Why I'm waiting for the V6 A3 - fixed link
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Why I'm waiting for the V6 A3 - fixed link
(sound clip only)<ul><li><a href="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/Ella-supersprint2.avi">Because the Alfa sounds better than the 2.0T</a></li></ul>
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Character is everything, whether an italian high RPM V6 or domestic small block growl
I also had a 4 pot turbo and they (and their torque curves) are certainly loads of fun. I loved my MR2 turbo when the pedal was mashed but it never held a candle when the sound was compared to either my Alfa's V6 call or for that matter the S6's high rpm V8 song. Character covers a lot in my book and its one of the reasons the auto world's diversity is so entertaining.
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TJ - NY Times likes the A3: "A TT with four doors and five seats"
New York Times
September 11, 2005
2006 Audi A3: Yes, a Hatch. Got a Problem With That?
By MICHELLE KREBS
DETROIT
IT never made George Carlin's list of seven dirty words, but auto executives in the United States are loath to say "hatchback" in a voice above a whisper.
Americans tend to perceive such cars, with their skyward-opening liftgates instead of conventional trunks, as being small, cheap and undesirable. When carmakers have offered hatchbacks, they've often been positioned as rock-bottom entry models.
Efforts to give the lowly hatchback a more lofty status have largely failed, including attempts by luxury car makers. Neither the BMW 318ti nor the Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Coupe found a following, and they are no longer imported. General Motors turned the Saab 9-3 into a sedan.
One notable exception is the reborn Mini Cooper, a huge success. But of course BMW heavily promoted the Mini as a small car with premium features, barely acknowledging its body style.
No doubt, Americans' acceptance of the Mini impressed Audi as it prepared to import its own premium hatchback from Germany. The A3 was developed to take on the Mercedes B-Class and BMW 1 Series, cars once destined for America but whose future in the United States is now unclear.
So the 2006 A3 is the Germans' canary in the coal mine. Will its practicality, upscale touches and sensible size win over Americans, especially if high gas prices send car buyers looking for more efficient packages?
There are reasons to bet on its success. The A3 has two more doors than the BMW 318ti and Mercedes C230 coupe, so it is more convenient for hauling people and cargo.
And it is artfully styled, unlike hatchbacks of the past that looked like sedans with their trunks hacked off. Sporty and pricey-looking, it definitely turned heads during my weeklong test drive.
The A3 four-door was designed separately from the A3 two-door that is sold in Europe (and will not come to the United States). The four-door was stretched and widened so the car's interior volume is nearly as large as an A4 sedan's. People of average size should not find reason to complain about the back seat, at least on short jaunts.
While luggage space behind the rear seat is tall and narrow, measuring 19.5 cubic feet, a cargo hold of 55.6 cubic feet is created when the split rear seat is folded down.
The interior reminded me of the more expensive Audi TT sport coupe. The cabin is neat, classy and uncluttered, with touches of aluminum trim.
Most important, the A3 feels like an Audi even though it shares its chassis with the new Volkswagen Golf sold in Europe (but not here). The only engine currently offered - a turbocharged direct-injection in-line 4 - is shared with the A4. That engine has grown to 2 liters, from 1.8; it is rated at 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.
The engine feels peppy in a car so small. Car and Driver magazine recorded 0-to-60 acceleration in an impressive 6.5 seconds.
My A3 test car was outfitted with a slick and entertaining six-speed manual transmission, though Audi's Direct Shift Gearbox, an automatic that can be shifted manually with paddles behind the steering wheel, is available. The gearbox borrows technology from racing to make faster, crisper shifts.
With gasoline prices surpassing $3 a gallon, the A3 offers the best of two worlds. Its spirited performance is on par with some sports cars, but its fuel economy is respectable, with a federal rating of 31 m.p.g. on the highway and 25 in town.
The A3 now comes only with front-wheel drive. But even without Audi's excellent quattro all-wheel-drive system, the car is a delight on the road. A foot shorter than the A4 sport sedan, the A3 is even more agile. Yet the ride, refined and comfortable, isn't sacrificed in the interest of good handling. The steering is light and direct. A relatively small footprint makes the A3 easy to park in the city.
More than once, while testing the A3, it reminded me of a long, pleasant trip I once took in the more expensive TT sports coupe.
Sales expectations are low - only 10,000 a year in North America. I suspect the A3 will do better, especially if gas prices stay high. But in any case, the A3 could be a hook for the young, hip, affluent customers that automakers crave.
I have just two problems with the A3. First, Audi's reliability has been subpar, ranking 31st of 37 car brands in a recent J. D. Power survey. (It ranked among the top 10, however, in a different J. D. Power survey on the initial quality of new cars.)
Second, while the A3 starts at a reasonable price ($25,460, which includes a lot of features), options can push the sticker well over $30,000. In December, a version will go on sale with a 3.2-liter V-6 and quattro all-wheel drive. The price of that car, fully equipped, could push $40,000, steep for such a small car.
As promising as the A3 may be, Audi can't bring itself to call the car a hatchback, instead labeling it a sport wagon. But maybe the company has a knack for renaming roses. After all, it helped to popularize another body style that had a "wash your mouth out with soap" label. In Audi's hands, the stuffy "station wagon" became the sexy "Avant."
