Thinking of GTI to A3 2.0T Quattro

[GunKata]

Like the title says, I'm considering trading in on a 2011 2.0T Quattro with S-tronic. Just had a few questions, as I think I've found out most of what I want/need to know.

OEM Brakes / Wheels - these are essentially the same specs between the GTI and the A3, correct? I have a stoptech bbk that the part numbers look to be the same on most sites, so i imagine they would swap over, and that the OEM brakes are essentially the same thing and swappable as well.

DSG / S-Tronic - same system from what I can tell, but does anyone sell paddle shifter covers/extensions for the audi version?

TFSI = TSI, yes? I'm considering putting a K04 on the A3, thus making my own "Golf R DSG" in the states.

Thanks for any feedback you guys can provide on the above

[TBomb]

Like the title says, I'm considering trading in on a 2011 2.0T Quattro with S-tronic. Just had a few questions, as I think I've found out most of what I want/need to know.

OEM Brakes / Wheels - these are essentially the same specs between the GTI and the A3, correct? I have a stoptech bbk that the part numbers look to be the same on most sites, so i imagine they would swap over, and that the OEM brakes are essentially the same thing and swappable as well.

DSG / S-Tronic - same system from what I can tell, but does anyone sell paddle shifter covers/extensions for the audi version?

TFSI = TSI, yes? I'm considering putting a K04 on the A3, thus making my own "Golf R DSG" in the states.

Thanks for any feedback you guys can provide on the above

Yep, you pretty much have it all covered. Brakes should be the same as far as I know. DSG transmission is the same, and there are extended paddle shifters you can buy (someone had a set for sale in the A3 classifieds). TFSI = TSI

[cooterbo]

http://www.zmaxautosport.com/a3.html

^this should cover the paddle shifter options.

you got all the other bases covered. keep in mind you might need some tuning IOT for engine performance to be comparable to the golf r. the looks and styling of the a3 inside and out edge the golf r IMO. good luck.

[GunKata]

Yep, you pretty much have it all covered. Brakes should be the same as far as I know. DSG transmission is the same, and there are extended paddle shifters you can buy (someone had a set for sale in the A3 classifieds). TFSI = TSI

http://www.zmaxautosport.com/a3.html

^this should cover the paddle shifter options.

you got all the other bases covered. keep in mind you might need some tuning IOT for engine performance to be comparable to the golf r. the looks and styling of the a3 inside and out edge the golf r IMO. good luck.

wow, those are nice, but very expensive - anything out there more basic?

Golf R - I'm sure it will be somewhere similar in terms of straight line performance, but not looking to be "exactly" the same. IOT -what is that?

[KiltedCasper]

Don't even need a K04 to get R numbers. Stage 2 tune will get you similar HP but with more torque delivered earlier in the power band. Take a peek at the dyno charts on APR's website...

[GunKata]

Don't even need a K04 to get R numbers. Stage 2 tune will get you similar HP but with more torque delivered earlier in the power band. Take a peek at the dyno charts on APR's website...

good point, just like stage 2 GTI's are pulling away from stock R's. So the K04 should make it even faster and the TSI is more reliable it sounds like/making slightly more power... hmmm... what to do, what to do.

[yohoitztho]

buy used and stg 3 that ho. i've got me a tuned rs3 equivalent =)

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2

[Turn8]

wow, those are nice, but very expensive - anything out there more basic?

Perhaps there is a premium to be paid with the Audi...

I'll be getting a set of S2T Performance paddle shifters for my A3.

http://www.s2tpp.com/AUDI.html

They are out of stock now but, I'm told they should be available next month...

Mike

[GunKata]

buy used and stg 3 that ho. i've got me a tuned rs3 equivalent =)

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2

NICE.

Perhaps there is a premium to be paid with the Audi...

I'll be getting a set of S2T Performance paddle shifters for my A3.

http://www.s2tpp.com/AUDI.html

They are out of stock now but, I'm told they should be available next month...

