Drove an Audi A3 3.2 quattro Sport today

[Ian Simmonds]

The old one (2004) shape, 45k on the clock...

And I really didn't get it, it's performance felt average, the engine was like a mill grinding corn, it felt 'jiggly' at low speeds, didn't talk to me, was less than reassuring in high speed cornering and the gearbox felt very plastic... Trim was a bit squeaky and it really was mediocre... I thought I was going to enjoy it too...

Got in the S2 to drive home and patted the instrument cluster in appreciation... She's a good ol' girl, they can keep their modern tat.

[pixsaudisex2]

i had the same thought when i drove a v6 four motion but i dont think that was ever designed to be anything but a cruiser.

[EspenW]

The 3.2's are not fast. I'd pick a 2.0T or 1.8T or even 1.4Tfsi any day of the week. Displacement is a poor replacement for proper manifold pressure.

[GazzaG60]

agree. in fact id go elswhere than audi. i9 really am not a fan of their newer bling

[Ian Simmonds]

I wasn't really in the market to buy it, but the offer came up for a decent drive (about 40 miles), so I thought I'd see how much *cough* 'better' the new stuff is...

It had one of those central armrests that was a right PITA, and it kept creaking... But it was the dynamics that really were a 'major' shock. It just kept sending those little 'Ooowww, sloooww down, I'm not happpppyyy' messages. When I did slow down, it went all, 'jiggly-jiggly - look at me, I'm a racing car again'... If it was a human, It'd be considered a Paranoid Schizophrenic with Bi-polar disorder.

In comparison, the S2 is the total reverse, sits there and loafs comfortably about in it's 'yeah, you wanna chill' mode... Then when you nail it, it goes all 'Come-on-soonnnyyy', "is that your best shot, your not even close, ya wimp."...

Put simply, the A3 deceived with it's pretend (shallow) sportiness...
Whilst the S2 deceives by having multiple layers to it's sportiness...

[skid]

Mate, you cant really compare those 2 cars as they are tottslly different. those 3.2s were only around 25k new. Your baby cost more than that when it was made all those years ago! Imagine what they would charge for a car of that calibre now! What car does Audi make now that "feels" anything like an S2?

Answers on a postcard please.......

for the record, my 2.6v6 feels much more comfy at 80-90 than our other car, 09 A3 1.8T.

[GazzaG60]

the old NA v turbo debate.

i dont like the 1.8t. its very bland. its got no sound or soul.

im not even liking the s2 much at the moment. i dont know why either. state of mind

[Ian Simmonds]

Mate, you cant really compare those 2 cars as they are tottslly different. those 3.2s were only around 25k new. Your baby cost more than that when it was made all those years ago! Imagine what they would charge for a car of that calibre now! What car does Audi make now that "feels" anything like an S2?

Answers on a postcard please.......

for the record, my 2.6v6 feels much more comfy at 80-90 than our other car, 09 A3 1.8T.

I suppose you're right really, it's easy to assume that newer will be better when in fact the S2 was £36k new, in 1993.

[Rusty]

Golf GTI mk.2 cost a lot less new and is great to drive Cars don't have to cost lots to be engaging. I wouldn't buy a modern Audi over a BM or even a Ford, sure they're built well but I like to drive cars and Audis rarely make drivers' cars any more.

[Jamo]

Golf GTI mk.2 cost a lot less new and is great to drive Cars don't have to cost lots to be engaging. I wouldn't buy a modern Audi over a BM or even a Ford, sure they're built well but I like to drive cars and Audis rarely make drivers' cars any more.

Progress peaked in the 80/90's health and safety and ncap rules now days plus making the car so it can only be serviced at the dealer

modern cars don't offer the same feedback to the driver nowdays, driving is more of a chore than a pleasure in modern society.

[Ian Simmonds]

modern cars don't offer the same feedback to the driver nowdays, driving is more of a chore than a pleasure in modern society.

Well put...

This A3 was like a domestic appliance really, walked up, felt 'nothing' towards it... Drove it, it did its job, but gave nothing away... I parked it, walked away and still felt 'nothing' towards it... Just another modern society chore...

[GazzaG60]

S2 give pretty crappy feedback too TBH.

the newer ones i agree are even worse.

[URquattroGus]

A much better comparison surely would have been the current S3 260bhp 2.0T, they're supposed to be quite good. Nopt that I would buy one.

The 3.2 is a soft baggy cruiser.

[pixsaudisex2]

I suppose you're right really, it's easy to assume that newer will be better when in fact the S2 was £36k new, in 1993.

when you could have had a house for this price back then...

[montez]

I suppose you're right really, it's easy to assume that newer will be better when in fact the S2 was £36k new, in 1993.

With inflation based on GDP and RPI that is about equivalent to a 65k car today