did the A3 come in quattro and manual tranny any years?

[onlyaudis]

Have a friend who is a GTi guy and in the market. He was bummed that VW said officially no R20 Golf for the US market (at least not until after 2011), as that was what he wanted to buy this year.

I thought about having him check out the A3 Quattro, which is pretty similar to the R20 Golf . (especially if you chip the 2.0)

I noticed at Audis website that the A3 in Quattro form only comes with DSG now. Did it ever come in a 6 speed manual with all wheel drive? (either 3.2 or 2.0) My friend is a die hard manual tranny guy, and although i have made the change to the more modern automatics, I am not sure he is ready to go clutch less yet.

[LWNY]

I don't think it did. That was why its cost was a bit more than just the quattro.

You friend still could manual shift the DSG, and he could see how fast it shifts with the instantaneous drop in engine RPM when the clutch engages, or the perfect throttle blip on downshifts. He could only envy that and learn from it.

He might even learn to shift more in the twisties given his hands will be tightly holding the steering wheel where the flappy paddles are for him to shift. No more shooting out of a turn at 2500 RPM or stuck on redline while accelerating out of a tight turn.

[Phantom08]

NO......Quattro only came with the DSG transmission. In order to get quattro you have to get the 3.2L for years 06-08 and then you now have the choice in 2009/2010 of either the 2.0T or 3.2L engines.

I enjoy driving the DSG compared to manual. Sure there are some limitations of the DSG, but for the most part I love the transmission better than any traditional automatic.

[viceprp]

Die hard manual guy here and there is nothing like a "flappy paddle" feeling.. Tell him not to settle with anything not to his liking. My .02

[myb5quattro]

I always wondered why you couldn't get a manual quattro 2.0t a3

[pkny]

I thought the DSG transmission wasn't compatible with the quattro, at least from what i read on these forums.
Wasn;t that the reason why the A4 quattro doesn't come with DSG?

[onlyaudis]

I am pretty sure the quattro system in the A3 is different than the one in the A4.

In one way , its a shame they are all getting away from manual tranny's. (even the new Evo's mostly come with paddle shifters) the current 6 speed manuals are some of the nicest manual shifting ones ever made.

[poli84]

I thought the DSG transmission wasn't compatible with the quattro, at least from what i read on these forums.
Wasn;t that the reason why the A4 quattro doesn't come with DSG?

We were able to get 2.0T quattro Manuals in Australia.
We can't anymore with the MY09 models though, same as you guys, quattro and DSG.

[.Mad Hatter.]

this was my (and my uncles, and my dads) biggest issue with the A3...never will understand it.

[pkny]

this was my (and my uncles, and my dads) biggest issue with the A3...never will understand it.

One of my buddies just got a S55 AMG and that only also came in a automatic.
Can't blame them because the auto is not only more efficient it also shifts better then any manual with todays technology

[20AE428]

I thought the DSG transmission wasn't compatible with the quattro, at least from what i read on these forums.
Wasn;t that the reason why the A4 quattro doesn't come with DSG?

The Dsg tranny was built originally for the GTI and A3 so it was engineered to work with that engine configuration. They waited on engineering for longitudinal engines for the B8A4. I bought a DSG A3 and sold it to get a manual. Agreed if you like a manual you likely will not appreciate the DSG.

[icegrill]

No doubt it's a great transmission, but the novelty eventually wore off of "tiptronic" shifting. I chose a manual this time around and opted for front wheel drive.

[LazyLightning]

No doubt it's a great transmission, but the novelty eventually wore off of "tiptronic" shifting. I chose a manual this time around and opted for front wheel drive.

Ditto. Before I bought both my manual GTI and manual A3, I test drove a few DSG-equipped variants of both cars. I can see how you can shave a couple of tenths of a second off of 0-60 times b/c it shifts as fast as Superman, but at the end of the day, it just didn't get me off. If you're a true manual guy it just won't suffice. I went FWD. I have to admit the wheelspin and especially the unsettling clunking sounds that occur during WOT at takeoff do get on my nerves though! I reeeeeally miss the RWD on my old Bimmers.

[JoshDub]

if he wants a manual then dont get a DSG. Paddle flapping is nothing like driving with a clutch and a shifter. Any one can press a button

[LWNY]

One of my buddies just got a S55 AMG and that only also came in a automatic.
Can't blame them because the auto is not only more efficient it also shifts better then any manual with todays technology

The MB automatic is just a low tech slushbox. The technology in there is just like the stuff that was in the Plymouth Reliant's. MB uses them because since it is liquid turning liquid, it doesn't have to be bulletproof strong to handle all that torque from the S55.

[onlyaudis]

Road and track just did an article on this. basically, if you are a street racer, you may get to the next stop light a fraction of a second faster with the new computer controlled high tech trannies doing the shifting. If you like to drive the car yourself though, the manual is still more satisfying. (except when stuck in a horrible traffic jam, then pushing the clutch in and out 1000 times gets old really fast!) I have a fully restored old 1987 Toyota MR2 5 speed that's for my just for fun driving,(or car pooling as I only need 1 passenger to qualify) and I have a TIP A4 Turbo for my daily (stuck in traffic often) driver. best of both worlds.