Mike

Those look decent, thanks for posting.

[mkim]

If i get q I go stg3 plus internals and airbag it lol

[Turn8]

NICE.

Those look decent, thanks for posting.

Your welcome. On my R32, I originally installed a set of Tid's paddles but, I ended up getting a set of the S2T paddle shifters since they look better, IMHO, and they bolt-on instead of using 3m tape for attachment. The S2T Audi paddles, like the VW, bolt-on too...no tape needed.

Mike

[GunKata]

Cool^

I'm checking out the A3 now in lava grey - sexy! Test drive next.

[by250]

I actually picked up that exact car recently and love it. A 2011 Lava Grey S-line. Mine did not come with paddles. Based on install instructions on that link, I'd like to believe that I can install aftermarket paddles even if I don't have OEM paddles. Can anyone verify that?

Thanks!

[TBomb]

I actually picked up that exact car recently and love it. A 2011 Lava Grey S-line. Mine did not come with paddles. Based on install instructions on that link, I'd like to believe that I can install aftermarket paddles even if I don't have OEM paddles. Can anyone verify that?

Thanks!

You have a DSG and no paddles? Are you in the US?

[KnockKnock]

Yeah - there were some years there where you could get an A3 w/o the paddles. Basically the multifunction steering wheel came with the Premium or Sport packages. Lacking that, you lacked paddles. I thought it would be a big bummer, but even having paddles, 90% of the time I manually shift, I use the Tip stick.

[GunKata]

Drove the A3 last night, driving impressions:

Weight - thought this would be an issue, but its really not. The AWD compensates for the extra weight and you nowhere near as feel it as much as I expected to. I had gone in thinking it would feel very boaty, but it did not. There was pretty standard stock GTI feel as far as steering and body roll. I was pretty surprised at this.

Speed - stock and with the S-tronic, this thing still picked up speed and was fairly quick. Again, the quattro also shined here for giving the car grip (on all seasons nonetheless) and for turns on some winding roads we went on.

DSG / S-Tronic - felt pretty good. The paddles are bigger than the GTI paddles and there is no BLURP sound, which I think I'm a fan of not having.

Interior - front seats are nowhere near supportive as the GTI autobahn seats, or the plaids, but they were comfortable if you are a bigger guy like me, so I was good with that. Steering wheel - thought I'd have a problem with it, but it felt great.

Electronics - well, this was a Premium Plus model and not a PP Prestige model, so no nav, no bose stereo, and no Ipod hookup. The standard stereo is probably on par with the GTI standard, but nowhere near the Dynaudio in the Autobahn.

HVAC - the car has dual climate control.

Other - it has a huge sunroof and a large "sky package" glass ceiling for the back seat, kinda cool. Also has the LED DRL's that look pretty sweet, rear LED tails, and rain sensing wipers. No homelink or dimming mirror tho, same as the GTI.

Overall, pretty impressed, but not in the electronics/nav/lack of ipod integration dept. Then again, nav isnt always needed, and ipod can be done through an aux input. Now to do some thinking here....

[davis_449]

Drove the A3 last night, driving impressions:
DSG / S-Tronic - felt pretty good. The paddles are bigger than the GTI paddles and there is no BLURP sound, which I think I'm a fan of not having.

Interior - front seats are nowhere near supportive as the GTI autobahn seats, or the plaids, but they were comfortable if you are a bigger guy like me, so I was good with that. Steering wheel - thought I'd have a problem with it, but it felt great.

Electronics - well, this was a Premium Plus model and not a PP Prestige model, so no nav, no bose stereo, and no Ipod hookup. The standard stereo is probably on par with the GTI standard, but nowhere near the Dynaudio in the Autobahn.

Overall, pretty impressed, but not in the electronics/nav/lack of ipod integration dept. Then again, nav isnt always needed, and ipod can be done through an aux input. Now to do some thinking here....

