A3 Sportback Sport or S-Line?

[Hooky108]

Need some help.

I am trying to decide on my new company car. I've got it down to 3 choices.

1.8TFSI Sport with full leather
2.0 TDI (140) S-Line (half leather)
2.0 TDI (140) Sport (Full Leather)

As its a company car I'm not too bothered about petrol vs Diesel costs.

I know the 1.8T is faster off the line but how about mid range power?

I do a lot of motorway milage so need something that has good power from 60mph onwards.

I've read in the online Audi brochure that the Sport is 15mm lower than the SE. This is fine but then the S-Line is another 10mm lower.

I like the fat 18 inch alloys on the S-Line with the nice S-Line graphics and steering wheel etc..

I really dont know what to do.. I'm waiting for my lease company to sort out a test drive. The problem I see with this is that I will be ordering the new facelift version which is not currently avilable until September. So will my test drive be a proper reflection on the new facelift? If the ride is the same with only some minor cosmetic changes then at least I can make a choice.

Any advice please....

[prolfe]

The s-line and the sport share the same suspension set up. The 18" alloys make the ride a lot firmer on the s-line compared to the Sport.

The S-line has a nice bodykit, but I personally prefer the Sport's rear bumper over the s-line.

The 140 TDI is 3.8 30-50 in 3rd and 5.7 in 4th.

50-70 takes 7.2 and 10 in 5th and 6th. 30-70 takes 8.3s

The 1.8T's figures are difficult to find.

They are going to be very similar. with petrol prices the way they are the 1.8 seems a better buy. in saying that the tdi is a great engine with lots of power once you get going. Tough call.

drive them and see which is better, then decide on a trim level.

[engineermk]

I chose a Sport over an S-line as i found the ride on the 18in rims was far too hard compared to the Sport.

Also, as mine in a company car, I couldn't see the point of paying extra tax for leather (i'm not a fan), bigger wheels, and different bumpers!

I have a 2.0T, but regularly drive a 140 TDI, on the motorway there's no signifiacnt difference, both are great. Fast pull-aways from standstill are much swifter in my 2.0T, but i pay the price; 25mpg vs 45mpg in the TDI.

[prolfe]

I chose a Sport over an S-line as i found the ride on the 18in rims was far too hard compared to the Sport.

Also, as mine in a company car, I couldn't see the point of paying extra tax for leather (i'm not a fan), bigger wheels, and different bumpers!

I have a 2.0T, but regularly drive a 140 TDI, on the motorway there's no signifiacnt difference, both are great. Fast pull-aways from standstill are much swifter in my 2.0T, but i pay the price; 25mpg vs 45mpg in the TDI.

i had an identical experience with the 18" and 17" alloys.

makes the ride 1/2 as bad on the 17's.

Vagparts do the ipod adapter for £75 i think.

Enjoy your car and get some photo's up soon

[Hooky108]

Thanks for the info. I must admit I like my comfort ride. If I get the 1.8T Sport then I get all the benfits of fast pull away and a softer ride... Although I could get the 2.0TDI in a Sport spec and add full leather trim as well.

I'm now looking at the A4 120PS 1.8TFSI SE model. Although I already have a mondeo so dont really need a big car. Although I like the new A4 styling and the fact that for the money you actually get more toys. (daytime lights, auto lights and wipers, colour monitor for the stereo and electro mech handbrake).

Now I'm really confused!!

WHITE or RED???

Mrs wants RED and says white cars look cheap... I think white looks mean and sporty... and so it goes on...

Spoke to my lease company today as Audi still have not sorted me out a test drive

[prolfe]

Thanks for the info. I must admit I like my comfort ride. If I get the 1.8T Sport then I get all the benfits of fast pull away and a softer ride... Although I could get the 2.0TDI in a Sport spec and add full leather trim as well.

I'm now looking at the A4 120PS 1.8TFSI SE model. Although I already have a mondeo so dont really need a big car. Although I like the new A4 styling and the fact that for the money you actually get more toys. (daytime lights, auto lights and wipers, colour monitor for the stereo and electro mech handbrake).

