Audi A3 vs Mercedes Benz CLA

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autobild.de%2Fartikel%2Faudi-a3-limousine-mercedes-cla-test-4330495.html&sandbox=1



http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-a3-limousine-mercedes-cla-test-4330495.html

Autobild assessed that the Audi A3 Sedan (with comfort suspension) beat the Mercedes CLA (with sports suspension) on overall points -- even before the A3's 6,176 euros cheaper price was considered. "Audi has delivered very solid work" concluded Autobild.
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-a3-limousine-mercedes-cla-test-4330495.html

Autobild Video: Audi A3 Sedan vs Merc CLA
http://www.autobild.de/videos/video-cla-vs.-a3-limousine-4330303.html

The Audi A3/S3 sedan and cabrio (roadster) will be sold in North America next year. These Audis will be an alternative not just to the Mercedes CLA and BMW 1 and 2 series... but the A3/S3 will also be a smaller, lower cost alternative for the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class. The 300 HP Audi S3 sedan, for example, should be as fast as (or faster than) a BMW 335i sedan.

http://tinyurl.com/lzw2eju

http://tinyurl.com/lf5ysmc

UHHH NO. The BMW 335i xDrive with lesser traction inferior tires (225/45-18s vs 255/35-19s) matched the S4/S5 Quattro to 60 and then overtook it after that leading through 70 and 80 mph, all this while returning better fuel economy:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1309_2013_2014_luxury_sport_sedans/viewall.html

You might be crazy to think that the little 2L motor from the Audi S3 can match one of the best engines on the market. I take out the Audi in inclement weather though as the Quattro is better and also like the DCT transmission a lot, even though the BMW's is probably one of the best single clutch trannies on the market. The interiors of both cars are on par now with iDrive having the edge over MMI - still not used to how it moves the wrong way :/

Sincerely,
Happy owner of the BMW as well as the Audi

uhhhh, NOPE.

Autobild (largest German car mag) assessed the Audi A3 to be as good as (and an alternative to) the BMW 3 Series based on its comparison test of the A3 sedan (1.4 TFSI, 140HP) sedan and the BMW 316i (1.6L, 136 HP).
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-a3-limousine-bmw-3er-test-4249005.html

The A3 sedan also comes with a 1.8 TFSI (180 HP) engine, which is competitive with the 180 HP BMW 320i and 320i xDrive. And the S3 sedan comes with 2.0 TFSI (300 HP) which is competitive with the 306 HP BMW 335i and 335i xDrive.

Lamborghini_vs_Ferrari_Racer: "You might be crazy to think that the little 2L motor from the Audi S3 can match one of the best engines on the market."

Gosh, you are ignorant, outdated and living in the craziness of BMW fantasy land.

Not only can the S3 sedan match the 335i, it will be faster and more agile than the 335i in good weather.

Here are the acceleration test data for Audi S3 hatchback (6-speed manual transmission) and BMW 335i Sport Line (8-speed sutomatic transmission) and BMW 335i xDrive (8-speed sutomatic transmission) in seperate comparison tests done by Auto Motor und Sport German car mag. As everyone can see, the S3 manual is faster than the 335i automatic across the entire acceleration band -- even though the S3 is equipped with only manual transmission. And the S3 manual is as fast and then faster than the 335i xDrive automatic from 120 km/h -- even though the S3 is equipped with only manual transmission. The S3 dual clutch is likely to be faster than the 335i xDrive even below 120 km/h.
- First, the S3 with dual clutch transmission will be even faster than the S3 with manual transmission (given that Audi rates the S3 dual-clutch at 4.8 seconds to 100 km/h but the S3 manual at 5.2 seconds).
- Second, the S3 sedan dual-clutch will probably be only 0.1 to 0.2 seconds slower than the S3 hatchback dual-clutch (given that Audi rates its A3 1.8 TFSI sedan dual-clutch only 0.1 seconds slower to 100 km/h than its A3 1.8 TFSI hatchback dual-clutch). The S3 sedan and hatchback share the same engine.


