A3 spec confusion
Discussion
Hi guys, can anyone help us identify this car?
Mum has just bought a A3 2004 2.0tdi 140, she thinks its the SE model with the DSG transmission. However as we weren't sure I did a bit of research and i'm now thinking it could be a sport as it has fog lights and a 3 spoke steering wheel both of which you don't get on the SE. Also the ride is very firm which made me think it could be a sport. That said it only has cloth seats and the wheels are different from the standard sport ones though i dont see them on the SE spec cars either (from looking at autotrader).
Also how do we know that it is the DSG transmission and not a conventional tiptronic with paddles (assuming that was offered)?
She is very happy with the car - her first Audi. But it would be slightly better to know she had a Sport DSG instead of an SE Auto (or a combination of both!)
Cheers in advance,
Mum has just bought a A3 2004 2.0tdi 140, she thinks its the SE model with the DSG transmission. However as we weren't sure I did a bit of research and i'm now thinking it could be a sport as it has fog lights and a 3 spoke steering wheel both of which you don't get on the SE. Also the ride is very firm which made me think it could be a sport. That said it only has cloth seats and the wheels are different from the standard sport ones though i dont see them on the SE spec cars either (from looking at autotrader).
Also how do we know that it is the DSG transmission and not a conventional tiptronic with paddles (assuming that was offered)?
She is very happy with the car - her first Audi. But it would be slightly better to know she had a Sport DSG instead of an SE Auto (or a combination of both!)
Cheers in advance,
Not sure if there was an Auto other than DSG but the easiest test is that when you manually shift down or use 'S' the DSG will blip the throttle to sync the revs and it shifts much quicker than any auto, as for the spec I'm not sure but think that the SE has the sport suspension anyway.
Right.
LACES FINGERS TOGETHER THEN STRETCHES THEM AWAY TO CREATE CRACKING SOUND...
If the car is a 2.0TDi and it is auto, then it is DSG, as not other auto transmission was offered on that engine. The tiptronic auto was only offered on the 1.6 and 2.0 petrols.
It could be SE or Sport so long as it has electronic climate control with dual temp zones for driver and passenger. If it has no climate then it is a base model.
Next. The steering wheel. Any DSG (even a base model) had a Sports 3 spoke leather trimmed wheel as this is the only one with the paddles on it for gear shifts. On a base model the customer had to pay extra for it on top of the DSG transmission.
I note you said it had front fog lights, and you are correct that Sport models had these as standard. However they were a factory option on the SE also.
So the car could still be an SE model, as all A3s had a very hard ride quality.
Sports did have sports front seats. However unless you can post some photographs this is hard. The Sports seats have a "fleck" pattern where the background cloth has contrasting flecks in silver, blue or red on it.
The SE seats in cloth were all one colour.
The real test will be to see if it has a sun blind on the rear shelf. This was standard on Sport, but it would be VERY rare for anyone to add this as an option on an SE.
So I think the sunblind is the wat you tell.
Hope this helps!
Andrew.
LACES FINGERS TOGETHER THEN STRETCHES THEM AWAY TO CREATE CRACKING SOUND...
If the car is a 2.0TDi and it is auto, then it is DSG, as not other auto transmission was offered on that engine. The tiptronic auto was only offered on the 1.6 and 2.0 petrols.
It could be SE or Sport so long as it has electronic climate control with dual temp zones for driver and passenger. If it has no climate then it is a base model.
Next. The steering wheel. Any DSG (even a base model) had a Sports 3 spoke leather trimmed wheel as this is the only one with the paddles on it for gear shifts. On a base model the customer had to pay extra for it on top of the DSG transmission.
I note you said it had front fog lights, and you are correct that Sport models had these as standard. However they were a factory option on the SE also.
So the car could still be an SE model, as all A3s had a very hard ride quality.
Sports did have sports front seats. However unless you can post some photographs this is hard. The Sports seats have a "fleck" pattern where the background cloth has contrasting flecks in silver, blue or red on it.
The SE seats in cloth were all one colour.
The real test will be to see if it has a sun blind on the rear shelf. This was standard on Sport, but it would be VERY rare for anyone to add this as an option on an SE.
So I think the sunblind is the wat you tell.
Hope this helps!
Andrew.
Cheers guys im pretty sure i know what it is now.
Single coloured seats, wood trim, no rear blind so it must be the SE with optional fog lights and 3 spoke wheel. As it is an auto 2.0tdi then it will have DSG.
Just had a drive and didnt think the DSG was that quick in 'S' mode though i have never driven a derv in anger before so maybe its just im so used to petrol. (or i need to use the paddles to make the most of it!)
Single coloured seats, wood trim, no rear blind so it must be the SE with optional fog lights and 3 spoke wheel. As it is an auto 2.0tdi then it will have DSG.
Just had a drive and didnt think the DSG was that quick in 'S' mode though i have never driven a derv in anger before so maybe its just im so used to petrol. (or i need to use the paddles to make the most of it!) tomtvr said:
Just had a drive and didnt think the DSG was that quick in 'S' mode though i have never driven a derv in anger before so maybe its just im so used to petrol. (or i need to use the paddles to make the most of it!)
the DSG is a quick shifting gearbox which may maximise the engines potential, but it won't make a diesel go fast....... 
catso said:
tomtvr said:
Just had a drive and didnt think the DSG was that quick in 'S' mode though i have never driven a derv in anger before so maybe its just im so used to petrol. (or i need to use the paddles to make the most of it!)
the DSG is a quick shifting gearbox which may maximise the engines potential, but it won't make a diesel go fast....... Sadly on the 2.0TDi (140ps) the DSG needs to be left in Drive or use the manual mode and paddles to better effect.
Left to its own devices it tries to rev the car to its rev limit.
If you plan and paddle upshift at the point where torque begins to drop off, i.e. around 3500 rpm keeping full throttle, you'll be more pleased...
Driven this way the TDi is actually very quick, DSG is awesome, and will surprise many more thoroughbred cars!
Have fun.
drybeer said:
catso said:
tomtvr said:
Just had a drive and didnt think the DSG was that quick in 'S' mode though i have never driven a derv in anger before so maybe its just im so used to petrol. (or i need to use the paddles to make the most of it!)
the DSG is a quick shifting gearbox which may maximise the engines potential, but it won't make a diesel go fast....... Sadly on the 2.0TDi (140ps) the DSG needs to be left in Drive or use the manual mode and paddles to better effect.
Left to its own devices it tries to rev the car to its rev limit.
If you plan and paddle upshift at the point where torque begins to drop off, i.e. around 3500 rpm keeping full throttle, you'll be more pleased...
Driven this way the TDi is actually very quick, DSG is awesome, and will surprise many more thoroughbred cars!
Have fun.
I did doubt the fastest way to drive a diesel was to have it up to the redline all the time! I shall have to give those paddles a proper try.
Cheers.
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