20.09.2016
Audi A3 - satisfies several needs of modern motorists at once, firstly, it is a prestigious brand, and secondly, the car has a body that is quite in demand, in our time, a three- and five-door hatchback. And if to these advantages we add stylish and nice design, it turns out very interesting option for city traffic. This car is ideal for those drivers who are not satisfied with just a golf-class car, but want rich equipment and high-quality interior finishing materials. It is worth noting that premium brand cars often require appropriate investments. What will await you if you still decide to become the Lord of the Rings, but at the same time, on a budget, while you are only pulling on a used car, now we will try to find out.
A bit of history.
The history of the Audi A3 model begins in 1997, since then three generations have changed. Today we will talk about the second generation, which was presented to the public in 2003. The car is built on the same platform with the "" fifth generation, but has its own design features - a more rigid steel body, a new multi-link rear suspension and a slightly larger wheelbase (2570 mm). In May 2004, sales of a five-door version called " sportback”, which became 68 mm longer than the three-door, and the entire increase in length went to increase luggage compartment. Besides, A3sportback received a modified front end in a new corporate style, with a chrome-plated trapezoid radiator grille. In 2005, the manufacturer made minor changes to three-door version Audi A3. The front part was unified with the Sportback, new three- and four-spoke steering wheels from the Audi A4 appeared, and the suspension became more comfortable.
In 2008, another restyling was carried out, after which the car gained a more sporty and modern design, and in the front and rear lights began to install LED elements; the front and rear bumper. Aluminum inserts appeared in the interior, and the color scheme of the instrument panels was changed. To improve handling and comfort, the Audi A3 was equipped with a shock absorber adjustment system. magnetic ride ”, with its help the driver can choose the suspension mode - from comfortable to sporty. In 2008, Audi expanded its line compact cars, with the launch of the A3 Cabriole, which was based on a three-door hatchback. The third generation was presented to the public in 2012.
Features and disadvantages of the Audi A3 with mileage.
The body of the Audi A3 is well galvanized and rust will not appear on it even after many years of operation, provided that the car has not been involved in an accident. And if you see a car with slight traces of corrosion, then it is better to refuse to buy such a car. If you are considering a pre-styling version for yourself, then most likely on secondary market You will meet a car imported from Europe - when choosing such a car, be extremely careful, as the mileage of such cars is simply cosmic.
Traditionally, for European cars, Audi A3 has great choice power units. But if you look at the offers this car in the secondary market, you will see that the most common engines are before restyling 1.6 (102 hp), after restyling 1.6 (115 hp), and also 1.4 (125 hp). If the dynamics of the car is not in the first place for you, then I recommend that you pay attention to cars with 1.6 engines. The fact is that these are quite reliable atmospheric engines, with a timing belt drive, the replacement of which is required every 90,000 km. Also, in terms of reliability, a two-liter 150-horsepower is not very bad atmospheric motor, although this power unit was installed only until 2007. But the 1.4 turbo engine, despite the fact that it has very good performance in dynamics and fuel consumption, has not the best fame due to the unreliable metal timing chain tensioner. If you already own a car with such an engine, then be extremely careful and listen to the sounds from under the hood when starting the engine - if new rattling sounds appear, you need to urgently contact the service. Also try to change the oil earlier than prescribed in the regulations (every 8 - 10 thousand km).
Further, in terms of prevalence, power units with a volume of 1.8 (160 hp) and a two-liter turbo engine (200 hp) follow. Basically, this is not bad engines, their main disadvantage is increased consumption oil, and with an increase in mileage, their appetite increases (for cars with a mileage of more than 200,000 km, consumption expensive oil can exceed 500 ml per 1000 km). There are cars with turbodiesel engines of 1.9 and 2.0 liters, both power units are not bad in dynamics and reliability. Cars with such engines are very rare in the secondary market, and if you managed to find a good and decent option, then all you need to do is fill quality oil and solarium.