Audi S3 hatchback (6-speed manual transmission) vs BMW 335i Sport Line (8-speed automatic transmission) vs BMW 335 i xDrive (8-speed manual):

Acceleration test (100 km/h = 62 mph; 160 km/h = 100 mph):
0-80 km/h: 3.7 s vs 3.9 s vs 3.5 s
0-100 km/h: 5.3 s vs 5.5 s vs 5.2 s
0-120 km/h: 7.0 s vs 7.4 s vs 7.0 s
0-130 km/h: 7.9 s vs 8.6 s vs 8.3 s
0-160 km/h: 11.9 s vs 12.7 s vs 12.6 s
0-180 km/h: 15.3 s vs 16.3 s vs 16.4 s
0-200 km/h: 19.9 s vs 21.0 s vs NA

0-100 km/h (manufacturer): 5.2 s vs 5.5 s vs 5 s

Top Speed ??(measured): 250 km/h vs 250 km/h vs 250 km/h

Test fuel consumption L/100 km: 9.6 vs 11.9 vs 12.0 (i.e., S3 requires less gasoline to reach 100 km than the 335i)

Audi S3 manual comparison test with BMW M135i xDrive
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s3-20-tfsi-gegen-bmw-m135i-x-drive-kompak

Audi S3 manual comparison test with BMW M135i xDrive
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s3-20-tfsi-gegen-bmw-m135i-x-drive-kompaktsport-mit-300-ps-und-allrad-6920391.html?show=3

New BMW 335i comparison test with facelifted Audi S4
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s4-3-0-tfsi-und-bmw-335i-lader-pfeifen-im-doppelpack-4631228.html?show=3

New BMW 335i xDrive comparison test with facelifted Audi S4
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s4-und-bmw-335i-x-drive-allradler-mit-maechtig-dampf-6334750.html?show=3

In the last link above, Auto Motor und Sport proves that the Audi S4 just goes faster and faster than the BMW 335i xDrive after 80 km/h. This makes sense since on every track that the new 335 has lapped, the Audi S4 has been faster -- even the S4 Avant wagon has been faster than the 335 sedan!
http://tinyurl.com/mx9omkf
http://tinyurl.com/kfo5ds7
http://tinyurl.com/mdzczja

You are misleading in your interpretation of the Motor Trend data. Your own MT acceleration data shows the BMW 335i xDrive did not "matched the S4/S5 Quattro to 60 and then overtook it after that leading through 70 and 80 mph". Your MT data showed the Audi S4 was faster than the 335i xDrive through most of the acceleration band. The S4 was faster before 60 mph (0-30, 0-40, 0-50), the same at 60, then slower (0-70, 0-80), then the S4 was faster at the high end (0-90). The BMW 335i xDrive does not have "inferior tires" -- its Bridgestone Potenza S001 ires are superior to the S4's ContisportContact 3 tires. furthermore that BMW test car came virtually fully loaded with ridiculous $16,000 of options to enhance its performance and luxury. Based on the Auto Motor und Sport comparo data, it's obvious the MT tester did not push the Audi S4 to its limits after 50 mph (he was probably intoxicated by the S4's creamy acceleration).

In any case the S4 and S3 are different cars with different engines, so comparing the S4 with the S3 is irrelevant.

This German car mag chose the S3 and S4 over the BMWs in all three tests.

Oops, I meant to say that the BMW 335i xDrive had 8-speed automatic transmission (not manual transmission as I wrote earlier).

Audi S3 hatchback (6-speed manual transmission) vs BMW 335i Sport Line (8-speed automatic transmission) vs BMW 335i xDrive (8-speed automatic transmission).

Acceleration test (100 km/h = 62 mph; 160 km/h = 100 mph):
0-80 km/h: 3.7 s vs 3.9 s vs 3.5 s
0-100 km/h: 5.3 s vs 5.5 s vs 5.2 s
0-120 km/h: 7.0 s vs 7.4 s vs 7.0 s
0-130 km/h: 7.9 s vs 8.6 s vs 8.3 s
0-160 km/h: 11.9 s vs 12.7 s vs 12.6 s
0-180 km/h: 15.3 s vs 16.3 s vs 16.4 s
0-200 km/h: 19.9 s vs 21.0 s vs NA

