Changes You'd Like To See in the A3

Replying to: shipo (Jun 19, 2008 11:40 am)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 19, 2008 11:40 am)

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Jun 19, 2008 1:46 pm)
  • nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 2:04 pm)
    • shipo (Jun 19, 2008 2:36 pm) and 2 more...

Replying to: go4dave (Jun 19, 2008 12:25 pm)

Replying to: nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 1:34 pm)

Replies to this message:
• nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 2:04 pm)
  • shipo (Jun 19, 2008 2:36 pm)
    • nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 7:01 pm) and 1 more...

Replying to: shipo (Jun 19, 2008 1:46 pm)

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Jun 19, 2008 2:36 pm)
  • nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 7:01 pm)
    • shipo (Jun 19, 2008 7:12 pm)

Replying to: nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 2:04 pm)

Hmmm, interesting. A couple of points:
 
1) I had a 1999 328i 5-Speed prior to my 5er, and I have to admit, while I liked my 530i MUCH better than the 328i, the 3er had better throttle response, errr, at least for a while.
 
2) Item #1 isn't completely true. I picked up my 530i in Munich in April of 2002, and while I had the car over in Europe, the throttle response was almost perfect. The only thing I would have changed about the throttle programming Mark 1 was that if I was accelerating up a ramp to the AutoBahn and then partially lifted because of traffic in front of me, and if the current speeds were in excess of 80 mph, the car always felt like it wanted to keep accelerating, forcing me to lift off even further.
 
3) When I got the car back to the States, my dealer did me a "favor" by flashing the OBC with the latest code. Gee, thanks for nothing. The Mark 2 programming of the drive by wire software sucked so badly that I nearly got into a couple of accidents. Say I'd be turning left out onto a 4-lane road, and say the hole wasn't all that large; I'd nail it, get into the hole, and then lift off throttle so as to transition from acceleration to steady speed. The OBC would sense a sudden decrease in pedal angle and SHUT DOWN the power like RIGHT NOW, even if I still had some pressure on the gas pedal. The problem only got worse when the A/C was on.
 
4) After hearing from a service technician that, "They all do that" and me responding, "Well, it sure as hell didn't do that in Europe", he looked a bit stunned and went in and checked the release date of the firmware. Sure enough, it was dated right about when my car was delivered to me in the States.
 
5) He immediately installed what I'll call the Mark 3 version of the firmware and the problems were immediately solved.
 
That was a long way around of suggesting that maybe you had the Mark 2 code as well.
 
Back to the A3, the single largest change that I'd love to see in the A3 would be if Audi would humor all of us BMW drivers and switch the car from FWD to RWD.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 7:01 pm)
  • shipo (Jun 19, 2008 7:12 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 19, 2008 2:36 pm)

Wow, interesting stuff about your software issues. Perhaps that was my problem. The thing is I never complained to my mechanic in the two years I had the car. I just dealt with it.
 
I couldn't agree with you more on the RWD matter. I honestly would not be driving this A3 if the BMW 1-Series was brought over here in a more practical form for where I am in my life. With two young boys (8 and 3), the 128i was an impossibility. The older one ditching his booster seat a few weeks ago was one of the triggers in my decision to trade in the 5 Series. It is amazing how much room those seats take up. The little one will be out of the 5 point harness seat and into a booster in 2 months. I just didn't need such a big car anymore. I actually looked at getting another pre-owned 3 series, but my dealer only had coupes at the price I wanted to pay. I am in enough hot water about this A3 with my wife. If I came home with a 128i I would have been kicked out of the house. I "accidently" bought the A3 and forgot to tell my wife. I have a history with this. I also "accidently" bought my 323i back in 2004 without telling her until after. She had the same reaction both times. She hung up on me when I called her from the car on the way back from the dealer. Boy, was she pissed last week. I got so caught up in the purchase it slipped my mind, and we always talk about big purchases before we do anything. Hopefully, I learned my lesson for my next car.....I doubt it
 
I can't see Audi ever changing the drive configuration of the A3. That would be a very expensive proposition. Do you know any models that were in production that switched their drive configuration from front to back or vice versa? I have not driven a FWD car with any regularity since I had a 2001 Saab 9-5 Aero. The understeering was very bad. I don't have the same problem in my A3. I have been very surprised how well it drives despite being FWD.
 
I am praying my next car is a BMW 123d (five door) sometime in 3 or 4 years, but I am not holding my breath. If that is not going to happen then I will take an A3 with a diesel engine. I suppose that is my problem. I am always thinking of my next car as soon as I get a new one.....
 
Larry

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Jun 19, 2008 7:12 pm)

Replying to: nomowhale (Jun 19, 2008 7:01 pm)

While I agree that we're more likely to have the speaking of French banned in Quebec than we are of seeing a RWD variant of the A3, the actual conversion probably isn't as difficult as it might otherwise sound. Given that the A3 can already be had with the Haldex AWD system, we know by default that the rear suspension and body pan is already setup to accept RWD mechanicals. The only issue would be how to divorce the front wheels from the transmission, and how to most efficiently transmit the power from the engine and tranny, which are installed laterally in the car, to the longitudinally mounted drive shaft.
 
But hey, I can dream can't I?
 
Cordialement,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Jun 30, 2008 6:19 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jun 30, 2008 2:15 pm)