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Hmm, disconnected from the driving reality but not as much as I expected. The transmission is as good as its talked up to be and actually is a joy to drive on its own. While its a bit ridiculous the automatic sport mode is great, the instant your foot does anything more than hold the momentum of the engine, the tranny is instantly in passing mode...very nice. Part of the disconnection is just being in an Audi, quieter and smoother overall.
The car I drove only had 60 km on it so the engine wasn't exactly loose and pumping out the power. It was smooth just like the the 2.8L in the GTI but didn't have quite the same snarl...might not be broken in...might not have the snarl. On the other hand, the computer induced throttle blip to change gears does sound particularily sexy. It can be over done and the transmission will throw the revs into red if you insist upon it, and I did.
The A3 is 670 lbs heavier and with the extra Audiness feels quite a bit slower than the GTI, it isn't, but it feels like it. I took a good run through the ramp eastbound on hwy 1 onto sarcee n and pushed her hard enough to start to loose traction on the way out...about 100 km/hr. Felt very good, and with the paddles you just focus on pushing as absolutely hard as possible. That aspect of the DSG is pretty intriguing.
In fact the only place the DSG falls flat a bit is out of first gear while you're paying partial attention away from a light. First gear is very short and the rpms come up quick, you need to be paying attention or else you're into the upper revs when you really don't intend to be. The issue doesn't arise other than in first. The other thing that happens in first is that while leaving parking lots and accellerating out of slow speed corners you can't get at the paddles, the solution is either, use the stick or shortshift yourself. And you do tend to shortshift in the car, and as a result seem to drive slower (might be a good thing). I'm sure one would get used to both of these things...
Interior wise everything but the upper dash is fantastic, top notch really. Really nice use of the Aluminum on the doors and dash. But then on the dash they disposed of that German sensibility, put a cheaper material on the top and built four snorkels out of it. Overall though great interior. 20 cm narrower than the GTI though!.
Probably one of these in my future.
The car I drove only had 60 km on it so the engine wasn't exactly loose and pumping out the power. It was smooth just like the the 2.8L in the GTI but didn't have quite the same snarl...might not be broken in...might not have the snarl. On the other hand, the computer induced throttle blip to change gears does sound particularily sexy. It can be over done and the transmission will throw the revs into red if you insist upon it, and I did.
The A3 is 670 lbs heavier and with the extra Audiness feels quite a bit slower than the GTI, it isn't, but it feels like it. I took a good run through the ramp eastbound on hwy 1 onto sarcee n and pushed her hard enough to start to loose traction on the way out...about 100 km/hr. Felt very good, and with the paddles you just focus on pushing as absolutely hard as possible. That aspect of the DSG is pretty intriguing.
In fact the only place the DSG falls flat a bit is out of first gear while you're paying partial attention away from a light. First gear is very short and the rpms come up quick, you need to be paying attention or else you're into the upper revs when you really don't intend to be. The issue doesn't arise other than in first. The other thing that happens in first is that while leaving parking lots and accellerating out of slow speed corners you can't get at the paddles, the solution is either, use the stick or shortshift yourself. And you do tend to shortshift in the car, and as a result seem to drive slower (might be a good thing). I'm sure one would get used to both of these things...
Interior wise everything but the upper dash is fantastic, top notch really. Really nice use of the Aluminum on the doors and dash. But then on the dash they disposed of that German sensibility, put a cheaper material on the top and built four snorkels out of it. Overall though great interior. 20 cm narrower than the GTI though!.
Probably one of these in my future.
