Autoweek Readers Choose Audi A3 And A8 L As Best In Category

AutoWeek magazine just released the results of their 16th annual “Readers Choice Awards”. The Audi A3 and A8 L were chosen by the participants as the top choice in their respective categories. The A3 took top honors in the “Best Economy Car” category, while the A8 L won the “Best Luxury Car” category. The award winners were named after a six-week online poll conducted by AutoWeek magazine.

The A3 is Audi’s entrant in the premium compact class, starting at $25,340. It is available with a 200 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection, or a 250 hp 3.2-liter narrow-angle V6 with Audi’s revolutionary S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.

The A8 model line received new powertrains for the 2007 line-up. The 2007 S8 features a direct gasoline injected V10 FSI engine producing 450 hp, and can sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. A8 and A8 L models also get direct injection for their 4.2-liter V8 engines which now produce 350 hp. The A8 L W12 has a 450 hp 6.0-liter W12 engine. All A8/S8 models come standard with quattro all-wheel drive.



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BMW530i - 11/9/2006 2:39:04 PM

+3 Boost

Who reads Autoweek???

Autoegr525 - 11/9/2006 8:20:14 PM

+2 Boost

^ Do you seriously own an E34? I've got a 95 525i

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 2:40:50 PM

-6 Boost

Bravo, yet another victory for the Audi A3 and Audi A8.

matt635 - 11/10/2006 5:53:19 AM

0 Boost

Yep Bravo, yet another victory for the 3 series and the 6 series (Best Sedan and / Best Coupe/Convertible)

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 2:45:51 PM

-4 Boost

Best Luxury Car — Audi A8L
For our tastes, the word “luxury” is used too often on unworthy objects. Granted, it means different things to different people, but when you have true luxury, you innately understand its embrace, you know its value and its qualification. Climb inside this winner and there is no confusion about what makes a world-class luxury car.

A 4 year old Audi A8 that is still winning awards against brand new competition from Mercedes-Benz.

These VW boys will surely conjure up a faultless package in 2009 with the next A8.

Homer008 - 11/9/2006 4:17:28 PM

+2 Boost

Merry Christmas, GermanNutJob.

Audi lost 2 billion bucks from 03-05 in the U.S.:)

redneck sheepdog

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 10:02:13 PM

-2 Boost

And Audi is also the most profitable company in the VW Group- surpassing Lexus profits by about 7 to 1 worldwide... Happy Thanksgiving.

1970toyotamarc - 11/9/2006 2:53:21 PM

+3 Boost

Does the A3 have any competitors in its class, which Agent009 calls premium compact?

I read the article online, and the actual award says best economy car (which at 25-30,000 it clearly is not), which would indicate it is competing with Corollas, Jettas, Minis, Aveos and Civics. (But then Civic was placed in a different category altogether.) This is one of the worst examples of magazine awards. And that is not to detract from the worthiness of the winners, just to point out that the competition (?) itself is ridiculous.

AmazingBimmer - 11/9/2006 4:44:38 PM

+1 Boost

is autoweek a regional publication in Kansas? We dont get it here in new york. Audi must a popular brand in kansas.

mstangpny07 - 11/9/2006 4:45:44 PM

+3 Boost

Repeat Post!!!!!!!!! And Misleading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is the real article
http://www.autospies.com/news/AutoWeek-Readers-Choice-Awards-9691/


Shame on you 009! I have lost my respect for you for just focusing on Audi.


BMW had two winners! No mention about them?

Ford and Chevrolet not good enough for you? Well they each had a winner!

Agent009 - 11/10/2006 1:00:17 PM

+1 Boost

My posts come from all over. Japanese information (IE: Lexus) tends to be very scarce compared to everyone else, the Japanese as a group are very secretive.

So a lot of time you see a spurt of German posts due to the fact they "leak" information at predetermined intervals to keep the speculation up.

In this case the heading was directly from the Audi Press site,hence the Audi spin on it. Lexus typically won't acknowledge anything of this nature for a week or two, if ever since other brands are also mentioned. It seems they don’t enjoy acknowledging awards where there are multiple winners unless they are all won by Toyota/Lexus, it just seems to be an unwritten rule.

