zenmasTTa

I love DSG! It was awesome! I guess I sort of envisioned a tiptronic box with the pauses and lurching in between shifts... man it was quick and smooth! It made me feel like a racer. The new 2.0 FSI engine with 200hp is great too. The sales guy said Audi wasn't planning to bring the 2L A3 in with quattro - I hope they change their mind. It would be a great package. I wish Audi would make the steering a little less boosted- the wheel was a little light for my taste.
I also tested a A4 with CVT- I didn't like the gearbox at all- it was very disconcerting for the revs to hold steady as you accelerate...I dunno maybe it grows on you.

cranch

I drove a non quattro on Monday. Little torque steer, but not too bad. The electric steering setup is probably the biggest difference and could take a little getting used to. I drove it on a really windy day here and you can see how the steering setup is supposed to work. Pretty cool...

winchou

concur on A3's soft steering -- please xplain the how it works w/ wind?

cranch

Salesman and I were talking and apparently the steering system can try to compensate for mild windy conditions by recentering the wheel. Say you are turning your wheel a slight degree to keep your car tracking straight in a cross wind, the steering can somehow eliminate the need to contiously turn the wheel.

Not exactly sure how complicated it all is, but thats somewhat how the salesman explained it to me...

Saw this at the always reliable Edmunsds site

"Adding Servotronic steering, which adjusts effort in response to steering wheel angle and vehicle speed, was also considered a necessary though expensive step to separate the A3 from its competition. It all comes down to the fine-tuning, and in the A3, Audi got it just right. Steering isn't just about keeping the nose on line. It's also a very stimulating way to use the rear end as an active element of guiding the car around a corner. If you get our drift…."

AvantMnkyA4

I like the looks of the A3......just waiting for a Quattro version :-)

rjpetit

I'm told the sport suspension (sport package) makes a big difference in the steering feel.