From the Fleet: 2011 Audi A3 TDI S-Line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 FROM THE FLEET are brief synopses of manufacturer-supplied rides that happen to end up in my laneway – JL

Prepping for an upcoming “diesel vs. hybrid” comparo for the Wheels I’ve just spent some quality time in an A3 TDI: Audi’s smallest derv drinker.

Yeah. The current A3 body style has been around for a while. I expect a new one to pop up in Frankfurt this fall. Plus, you can’t get a stick (sorry, DSG only) and this is one of the rare Audis where the brand’s signature all-wheel-drive with (it’s a front-driver only) is verboten. Whatever. I still like the “old school” feel of its dense cabin fittings and crisp, exterior lines.

Red cars and I usually don’t get along. But framed in high-gloss black trim—courtesy of the must-have S-Line package—this particular combo is workable. And all you socialists out there will moan that Volkswagen basically offers the same mechanical package as this A3 (base price $35,300+ $6,500 worth of S-Line and Premium packages and Bi-Xenon headlights) in its Golf TDI (loaded: $28,775).

Yet… the VW version doesn’t drive nearly as nice as this A3 (mit S-Line 18-inch rubber). Audi’s use to drive like they rode on wooden tires. Not so here. This is probably one of the better balanced ride vs. handling setups in a small car I’ve driven all year. Great looks. Great interior. Great ride. Plus 236 lb-ft of torque and an as-tested 6.9L/100 km average.

Comments

[RP]

Personally, I'd save myself the $12K and buy the Golf. I could take the family to Igolstadt on the money saved.

This just in: The Saab deathwatch is on. Will they make it to 2012 ? Probably not.

Their cars are too expensive to be mainstream and not upscale enough to be premium.

[Mingo Jones]

I agree - the price difference is too hard to swallow even though it would be nicer to sit in Audi then a VW. And it's harder for me to accept the fact that Audi won't offer this with manual transmission. Maybe the upcoming redesign will have manual transmission available for us less capable North American drivers... I'm not going to hold my breath on this.