It is just an observation over the last 15 years.

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 4:46:31 PM

-6 Boost

Merry Christmas, nicehomer, Audi's financial situation has no bearing on the quality of their cars.

Well the bottom line is wherever Autoweek may come from, people appreciate Audi, AmazingBimmer.

These awards prove it.

You can bash the magazine, but in the end Audi still walks away with two awards.

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 4:50:21 PM

-5 Boost

Two words for you BMW boys.

Audi R10

iown1 - 11/9/2006 5:18:19 PM

+1 Boost

We have Autoweek in New York. AmazingBimmer must have trouble reading. (It's nothing to be ashamed of. There are many people with difficulty reading. Fortunately there is help.) This does explain a lot of his misguided statements about Audi. He simply can't do the research.

AmazingBimmer - 11/9/2006 5:57:03 PM

+1 Boost

Is this Binghampton or BumF*ck NY?. It is probably the 100th largest circulation here in NYC. But, Iown.. enjoy reading your 4 page leaflet!. what a joke. quick question...do you hail from Kansas?

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 6:08:10 PM

-3 Boost

Even if the article came from Kansas, AmazingBimmer can't accept the fact that the Audi A8 was the best luxury sedan, ahead of the BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class.

Doing so would only make him deflate his BMW ego, which would never happen.

AmazingBimmer also doesn't do enough research otherwise he would see that the Audi A8 has defeated the BMW 7-series in more comparison tests than the BMW 7-series has defeated the Audi A8.

Now some BMW supporter will say Audi is a company that is losing money in the United States to try and counter the claim that the Audi A8 has defeated the BMW 7-series in more comparison tests than the 7-series has defeated the A8, even though those statistics would have no connection to the initial fact.

iown1 - 11/9/2006 6:18:42 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry. Apt. on 5th. Next...

AmazingBimmer - 11/9/2006 6:22:39 PM

0 Boost

hey, columbus circle. drive up in your audi.. what color/ model/ yr/?

AmazingBimmer - 11/9/2006 6:23:19 PM

0 Boost

nut... one word.. irrelevant.
like your posts.

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 6:28:13 PM

+1 Boost

AmazingBimmer do you like the Audi R8?

AmazingBimmer - 11/9/2006 6:51:03 PM

0 Boost

i do like the r8, inspite of my rants. i actually enquired at an audi dealership (sacrilage!) about availability.. he was clueless

iown1 - 11/9/2006 8:04:05 PM

+1 Boost

Truce. Same thing happened to me the first time I enquired. Happened again when I asked about the Audi Exclusive Interior Package in the A8. You'ld think they would know about an $11,500.00 option.

Anyway Amazing Bimmer, it's an 04 Oyster Grey A8L. There are alot more A8's in NYC than before. Still can't sompare to the number of S-class or 7's though.
I have it for about 6 more months. Still haven't decided on the next one. The R8 is out. I just can't. It's not practicle. Now I've got a short list of the S8, the CL or the Quattroport. I would love to hear what people have to say about these three. But please, no brand bashing. They're all great cars. I'ld just like to hear what some of you think the pros and cons are. And I'll save many of you the trouble. I know the S8 doesn't have the cache of the other two. It's unimportant to me so please don't bother trying to degrade Audi. After all, iown1.

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 10:05:07 PM

-1 Boost

I'm sorry, I just cringe.

"Pratical."

"Quattroporte."

"Cachet."

And, I posted this article before, IN ITS ENTIRETY... with all of the winners- A8 and A3 included.

GermanNut - 11/9/2006 9:28:08 PM

-1 Boost

S8 has the cachet. How can a $92,000 car such as the S8 not have the cachet of a $86,000 Mercedes S550?

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 10:07:04 PM

-1 Boost

I am REALLY getting sick of your ultra-repetitive posts.

All you talk about are the Nürburgring, and how the R8 will cost over $120,000 and the V10 will be faster than any BMW/Mercedes ever produced... I'll give you the Nürburgring, but you don't know how much the R8 costs, and the V10 isn't even confirmed (though it obviously will come out).