Even without exhaust, I heard the "BLURP". You will definitely hear it with an exhaust.
I agree about the seats.
I have a Pioneer AVIC Z120BT in my car with a 10" JL and a 350W amp. You'd be surprised how good the OEM sound system is once you replace the HU.

[Turn8]

I agree about the seats.

+1. I agree too with the OP, the standard GTI seats are much more supportive for sporty driving. Though, I do find the Audi seats comfortable.

Luckily, I have some Bride racing seats I'll be able to throw in for the occasional track day!

Mike

[Zetetic]

IMHO... I'd be a little leary of tuning & boosting the HP & torque too much with a FWD GTI.

[TBomb]

IMHO... I'd be a little leary of tuning & boosting the HP & torque too much with a FWD GTI.

How about with a FWD A3?

[neu318]

IMHO... I'd be a little leary of tuning & boosting the HP & torque too much with a FWD GTI.

Why? I have a few buddies that have upgraded to big turbos on FWD gti and jettas making well over 350HP and no issues

[GunKata]

IMHO... I'd be a little leary of tuning & boosting the HP & torque too much with a FWD GTI.

The quattro = AWD, that's what I'm getting. Parting out my GTI now. And plenty of GTI's running 360-380hp to the crank+, with FWD with or w/o LSD's installed.

[GunKata]

Question - TPMS, is there a reset button that we are able to use like in the GTI's glovebox, or does it have to be done by the dealer or through VAGCOM?

[TBomb]

Question - TPMS, is there a reset button that we are able to use like in the GTI's glovebox, or does it have to be done by the dealer or through VAGCOM?

I believe most cars with TPMS have a button on the dash that you can push to reset it

[GunKata]

I hope so! that would be nice. The 2010 GTI's didn't, and didnt know if all VAG cars now do or what.

[Travis Grundke]

I have a pretty decent amount of seat time in the 2011 and 2012 GTI 4-door and I really like that car - a lot. In fact, I came close to trading my A3 last fall on a 4-door GTI 6-speed with Nav+Roof.

The seats in the GTI are far superior to my '06 A3 seats, and these were the cloth (which I would choose). Call it the shine of a new car, but overall the GTI was much more refined than my A3's suspension, the interior was nicer, road and wind noise significantly lower.

Overall, if I had to purchase something today (I don't, thankfully), I would be *very* hard pressed to choose another 8P A3 over a GTI. The biggest downside to the GTI: it's still a bit boy-racer while the A3 gives off a much more grown-up feel. Take that for what it's worth, it's not intended to incite any riots. ;-)

Now, since the MQB A3 and GTI should be here in North America within the next year or so, we'll have to hold a rematch at that time. My recommendation to anyone right now is that if you can hold off on buying something until the MQB vehicles arrive you will be well suited doing so. I think we'll get a lot more bang for our buck out of both the Golf/GTI and A3.

[GunKata]

agreed^ the seats are way better in the GTI.. for the track, but I'm a bigger guy and between the seats and shifting, I'm not into it anymore. I'd like the DSG and the flatter/fatter seats in the A3, wanted AWD, plus the DSG for when the K04 goes on in a few weeks, but all good points. I am getting the car well under market value as my friend works at the dealership and I would not want to pay the $38K or whatever it will run for the new A3 in a year or two, which i believe may only come in a sedan to the US.

[GunKata]

can anyone else chime in/confirm on the TPMS stuff? are there sensors in the wheels or does it use the ABS system for 2011+?

[neu318]

can anyone else chime in/confirm on the TPMS stuff? are there sensors in the wheels or does it use the ABS system for 2011+?