Bottom line, an Audi S3 with dual-clutch transmission will be faster to 100 km/h than an S3 with manual transmission. The data indicates that not only will the Audi S3 (with dual-clutch transmission) be as fast or faster to 100 km/h as the BMW 335i and 335i xDrive, the S3 dual-clutch will be even faster between 100 km/h to 200 km/h than both 335 cars. This S3 sedan will beat the 335 on a drag strip -- easily. The "little 2L motor from the Audi S3" not only can match the BMW 335's engine -- the S3's engine clearly is the better engine for the relative car size. Today, many of Audi's engines yield better real-world performance than comparable BMW engines -- yet most BMW fanboys don't realize this because they haven't kept up to date.

Audi S3 manual comparison test with BMW M135i xDrive
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s3-20-tfsi-gegen-bmw-m135i-x-drive-kompaktsport-mit-300-ps-und-allrad-6920391.html?show=3

New BMW 335i comparison test with facelifted Audi S4
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s4-3-0-tfsi-und-bmw-335i-lader-pfeifen-im-doppelpack-4631228.html?show=3

New BMW 335i xDrive comparison test with facelifted Audi S4
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/audi-s4-und-bmw-335i-x-drive-allradler-mit-maechtig-dampf-6334750.html?show=3

They are both only automatics (in the US), so WGASA.

Autozeitung car mag comparo: Audi A3 sedan (dual-clutch transmission) and Mercedes CLA (manual transmission)

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/audi-a3-limousine-1-4-tfsi-mercedes-cla-180-bilder-und-technische-daten-gn401387

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/audi-a3-limousine-1-4-tfsi-mercedes-cla-180-bilder-und-technische-daten-gn401387?page=0,1

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/audi-a3-limousine-1-4-tfsi-mercedes-cla-180-bilder-und-technische-daten-gn401387?page=0,2


Autozeitung's driving report of the Audi S3 hatchback (dual clutch 6 speed automatic transmission)
http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-fahrbericht/audi-s3-2013-bilder-und-technische-daten-gn-400095

Sport Auto car mag's test of the Audi S3 hatchback (6 speed manual transmission).
http://www.sportauto.de/einzeltests/audi-s3-im-test-wie-sportlich-kann-der-a3-sein-7053862.html

Video clip: Audi A3 sedan -- design and technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n74cIfcilnY

Audi A3 cabriolet caught without camouflage
http://indianautosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Audi-A3-Cabriolet-Spied.jpg

Audi A3 cabriolet tail-light.
http://img.autoplus.fr/news/2013/06/28/1472703/636%7C424%7C12e2dd527e1750c9d21d49d8.jpg

Audi S3 sedan testing on the Nurburgring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vYDA5Tdk8I

BMW M2 convertible testing on the Nurburgring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH-wWR66zKE

What will the next RS3 sedan be able to do when it is unveiled probably by 2014?

The current Audi S3 sedan will take about 4.9 seconds to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) with its 300 HP 2.0 TFSI engine and 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Stephan Reil, the chief of Audi's Quattro division, revealed that the next RS3 will be launched about a year after the S3, which was unveiled at the October 2012 Paris motor show. Reil said 'Let's just say you will be seeing MORE of the five-cylinder engine,' referring to the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine that has 340 HP on the TT RS and last RS3…. and 360 HP on the TT RS Plus. According to Car and Driver, the next RS3 could have a 400 HP version of this engine as well as Audi’s S tronic 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-audi-rs3-sedan-and-sportback-rendered-news

Audi rates the TT RS Plus coupe (with 360 HP version of the same engine) at 4.1 seconds to 100 km/h (62 mph). In a 2012 Autobild competition where four cars lapped six German race tracks, the Audi TT RS Plus Coupe was 25.7 seconds ahead of the BMW M3 Coupe with Competition Package when laptimes on all six racetracks were totaled – and the TT RS Plus finished ahead of the M3 CC on all six race tracks!
http://tinyurl.com/kyzf8ll
http://tinyurl.com/l7d3p3w
http://tinyurl.com/l8sozgl
http://tinyurl.com/kkh56oc
http://tinyurl.com/m55r66y
http://tinyurl.com/9smwvnk

Given this, it’s likely the next RS3 sedan and RS3 convertible with a 400 HP version of the same engine will be able to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 4 seconds. This next Audi RS3 sedan/convertible could be a BMW M3 and M4 killer – in other words, the new M4 concept being worshiped in the other blogs like it’s the Second Coming could be beaten by the next RS3 on the road and on the track.