During the life of this model, there were also a couple of charged power units - these are 3.2 (250 hp) and 2.0 (265 hp). There are only a few cars with such motors in the secondary market and it is better to avoid them, since there is a high probability that the previous owner often lit on such a car.
The second generation of the Audi A3 has enough a large number of available gearboxes - mechanics, automatic transmission, robotic six- and seven-speed S-tronic. The most unreliable, among all gearboxes, was the robotic S-tronic. So a six-speed transmission with two wet clutches can please with a mileage of 120,000 km, and with correct operation- up to 150,000 km. But the seven-speed one lives many times less, and already at a run of 50,000 km, with prolonged traffic in traffic jams, it starts to twitch. As a result, you will need to reflash the control unit and change the clutch, and the pleasure is not cheap ( at least such a repair will cost 1000 USD.). The replacement of mechatronics (a chronic sore of all robotic transmissions) will also hit your pocket, for its replacement you will have to pay about 2000 c.u., and these are not dealer prices, the official repairs will cost much more.
Therefore, when choosing a used Audi A3, give preference to versions with a manual transmission and automatic transmission, since both transmissions are very reliable and rarely cause trouble for owners. The clutch on the mechanics takes care of 120 - 150 thousand km. In order for the automatic transmission to faithfully serve 300,000 km, change the oil in it every 60,000 km. There are also all-wheel drive versions. The all-wheel drive system, in this case, is implemented using a well-known and reliable clutch " Haldex».
Driving performance Audi A3 with mileage.
Audi A3 is very pleasant to drive, therefore, in combination with a powerful engine, this car can combine the role family hatchback and cars to meet driver's ambitions. The suspension design is not complicated, but not quite simple either - a MacPherson-type suspension is installed in front, and a multi-link design in the back. Large investments in the suspension of the Audi A3 will have to be done every 100,000 km, and for small things it will be necessary to change the bushings and stabilizer struts every 35-50 thousand km and brake pads every 40,000 kilometers. The resource of shock absorbers does not exceed 100,000 km. Weak point the rear suspension is considered to be silent blocks, on average they nurse 80,000 km. The car is equipped with a power steering, this unit has proven to be quite reliable and, with careful operation, will not bother 120 - 150 thousand km.
Outcome:
A car with four rings leaves few people indifferent to itself, and if you decide to buy such a car, then we can safely say that this right choice. The car has a lot more advantages than disadvantages. One of the advantages of the Audi A3 is that parts are interchangeable with Volkswagen and Skoda cars, which traditionally cost less than original Audi parts.
Advantages:
- Build quality.
- Galvanized body.
- Large resource of power units.
- Small fuel consumption.
- Reliable mechanical and automatic transmissions.
- Manageability and safety high level.
- The quality of materials and sound insulation of the cabin.
Flaws:
- Robotic transmission.
- Little ground clearance.
- Motors are demanding on fuel quality.
If you are or have been the owner of this brand of car, please share your experience, indicating the strengths and weak sides auto. Perhaps it is your review that will help others correctly .
In Europe, C-class sedans are rather skeptical. Well, they don’t buy compact “four-doors” in the Old World, and that’s it! Perhaps that is why manufacturers often do not pay due attention to the appearance of such cars - they “sticked” the trunk to the hatchback and put it up for sale. Audi acted differently: the A3 Sedan has virtually no common body parts with hatchback A3. The exterior was developed from scratch and turned out to be more than successful. Many refer to the Audi A3 Sedan as the "premium Jetta". The correspondent of Onliner.by figured out what is different compact sedan with rings on the radiator grill from the "people's" Volkswagen.
Design
The first thing that separates the four-door A3 from the Jetta is the looks. Volkswagen designers should be given credit: they also did not turn the Golf Sedan into a car and developed a unique exterior for the Jetta. The car looks solid, but boring. Everything seems to be in place, and the lines are complete, and the trunk does not look alien, and the proportions are optimal ... But there is nothing to catch the eye.
