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Re: Audi A3 (shifty-thingy)

To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Audi A3 (shifty-thingy)
From: jake@codeworm.com
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 07:06:22 -0800
I test drove the thing a few weeks ago to get a $30 credit at the iTunes music 
store.  I was thrilled with the engine.. The 
2.0T has a comfortable amount of torque for driving on the street.. Really 
quite nice.  

And I loved the flappy paddle gearbox!   I particularly enjoyed downshifting 
while head-checking before a lane change.  
Shifting becomes very natrual very quickly.  It's MUCH more responsive than any 
automatic with "manual mode", particulary 
downshifts.  And it let me downshift to the redline in third on the freeway by 
accident just the way autocrossers like it.  

As for the auto?  I only engaged it for a moment at speed at the top of a 
freeway offramp, and it immediately shifted to 6th 
as I started decelerating towards the stoplight at the bottom.  That's what we 
hate about autos, right?  So it must be a fine 
automatic simulator.

That said, it costs WAY TOO MUCH MONEY!  If you select AWD with v6 and the 
flappy-paddle gearbox, you're out almost 
40k.  The interior is indestinguishable from a frekin' Saturn that costs $20k 
less.  Cheep plastic everywhere, the front seat 
rails are exposed and look like a total after thought, and it's not 
particularly comfortable.  Who buys these cars?  Get 
yourself a nice Subaru RS2.5 wagon like all the other outdoorsey folks.  You 
won't need chains and you'll be $20k less in 
debt.  (Just avoid Steven's Creek Subaru in San Jose at all costs!  Go to 
Carlsen in Redwood City!)

Audi's strategy as I see it?  Thay've made the A4 FAR to fat and expensive to 
be fun, and replaced it with an outrageously 
priced rebadged 1996 Saturn SW2 with a fancy-pants transmission and metal 
doors.  Way to go.

Jake






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