Test drive Audi A3 1996 - 2003 hatchback

Image and essence

At first it seemed that in this test everything was already in advance in their places. Still: 2-liter Alfa Romeo 147 with a manual mechanical gearbox and Audi A3 with a 1.8-liter engine and automatic transmission. The epigraph was even prepared: ... they agreed. The wave and stone, poems and prose, ice and flame ... However, along the way it turned out that with the conclusions and the epigraph we hurried somewhat ...
The anticipating questions that this pair can cause, say that an opponent for Alfa Romeo 147 (all the wrong fiat!) We selected among the so-called Premium Brands, prestigious brands. And, of course, they immediately rested on the Audi A3, since there are no other prestigious representatives in the C segment, in general, and in general. But what modification to choose? After all, there is no 2-liter motor in the range of Audi A3. There is a hopeless 1.8 with a capacity of 125 hp. and 1.8 turbo with a capacity of 150 or 180 hp The 150-horsepower turbo engine is suitable for power, but even the basic price of A3 with such an engine is high (A 27 800), and in passport characteristics (primarily dynamics) it leaves the 147th no chance. And we decided to dwell on a hopeless 1.8-liter engine. Of course, in this version, A3 is inferior to Alfa Romeo in dynamics, but not catastrophically. And the price here is close. And then it turned out that at the time of the test in Moscow there was no 1.8-liter A3 with mechanics! I had to take a car with an automatic transmission. Of course, we immediately lost direct comparison on accelerated dynamics. But a certain parity was achieved at the price: A3 was 1000 euros more expensive, which approximately corresponds to the additional cost determined by the presence of an automatic machine.
 
The three-door ALFA Romeo 147 hatchback with a 2-liter 150-horsepower engine and a manual mechanical gearbox in a rather rich standard Russian configuration (there is even a two-zone climate control) cost a 22,500. Plus: the upholstery of the salon (A 1122), branded company. alarm with the volume sensor (A 226), control of the radio on the steering wheel (A 205); The grid in the trunk, the third headrest, the central seat belt and the hinged armrest of the rear (the entire package a 198), the Hi-Fi audio system Bose (A 825) and the CD changer (A 330). And also an incomprehensible replacement for us standard 16-inch wheels with tires 205/55 R 16 for 15-inch, shod in 195/65 R 15, apparently more comfortable (A 328). Total A 25 734. The initial price of the Audi A3 with mechanics A 23 280, with an automaton A 24 790, and here you can’t call the basic package very poor either. The car that we got, was performed by Bosco Sport and was packed very seriously under 28 thousand euros. But thanks to a discount, it can be purchased for A 26 800.

Poetry and prose
Nevertheless, we will return to the immortal Pushkin lines for a while. Because you can write a poem about the design of Alfa Romeo, and the Audi A3 in this sense once again makes you remember your favorite German proverb about Ordnung. All this applies to the interior: sitting behind the wheel of Alfa Romeo, it is impossible to remain indifferent, Audi, on the contrary, strict, solid and cold.
Of course, any red car attracts attention, but Alfa in red looks just amazing. But watching the reaction of others, you find that they are divided into two categories: to those who do not know what Alfa Romeo is, and those who know. The former react quite calmly simply as a beautiful foreign car, which is distinguished by an unusual appearance against the background of rational products of German and Japanese companies, which our compatriots give a clear preference. Those who periodically open automobile newspapers and magazines can be distinguished immediately: they stop, fuel their companions (look, look more!) And escort the car with a look full of admiration. Especially if it flashes past with overclocking the corporate alpha sound of the motor costs a lot. It is clear that the Audi A3, even an electric bright blue color, is not awarded the tenth of such honors. But you do not admire from the outside, you will ride. And therefore, sometimes it is worth resisting exalted emotions, for they do not contribute to the objective perception of reality.