The Audi model in this regard is much more advantageous. With a hatchback sedan, only the headlights, grille and door handles. At a cursory glance, the car is easy to confuse with the A4. From afar, some will take the "troika" for the A6. I wish the manufacturer had already differentiated the appearance of their cars!
But if we discard the similarities with other models, the A3 Sedan can be safely called the most beautiful small-middle class sedan. Nice proportions and dynamic appearance complements the trunk neatly inscribed in the silhouette of the body with sharp lights. The sedan is more like separate model than as a modification of A3.
dimensions
Another significant difference between the Audi A3 Sedan and Volkswagen Jetta are the overall dimensions. Audi is almost 19 cm shorter than Volkswagen, but slightly wider (+18 mm) and lower (-66 mm). Jetta is closer in size to A4. In turn, the A3 Sedan continues the philosophy of the Audi 80, which was formally replaced by the A4 model, which has already run far away from its “grandfather” in terms of overall dimensions. It is important to remember that the current Jetta is built on old platform Golf VI, while the A3 sedan is based on the MQB bogie from Golf VII c rear multi-link(versions with a beam are not supplied to our market).
Interior
Inside we see two completely different salons. In Volkswagen - a classic center console with control units familiar to the eye climate system and a radio tape recorder. On the central tunnel - two coasters and a traditional handbrake. All air ducts are correct rectangular shape. On a three-spoke steering wheel expensive equipment have control keys for various functions.
Audi has sporty minimalism! Half of the center console is occupied by two round air ducts. Immediately below them is a “piano” of keys, most of which were replaced with stubs in the test (almost the cheapest) version of the A3. On the central tunnel there are two cup holders, an S-Tronic lever and an electronic handbrake button. Interestingly, in different modifications hand brake is in different places. So, if the A3 does not have an MMI multimedia system, then the “P” key is located closer to the gearshift lever.
Here's what you should not buy A3 without, so it's without multimedia system. Head unit, located on the top of the front panel, is so dull that you want to hide it. Fortunately, the Germans did not deprive us of this opportunity. When the audio control unit is hidden in the bowels, not the most convenient volume keys and switching tracks / radio stations remain “above the water”.
The build quality of both machines is at a high level. There are no visible errors. Both the A3 and the Jetta have soft plastic on the front and hard shell on the doors. At Audi, trim materials seemed more expensive both to the touch and to the look. In the test version of the A3, the steering wheel did not have a single button - you can’t even change the volume of the radio.
dashboard Audi models made in the classic VAG "ovsky style: speedometer, tachometer and on-board computer display. Everything is readable. The steering wheel is adjustable in a huge range in angle and reach. Small mirrors surprisingly did not cause poor visibility. not on a hatchback.
Back row and trunk
The key difference between the A3 Sedan and the Jetta is practicality. Volkswagen has traditionally created a family car in which you can go to work and bring seedlings to the country. Audi also released a typical youth sedan for trips to supermarkets and nightclubs. Sitting down “by himself” on the second row of A3, he rested his knees on front seat(my height is 186 cm). The head is about to reach the ceiling. Frankly, it's tight. On the second row of the Jetta - like in an airplane emergency exit: at least cross your legs. True, I would like more headroom. It is more convenient to get into the second row in Volkswagen.
The trunk of the A3 Sedan, although larger than that of the hatchback (425 liters versus 380), is much smaller than that of the Jetta, which boasts a 510-liter “chasm”. Volkswagen owner Sergey, who took part in our test drive, brought a TV box with him, which fit in the Jetta trunk, taking up almost the entire floor. We tried to put this item in the trunk of the A3 - it's pointless. The box didn't even go wide. The rear row, of course, can be folded, but it will no longer be a 5-seater car. A hatch for long lengths is an option.
