Audi A3 140 or 170?

[Rick Draper]

Which one would people go for? I am just coming from a honda civic type r and want some power as well but i want decent fuel economy. Audi dealer is telling me to go for the 140 but i am not 100% sure. I mean both have buckets more torque than a ctr.

[prolfe]

The one seventy is as quick as the Type R once you get going.



try one.

[mumphead]

Depends if you like 4 wheel drive or not. You could get the 140 and get an ECU remap from someone like superchips which would give you similar power as a 170. (You could save a few thousand as well). They recon the 170 is running more like 180 psi anyway. My advice would be to get a 170 quattro and remap it. It's surprising how easy it becomes to pull away from type R's particularly on the twisty roads.

[prolfe]

Depends if you like 4 wheel drive or not.

you don't have to get a quattro.

You could get the 140 and get an ECU remap from someone like superchips which would give you similar power as a 170.

The 140 will remap to between 170 and 185. The 170 isn't 170 as standard, its more, 185-192bhp.

Look at the revo site for their info on it, or superchips who have yet to get one that is less than 182bhp.

(You could save a few thousand as well)..

I have been asking Audi recently about changing my car. The resale value of a 170 is far more and is the only one they could do for me to keep my payments the same.

They recon the 170 is running more like 180 psi anyway. My advice would be to get a 170 quattro and remap it. It's surprising how easy it becomes to pull away from type R's particularly on the twisty roads.

The 170 is as quick if not quicker than the type R from 40-135. I know. But, even up against a quattro, the type r handles much better.

The Quattro is worse by 5-10mpg on fuel economy. In saying that it is a rocket out of roundabouts.

Drive a 170 and feel what it is like, Audi could always remap it for you. They are expensive though but offer warranty on their work.

Plus you'll have to declare the remap to your insurance. more money.

[paul b]

My mate has a Sportback 170 (I think its 2WD but don't quote me on that) and he says he'll never look back having owned a 3dr 140 in the past. He still gets 48mpg but thats mostly motorway miles. He seems to think it has far more turbo lag than the 140, but I've not driven one so I couldn't honestly tell you.

Paul

[prolfe]

You get the lag about once a week. You get it because you forget that you can't pull away in second from 800 revs.



Then you'll hit the turbo, traction control will stop you a bit, then change into third and you'll be zoooooooming down't road.

[Oliver22]

Makes no difference to me which one you take - that A3 is hot, bit pricy for a first car here though

[mumphead]

The 170 is as quick if not quicker than the type R from 40-135. I know. But, even up against a quattro, the type r handles much better.


I would have to disagree about the handling. Having had many a dabble with type R's over the years they are never able to keep up in the corners or around roundabouts. I've seen a couple spin over the years trying to keep up around roundabouts. Maybee its down to who is driving the type R?

I've tested one a few years ago, they get quite tiresome having to rev the guts out of them to get to the performance. However that said they are pound for pound one of the best value cars on the road today.

[paul b]

You get the lag about once a week. You get it because you forget that you can't pull away in second from 800 revs.



Then you'll hit the turbo, traction control will stop you a bit, then change into third and you'll be zoooooooming down't road.

I forgot to mention, he didn't say it was slow, it's just you have to get it well into the power band. Then he says it "shifts like a Boeing", well for a second or two possibly.

Paul

[prolfe]

The 170 is as quick if not quicker than the type R from 40-135. I know. But, even up against a quattro, the type r handles much better.


I would have to disagree about the handling. Having had many a dabble with type R's over the years they are never able to keep up in the corners or around roundabouts. I've seen a couple spin over the years trying to keep up around roundabouts. Maybee its down to who is driving the type R?

I've tested one a few years ago, they get quite tiresome having to rev the guts out of them to get to the performance. However that said they are pound for pound one of the best value cars on the road today.

I thought it was a known fact that type R's are great on the bendy stuff.