New Cars, aka why I hate the US auto market...

[DRKWNG]

I was just looking over the new Audi line up and I saw that you cannot get any A3s with Quattro and a manual transmission, or even a manual in the new diesel model.

Then on to the A4 avant, and what do you find?  No manual option at all!!  WTF?

[zzilla]

You can only get the tiptronic option, if memory serves me correctly. "it's just like a manual" or so on of my co workers thinks.......

[eltristo]

Yeah, I had been looking into the A3 at one point, but the whole "diesel only comes with an automatic" thing brought anger and sadness.  poop on them.  That's ok, though, cause I have it from a reliable source that cocks now drive audis.   

[DRKWNG]

Top Gear?

And on a different note; daddy like!

http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/vortex_news/article_2694.shtml

[teddy037.2]

^that's hot


I think manual has been slowly dying off the past few years... makes me feel kinda lucky I got a 6-speed in mine ^_^

hell, or even the hatch, since they dropped it from the US market halfway through my MY

[Brutale]

Yeah, I had been looking into the A3 at one point, but the whole "diesel only comes with an automatic" thing brought anger and sadness.  poop on them.  That's ok, though, cause I have it from a reliable source that cocks now drive audis.   

Yeah, but  Im a HUGE cock!! 

[DRKWNG]

Manual gear boxes are only really dying off in the US market, as they are still available a'plenty in the old world.  The really ironic bit is the fact that it was the "lazy US market" that raised holy hell when BMW did not initially plan a manual in the current M5/6 design.

[ducatiz]

Audi is dipping its toe in the TDI/diesel market.  They don't want to dump a bunch of models and then get stuck selling them off cheapo.  The VW TDI enthusiasts aren't always going to be willing to choke up another 5-10 grand for the Audi marque. 

If the A3 TDI sells well, expect a 6 speed and DSG model later. 

I'd like to see the A3 3-door in the USA -- it would compete with the Volvo C30 which is a pregnant dogin' little car (yes, I said pregnant dogin')..

I'd really like to see Volvo bring their D5 over, but I've gotten the big "not in our lifetime" response from volvo USA.  Great cars, rented an S70 D5 while in Europe for a while -- 40+ mpg consistently. 

[DRKWNG]

Yep.  I spent quite a while behind the wheel of a 1.9TDI A4 estate while in the UK.  That car was amazing, and that was back in 2000! 

[Speed 3 Pilot]

I'd like to see the A3 3-door in the USA --

It's here with gasoline powered engines (my son has one)...but I don't think it's selling well, at least not in Hawaii...

[ducatiz]

It's here with gasoline powered engines (my son has one)...but I don't think it's selling well, at least not in Hawaii...

that's very weird, it's not on their USA site at all -- my understanding was that they didn't want the competition with the VW Gti

[DRKWNG]

Yea, I only recall seeing the A3 sportback, five door.

[Speed 3 Pilot]

Yea, I only recall seeing the A3 sportback, five door.

Old man's brain fart, my son has a 5 door...

[Raux]

have you checked the military sales program for Audi. you can come to europe TDY and order it!

[DRKWNG]

have you checked the military sales program for Audi. you can come to europe TDY and order it!

Yea, but you can still only order US spec cars.  So no diesel with manual.  No S3 either.