1,4 TFSI+S-Tronic
But how nice rides Audi! The elastic 122-horsepower engine picks up from any speed, and S-Tronic juggles gears barely noticeable to the driver. No power loss. No jerks. No hang-ups during “unsure” operation of the gas pedal. It's like the transmission is reading my mind.
The base engine left a good impression. 1.4 TFSI is only available with "robot". Manual fans will have to take a 1.8-liter turbo engine (180 hp), which can be bought with both S-Tronic and 6-speed manual. Full Quattro drive also only available with 1.8 TFSI (and only with robotic box).
The A3's suspension is softer than the Jetta's. Road seams, traditional spring pits in the pavement, angular “sleeping cops” - Audi sedan with appetite "swallows" any irregularities. At the same time, body roll is minimal. It is a pleasure to pass turns of arrival/exit from the roundabout without releasing the gas pedal.
Prices
Behind basic version Audi A3 Sedan in Minsk are asking for 21,950 euros (roughly - 30 thousand dollars). For the Volkswagen Jetta, you will have to pay a minimum of $26,870. In the base, the Audi sedan has a 1.4-liter TFSI, S-Tronic, Stop / Start system, ESC, R16 alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, full power accessories, air conditioning, seven airbags, rear fog lights etc. From Volkswagen we will get the same 1.4-liter engine, but with a 6-speed manual gearbox, steel discs, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, ABS, full power accessories, a full set of airbags, etc. In general, everything is very similar.
The conclusion is simple. If you have a family, children, mother-in-law, a big TV, it is better to take a closer look at the Volkswagen Jetta. But keep in mind that the car is already relatively old (2010) and there will soon be a change of generations of this family. The Audi A3 sedan, in turn, is fashionable and very stylish car for a young client. For some reason, it seems to me that wealthy girls who choose cars not by the width of the trunk, but by the “eyes” will become its main buyers.
Sergey, ownerVolkswagenJetta (2013 release):
When Onliner.by approached me with an offer to participate in Audi test drive A3 Sedan, I did not hesitate for a minute and agreed. I know firsthand about this car, at one time it was on my shortlist when choosing next car. I once had an Audi 80 B4 (succeeded by the A3 Sedan), my first premium car, which I switched to after the 2nd Golf, feeling all the delights of this brand. Therefore, I examined the A3 Sedan in detail at the Minsk Motor Show. But it was not possible to travel. Now this gap has been eliminated, as a result of which more or less holistic impressions have been formed.
Externally, the car is beautiful, you can only pay tribute to the designers of Audi. You can hardly find C-class sedans so spectacular and harmonious. By the way, for those who believe that this model is an A3 hatchback with an attached trunk, I recommend searching the Internet, as Markus Gleitz describes the creation of this car. Surely there will be those who will say that the A3 Sedan is too similar to its fellow class above. I don't think this is a shortcoming. Audi companies I managed to find my own style, interesting and unique in its own way. And each of their models carries recognition and indisputable premium.
If you get behind the wheel of this particular test car, then you will experience only despondency - in the basic configuration inside the eye there is really almost nothing to catch on. The seats are the simplest, there is not even a lumbar support adjustment. The audio system would be better hidden away and deeper, for example, in a niche next to the cigarette lighter. There is no eyeglass compartment. No control buttons on-board computer and an audio system on the steering wheel. hard plastic on door cards. No backlight open doors. Actually, there is nothing that could be inherent in a premium car. Unless the climate control unit can to some extent brighten up the appearance of the front panel: its “knobs” cause pleasant tactile sensations, and the backlighting of the sectors is bright and saturated.
Well, the leather-wrapped steering wheel and DSG grips tell us that we are still not in the cheapest car. In my humble opinion, the base A3 Sedan should only be taken by those who want to splurge on others. Like, look - I'm driving an Audi. The normal feel of a high-end car starts with the Ambition trim with the MMI option.