I know you're defending Audi against the BMW-philes, but I hear the same rambling day after day... give it a rest.

chewy - 11/9/2006 10:12:27 PM

0 Boost

Good news. Some just choose to ignore.

nybimmer - 11/9/2006 10:14:24 PM

+1 Boost

Hey iown1..
Congratulations on your A8. I have an s430 and a BMW; I've admired the a8's - there do seem to be a lot in NYC.

You bought an A8, the smart way, used...after the rock-like depreciation has occurred. What'd you pay for your's, about $40 or so? Did you get the CPO? You might need the warranty.

Enjoy!

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 10:35:07 PM

0 Boost

Uhh, I think he got it new- on a lease.

He's getting a new car soon.

I can see why you'd think he bought it used though...

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 10:36:21 PM

0 Boost

And- does the S430 have ample power?

The wife wants a new XJ8, and we were (briefly) thinking about getting the '99-'06 S-Class (S430/S500 4Matic or something), probably an '06 model. Any thoughts?

We're still going to go with the Jag (she loves the look, and it's the right size, not huge like the S), but I'm a little curious...

iown1 - 11/10/2006 8:57:30 AM

+1 Boost

S4cabriofox is right. I leased it new. Ilease all my cars. That way I don't have to worry about depriciation.

S4cabriofox- What makes you cringe. I didn't understand.

Agent009 - 11/10/2006 12:51:11 PM

+1 Boost

You still are paying for the highest part of the depreciation. The first two years. You never can get away from that.

iown1 - 11/10/2006 5:29:21 PM

+1 Boost

What I should have said is i'm not terribly concerned with resale value or depriciation. Every new retail product takes a hit. Think of how much plasma tvs were when they first came out. Sure they'll come down in price if you want to wait.

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 12:22:11 AM

+1 Boost

"S4cabriofox- What makes you cringe. I didn't understand."

Your spelling mistakes. LOL.

iown1 - 11/11/2006 6:06:20 PM

+1 Boost

LMAO. My bad dude. I was in the zone. I promise I'm not as uneducated as you must think. I'll be more careful next time.

nybimmer - 11/9/2006 10:47:09 PM

+2 Boost

S4cabriofox-

Love the S430 - plenty of power, great gas mileage too - 26 mpg on highway, 23 mpg mixed city/highway. 2001 since new - very trouble free (except just needed new air mass flow sensor). 4 Matic is redundant unless you live in Vermont, I have Blizzak's on it for winter and its unstoppable.

Best thing about it is MB dealers are great, great, great! Its got 48k miles but I'll definitely get another, car's good but dealer experience is great. Get the CPO, it comes w/good warranty.

S4cabriofox - 11/9/2006 11:13:08 PM

0 Boost

Well, what you said about winter driving calmed me down a bit... I'm worried that my wife, who isn't exactly a "skilled" driver (but drives safely), might have trouble in the winter with the XJ, even with snow tires...

My MB dealer sucks... but there is one that's a bit farther away that's supposedly good.

The XJ8 gets 23-28mpg too, I've heard. I'm bewildered. Two fabulous, large, powerful, luxurious sedans getting mileage that's comparable to my A3 in the city? Hmm...

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 12:26:16 AM

+1 Boost

"What was the A3 competing against? I think the TSX is a much better car, and probably cheaper too. i'm sure the A3 w/ a 3.2L engine would still be considered economy. The 2.0 barely qualifies. Economy to me means affordable, not overpriced."

All of this is so wrong. Have you ever driven an A3, let alone sat in one? Have you ever driven a TSX? TSX is good, but its engine isn't even close (they both have 200hp but A3 is just so much more fun), it's $3.5K more expensive (and has fake wood trim instead of real alumunim like A3), and the 3.2 is a much worse deal than the 2.0T. I don't know what planet you live on to think that the 2.0T is a bad deal. $25K for a car that's...