INSIDE TRACK: A TT with four doors and five seats.
September 11, 2005
2006 Audi A3: Yes, a Hatch. Got a Problem With That?
By MICHELLE KREBS
DETROIT
IT never made George Carlin's list of seven dirty words, but auto executives in the United States are loath to say "hatchback" in a voice above a whisper.
Americans tend to perceive such cars, with their skyward-opening liftgates instead of conventional trunks, as being small, cheap and undesirable. When carmakers have offered hatchbacks, they've often been positioned as rock-bottom entry models.
Efforts to give the lowly hatchback a more lofty status have largely failed, including attempts by luxury car makers. Neither the BMW 318ti nor the Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Coupe found a following, and they are no longer imported. General Motors turned the Saab 9-3 into a sedan.
One notable exception is the reborn Mini Cooper, a huge success. But of course BMW heavily promoted the Mini as a small car with premium features, barely acknowledging its body style.
No doubt, Americans' acceptance of the Mini impressed Audi as it prepared to import its own premium hatchback from Germany. The A3 was developed to take on the Mercedes B-Class and BMW 1 Series, cars once destined for America but whose future in the United States is now unclear.
So the 2006 A3 is the Germans' canary in the coal mine. Will its practicality, upscale touches and sensible size win over Americans, especially if high gas prices send car buyers looking for more efficient packages?
There are reasons to bet on its success. The A3 has two more doors than the BMW 318ti and Mercedes C230 coupe, so it is more convenient for hauling people and cargo.
And it is artfully styled, unlike hatchbacks of the past that looked like sedans with their trunks hacked off. Sporty and pricey-looking, it definitely turned heads during my weeklong test drive.
The A3 four-door was designed separately from the A3 two-door that is sold in Europe (and will not come to the United States). The four-door was stretched and widened so the car's interior volume is nearly as large as an A4 sedan's. People of average size should not find reason to complain about the back seat, at least on short jaunts.
While luggage space behind the rear seat is tall and narrow, measuring 19.5 cubic feet, a cargo hold of 55.6 cubic feet is created when the split rear seat is folded down.
The interior reminded me of the more expensive Audi TT sport coupe. The cabin is neat, classy and uncluttered, with touches of aluminum trim.
Most important, the A3 feels like an Audi even though it shares its chassis with the new Volkswagen Golf sold in Europe (but not here). The only engine currently offered - a turbocharged direct-injection in-line 4 - is shared with the A4. That engine has grown to 2 liters, from 1.8; it is rated at 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.
The engine feels peppy in a car so small. Car and Driver magazine recorded 0-to-60 acceleration in an impressive 6.5 seconds.
My A3 test car was outfitted with a slick and entertaining six-speed manual transmission, though Audi's Direct Shift Gearbox, an automatic that can be shifted manually with paddles behind the steering wheel, is available. The gearbox borrows technology from racing to make faster, crisper shifts.
With gasoline prices surpassing $3 a gallon, the A3 offers the best of two worlds. Its spirited performance is on par with some sports cars, but its fuel economy is respectable, with a federal rating of 31 m.p.g. on the highway and 25 in town.
The A3 now comes only with front-wheel drive. But even without Audi's excellent quattro all-wheel-drive system, the car is a delight on the road. A foot shorter than the A4 sport sedan, the A3 is even more agile. Yet the ride, refined and comfortable, isn't sacrificed in the interest of good handling. The steering is light and direct. A relatively small footprint makes the A3 easy to park in the city.
More than once, while testing the A3, it reminded me of a long, pleasant trip I once took in the more expensive TT sports coupe.
Sales expectations are low - only 10,000 a year in North America. I suspect the A3 will do better, especially if gas prices stay high. But in any case, the A3 could be a hook for the young, hip, affluent customers that automakers crave.
I have just two problems with the A3. First, Audi's reliability has been subpar, ranking 31st of 37 car brands in a recent J. D. Power survey. (It ranked among the top 10, however, in a different J. D. Power survey on the initial quality of new cars.)
Second, while the A3 starts at a reasonable price ($25,460, which includes a lot of features), options can push the sticker well over $30,000. In December, a version will go on sale with a 3.2-liter V-6 and quattro all-wheel drive. The price of that car, fully equipped, could push $40,000, steep for such a small car.
As promising as the A3 may be, Audi can't bring itself to call the car a hatchback, instead labeling it a sport wagon. But maybe the company has a knack for renaming roses. After all, it helped to popularize another body style that had a "wash your mouth out with soap" label. In Audi's hands, the stuffy "station wagon" became the sexy "Avant."
INSIDE TRACK: A TT with four doors and five seats.
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Posts: 21,851
Likes: 1
For Sale: 1991 Alfi Romero 164L. Tempting, but...
... if you own an Alfa Romeo for 14 years, and you can't spell it, then you probably can't maintain it either.<ul><li><a href="http://www.cars.com/go/search/fs_search_results.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&searchT ype=21&cid=&dlid=&dgid=&amid=& cname=&zc=22102&makeid=2&modelid=& pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNum Res
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