The test was a car with a 1.4 TFSI 122 hp engine. With. A similar one is in my Jetta, and I have not discovered anything new in dynamics for myself. The engine is excellent, not a “vegetable” at all, confidently pulls from the bottom and almost to the red sector of the tachometer (maximum torque of 200 N m is available at 1500-3900 rpm). For city and highway driving, it's enough (and for those who want to light up, there's 1.8 TFSI). It was on such an engine that I understood what the term “elastic” means, used in the reviews of auto journalists.
According to the passport, acceleration to hundreds on the S-Tronic is a few tenths of a second faster than on the manual gearbox. Perhaps I agree. According to my feelings, the acceleration is faster than when I turn the Jetta with a “stick”. I did not notice any twitching when shifting gears in the "Movement in traffic jam" mode, allegedly inherent in this "robot" and about which everyone is not too lazy to write. S-Tronic worked quite adequately both when driving through the streets and when “pokatushki” on the ring.
It can be noted that Audi decided not to pay much attention to soundproofing. Just as much noise comes from the street as in my Jetta, and the “shumka” of the latter is purely nominal. This is also confirmed real owners A3 Sedan on their blogs. Additional sound insulation is the first thing they think about after purchasing a car.
The suspension on the A3 Sedan is definitely more comfortable than on my Jetta. I deliberately drove through the speed bump several times at a fairly decent speed to compare the sensations: Audi passes it much softer. And on the Jetta there are quite painful breakdowns. Perhaps the reason is that I have a package for bad roads with increased ground clearance. Or maybe MQB platform demonstrates its advantages over its predecessor.
BODY | |
Type | Sedan |
Number of doors | 4 |
Number of seats | 5 |
Length | 4456 mm |
Width | 1796 mm |
Height | 1416 mm |
Wheelbase | 2637 mm |
Trunk volume | 425 l |
ENGINE | |
Type | Petrol TFSI |
Volume | 1395 cu. cm |
Power | 122 l. With. |
At rpm | 5000 |
Torque | 200 Nm at 1500-4000 rpm |
Cylinder arrangement | row |
Number of cylinders | 4 |
Number of valves per cylinder | 4 |
Fuel | Petrol |
TRANSMISSION | |
Drive unit | Front |
Number of gears (mechanical box) | – |
Number of gears (automatic) | 7 |
SUSPENSION | |
front | Independent, spring, McPherson |
Behind | Independent, spring, multi-link |
STEERING | |
Power steering | Electric booster |
PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE | |
Max Speed | 217 km/h |
Acceleration time (0-100 km/h) | 9.3 s |
Combined fuel consumption |
4.7 l / 100 km |
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Year of issue: 2015
Engine: 1.4 (125 HP) Checkpoint: M6
Long, hard and tedious, my wife and I chose a car for her. After several dozen quarrels, scandals and a couple of broken plates, the choice narrowed down to two cars. Specifically - Audi A1 and Audi A3. spouse big car to nothing. She has to get to work, and take the child to kindergarten. True, I also had selfish views on this car, because for traffic jams a small, nimble car is what the doctor ordered. In general, we stopped at A1.
The choice in favor of this krokhotulki was made after a test drive. That I, that my wife just fell in love with her. Although the A1 looks small, but in terms of character and capabilities, it will give a light to many "adult" brothers. They took it on the "handle" on purpose, the wife did not want to forget the skills. Will it ever come in handy?
So, now about the car itself. Behind the wheel, which is surprising, it is convenient even for me (height is 188 cm, and I weigh more than 100 kg). Nothing presses anywhere, the ceiling does not polish the top of the head. The chairs are a little harsh, which is understandable, because the car is still sharpened for sports. But the “seats” wrap around as expected, so you don’t dangle in corners like a pencil in a glass.
Again, what a surprise. Although the engine is only 1.4-liter, and the “horses” are 125, the A1 is a very frisky and nimble machine. On the track, you can safely accelerate to 170 km / h and you will feel that the car can add more. In the urban cycle, respectively, there are no problems at all. If necessary, I will overtake, if necessary, I will climb. Well, with parking because of compact dimensions there is no tension.
