Audi A3 or Mazdaspeed 3

[XPcarguy]

Originally Posted by 6_speed

A3 comes FWD standard IIRC.

It comes as FWD and optionally as FAWD. Where FA means Front/All or Faux/All. :-)

It's the same system they put on the original R32. It's 100% front wheel drive until they slip. Then some percentage is cut from the fronts and sent to the rears.

The reason you can't get true Quattro on the A3 DSG is the same reason you can't get DSG on the bigger better Audis. To date (last time I checked - 2007), they couldn't figure out how to get the Quattro differentials to work with the DSG transmission. When that problem is solved, DSG will likely ship in place of the tiptronic on all Audis and Porsches. It's long been rumored that some future 911 TT would come in manual or DSG rather than manual or tiptronic.

[Icedog_16]

Originally Posted by shokwaves

If I end up getting the MS3, I'd be very curious to see what that mod is all about.

I'd guess it's somewhat akin to the clutch delay valve mod on BMWs.

[vasracer]

here is my 2cents worth,

the wife loves our a3, at least until she rear ended someone on the 405...it still drives great, but now there are some cel lights, and a weird speed related humm from the driveline.

Overall, the interior is fantastic, feels expensive, and does impress passengers. Driving position and steering are great, a little overassisted (but you can change that), DSG is great fun for awhile, but then becomes an automatic. Shifting it like a manual gets old, I was lifting off the throttle to simulate a real manual, otherwise its so seamless that it feels stupid to shift for yourself.

I did chip it (APR) as soon as we got it, but to tell the truth I couldn't really feel that much of a difference...the people who flashed it for me, showed me the increase in the boost, but my seat of the pants feel was the same ( I could stand to lose some weight, that could have dampened my feel).

Bottom line: good sedate entrylevel luxury car...not a sports car by any means...kind of forgettable after a while...driven mostly by females around here...a guy may need to lower the suspension and put 18s on it...

MS3 sounds great, but what about torque steer...i still think evo and sti are best.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Torque is limited in 1st and 2nd gears on the MS3, presumably to reduce torque steer.


As someone mentioned, the A3 is standard with FWD, so the A3 doesn't necessarily solve that problem.


Mazdas are known for their high quality interiors if that means anything.

[Beanie]

The A3 is a beautiful design, as are all Audis these days.

A3

[cstetter]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Torque is limited in 1st and 2nd gears on the MS3, presumably to reduce torque steer.


As someone mentioned, the A3 is standard with FWD, so the A3 doesn't necessarily solve that problem.


Mazdas are known for their high quality interiors if that means anything.

I test drove a MS3 and it had very noticable torque steer. The engine was also weird in that peak power arrived way before redline. No point in reving it - big difference compared to our little NA 1.8 engine. The interior was nice but the A3 still is more classy. I just bought a used A8 as my DD instead - might as well just go for the pure luxury

[Bavarian Motorist]

I guess you just can't defy the physics of that much torque in a FWD set-up

[shokwaves]

Originally Posted by cstetter

I test drove a MS3 and it had very noticable torque steer. The engine was also weird in that peak power arrived way before redline. No point in reving it - big difference compared to our little NA 1.8 engine. The interior was nice but the A3 still is more classy. I just bought a used A8 as my DD instead - might as well just go for the pure luxury

A8, that's nice. More than I can spend now.

Just about all Audi's are very nicely designed these days, but they do come at a price just like any luxury line.

Deciding to get the Exige was a no brainer, deciding between these two cars at half the cost is somehow more difficult than I thought. It is hard to ignore the value of the MS3 and the full package of options and performance for less $$.

[dabears2k]

Yes, the MS3 does torque steer quite heavily.

It is true that the car doesn't have any more power past 5500rpm. But, it makes peak torque at like 3300, so its great for around town.

[cstetter]

Originally Posted by shokwaves

A8, that's nice. More than I can spend now.

Just about all Audi's are very nicely designed these days, but they do come at a price just like any luxury line.

Deciding to get the Exige was a no brainer, deciding between these two cars at half the cost is somehow more difficult than I thought. It is hard to ignore the value of the MS3 and the full package of options and performance for less $$.

I agree - in terms of bang for the buck the MS3 is unbeatable. If I was truly looking for a "hot hatch" this would be the one (R32 is very nice but 2 door only). I had two Mazdas in my past (Miata and MPV) and both were pretty reliable.

Used A8s are surprisingly affordable... but they are not new. The one I bought is a 2005.

Best of luck with your decision!

[Hanzo]

Originally Posted by Beanie

The A3 is a beautiful design, as are all Audis these days.

A3

That's probably because all Audis looks the same now, I can hardly tell from the rear view mirror if its an Audi A3, A4, A6, A8. I think they took one good front end design and tired it out on most all of their models.

[Hanzo]

I test drove the MS3 as well and I have to say for FFD it doesn't have much torque steer. I think most of you are used to RWD and are overly sensitive to torque steer. I've driven Sentra SE-Rs and they torque steer much more than the MS3 and the SE-R had less power.

[cstetter]

Originally Posted by Hanzo

I test drove the MS3 as well and I have to say for FFD it doesn't have much torque steer. I think most of you are used to RWD and are overly sensitive to torque steer. I've driven Sentra SE-Rs and they torque steer much more than the MS3 and the SE-R had less power.

The worst torque steer I ever encountered was actually on my Volvo V70-T5. Really sucked. The MS3 was better than that, I agree.

[shokwaves]

Originally Posted by Hanzo

That's probably because all Audis looks the same now, I can hardly tell from the rear view mirror if its an Audi A3, A4, A6, A8. I think they took one good front end design and tired it out on most all of their models.

That's very true. On one hand you can give the impression that you are driving a high level Audi, on the other if you actually have a high level Audi, you may feel cheated by looking like the lowest of the Audis.

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by cstetter

The worst torque steer I ever encountered was actually on my Volvo V70-T5. Really sucked. The MS3 was better than that, I agree.

The worst torque steer ever was in the Saab 9-3 Viggen. HOLY COW! Lotus did a fantastic job with the M100 Elan in eliminating torque steer.

MS3 definitely has some but the limited slip helps out and it really is much worse in other cars.

[fishtaco]

My daily driver is a black 08 MS3. Its a fantastic car. I have about 17K on it now and it will need tires soon I replaced the factory airbox with the Cobb air intake and it now pulls hard to 6K. It did fall off pretty hard @ 5500 before. The brakes are pretty darn good too.

I get about 25 mpg commuting into the city 25 miles one way. I take it to Pennsylvania on the weekends, 200 miles away and get in 28+.

Its very comfortable, fast and well built. Heck it holds 6 quarts of oil! That says something. I love it

[Allan Gibbs]

Thanks for this post. I read on the TT forum that the TT Quatro also splits power on dry pavement 85% (front) and 15% (rear).

Originally Posted by XPcarguy

It comes as FWD and optionally as FAWD. Where FA means Front/All or Faux/All. :-)
.