Welcome to Interactive Car Reviews, where we ask our readers what they would like to know about the car as soon as it arrives in our garage, and over the course of our week-long evaluation, we try to answer those questions as best we can. In our first installment, we discussed the Mercedes-Benz E550 Coupe.
This week, in The Smoking Tire garage is the 2010 Audi A3 TDI (that’s diesel for all our acronymally challenged readers). It’s 2-liter turbodiesel engine is rated at 140hp and can return 30/42 mpg, but the number we’re most interested in is the 236 lb/ft of available torque!
The problem with cars that get good fuel economy is that, for the most part, they aren’t any fun to drive. At least, that’s what most Americans think. In Europe, however, automakers have been building fun-t0-drive, economical diesels for a while. Audi hopes to bring that formula to America with its TDI “Clean Diesel” series of cars and SUV’s. We’ve driven the Q7 TDI extensively and loved it, so now it’s time to see what the A3 TDI can do.
So, what do you want to know about the Audi A3 TDI? Leave a comment….
Will it drift?
Yes when you convert it to RWD, …idiot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-EBbsi46pw
…nice try though
Does it require a urea refill every so often? Like those damn Bluetec diesels!!
No it does not. It's the same urea-free 2.0 TDI as in the VW Jetta and Golf.
What I would like to know about the A3 TDI is: why the HELL can't I have one with a manual 6-speed?? I would have already ordered one if de Nysschen and Audi USA hadn't told me NEIN. So much for "fun to drive".
Well the Golf TDI is on the same platform and has a 6 Speed manual. This begs the question, what does the A3 deliver over the Golf to justify the extra 10 grand ? (This is comparing with our Canadian MSRP's)
I like that question. What does the A3 TDI deliver over the Golf TDI, Matt? Which one would you choose?
Biggest differences to me are:
You can't get a Golf TDI with leather interior.
The A3 has more cargo room (20 vs 15 cu ft).
The A3 looks cooler, IMO.
Does this "justify" the price difference? Probably not, but I like the A3 and I would buy it if they would only let me have a clutch.
I would agree ! But after driving the dual clutch automatic I was converted !
Yeah I drove the stupid automatic too. No thanks. They can keep it.
With so much tourque, would be interesting to have a drag race up a steep hill with a similar car but petrol….maybe with a trailer (probably not possible as i doubt if a test car would have a tow bar but could do it with 4-5 big people in both cars).
Also roll on speed in different gears. Like 80-120km/h times (I think these times are FAR more important than 0-100 (0-60 in USA). How often do you put your foot down from 80-120….all the time…how often to you do full bore starts….rarely
Would you spend the extra money for it over a golf?
I'm assuming that the engine is very quiet, but are there any moments where the driver randomly gets reminded that there is a diesel engine under the hood?
How ridiculous is the torque steer or has Audi sorted it out for foot to the floor happiness?
Is it better then a Lexus Hs250h?
Why in heck is it a FWD? Why would anyone want a FWD Audi?
I'm with this guy. Buying a FWD Audi is like dating a brunette Swedish chick. I know they exist, but why bother? Call Audi and ask why we can't have a Quattro TDI! I'm not happy with the DSG tranny, but it will do, but for an Audi, it better be Quattro or there will be no order from me.
it is most likely to keep the overall MPG high
Diesel Wagon…. Will America accept you as a part of society? (I sure hope so. I love wagons, and diesels are pretty great efficiency wise.)
Matt,
Does this Audi have an iron block?
Can the Audi people tell you what it is the limit of horsepower the internals will safely accept?
Does it have a S-Tronic/DSG? What are the limits of horsepower the transmission will take?
Thanks
Why would an American buy this? Americans are supposed to like big, powerful, wasteful cars.