•Stylish
•Very fast (DSG)
•Fuel efficient (25-27mpg on a daily basis, driving harder than most would)
•High-quality
•Feature-laden
•Winter capable
•Practical
•Reliable, as far as I can tell

This is from my personal ownership of a 2006 A3 2.0T DSG FWD. I've owned it since one day after my birthday, back in January. If I had thought it was a bad deal, I wouldn't have bought it. It's a wonderful car. Read the reviews- they're all gushing. Over the 2.0T, not the superfluous 3.2.

audiot - 11/10/2006 2:51:20 AM

+2 Boost

Agree with you guys that the A3 doesn't fit into an economy category, and doesn't compete in the entry-luxury category either. It's a good car, but an in-between model for the US market. Too expensive but not luxurious or sporty enough for the price.

As for the TSX, if it didn't have the smaller engine, it would probably beat the A3 but the 2.0t is a nice engine with more torque.

The list looked pretty spot-on with other pubs. A8, 6-series, 3-series, Odyssey, etc.

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 12:28:11 AM

+1 Boost

"Too expensive but not luxurious or sporty enough for the price."

I disagree. Drive one. You'll be impressed. Very fast, and great handling. I advise you not to drive the 3.2 quattro, though. With that, the fun and "light-on-its-feet"-ness are gone. So is the great fuel economy.

Ventura - 11/10/2006 6:46:37 AM

+2 Boost

Just take a moment to think, if people tend to bash Audi it's only because they are afraid of what the brand is and will be otherwise they would just ignore the brand like they do with other brands!! In Europe the 300C and the S80 are oponents to the 5-series, to the A6 and E-class, in Autospies no one even bothers to bash them!!!
In Europe the A3 has competition, the 1-series and the A/B class from Mercedes and it still wins against them so it is a nice car!! Audi in US is kind of bad represented but in Europe it is equal or better than MB and BMW so it is easier to focus more in the cars itself and forget the dealers and problems that may occur when you buy an Audi!!!
By the way, if we congratulate Audi by their 2 awards we should do the same to BMW, their products are no less than excelent!!

mstangpny07 - 11/10/2006 8:15:34 AM

-1 Boost

Are we in Europe? Nope. 001 is in SoCal. And most people are in the United States, with some in Canada and like 3 in the United Kingdom. I also believe there is somebody from the middle east. (Qatar, I think)

GermanNut - 11/10/2006 10:23:08 AM

+1 Boost

We bash Audi because in our subconscious minds we realize that they have more going for them in terms of competition for Mercedes and BMW than Volvo, Acura, Infiniti, Saab and Cadillac.

If Audi didn't have more competition, you wouldn't hear all this discussion about how Audi is bad. It would not be mentioned just like none of the other brands such as Volvo, Infiniti, Acura, Saab and Cadillac are mentioned.

audiot - 11/10/2006 11:29:54 AM

+2 Boost

btw, I'm not saying Audi is bad because the A3 is a bit higher priced than the traditional economy car category. It's a great car. It's just a shame that economy cars are now $29-30k with a few options. Honda/Mazda is what an economy car used to stand for. 23k-25k with options.

2JZSoarer - 11/10/2006 10:43:58 PM

+1 Boost

I'm from LA and Autoweek does not speak on my behalf!!!
Lexus IS350 and LS460 are my picks!!

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 12:29:49 AM

+1 Boost

Obviously. What a predictable comment. You continue to amaze me with your stupidity...

2JZSoarer - 11/11/2006 2:46:29 AM

+1 Boost

(S4)likewise,I feel the same way about you when praise Audi for any stupid reason,but I guess people like you don't look in the mirror!!!

S4cabriofox - 11/11/2006 5:42:32 PM

+1 Boost

"(S4)likewise,I feel the same way about you when praise Audi for any stupid reason,but I guess people like you don't look in the mirror!!! "

I praise brands when they deserve it. I don't mindlessly say every Audi (or in your case, Lexus) is the best car on the market.

Cars that I think are great (for people who buy them):

From Audi... A3, S4/RS4, A8, Q7, R8

BMW... 3 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, M models

Lexus... IS, RX, LS, LX

Mercedes... CL, CLK, CLS, E, S, SL

Infiniti... M, G coupe, FX

Porsche... all except Cayenne V6

Acura... RSX (DEAD!), TSX, RDX, NSX (DEAD!)

You get it... I like cars from most brands, unlike you.