Practice of relativity
If you manage to at least temporarily get out of romantic numbness, immediately proceed to a thorough study of the quality of manufacture Alfa Romeo. In our experience, this assessment will largely depend on your approach. If you proceed from the not-so-long alpha-fiatov past, then you will be amazed at what a significant step took the first and only Italian car circulation in terms of the quality of manufacturing compact cars. If you are well acquainted with the products of German and Japanese, then your picky look will surely find what to catch on: a slightly uneven gap, an almost inaccurate joint, a slightly rude processing of a weld or edge of a plastic part, an almost sloppy edge of the carpet, which does not reach the wall in the wall in the wall The trunk ... And we advise starting with Alfa Romeo because it is a waste of time to do the same in Audi: everything is boring, right and dreary-ideal. Looking ahead, let's say that a trial trip does not make any changes to the emotional picture: the 147th interior is met with optimistic creaking and rustling of individual panels, and the Audi interior is sullenly silent even on a strongly broken road.
However, this is not the true happiness of a real motorist. Therefore, we present a brief report on the advantages and disadvantages of internal-saline spaces in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding and not very corresponding illustrations (see signatures) and move on to the most important part of our test.
 

Everyone on their own
Alas, the alignment of the motor-transmission forces of rivals does not allow them to bring them in a full-time dynamic duel. Therefore, about each separately. Real decoration Alfa Romeo Motor. Of course, he pulls well on the bottom, allowing him to calmly lead the car in the city stream. But is this his real life? Here you have free space, the second and ... what a sound! What a dispersal! The tachometer arrow instantly flies through the scale to the red zone, for a moment returns to four thousand and rushes up again under the inspired high -tonal song, which you can listen to it endlessly. The stream neighbors seemed to exist to exist that Alfa is half a ton of their mass. The rainbow picture is somewhat overshadowed by the mechanism of selection of programs, the clarity of which clearly does not correspond to the sports image. And, quite a bit, the slowness of the operation of the synchronizers, especially noticeable when switching down (leaning significantly improves the process). In principle, the clutch also has a reserve for improvement, but here you can at least get used to the fact that the entire reverse course of the pedal must be carried out smoothly (otherwise fluctuations arise).
The 1.8-liter Audi A3 motor is also very good. Perhaps it will not please the sound (when accelerating reminiscent of the veteran of domestic AN-24 Airlines), but a stable high moment in the range from 2000 to 5000 rpm, without a doubt, its strength. Not the latest automatic transmission noticeably reduces agility to the car (+2 seconds when accelerating 0 100 km/h), but it is difficult to make a claim to its work: the choice of transmission always corresponds to the situation, switching is noticeable only by the tone of the motor and the position of the tachometer arrows. And only in one case if you were driving quite slowly, and then suddenly decided to accelerate the box, the box answers Kick-Down with a delay and a jerk. As for the protracted descents and other situations requiring braking by the engine, the machine will not be advanced in this: here you will have to give a concrete instruction by a lever, which, however, will be made accurately and with maximum efficiency. The only thing that combines two cars in terms of longitudinal dynamics is magnificent brakes. The word magnificent comments does not require.

About how many wonderful discoveries are we ...
It would seem that the image of the brand Alfa Romeo should imply sharp reactions in sports, even the nervousness of the car is possible. But no, although the steering mechanism itself has a firmly fast mechanism (from the emphasis to the stops of a little more than two revolutions), the reaction of the car cannot be called very sharp to the rotation of the steering wheel, he reacts smoothly and ... with roll! Actually, for the average ordinary consumer, this is just normal, the worse is that the reactive force on the steering wheel is small and adequately increasing from the steepness. After Alfa Romeo, the Audi steering wheel, which is with a solid force, even seems tight. But although it must be turned on large corners and the car in the bend is also tapping within reasonable limits, you feel somewhat more confident here. And the smoothness of accurate reactions only contributes to this confidence. And one more thing: if both cars are very stable on the flat road up to the highest speeds, then on uneven asphalt Alfa, sometimes grazes in front of the potholes, forcing to focus. In general, you understand Audi well at the wheel of Audi, in the rest of the colleagues is so popular with the expression of Ingolstadt express.
With generally good smoothness, both cars notice rigid irregularities well, and individuals have to go around or overcome, speeding speed in order to avoid breakdown, which Audi more often happens during the compression, and the 147th during the end of the end. And vibrations from small irregularities are more given strongly on the steering wheel and body of Alfa Romeo. By the way, an interesting observation: according to the general sensations (not only from the dynamics) it may seem that Alfa Romeo is easier than Audi almost half a ton, although in fact their masses are almost equal! Regarding the discoveries made during the opening test, one experienced colleague noted that flirting was one, a completely different marriage. So think after that what to choose the passion of incendiary, but frivolous and slightly careless Alfa Romeo or confidence and the practicality of the rational Audi A3 ...
 
