Overview:
This is the 2016 Audi A3 1.8 T FWD S-tronic Sedan. Beautiful in appearance and performance. But it will cost you to have fun and look better than you may be. Our ego’s get in the way of common sense I fear. We want to look good and that is reinforced by our friends. Just the other day when I visited a neighbor and drove up in a new VW Jetta the first words out of his mouth was “you look good in that car”. Personally I’d rather have people say “you make that car look good”. Perspective is everything.
General Information: It is assembled in Gyor, Hungary; Parts – US/Canadian 1%, Hungary 53%, Germany 36%; Engine – Hungary and transmission – Germany; Classification is Sub-Compact. Cars from Audi: A3 Cabriolet, A3 Sedan, A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet, A6, A7, A8, Allroad, Q3, Q5, Q7, R8, RS 5, RS 5 Cabriolet, RS 7 and S3.
Handling & Performance:
There is no doubt in my mind that Audi and most all German cars handle exceptionally well. After the thrill of driving on the Autobahn in Germany I came to understand why German cars all handle so well. All car manufacturers simply build their cars for the need of the consumer. If cars are expected to be driven at 55 mph that if far different than if folks will be driving at 150 mph which is common to cars traveling on the Autobahn.
More than half of the total length of the German autobahn network has no speed limit, about one third has a permanent limit, and the remaining parts have a temporary or conditional limit. Some cars with very powerful engines can reach speeds of well over 300 km/h (190 mph).
Consider that. Consider the rest of the world where the speed limit is 55-65 mph as it is in America. Cars built for that level of speed is half what a car will travel on Germany’s Autobahn. Thus those cars will only need to perform half as well as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche and Audi cars.
I think you’ll come to the same conclusion I came to. German cars and drivers are right at home on high speed roads. Other cars and drivers are a bit more timid and likely will not exceed 80 mph in the vast majority of the cases. The rest will pay high taxes in the form of speeding citations.
Styling:
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – Plato
At the end of the day you will be the judge of how good a car looks. Me, I love the look as much as I love the feel of Audi. Nice.
Fit and Finish:
Very good.
Cost:
Luxury cars, like this Audi, tend to be priced higher than others partly because luxury cars have to account for the high cost of making superior handling cars and partly because of the Luxury Badge. We all know there are those who are willing to pay a premium to satisfy inflated egos.
Conveniences and comfort:
There is a good compliment of standard features. To justify high prices, it is my position they should include the following features as standard: Blind spot detection, Smart Cruise control and Bluetooth hands free.
Consumer Recommendations:
Include Cadillac in your search, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The competitors are all nice cars to consider if within your budget.
Recognized Competition:
Audi A3 1.8T $35,000, Acura ILX $36,000, BMW 3-Series $34,000, Cadillac ATS Sedan $40,000, Chevrolet Volt $38,000, Subaru WRX $32,000, Volvo S60 $41,000.
Good News:
Great handling and styling coupled with good fuel economy in a competitive field.
Bad News:
10 most expensive cars to own and drive
Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series6. Audi A8 L W122. Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG7. Chevrolet Corvette ZR13. Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG8. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S4. Audi R89. BMW M6 Convertible5. Porsche 911 Convertible10. Mercedes-Benz CLS63 A
Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/10-most-expensive-cars-to-own-and-drive-1.aspx#ixzz3xX9RQ6Kz
Standard Equipment:
1.8 liter TSFI 170 HP 4 cylinder engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, 17” wheels, electronic stability control with secondary collision brake assist, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist, speed sensitive power steering, tire pressure monitor, panorama sunroof, rain and light sensors, power emirrors, 12-way power adjustable driver seat including lumbar support, 60/40 split folding rear seat, leather seating, climate control, leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel, rear camera, AM/FM/SAT/ CD audio with SD card reader and auxillary input, Sirius satellite radio, front side and side curtain airbags and front knee airbags, LATCH, Child Safety locks and theft alarm system.
Gas Stats:
$2.99/ Gal avg. January 16, 2016
for more information.
23 City and 33 Highway MPG
Pricing:
MSRP $30,900.