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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 12, 2022 10:39:35 GMT
Full report to follow later, but first impressions here. Comfortable, easy to drive, plenty of FG including voodoo cruise, lane-keeping assist etc. Engine quiet when cruising, harsh and relatively ineffective when wanting to press on. Steering dull and S-Line suspension not suited to Italian road surfaces. Touch screen controls not as user friendly as the old Audi MMI system.  |
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 12, 2022 19:14:01 GMT
That front end looks so ugly.
Some Audi MMI interfaces don't have a touchscreen function at all, the one in younger daughter's A1 for example
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 13, 2022 20:33:40 GMT
That front end looks so ugly. Some Audi MMI interfaces don't have a touchscreen function at all, the one in younger daughter's A1 for example Yes, the system in my old (2019) A4 was perfectly intuitive to use, had no touch screen, and remains my favourite car control system, although familiarity with the the COMAND system in my Benz is now making that a very close second. The i-Drive derived system in our Mini is frustrating and defies all logic. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 13, 2022 20:37:45 GMT
I should add that a further 245 KMs in the A3 has provided the opportunity to build some sort of a rapport with the A3 touch screen, but it still seems like it is designed for teenagers.
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 14, 2022 16:08:58 GMT
That front end looks so ugly. Some Audi MMI interfaces don't have a touchscreen function at all, the one in younger daughter's A1 for example Yes, the system in my old (2019) A4 was perfectly intuitive to use, had no touch screen, and remains my favourite car control system, although familiarity with the the COMAND system in my Benz is now making that a very close second. The i-Drive derived system in our Mini is frustrating and defies all logic. Which is odd, because the iDrive in my car makes every other system I've ever used seem needlessly fiddly and complex. And touchscreens are the devil's own work - the rotary controller my car is just easier and safer, and less OCD-triggering. |
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Post by Martin on Apr 14, 2022 16:14:29 GMT
Yes, the system in my old (2019) A4 was perfectly intuitive to use, had no touch screen, and remains my favourite car control system, although familiarity with the the COMAND system in my Benz is now making that a very close second. The i-Drive derived system in our Mini is frustrating and defies all logic. Which is odd, because the iDrive in my car makes every other system I've ever used seem needlessly fiddly and complex. And touchscreens are the devil's own work - the rotary controller my car is just easier and safer, and less OCD-triggering. I was thinking the same. From 2009 when BMW made the biggest change to iDrive (probably a bigger change/improvement than from then to now), it’s been the best system. Much better than Audi and Mercedes have had through that period although they are closer now. |
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Post by Big Blue on Apr 14, 2022 17:04:33 GMT
Another vote for idrive (unsurprisingly). Even though I have iOS 6 I still use the wheel as opposed to the touch screen for Nav input.
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 14, 2022 18:02:18 GMT
I've just never got on with it. Might just be because I rarely drive the Mini any great distance so don't have the opportunity to bond with the system.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 14, 2022 18:33:42 GMT
Yes, the system in my old (2019) A4 was perfectly intuitive to use, had no touch screen, and remains my favourite car control system, although familiarity with the the COMAND system in my Benz is now making that a very close second. The i-Drive derived system in our Mini is frustrating and defies all logic. Which is odd, because the iDrive in my car makes every other system I've ever used seem needlessly fiddly and complex. And touchscreens are the devil's own work - the rotary controller my car is just easier and safer, and less OCD-triggering. I’ve tried them all and i Drive is the best by far. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 19, 2022 11:05:19 GMT
After a week of many Km's of driving I can report more fully the A3. I had ordered a BMW 1-Series or similar, with a manual box, but Sixt gave me a free upgrade to an auto, which came in the shape of the A3. The TDI 30 has a 116 PS 1.6 diesel which proved to be very economical, but boy, is it rough. I didn't think anyone made diesels like this anymore. Even my wife commented on how rough it was. A proper old-skool four cylinder diesel growl the whole time, unless at a steady cruise. It was like driving an old van from the 1990s. At first it also seemed completely gutless. I later discovered the Audi Driving Modes button which had been set in an individual mode. Probably some sort of economy setting and other modes livened it up a bit, but it never provided enough urge to excite. Overtaking was possible with planning, if you could put up with the row from beyond the bulkhead. The DSG transmission was smooth, decisive and easy to use.   The car was in S-Line spec, but I couldn't decide whether it had the sport or touring suspension. On reasonable roads it rode fairly well, but was easily unsettled by humps and bumps. It somehow seemed to be undamped, but crashy at the same time. Perhaps would be OK on normal roads, but the Italians have a fairly laid-back approach to road maintenance and any pressing on soon uncovered the car's inability to cope with any finesse. The handling, as much as I challenged it, was fine, in a safe and uninvolving way, but the dull steering and unsophisticated road manners were clearly not set up for the enthusiastic driver. I suppose I am spoilt by my own air-suspended Benz and superb Mini Cooper Clubman, but the A3 was not even on the same page as either of those. In the hands of most drivers, who just want to get from A to B, it would no doubt be considered fine. The interior was comfortable and accommodated the four of us and our luggage with ease. Build quality was OK-ish, but with some alarmingly hard, hollow and scratchy plastics in places. The main digital display was configurable, clear and easy to use, while the touch screen infotainment system grew better with familiarity, if still not to absolute liking.  The BMW 1-series is based on the same platform as our Mini and I could not help thinking how that would by far be the choice for anyone who wants to get some enjoyment from driving. If, on the other hand, you just want a fashionable, smart and reasonably decent quality car, then the A3 might be for you. Just avoid the TDI 30 at all costs. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 19, 2022 14:18:36 GMT
A colleague at work used to have very smart metallic navy A3 Sportback Quattro of the previous generation and it was a really classy looking car, one which I would have quite fancied had I been looking for for something a bit smaller but this one, with the wide mouth frog grille and the try harder vents, has spoiled the look. And Audi interiors ain't what they used to be.
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Post by Martin on Apr 19, 2022 14:27:58 GMT
Good to try something different and sounds like it could be OK with a better engine, but I don't think there are many options other than the S3/RS3 of course. Agree re Audi interiors not being what they used to be (but I don't think they have been for 20+ yrs) and you're assessing it in a £30k car, it's going to be pretty poor in a £60k RS3.
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 19, 2022 15:05:21 GMT
The engine refinement, road manners and interior quality were nowhere near as good as the 2019 A4 TDI 35 I had a while back. I don't know if the quality difference is mainly due to being a lower model in the Audi range, or reflective of a more general reduction in standards.
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