So you're basically telling me the little inline 4 will make almost as much power as the 4.0 V8 Twin-Turbos from the S6/S7 and be the first mass production car to hit over 200 horsepower per liter. I will take that with a grain of salt.

Also, if I were living in the "craziness of BMW fantasy land" please tell me how do I own an Audi? Never said it is not a nice car, all I'm saying is my Inline-6 twin-turbo N54-engined BMW is faster and handles better compared to my V6 supercharged Audi.

I will most probably modify my Audi with an APR or Stasis tune/supercharger pulley upgrade, some exhaust and intakes to listen to that beautiful supercharger whine. Yes, Chris Harris did these mods on his S4 Avant to make it faster than the RS4/RS5.

"So you're basically telling me the little inline 4 will make almost as much power as the 4.0 V8 Twin-Turbos from the S6/S7 and be the first mass production car to hit over 200 horsepower per liter"

No, that's not what I said at all.

First, how can the S3's 2L engine (rated at 300 HP) hit over 200 HP per liter? (As for the future RS3, its turbocharged 2.5L in-line 5 cylinder engine is expected to hit around 400 HP... it already hits 360 HP in the TT RS Plus coupe).

Second, instead of assumptions, let's consider the real-world data. The respected Auto Motor und Sport (second largest car magazine in both Germany and also in Europe) has separately tested the acceleration of both the Audi S3 hatchback (manual transmission) and Audi S6 (7-speed dual-clutch transmission). So we do have a good idea of how the 1470 kg S3's turbo in-line 4 cylinder performs against the 1959 kg S6's twin-turbo V8 engine.

Acceleration test S3 manual vs S6 dual clutch (100 km/h = 62 mph; 160 km/h = 100 mph):
0-80 km/h: 3.7 s vs 3.1 s
0-100 km/h: 5.3 s vs 4.4 s
0-120 km/h: 7.0 s vs 5.9s
0-130 km/h: 7.9 s vs 6.8s
0-160 km/h: 11.9 s vs 10.0 s
0-180 km/h: 15.3 s vs 12.5 s
0-200 km/h: 19.9 s vs 15.7 s

Audi's claims on 0-100 km/h: S3 manual: 5.2 s** vs S6 dual clutch: 4.8 s
**Audi rates its S3 dual-clutch at 4.8 s (the S3's dual clutch will probably be faster than the S3 manual before 180 km/h).

Even though Audi rates both the S3 dual clutch and S6 dual clutch at both 4.8 sec to 100 km/h, many real world tests have shown the S6 to be significantly faster to 100 km/h than Audi's claims of 4.8 sec.

Audi S3 (manual) comparison test with BMW M135i xDrive
http://tinyurl.com/ns4myms

Audi S6 (dual clutch) test
http://tinyurl.com/m8pf2lb

"my Inline-6 twin-turbo N54-engined BMW is faster and handles better compared to my V6 supercharged Audi."

On the same day in September/October 2010, I test drove the 2010 BMW 335i (previous gen E90, should be N54 engine) and Audi S4 (before facelift). I found the S4 (with sport differential) to be faster and better handling than the 335i (though I preferred the 335's sound to the S4).

My opinion is supported by the following tests:

MotorTrend's first head-to-head comparision test in June 2012: Audi S4 versus the new BMW 335i. The video is revealing because it is a PRE-facelifted S4 with manual transmission and 18" wheels... while the 335i is rear-wheel-drive (current F30 generation).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Nr3YrHMuLgw

In 2009, Auto Motor und Sport tested the Audi S4 (pre-facelifted) and 335i (previous-gen) -- both manual transmission. The acceleration data proves that the 2009 S4 was faster than the 2009 335i across the acceleration band (see first link). AMuS also found that, overall, the S4 was the better handling car.
http://tinyurl.com/krrgfs3
http://tinyurl.com/lb2eag6
http://tinyurl.com/lqv5hsg

Two other AMuS comparison tests in 2012 and 2013 again showed that the S4 was faster than the 335i and 335i xDrive (both are current generation). The S4 won all three comparison tests by different testers.
http://tinyurl.com/kmvxqv6

http://tinyurl.com/nc5dfaz

Good luck with your mods. You might want to consider changing the tires as well, depending on what tires you have now.

