Audi A3 2.0 TDI DSG 2.0 TDI Review

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Audi A3 2.0 TDI DSG 2.0 TDI
★★★★☆
3.6
73.0% of users recommend this
  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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HonestRitchie's review of Audi A3 2.0 TDI DSG 2.0 TDI

“Changed cars from a Subaru Impreza turbo to the Audi...”

★★★★★

written by HonestRitchie on 20/02/2006

Good Points
Better than a Golf. Quite quick. DSG gearbox. 450 to 500 mile range. Will do 130 mph

Bad Points
ESP traction control not much use.

General Comments
Changed cars from a Subaru Impreza turbo to the Audi A3 2.0 TDI with the DSG gearbox option. To be honest this could be viewed as a step down by some, however I'm using the car for 25000 business miles per year and about 3000 private miles. Although the scooby was fun, it was a bit expensive to run as a business car. I once got it down to 8 mpg on the way back from meeting a client in the lake district!!! Hence the reason for the Audi with the DSG gearbox, If I was going to have a diesel I was going to have some fun with the paddle shift!



The build quality is superb and the dealership have been fantastic. I have had a fault with rear shocks rattling and they changed them the following week FOC. The variable service interval is great, two services in 25000 miles. It does drink oil in the first 10K miles but this is quite normal for a VW/Audi engine (a MK1 golf will do this after a rebuild) They settle down after 10K and hardly use any more, a sign that the engine should be good for 1/4 million miles before it needs looking at!

The DSG gearbox is a dream. Similar in use to the Alfa/Ferrari Selespeed but much faster and much less intrusive. In drive mode you can hardly notice any gear changes! Sport mode is a bit frantic for town use, but fine on the open road. If you want to feel like a German in an Italian race car just slip it into manual mode and use the paddle shift mounted on the steering wheel. Great fun! and a fast gear change that can give you the edge when up against some fairly rapid machines. The only real problem is with the ESP traction control thingy. It thinks for you, but about half a second after you have solved the problem. If you don't drive a car with an inside rear wheel in the air then this will not bother you. If you like to left foot brake a front wheel drive car it will drive you mad. Don't think you can turn it off, even though there is a button for this, it won't let you! If you like to 'play' with a car once in a while then an Audi is not for you. If you want a safe car that is quite difficult to crash then the A3 could just suit the bill.

One point to note is that Audi make quite a bit of noise about the 'easy entry to the reat seats' Bolxxxks! If you need to make a point of how easy it is to get in and out of the back of the car you have a problem. It's just the same as most other three door cars, you need to "climb" out of the back, not dignified in any way. Oldies might have a problem so don't put Granny in the back.



Would I buy another? No, not quick enough.

Would I buy a VW/Vauxhall/Jap thing as an alternative? No, for 20K with good economy and a decent turn of speed it's the best on the market.

Would I ever buy a manual car again? Probably, but I would miss DSG every day.

How fast? 130 mph is no problem, will probably do 135 if you had enough road.

Can you pull chicks in it? Probably, the wife likes it!!!

  • 2004

    Year Manufactured

  • 2 Years

    Length of ownership

  • 3

    Doors

  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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