ESL
24-04-2008, 08:52 AM
Hello all.
Not a niggle post or a can you help, just a happy owner of my first ever Audi.
Been driving a beemer 320D M Sport for the last three years as a company car, but finally started wondering about why I was paying the taxman so much to drive a company car. Long and short of it was, I wanted a more tax efficient motor. I see the writing on the wall for diesel as well and wanted to to pay less for fuel - so what to buy?
Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI in SE Trim on an 08 plate. This easily matches the M Sport in equipment to my mind, and the suspension on the Audi is far more comfortable, but it's the engine that is a revelation. Because it's a turbo, you really don't feel it's "only" a 1.4. It pulls easily from as low as 1300rpm and apart from the lack of a diesel engine note - you could be forgiven for thinking it was a diesel as it pulls so well and when you do push on a bit, it's a very pleasing engine note.
It tracks better than the beemer on the road as well. The beemer's big 18inch alloys and frankly awful run-flat tyres, used to tramline like hell; Sometimes a very unnerving experience. The Audi is much better in this respect. I up-specced a little to get 17inch 5 spoke alloys, which I thought was more traditional on an Audi than the standard 20 spoke alloys, and the ride is sporty and surefooted. If I have any observation on the handling, it is that the steering seems to be over-isolated from the driver, as feedback is low. But it is light and very positive.
I have also noticed that on the beemer, the traction control was never far away from intervening when driving with "enthusiasm", with the ESP light always too ready to flicker on. With the Audi, the intervention threshold seems higher, as the same style of driving seems to allow the car to perform much more naturally for longer and you get a better feel for how the car is handling, before the ESP starts to remind you that you are nearing the edge of traction.
The real surprise is the silence - pull up at traffic lights and you do find yourself looking at the rev counter to see if the engine is still running, it is soooo quiet. It's almost like driving a "stop-start".
Fuel economy is good for a petrol and over the last 3000 miles I have been averaging 48mpg. But I have noticed the fuel economy has dropped from it's initial fill. I suspect it was initially filled with super 98RON and I have been using 95. I'm going to try a couple of tanks of 98 to see what the economy does as I suspect the turbo really works better with it.
So - am I pleased with my "downgrade" to a lower spec Audi? You betcha - big time! I feel more comfortable, it's quieter, torquey, smaller, and very practical. I have driven around town, one end of the country and back and had four adults and a long weekends' worth of luggage off on a mini break, and the A3 has been faultless, practical and economic.
I'm chuffed to bits with it.
Not a niggle post or a can you help, just a happy owner of my first ever Audi.
Been driving a beemer 320D M Sport for the last three years as a company car, but finally started wondering about why I was paying the taxman so much to drive a company car. Long and short of it was, I wanted a more tax efficient motor. I see the writing on the wall for diesel as well and wanted to to pay less for fuel - so what to buy?
Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI in SE Trim on an 08 plate. This easily matches the M Sport in equipment to my mind, and the suspension on the Audi is far more comfortable, but it's the engine that is a revelation. Because it's a turbo, you really don't feel it's "only" a 1.4. It pulls easily from as low as 1300rpm and apart from the lack of a diesel engine note - you could be forgiven for thinking it was a diesel as it pulls so well and when you do push on a bit, it's a very pleasing engine note.
It tracks better than the beemer on the road as well. The beemer's big 18inch alloys and frankly awful run-flat tyres, used to tramline like hell; Sometimes a very unnerving experience. The Audi is much better in this respect. I up-specced a little to get 17inch 5 spoke alloys, which I thought was more traditional on an Audi than the standard 20 spoke alloys, and the ride is sporty and surefooted. If I have any observation on the handling, it is that the steering seems to be over-isolated from the driver, as feedback is low. But it is light and very positive.
I have also noticed that on the beemer, the traction control was never far away from intervening when driving with "enthusiasm", with the ESP light always too ready to flicker on. With the Audi, the intervention threshold seems higher, as the same style of driving seems to allow the car to perform much more naturally for longer and you get a better feel for how the car is handling, before the ESP starts to remind you that you are nearing the edge of traction.
The real surprise is the silence - pull up at traffic lights and you do find yourself looking at the rev counter to see if the engine is still running, it is soooo quiet. It's almost like driving a "stop-start".
Fuel economy is good for a petrol and over the last 3000 miles I have been averaging 48mpg. But I have noticed the fuel economy has dropped from it's initial fill. I suspect it was initially filled with super 98RON and I have been using 95. I'm going to try a couple of tanks of 98 to see what the economy does as I suspect the turbo really works better with it.
So - am I pleased with my "downgrade" to a lower spec Audi? You betcha - big time! I feel more comfortable, it's quieter, torquey, smaller, and very practical. I have driven around town, one end of the country and back and had four adults and a long weekends' worth of luggage off on a mini break, and the A3 has been faultless, practical and economic.
I'm chuffed to bits with it.