Yes, I will be changing the wheels and tires as well. Either BBS or HREs 19s for wheels fitted with 265s, 275s will work with the right offset unfortunately nothing larger. My BMW runs 275s on 19s or 20s no problem.

For what it's worth, here are some tire tests done on 18s. Sport Auto's tire test recommendations tend to be good for sporty cars -- if the tires are available here (Europe usually gets the new tires first)

Sportauto (225/40 R18 -- 2013 test)

Sehr empfehlenswert (highly recommended):
- Dunlop SportMaxx RT (225 of 250 points)
- Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (222 points)
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 (219 points)

Empfehlenswert (recommended)
- Continental Sport Contact 5 (218 points)
- Nokian Z line (217 points)
- Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 (216 points)
- Pirelli P Zero (213 points)
- Bridgestone Potenza S 001 (207 points)
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti (203 points)

http://www.sportauto.de/bilder/sommerreifen-test-der-groesse-225-40-r18-von-zehn-reifen-macht-einer-schlapp-6802402.html

http://www.sportauto.de/testbericht/sommerreifen-test-der-groesse-225-40-r18-von-zehn-reifen-macht-einer-schlapp-6802402.html

Tire & Wheel for the Audi TT RS (2012)
http://www.sportauto.de/einzeltests/rad-reifen-kombinationen-fuer-den-audi-tt-rs-welcher-komplettradsatz-ist-am-besten-5216065.html

http://www.sportauto.de/testbericht/komplettradsaetze-fuer-den-audi-tt-rs-options-reifen-im-naessetest-5038171.html

Sports tire test 235/35 and 305/30 R19 (2012)

http://www.sportauto.de/testbericht/sportreifen-test-235-35-und-305-30-r19-fuenf-griffige-alternativen-fuer-den-elfer-5305949.html

235/35 R19 (2012)

http://www.sportauto.de/testbericht/sommerreifen-test-2012-neun-reifen-der-groesse-235-35-r19-im-test-4628059.html

As a secondary sources of tire tests, ADAC and Autobild...

ADAC (225/45 R 17 W/Y)

- Continental ContiSportContact 5
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2m
- Dunlop Sport Maxx RT
- Michelin Pilot Sport 3
- Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
- Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117
- Semperit Speed-Life
http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/tests/reifen/sommerreifen/2013_Sommerreifen_Test_225_45_R17.aspx


Autobild (225/35 R18):

vorbildlich (exemplary)
- Continental Sport Contact 5
- Pirelli P Zero Nero
- Nexen N 8000

empfehlenswert (recommended)
- Bridgestone Potenza S001
- Toyo Proxes T1 Sport

http://www.autobild.de/bilder/im-test-sommerreifen-fuer-sportliche-kompakte-3906477.html

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/sommerreifen-test-2013-225-35-r-18-3905865.html

I still say BMW, Audi and Mercedes all have their strengths and weaknesses.
We, as car enthusiasts, love all good cars and don't hate certain cars like fanboys but no idea why all your posts talk down BMWs all the time. Sure, some BMW drivers are douchey but not all.
I'm seeing a lot more Dbag driven Audis nowadays tbh.

Just to be consistent, you should now apply your same standards to other posters who talk down Audi without basis in facts.
As I've shown in my replies to your posts, it's one thing to have an unsubstantiated opinion... but it's quite another to have an opinion substantiated by credible facts. I usually comment only when there are credible facts to back it up -- often times to correct ignorant views that aim to put down one car in order to elevate another.

"One does not have to become a criminal in order to tackle criminals".
If other people talk down Audi, let them. You don't have to hate on BMW for that. An educated buyer will know which car suits him the best, plain and simple.