A3 170 2009 S LINE honest review ...

[jonathon555]

OK, lets start I am new to this forum & have been considering a black edition 170 sportback as my next company car.

So I have managed to get a 2009 A3 170 S line on a 4 day demo delivered. I do about 30,000 company miles a year in my company car plus 10,000 personal driving miles in my other cars.

Just so you don't think i am some kind of petrol head fool ! I have had over 50 different cars in the past 17 years including Nissan GTr;s Evo's, All the Renaultsports etc Currently have an E90 3 series 320D, Renault megane R26 Mapped, Saxo VTS track car.

So i have decided to write an honest review of the past 48hrs using the audi .... so here it goes.

The car was delivered with 1800 miles on the clock so quite tight for a diesel, it has a bose sound system & a few other options which arn't worth mentioning really.

So how does it go ?

Very very well in my opinion, i have previously had a 150 tdi golf which was mapped. This is my nearest benchmark for this car.... I reckon the audi is faster by a chunk. We have already run this car against my cousins 123d coupe, we were shocked at how well the A3 could hold its own against the twin turbo bm. We ran them from 20 mph 2nd gear roll on (private ground) to *** mph the bmw only started making 1 car length of gap at above *** mph .

I have had it out on motorways all day today, it can really make ground on the outside lane way faster than my 3 series by a massive margin.

The only problem i have come across so far ist that the steering is far too light for pushing on a fast winding road & the lack of front end grip on the limit. Don't get me wrong here the car i have here is fitted with bridgestones with michelin pilots the result may be different.

It is hard to get this car to adjust the pitch of the car by using the throttle alone, it seems to just plough on, But by knowing the grip limits & being a bit more gentle you can really cover ground with this car.

The interior seems to be from an old school era compared to an a4 or a5. No push button start etc, old school synphony stereo not even touch screen. The seats are ok but not as comfy as the new A4 sline or tt seat with the pull out leg supports, (Audi if you read this please update the front seats to the same spec as the a4 or scirrocco with the 12 way lumbar support) The clock are nice & clear & in proper postions (better than the new A4) Pulling the hand brake on with the arm rest down is a pain as it can pull your back ! the cup holder is also very awkward posion between the front seats. What wrong with having a pop out one on the dash instead of a stupid change tray ( you used to be able to change it)

The boot space is ok , though i would not classify this as a proper kidnappers car ( as your potential target may find the sportback boot a touch cramped)

This car has 1 interior rattle developing already which is not that good, as my bmw has 0 after 90,000 miles. The stereo IMO is very good with a nice volume level can be acheived with no distortion.

Ok my finger are getting tired now so lets have a verdict .....

For a diesel this CR engine is exceptional, so quiet its unreal, responsive beyond anything i could imagine & as for the power delivery,,,, lets just say Audi have used very large horses in this engine. Bmw in the 320D 163 BHP have used shetland ponies in comparison. The Audi IMHO is putting out at leat 180 BHP & 280 lb/ft.

Ineterior could do with a small upgrade to the seats & make them go lower !

There is also quite alot of road noise from the tyres compared to the bmw even though my bm runs on 18" run flats.

What can I say to finish the ....... bye bye bmw, hello AUDI

any questions please pm me

thanks

[tlionhart]

some things are a bit dated on the new a3 compared to the rest of the audi range. It's still a beautiful car, and was gonna go for the new A5. However the A5 in my opinion is only a massive great looking car because of the lights. I have driven one with both the led and without...there's a difference.

Anyway, with the new a3 they could of at least incorporated the advance key system or the new a4, a5, a6, a8 key system.

Get rid of the existing hand-break and have a button one. basically the same cockpit as the a4/5. The door design can remain the same. (on the a5 the door arm piece dips down)

As for the lights...its annoying the led lights are the daytime function. It should be led daytime, or dipped or full lights. (sometimes the led isn't require)

overall, im getting my new one soon so ill review it too...should be better than my 1.6

[kodkod.84]

Audi don't like changing all the gadgetry on a facelift if they are planning a whole new model, hence why the A4 B7 has pretty much the same interior gadgets as a B6.

Wait for a whole new A3 and you will find new technology.

[tlionhart]

isn't there ment to be a new model coming 2012?

[onemanparty]

isn't there ment to be a new model coming 2012?

On average Audi change models 7 to 8 years so 2010 to 2011. Personally 2011 I think all focus in 2010 will be on A1

The only thing I think they up dated (Gadget wise) was the phone prep so much better than before!!!

[tlionhart]

and the lights

[onemanparty]

and the lights

Hi tlionhart

You must be collecting your new car soon?

[tlionhart]

onemanparty, i still havn't heard anything. Although i am expecting some news soon! Yes, next month. I reckon it's going to be the last 2 weeks of march. Anything before will be a bonus!! Hows the S3?

[onemanparty]

onemanparty, i still havn't heard anything. Although i am expecting some news soon! Yes, next month. I reckon it's going to be the last 2 weeks of march. Anything before will be a bonus!! Hows the S3?

Hope you don't have to wait for to long until you can use those LED's .

The S3 is fine MPG the only challenge from 30 MPG during the week to an average of 18 to 20 MPG at the weekends

Great performance but you do not want the roads to be to bumpy! My god do you feel it when you hit a pot hole, If you see one you have to brace for impact

Other than the suspension on bumpy roads and the MPG at weekends (MPG all down to my driving) I love the car

[tlionhart]

there's me thinking my suspension has got worst! Or under inflated tyres...

What is it with all the pot holes? they all just appeared when the snow melted