Text Dmitry Filonov
Photo Alexander Nozdrin
How do they look:
Nikita Rozanov
 
 
OUTSIDE:
Of course, from the point of view of the severity of the style (which often determines the success of the three -door hatchback), the battle turned out to be unequal. This is especially noticeable if you put competing cars slightly deploying on the viewer in three quarters in front, turn on the neighbor and turn the wheels so that the sunlight only glitters a little on the very edge of the cast disk ... Yes, from this angle Alfa is still according to the angle -That, on the first attempt, falls off the feet of any competitor. However, the advantages of Italian are obvious not only in the staged frame. Take a look at the car in ANFAS: with what fury the designers defend the brand breed: even the sign of the state registration of the European Union is pushed aside! Well, what about Audi? Of course, this is primarily impeccable quality and number in the car, as it should be in the center. But today, some of the consumers (and even old customers) from this may furtively even yawn what you can do, time! But with what skill and firmness the inviolability of the foundations and the style of the Audi family are affirmed. Look, because the face of the flagship A8 is almost the same!
Silhouette. Here again Alfa is ahead. Her nasolated profile is more integral and proportional, and this despite the fact that in the gamut of the bodies there is a five -door version with an unlucking attraction called who is the first to find the rear door handle. Audi also has a five -door version, and, I note, with the best proportions than a three -door that, in comparison with it, seems to be a thoroughbred legal tail with an unsuccessfully stopped tail. Although, I repent, this is already from the category of subjective. Behind both at night and ALFA in the afternoon, it is accurately recognized by the slanting stroke of the lanterns and the V-shaped alkaline of the lower edge of the window, which may well be salted to fans of the A4 style of a brief Victory!.
Results:
Alfa Romeo 147 is acute, whole and Italian emotionally. The style has every chance of becoming a long -liver, and the car itself over time may well get into the category of classics of the design of our time.
Audi A3 Almost impeccable design correctness sometimes looks too correct and even moralizing. However, this manifests itself only in comparison, for example, when Alfa Romeo 147 stands nearby.
INSIDE:
Everything is extremely organic. Inside, both Alfa and Audi very professionally develop the stylistic keys found in the external appearance. So the family and very characteristic nose of Alfa has a kind of understudy inside. This is a canonical for many generations of this brand a symbiosis of a combination of devices and steering wheel, where the speedometer and tachometer are maximally spaced from each other and are enclosed in deep and accented by brilliant rims wells. I’ll keep silent about the steering wheel, because it is so beautiful that it can be exhibited separately from the car or take it home for the night and admire it before bedtime. In Audi, everything is simpler and closer to the people. Even a combination of devices, like VW Golf. But! The common spirit and even style are associated with more expensive models of the family, which is why A3 receives a kind of head start in front of any other classmate. The championship in finishing materials traditionally remains with the Germans, and even the 147th not save the inserts of silver metal on the doors and the central console and the variety of textures of plastic and fabric. Compared to A3, the ALFA decoration is perceived by something similar to the design of a one-time lighter is practical, and due to the variety of coatings, color and textures, stylishly and almost always fashionable.
Results:
Alfa Romeo 147 is bright, emotionally, but on the verge of dangerous decorativeness, which in some places comes into conflict with a function and utilitarian purpose. For example, this variegation prevents readings from the instrumentation.
Audi A3, as always for this company, is whole and extremely high quality. But, like outside, the design sometimes bothers its importunity due to addiction to order and organization. A little mischief, at least in details ...

 

Source: Cars