Well I said good-bye to my A3 2.0TDI-140 SE DSG and collected my new A3 2.0TDI-170 SE S-tronic Sportback on Thursday morning.
Both cars were Silver with Light Grey interior and walnut inlays but I now have 5 doors rather than 3, 17" 16-spoke wheels rather than 16" 7-arm alloy wheels, Xenon plus headlights with built-in Daytime Running Lights and a 170hp engine rather than a 140hp.
I know my choice of an SE with s-tronic in Silver with a light grey interior and walnut inlays will not be everyone's choice but having had my previous A3 for nearly 3 years in the same colour scheme it was one I personally liked. I had enough cars with black interiors over my total of 21 cars that it's pleasant change. My overall choice is probably regarded by some as an 'old man's' choice but then I am an getting on a bit (60 in December) but still enjoy my cars and driving them as much as ever.
The new Sportback feels just as comfortable on it's 17" wheels and 45 series tyres as my previous A3. Not really explored the handling yet but it certainly seems just as good if not better than the previous A3. About the only thing that did annoy me about my previous A3 was when the drivers seat was changed to suit either myself or my wife it would sometimes click back a notch hours after I'd changed it back to my front to back setting, so on the new one I went for electric controls for the drivers seat. This not only allows for very easy seat adjustment and no sudden click back a notch but also a greater range of adjustment. It has the normal front/back movement, backrest angle and seat height, but it also allows the front and/or the back of the seat to be raised and lowered independently as well. Quite a few of the general levers and controls feel just that little bit better in their action on the new one. The seat belts pull out much easier than before as well and of course being a 5-door are much easier to reach to put on.
The 170 engine feels very good and is certainly smoother and quieter than the 140. It will be interesting to see what difference the extra 30hp makes when I take it to Germany in June. The S-tronic feels just the same but the centre control lever is much nicer with it's leather surround and the paddles now operate in silence whereas the previous ones made a definite click when used to change gear. It was funny yesterday evening when I took it out to try the new Xenons. I drive in 'tip-tronic' mode most of the time but I found myself using the paddles more than the centre lever, whereas previously it was always the other way round. Not sure why. The Xenons are very good with a good range when on dip. Much better than the 50% extra bulbs in the previous A3 and I'm pleased to say very stable. I tried an A3 (8L) 1.8T Sport with Xenons just before Audi stopped making the 8L and they seemed to be very jittery. No so on the new one.
I also have auto-dimming and folding door mirrors. The previous one had auto-dimming and I only ordered and paid for auto-dimming but the new one has folding as well. Not sure why - did someone order wrongly or did the factory make the mistake. I've tried them a few times and both mirrors fold in and out OK and quite quickly as well.
Other than the points I have mentioned much is the same, as it should be going from one A3 to another but I'm sure my friends and my 88 year old mother will appreciate the extra doors.
All I've got to do now is to hard wire the cradle for my PDA and hard wire my Road Pilot Micro Go GPS camera locator before I start to go a little to quickly in the wrong place.
Full spec of the new Sportback is:
A3 Sportback 2.0TDI-170 SE S-tronic
SE trim including 7.5Jx 17 '16-spoke' alloys with 225/45 tyres, Auto-dimming rear view mirror, Cruise control, Electronic climate control, Front centre armrest, Interior light pack, Light and rain sensor pack, Storage pack
Metallic paint - Silver
Cloth interior - Light Grey
Walnut inlays
Xenon plus headlights
Symphony II+
Acoustic parking system
Auto-dimming and folding door mirrors
Driver Information System
Front fog lights
Flat tyre warning system
Electric driver's seat controls
Electric lumbar support
Luggage pack
Rear floor mats
Non-smoking pack
GAP Insurance for 3 years
Fixed-cost Service and Maintenance for 3 years
Pictures to follow when it stops raining and I get a chance to clean it!
Both cars were Silver with Light Grey interior and walnut inlays but I now have 5 doors rather than 3, 17" 16-spoke wheels rather than 16" 7-arm alloy wheels, Xenon plus headlights with built-in Daytime Running Lights and a 170hp engine rather than a 140hp.
I know my choice of an SE with s-tronic in Silver with a light grey interior and walnut inlays will not be everyone's choice but having had my previous A3 for nearly 3 years in the same colour scheme it was one I personally liked. I had enough cars with black interiors over my total of 21 cars that it's pleasant change. My overall choice is probably regarded by some as an 'old man's' choice but then I am an getting on a bit (60 in December) but still enjoy my cars and driving them as much as ever.
The new Sportback feels just as comfortable on it's 17" wheels and 45 series tyres as my previous A3. Not really explored the handling yet but it certainly seems just as good if not better than the previous A3. About the only thing that did annoy me about my previous A3 was when the drivers seat was changed to suit either myself or my wife it would sometimes click back a notch hours after I'd changed it back to my front to back setting, so on the new one I went for electric controls for the drivers seat. This not only allows for very easy seat adjustment and no sudden click back a notch but also a greater range of adjustment. It has the normal front/back movement, backrest angle and seat height, but it also allows the front and/or the back of the seat to be raised and lowered independently as well. Quite a few of the general levers and controls feel just that little bit better in their action on the new one. The seat belts pull out much easier than before as well and of course being a 5-door are much easier to reach to put on.
The 170 engine feels very good and is certainly smoother and quieter than the 140. It will be interesting to see what difference the extra 30hp makes when I take it to Germany in June. The S-tronic feels just the same but the centre control lever is much nicer with it's leather surround and the paddles now operate in silence whereas the previous ones made a definite click when used to change gear. It was funny yesterday evening when I took it out to try the new Xenons. I drive in 'tip-tronic' mode most of the time but I found myself using the paddles more than the centre lever, whereas previously it was always the other way round. Not sure why. The Xenons are very good with a good range when on dip. Much better than the 50% extra bulbs in the previous A3 and I'm pleased to say very stable. I tried an A3 (8L) 1.8T Sport with Xenons just before Audi stopped making the 8L and they seemed to be very jittery. No so on the new one.
I also have auto-dimming and folding door mirrors. The previous one had auto-dimming and I only ordered and paid for auto-dimming but the new one has folding as well. Not sure why - did someone order wrongly or did the factory make the mistake. I've tried them a few times and both mirrors fold in and out OK and quite quickly as well.
Other than the points I have mentioned much is the same, as it should be going from one A3 to another but I'm sure my friends and my 88 year old mother will appreciate the extra doors.
All I've got to do now is to hard wire the cradle for my PDA and hard wire my Road Pilot Micro Go GPS camera locator before I start to go a little to quickly in the wrong place.
Full spec of the new Sportback is:
A3 Sportback 2.0TDI-170 SE S-tronic
SE trim including 7.5Jx 17 '16-spoke' alloys with 225/45 tyres, Auto-dimming rear view mirror, Cruise control, Electronic climate control, Front centre armrest, Interior light pack, Light and rain sensor pack, Storage pack
Metallic paint - Silver
Cloth interior - Light Grey
Walnut inlays
Xenon plus headlights
Symphony II+
Acoustic parking system
Auto-dimming and folding door mirrors
Driver Information System
Front fog lights
Flat tyre warning system
Electric driver's seat controls
Electric lumbar support
Luggage pack
Rear floor mats
Non-smoking pack
GAP Insurance for 3 years
Fixed-cost Service and Maintenance for 3 years
Pictures to follow when it stops raining and I get a chance to clean it!
