Does the A3 handle poorly?
12-15-2005, 12:43 PM
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Does the A3 handle poorly?
Eyeballing the "objective" handling data on the Road and Track Road Test Summary (>125 cars, 2 page summary, near back of mag) the A3 came in dead last on the skid pad and in the bottom 10% on the slalom. Then Motor Trend included it as a contender for best of '06, but said something to the effect of "handling let us down on the road and the track due to the Pirellis and VW Golf chassis."
OK, admittedly these test cars probably (or definitely) weren't sport-package cars, but I would have at least expected an Audi, especially as small and light as the A3, to come in remotely close to average for a non-sport package car, and above average for the sport package. Many of the cars on the R&T summary don't even offer a sport package. Also, since moto journalists always tend to candy coat their reviews, to read negative handling comments from 2 different magazines, really makes me wonder. (In all fairness, I've also seen a number of good handling reviews as well.)
I've always found that lighter/small cars handle better and had high hopes for the A3 - actually I was hoping the A3 would be a polished, refined, 4dr R32. Yes/No?
OK, admittedly these test cars probably (or definitely) weren't sport-package cars, but I would have at least expected an Audi, especially as small and light as the A3, to come in remotely close to average for a non-sport package car, and above average for the sport package. Many of the cars on the R&T summary don't even offer a sport package. Also, since moto journalists always tend to candy coat their reviews, to read negative handling comments from 2 different magazines, really makes me wonder. (In all fairness, I've also seen a number of good handling reviews as well.)
I've always found that lighter/small cars handle better and had high hopes for the A3 - actually I was hoping the A3 would be a polished, refined, 4dr R32. Yes/No?
12-15-2005, 12:49 PM
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The thing about Audis...
Other brands may out perform them on the skidpad and on the track, but Audis seem more predictable and comfortable to push to street-level limits. So a BMW might actually be able to handle better at extreme limits, but the Audi feels less hairy when pushed at the levels you encounter during everyday driving.
12-15-2005, 01:03 PM
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IMO, the non-sport suspension was way too soft
As much as I loved the A3 after I test drove a premium package, I was very concerned about the handling, especially coming from a TT. The sport package makes a world of difference.
12-15-2005, 01:59 PM
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Actually that happened once in my S4.
The "thing" flying across my rear-view mirror was my mother-in-law who ended up smacking her head against the opposite door. She wears her seat belt now. 
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12-15-2005, 02:40 PM
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Pirelli P6's are not a sporty tire
they are old man tires. Swap those for something more grippy like a P-zero Rosso or any other high quality Z rated summer tire... should change the car's behaviour radically.