[Scrwedtxboy31]

< HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THIS OUT >

I honestly may be leaving audi for this fact alone. I wanted to pick something like the A3 up in MTQ. And have searched extensively for new ones however there are no such vehicles. I will be extending my search out of country and will keep my progress of lack thereof up to date here, but I just can’t believe this. I will never sacrifice MT or all wheel drive. I can sacrifice many other things (to include the brand of vehicle, however I was trying to avoid it).

I may eventually be making moves to Subaru or some of the other euro manufactures (Saab, BMW, Benz etc)... thoughts... ( not trying to piss anyone one off but I am ready to move on and am frustrated that Audi cant figure this out!)

[Elliott]

People also thought that the CVT was a good auto transmission. Take a tour over to the B6 forum and see how that worked out.

[bangoman]

We got the S3 here in Europe - MT and quattro in an A3 platform. Like so many variants, it does not seem to have made it over the pond.

Having said that, why not look at A4's? You can have AWD and MT as a B6 1.8T or a B7 2.0T or the new B8. The MT C5 A6 sedan came in 2.7T form (warts and all). Or why not an S4?

As to different types of AWD:
A3 quattro = haldex
A4 quattro (+ others?) = torsen

[LWNY]

People also thought that the CVT was a good auto transmission. Take a tour over to the B6 forum and see how that worked out.

Did Ferrari, BMW's M cars and Bugatti, Datsun GT-R think the CVT was a good transmission? I don't know which people you were referring to, besides the fuel misers.

[JRutter]

In order to get quattro you have to get the 3.2L for years 06-08 and then you now have the choice in 2009/2010 of either the 2.0T or 3.2L engines.

No more 3.2 option . . .

[onlyaudis]

was just talking to the local VW Audi Tuner Tim from Thomas Sport Tuning, and he says he can't believe VAG is nor bringing in some of their best cars for the enthusiast to the US. a 6 speed manual should still be offered with all wheel drive option, and either a TDI or 4 cylinder gas turbo engine for the A3 (or bring in the S3) and the TT.

[bangoman]

Just browsing the Audi UK site - want A3 quattro, TDI, MT, black edition, oh yes. This is a slightly uprated (to 170hp from 140hp) version of the 2.0 TDI offered in VW's Golf and Jetta range.

[Seerlah]

I would think that not selling the Quattro A3 in manual transmissions would have to do more with marketing. If sales are not there, why even hastle. Just get an A4 avant. Of course, things are different in Europeans nations. But they think an automatic is for lazy Americans.

[onlyaudis]

the sales aren't going to be there because they don't offer the car! VAG are assuming people don't want a six speed quattro anymore, so they stopped sending them over. If they still make the cars and offer them in other places, why not have it be an option, even a special order?

The A3 is a pretty different car from an A4 Avant

[LazyLightning]

the sales aren't going to be there because they don't offer the car! VAG are assuming people don't want a six speed quattro anymore, so they stopped sending them over. If they still make the cars and offer them in other places, why not have it be an option, even a special order?

The A3 is a pretty different car from an A4 Avant

Not to mention: the A4 Avant is NOT offered with a 6-speed manual at all in the USA either anymore!!! (no B8 6-spd avants)

Total bummer. But: the sad truth is - VW/Audi is probably making the correct financial decision - besides folks like us on this site (who are a very distinct minority), Americans just don't buy manuals! Not worth it to import a variant that only appeals to a handful of enthusiasts.

[fatbrembos]

In mexico and many other countries, the s3 was available and this car could be bought with manual transmission or dsg, both which were quattro. Too bad you cant buy it here in the states. Ive driven an s3 manual with quattro and honestly no better feeling

[Scrwedtxboy31]

Where would one even begin to search for these imported ones? or where would I start? Dealer?

[VMRWheels]

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this was only an option in non-US countries

[Coyote USP]

Can anyone shed some light on the finer points of importing a car from outside the states? What if I found the perfect A3 configuration just across the border in Mexico, would I be able to have it imported and registered to the States? And if so, does anyone know what the costs would look like in order to do such a thing?

[norsecarnut]

Not to mention: the A4 Avant is NOT offered with a 6-speed manual at all in the USA either anymore!!! (no B8 6-spd avants)

Total bummer. But: the sad truth is - VW/Audi is probably making the correct financial decision - besides folks like us on this site (who are a very distinct minority), Americans just don't buy manuals! Not worth it to import a variant that only appeals to a handful of enthusiasts.

and that the a3 is a smaller market than the a4 to stat with, then ad quattro and manual...you end up with a very small sales market like my mt s4 avant is in. of the consistent 5000+ used cars on audi lots, there are hardly ever any mt6 s4 avants, rs6, r8, s8 are more common. only 2 mt6 s4 avants are listed now and they're both 4 yrs old.

considering there are 40 quattro a3 cars, it does seem like the market would have been there for a manual version. the price point could have been low for a mt6 quattro 2.0T but being shared with vw, you can't get the cool r32 in manual either.

[illegitimus]

Can anyone shed some light on the finer points of importing a car from outside the states? What if I found the perfect A3 configuration just across the border in Mexico, would I be able to have it imported and registered to the States? And if so, does anyone know what the costs would look like in order to do such a thing?

Emissions is the main issue in importing a car to the US. You can do a very quick search on Google for specifics on importing a car from, say, Mexico. If their emissions standards satisfy those of the US, the import costs are probably minimal...