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Audi A3 Suspension Questions

48 messages,  Last post on Oct 08, 2009 at 1:01 PM

You are in the Audi A3 Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is kcram

What is this discussion about? Audi A3, Suspension, Sedan, Wagon


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#6 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [kurtamaxxguy] by andys120
Jan 30, 2006 (4:20 pm)
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Replying to: kurtamaxxguy (Jan 30, 2006 1:49 pm)

Suspension design is an arcane science involving
a myriad of variables. Even if you could find out what the "suspension travel" of an A3 was the figure would be meaningless but there's an easy way to determine whether or not it has enough suspension travel--pick your favorite bad road
and test drive an A3 over it.
 
Do you know the suspension travel of any car?
#7 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [andys120] by kurtamaxxxguy
Jan 31, 2006 (3:57 pm)
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Replying to: andys120 (Jan 30, 2006 4:20 pm)

Well, no Audi dealer in their right mind will let me drive their A3 over a "Bad" road around here, as the car would be eaten alive. Blame the low profile tires which can't absorb the bumps (BMW, Mercedes, all low profilers have this problem). So it's up to the suspension to do it, provided it has enough travel.
 
So Audi says visit dealers service departments to ask about the cars? Well, in LA, of 8 dealers I visited via web, 6 have no weekend service at __all__ and two had very short hours on Saturday only (one bragged about being open on weekends).
 
Interesting their service departments are open for so short a time.
#8 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [kurtamaxxxguy] by dhanley
Jan 31, 2006 (5:07 pm)
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Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jan 31, 2006 3:57 pm)

"Well, no Audi dealer in their right mind will let me drive their A3 over a "Bad" road around here, as the car would be eaten alive. Blame the low profile tires which can't absorb the bumps (BMW, Mercedes, all low profilers have this problem)."
 
Kurt, you're pretty funny. I always fly over train tracks at full speed, and giggle at the SUV drivers almost coming to a stop. Heck, i test drove an a3 here in chicago over some completely wretched roads, way worse than you will ever see in CA.
 
It seems you don't want an a3. Ok. But you don't have to rationalize why to all of us.
 
dave
#9 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [dhanley] by kurtamaxxxguy
Feb 01, 2006 (9:34 am)
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Replying to: dhanley (Jan 31, 2006 5:07 pm)

If I were not interested in the A3 I would not be posting and asking questions here.
   
Disturbing are lack of answers for basic questions, the USA car's first year glitches and the _short_ service hours for Audi dealers here in Los Angeles.
 
For those A3'ers with great AUDI dealers who back the product and smooth, winding roads to drive on, SALUDE!
 
Meanwhile, it'll be fun to see how the A3's brother, the VW GTI, and the new AWD Dodge Calibre, fares in our market!
#10 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [kurtamaxxxguy] by travelinman
Feb 01, 2006 (1:48 pm)
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Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Feb 01, 2006 9:34 am)

Disturbing are lack of answers for basic questions, the USA car's first year glitches and the _short_ service hours for Audi dealers here in Los Angeles.
  
For those A3'ers with great AUDI dealers who back the product and smooth, winding roads to drive on, SALUDE!

 
I own an A3 in Los Angeles (since September). I've driven it over all kinds of roads and drive it 85 miles round trip per day to work and back. I have the Sport Package, and I have NEVER had any issues with the suspension or tires over the "rough" roads of LA.
 
I have an Audi dealership 5 miles from work who offers rides between work and the dealership when I've had to drop it off for its scheduled maintenance. The dealership has actually been pretty excellent from a service standpoint.
 
I will echo the comments of others when I say you are crazy if you think the roads of Los Angeles are especially "rough". With the exception of some of the older freeways (especially the I-5 through East LA, and parts of I-10, the 710, and the 60) the roads aren't that bad.
 
And driving the A3 along Angeles Crest in "S" mode is incredible.
#11 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [travelinman] by blueguydotcom
Feb 01, 2006 (2:47 pm)
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Replying to: travelinman (Feb 01, 2006 1:48 pm)

I was on I-5 and I-10 this weekend driving a car with 18s and it was fine. Seriously, he's looking for excuses.
#12 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [blueguydotcom] by dino001
Oct 16, 2006 (8:53 am)
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Replying to: blueguydotcom (Feb 01, 2006 2:47 pm)

It's not about excuses. I think Kurt just want the car to handle sharp as a razor but the suspension be soft as a pillow. Probably no one broke the news to him that those things are pretty much mutually exclusive.
#13 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [dino001] by pf_flyer HOST
Oct 16, 2006 (9:01 am)
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Replying to: dino001 (Oct 16, 2006 8:53 am)

Everybody wants it all
 
But then again, asking for things that seem impossible is what leads to innovation too. Maybe this inspires a razor-soft suspension!
#14 of 48
I thought the sport package suspension by andres3
Oct 16, 2006 (9:14 pm)
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was plenty smooth, until they gave me the loaner Jetta. Now I know what the tradeoff for razor sharp handling is. More than anything, its the road noise from ultra high performance tires.
#15 of 48
Re: suspension travel redux [pf_flyer] by kurtamaxxxguy
Oct 20, 2006 (11:47 am)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Oct 16, 2006 9:01 am)

The euros in general seem to have a good handle on ride/handling. I drove a BMW 3 not long ago and was impressed by both its handling and ride. No chance to drive BMW on Philly-class roads, though (like I used to years ago). I also drove an A3 3.2, found it cornered very well and was ok wrt ride so long as no potholes or washboards were about.
 
As side note, there's a topic in STRAIGHTLINE discussing what Audi stands for.

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