, great

As for services I've had one bad run in, they honour the warranty and I've heard stories from BMW, it's entirely down to situation so you can't say they have bad servicing because both their product and customer service have helped them become what they are today.

Yes... grr I dont even know why I'm explaining this to you but pharcydes primary reason for changing is he apparently hates his BMW dealer. I'm explaining that he probably wont find Audi any better.

PeterT · 13 Jan 2008 at 22:19

I have an Audi and I think it is great. I drove the A3 3.2 on test drives and it did seem a bit lumbering. It did sound good but not as tuneful as the R32. I believe that all of the Audi 3.2 engines are 250 bhp whereas the early R32 were 242 bhp I believe. The Golf seats are more supportive but the interior quality of the Golf is poorer than the Audi.
As said above the lighter 2.0T versions are more nimble and will Revo up to the same bhp as the 3.2. I am very lucky in that I bought the S3 version, slightly more supportive seats than the S line but not as good as the Recaros

PeterT

zain · 13 Jan 2008 at 22:20

thepharcyde if you're main reason is dealer experience I wouldn't change.

I find it really is pot luck whether you get a good experience or not, I travel fairly far because my local dealer is rubbish and it is Audi.