A3 in Quattro Quaterly

[Jouko Haapanen]

I preferred the lowly 100hp A3 1.6 over the 125hp 1.8 because of the
lack of torque steer (no torque to steer with).  The shorter gearing
made the 1.6 feel nippier around town.  My wife was quite happy with
her 1.6 for a couple of years, and she did not want to spend the money
on a turbo...

FWIW, the 150/180hp 1.8T quattro A3's are nice enough, but not that
much fun.  I agree that the S3 is the funnest Audi available (in most
places) at the moment.  The grunt provided by the bigger S4/6/8 and
the RS4 is great, but somehow the S3 gave me the grin on the face the
other ones did not.  Maybe there is some underlying connection to the
UrQ because of the lack of rear doors...

Jouko Haapanen


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Eaton" <Dave.Eaton at clear.net.nz>
To: <quattro at audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 6:14 PM
Subject: RE: A3 in Quattro Quaterly


> there is a "quattro" model - but it uses the haldex wet clutch
system - it's
> an "instant-on" type of awd system.  sold only in the 1.8tq, and the
s3 -
> not sure about the tdi.
>
> btw, i had a look at a 2001 s3 last night.  it was (mtm) chipped to
375hp
> according to the owner.  didn't drive it though.  i haven't driven
the
> 2000/2001 s3 model, but the 1st s3 was a nice car.
>
> imo, the s3 is the pick of the current performance audis from a
driving
> perspective, while I've found the 1.8 a3 disappointing - with a lot
(imo) of
> torque steer...
>
> dave
> '95 rs2
> '90 ur-q
> -----Original Message-----
> Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 14:46:37 -0500
> From: Jenny Curtis <jenny at physics.umn.edu>
>
> Just out of curiosity, does the A3 (sold in Europe only) have the
> quattro system?  The article in this month's Q Quarterly was unclear
> on that fact.  The article was good, anyway and really made me want
to
> drive one.  For sure that will be the car to rent the next time
we're
> back in the old country.
>