I'll continue with the surprise. What struck me the most was the suspension. It is set up amazingly, as if it was customized specifically for Russia (or maybe it is?). In addition, the relatively low weight of the car makes it easy and even effortlessly to slip through such pits that are more large machines overcome with fear. In general, A1 in terms of steering and maneuverability reminded me of karting. Everything is clear, fast and adequate. I like the pleasant weight of the steering wheel. Headlights shine well, even at night heavy rain everything looks great.
Now a little about what I did not like. I'll start with the quality of the interior materials. The plastic on the front panel still didn’t go anywhere, then everything else (which is: door trim, tunnel, sealing gum etc.) of very mediocre quality. It seems to me that now even the Chinese are better. By the way, the doors themselves are very thin and flimsy, which causes some anxiety and the thought: "what will happen in a side collision?"
Another problem is poor visibility, which is quite logical, given the modest area of the car's glazing. Therefore, the camera is not just a useful thing, but sometimes necessary.
Not happy with the expense. In the city, I rarely get less than 11 liters, although I can’t say that the driver is very aggressive. The wife fits into the top ten. But I still think it's too much.
Advantages of the Audi A1:
Appearance, comfortable fit behind the wheel, dynamics, control, suspension, headlights.
Disadvantages of the Audi A1:
Finishing materials, flimsy doors, visibility, fuel consumption, ground clearance.
The Audi A3 needs no introduction. Back in 1996, the model became the entrance ticket to the world of prestigious cars from Ingolstadt. A successful chassis from the Golf, combative engines, a solidly and tastefully tailored interior are far from all its trump cards.
True, until the third generation, there was no sedan in the A3 range. For the first time it was "tailored" in the spring of 2013, and it reached Russia at the end of the same year. The traditionally popular three-volume body quickly came to court, the model earned the title of business class in miniature and is sold today better than 3- and 5-door hatchbacks combined.
However, even the minimum price for the base 1.4-liter version of 1,036,000 rubles. for many buyers of golf-class cars is an insurmountable barrier.
The “automatic”, in the role of which the “robot” with two clutches acts, raises this bar by another 71,000 rubles. Moreover, such a power unit cannot be called ideal. The S-Tronic isn't smooth-shifting, and driving in traffic jams at low revs can be annoyingly twitchy at times.
Trumps A3
- best acceleration time
- more maximum speed
- controller on the central tunnel
Alas, with the appropriate prestigious car leather trim, climate control and bi-xenon headlights, the price tag of 1.8 TFSi S-Tronic will soar to 1,431,000 rubles.
Audi options are traditionally expensive. At the same time, for the role the only car in the A3 family, the candidate is not the best - the sofa is cramped and not very big trunk.
Finding an Audi sedan without these shortcomings is not difficult - since the company has a wide selection of larger cars.
The first candidate is A4. Until recently, this car in similar equipment 1.8TFSi Multitronic cost 1,684,000 rubles. But this autumn, the “four” of the Comfort line trim line appeared at a “tasty” price of 1,508,000 rubles.
Yes, A4 is at the end of its career today, next year it will be “removed from the run”. But this is the case when age is not a hindrance to happiness. One and a half million for a prestigious comfortable middle-class sedan with a German pedigree is a profitable offer today and good alternative inflated ambitions A3.
Pros of A4
- spacious sofa
- roomy trunk
- solid interior
The A3 quite successfully manages to seem like an adult car, but in fact it remains only a “golf” with a tail, a prestigious nameplate and an inflated price tag. Have to put up with disadvantages power unit 1.4TFSi is a "robot", but it's better to wait for a discount on version 1.8TFSi.
The "Four", although it is being produced for the seventh year, turns out to be a more harmonious machine in all respects. A comfortable sedan for every day or the only car in the family - the A4 will cope well with any role and, moreover, has become perhaps the most profitable purchase in the premium class today.