Now I'm really confused!!

WHITE or RED???

Mrs wants RED and says white cars look cheap... I think white looks mean and sporty... and so it goes on...

Spoke to my lease company today as Audi still have not sorted me out a test drive

The TDi will perform much better than the 1.8TFSI, Red looks cool, white looks great.

Get the TDI A3 without leather but with the black styling pack (black grill surround) and privacy glass, it will look the business.

The a4 is bigger but only by millimetres, well on the inside anyway. Boot not included as it is bigger in the a4.

Red looks good cos the rear cluster is red.

The 120bhp 1.8 a4 is much slower than the a3 tdi 0-60 and everywhere else.

[Hooky108]

The TDi will perform much better than the 1.8TFSI, Red looks cool, white looks great.

Get the TDI A3 without leather but with the black styling pack (black grill surround) and privacy glass, it will look the business.

The a4 is bigger but only by millimetres, well on the inside anyway. Boot not included as it is bigger in the a4.

Red looks good cos the rear cluster is red.

The 120bhp 1.8 a4 is much slower than the a3 tdi 0-60 and everywhere else.

I can get the A3 2.0 TDI S-line with privacy glass and cruise control. White looks wicked but the Mrs loves Red. Every time we see red ones on the road she goes mental telling me to look at them I saw a white A4 the other day and I must admit it looks the business.

If I got an A4 I could only get the 120PS SE version so it might have to be the A3. Although now I can get the 1.8TFSI S-Line now but with no extras. I could also get the TDI Q Sport if I wanted with no extras.

I love the white if anyone has any pics of an A3 Sportback in White or Red please let me know.

[engineermk]

they're all good choices: Sport, S-line, TDI Q, 1.8T, red or white. just follow your heart and choose what you want.

[Audioslave]

I have driven an A3 tdi se 130 for the last 4 years as a company car, so impressed that I bought the car at the end of the lease and run it now. I never regretted getting a diesel at all as it is fantastic. Yeah, off the start it isnt a world beater, but if u turn off the traction control and learn how to get the best from it you will be surprised

I drove one of the newer diesels and tbh they are much improved, so building upon a great base model and making it better
I am now an Audi diesel fan through and through, especially if you are going up hill against a petrol adversary...............hasta la vista baby....the torque is amazing and it just keeps going too

Economy is great, the noise isnt bad at all and it does perform

if ur getting a company car then you know that the ride is important....sports suspension will wear you out on those long driving days and make the day even longer......but when you get time to have fun, then it will let you down....so try and get a good mix? Saying that, if the ride height and firmer shocks help me go round corners quicker, I might also be tempted on the spur of the moment lol

like one other poster said.................go with your heart......you have to live with it

red? mho is that red should be left to Ferrari...............white? some cars look the dogs in white, but a company car gets dirty real quick lol

Cool cars look the nuts in black or dark ,metallic grey especially when u can now get the privacy glass and fart around with the lenses (tastefully of course!) But just an opinion......its your car.......NO MATTER WHAT HER INDOORS SAYS LOL

[Hooky108]

Thanks for all the input.

I just had some test drives over the last week.

I had an A3 2.0 TDI S-Line with full leather. I did not like this at all The engine sounded like a tractor and the seats were really hard and not comfy at all. The other thing I didn't like was the road noise once I got over 60mph. OVer all not impressed.

I then had an A4 2.0 TDI SE and this car was the business. It was all fitted out with leather and Sat Nav but I ignored these as I wouldn't get them on my ticket. The ride was like floating on air and I really liked the electric handbrake and the stereo/climate control system etc.. little touches such as the colour monitor and the fact that the radio stations were displayed in the centre console so there was no need to look at the main monitor. The only downside to this car was the steering was very heavy compared to most cars. It was like driving a car without power steering.

It might have been that I just tested the wrong A3 so I might not be doing it justice but overall the A4 was a much better ride and classer feel.