driver-x

Hi, please give me your comments and touhgs on this.
I'm about to buy my new car and have 2 options:

VW GTI 1.8T
Audi A3 1.8T (150hp version)

I test drove both cars and think both are great and fast. I also like the look and styling of both cars. Since they were new cars at the dealer I didn't push them too hard but I felt the GTI to be a little bit quicker and with more power kicking-in in from the start.

I live in Guatemala (the little country located south Mexico, in Latin America), so here are the main differences between the available models here:

Audi A3:
- climatronic
- bose sound system
- 'check' computer (for car diagnostics)
- no trip computer
- no foglamps
- no sunroof
- steering wheel height adjustable

VW GTI
- no climatronic, just air conditioning
- no sound system (dealer installs an in-dash CD player from pionner)
- no check computer
- trip computer
- foglamps
- sunroof (with the rotary-dial type control)
- recaro seats
- steering wheel height and distance adjustable

For the rest both cars are practically the same.

For the price let's just say that with all the financing stuff both cars will cost me the same over a 36 months period, so price is not an issue.

My main concern is to have the fastest car (I will drop a chip in as the first mod), so I will like to take the car that give me the more power and acceleration.

Give me your advice here, please.

Also, did anyone have experiences racing a GTI 1.8T with your A3?
Did you win?

Thanks in advanced and regards.

Wando

the A3 is 0.6sec quicker 0-60, probably due to the fact that it's lighter than the Golf! come on wake up you've got the choice, why settle for an out of date beastie boys necklace, when you can have four rings.
<font color="dark grey" size="4"<B><i>John Robins </i></B></font><font color="Black" size="1"<B><i>Volcano Black Pearlescent</i></B></font><font color="blue" size="4"<B><i> A3 1.8</i></B></font><font color="dark grey" size="4"<B><i> T</i></B></font>
<font color="silver" size="1"<i>climate control,heated seats,Onyx Leather interior,headlamp washers,
electric sunroof,BOSE,CD multichanger,auto dipping mirror,
AMD chip,J&R panel filter,193.6hp,231.6lbft.</i></font>

audidudi

A3 lighter, a little bit more dash.
Golf looks like a shed, A3 stylish and elegant.


Regards


99' Black S3

AL B

Hi,

A difficult choice to make really.

In terms of which car is fastest, there isn't a lot of difference really.

If you believe the manufacturers figures, the A31.8T reaches 60mph in 8.1s, the Golf1.8T in 8.5s. Now these cars have exactly the same engine, but the Golf <B>is</B> the heavier car. So really, the A3 should always be the <B>slightly</B> quicker car. The question is, do you think you could notice a difference of 0.4s to 60mph? I personally don't think I could notice such a difference.

If you believe car magazines, quite a few have the A3 listed as 7.7s to 60mph, and the Golf still at 8.5s. But two enthusiast publications list the cars as being very close indeed. <B><I>Audi Driver</I></B> lists the A3 as 7.3s to 60mph, and <B><I>Volkswagen Audi Car</I></B> lists the Golf as 7.4s.

In terms of standard equipment, looking at your lists, then for me it looks like the Golf would come out tops. In the UK the cars are more closely matched. I'm surprised at the last item on your A3 list. Here in the UK the steering is both height and reach adjustable. Plus we get the trip computer, and fog lights as standard on the A3 1.8T Sport.

In terms of chipping, I obviously don't know how many companies do this in your country. But a lot of US companies chip Golf1.8T's and so should be able to chip an A31.8T. So you should be OK which ever car you decide to have.

Personally, I picked the A3 because I thought the car was nicer looking than the MkIV Golf, rarer, quicker (according to car magazines) and has sportier/harder suspension.

How this helps you a little.

Regards,

Alan.

<IMG SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/audia32.jpg" WIDTH=200 HEIGT=123 ALIGN=left ALT="99.5 Audi A3 1.8TS">

driver-x

Since I'm very interested in performance, I'm curious about the chips
you have out there in Europe (since the A3 is not sold in the U.S.).

For the GTI 1.8T I will like to get the Garret chip, which has showed some
impressive dyno-charts with 193hp. and 238 lbs/ft. I'm very impressed with
the torque figures mainly.

Garret offers the same chip for the A3 but looks to me that he doesn't
have the experience, since he haven't tested it yet on the A3.

Could you give me some feedback on chips and performance figures
for the A3, so I'll be able to compare to the GTI?

Thanks for your kind support.

Jorge Valdes

According to Automobil Panamericano mag. The Official figures for the VW 1.8t engine in both the turbo beetle and the jetta (1.8t golf not available yet in Mexico) is 147 hp, and a reported 167hp on the dyno. And the A3 has an official 150hp , but i have not seen any reports on how it turns out on the dyno.
The reason they give for this is marketing. To give a little edge to the audi engines.

Also the suspension is supposed to have a sportier setup on the Audis but I am not aware if this is the case in the A3 Attraction (which I suppose is the one you are reffering to).

I am not sure if this is the case only for Mexico or if it applies elswhere, but I hope this info is a bit of help.

gram

Has the extra weight in the GTI gone to more strength or greater structural integrity, do you know? Perhaps there are lighter suspension components in the A3? Cheers

USA34ME

Check the hottest chip co in the US... goapr.com.

Joe Harri

I had the same choice to make 2 months ago.
Here in South Africa the price and specs of the
A3 1.8T and GTI 1.8T is pretty similar.
The choice wasn't very difficult once I saw both
cars in person. I just fell in love with the Audi.
I don't think u can make a choice by looking at
performance because the difference is sub second.
I chose the Audi because when I saw it,drove it,felt it I knew I had fallen in love.

Joe A3 1.8 T (Volcano Black Plearscent)

Marc F.

Hi,

both cars were compared in many german car magazines.
Last year the magazine "sport auto" compared the
actual GTI-class cars. The A3 and the Golf, both
with the 1.8 T 150hp engine were tested.
The A3 1.8t was about 2 seconds faster than the Golf on the
short circuit on Hockenheim.
The A3 had not only the better acceleration but also
the better brakes. The tires on both cars were
identical (205/55 16) and the Golf was about 64 kgs
heavier than the A3.

The Golf GTI is losing in Germany more and more its
sports car image. By the way - here in Germany you
see many many Golfs, even GTI (TDI or 1.8 T), driven
by people at the age of my grandpa.
Often they are hammering at 110km/h on the right driving lane (yes with 150hp!!!).
I have never seen a A3 1.8 T on the highway driving
slow (OK - maybe in traffic jams).
The Golf is the car for everyone, the A3 for people who like to drive fast and hard.

Bye,

Marcus