Should be sensors in the wheels. As far as I know, the abs system is not 100% accurate and they switched to TPMS after 2007 I think

[GunKata]

Should be sensors in the wheels. As far as I know, the abs system is not 100% accurate and they switched to TPMS after 2007 I think

interesting, because on the GTI, after 2010, they got rid of sensors in the wheels and went to the ABS

[GunKata]

did a quick search, it looks like it should use the ABS system and not actual tire/wheel sensors, phew.. but i asked my salesman to let me know just in case. hopefully that is true and then a quick reset is good to go and u dont have to buy sensors - but im sure that could be vagcom'd around perhaps anyway.

[GunKata]

Few more quick questions, after some searching...

If you don't have the convenience package, do the lights go off (when on and the car is running) with the ignition, or do you have to manually turn them off? if the latter, can you do any vagcom or retroswitch upgrade to make them "auto" turn on/off with the ignition?

Auto up/down windows can be turned on with the FOB, once activated via VAGCOM?

Are the AWE left gauge and BFI/New South pod steering column mounts some of the only ones out there? any word from P3 or any other solutions?

This car is funny... my 2011 autobahn GTI (same year as the A3 I'm getting in a few days) has way more features for a lot less money, sans the AWD - that's about it.

Thanks for any more info you guys can provide!

[TBomb]

Few more quick questions, after some searching...

If you don't have the convenience package, do the lights go off (when on and the car is running) with the ignition, or do you have to manually turn them off? if the latter, can you do any vagcom or retroswitch upgrade to make them "auto" turn on/off with the ignition?

Auto up/down windows can be turned on with the FOB, once activated via VAGCOM?

Are the AWE left gauge and BFI/New South pod steering column mounts some of the only ones out there? any word from P3 or any other solutions?

This car is funny... my 2011 autobahn GTI (same year as the A3 I'm getting in a few days) has way more features for a lot less money, sans the AWD - that's about it.

Thanks for any more info you guys can provide!

Umm not real sure about the lights question exactly. If you don't have auto lights, you have to manually turn the switch to "on" and then manually turn it off. If you leave it on, your lights will stay on until your battery runs down. Although, it sounds like what you are wanting is daytime running lights, which you might be able to VAG-Com, I'm not 100% sure. Sorry...

Auto up/down via remote can be activated via VAG-Com :thumb up:

There's the vent mount, column pod, or the OSIR pod that fits down by your ashtray area under the climate controls.

Yep...that's the deal. Dollar for dollar the GTI comes with more features. The A3 comes with 4 more rings though

[GunKata]

Umm not real sure about the lights question exactly. If you don't have auto lights, you have to manually turn the switch to "on" and then manually turn it off. If you leave it on, your lights will stay on until your battery runs down. Although, it sounds like what you are wanting is daytime running lights, which you might be able to VAG-Com, I'm not 100% sure. Sorry...

Auto up/down via remote can be activated via VAG-Com :thumb up:

There's the vent mount, column pod, or the OSIR pod that fits down by your ashtray area under the climate controls.

Yep...that's the deal. Dollar for dollar the GTI comes with more features. The A3 comes with 4 more rings though

Thanks for the reply^. The car I'm getting has the DRL's already (switch has options for DRL, parking lights, then headlights), but yeah, sounds like its similar to when I first got my GTI with xenons, but no freaking auto turn off on the headlights. I hope someone may know if there is a way to vagcom it or do a switch upgrade. I know it can be done on the GTI, so I wonder if its the same module/situation on this car perhaps, where you can make it so the lights go off with the ignition. I'll have to see if any local VCDS guys can look for me.

Glad to hear on the windows.

Gauges - ok, so thats pretty much it. OSIR is just not very... in the line of sight, but I kinda want to not repeat what I did in the GTI by losing a vent, and im not sur eim sold on the steering column pod for such a "nice luxury vehicle" - I dont know, unless I maybe do the OSIR and make sure whatever gauge I get has a memory readout to see where you really are peaking, etc., especially as I will be adding a K04.

on the GTI - haha, yeah... A LOT more, I will be missing KESSY, Dynaudio, Nav, etc.. but the switch to DSG, the sexy look of the car, the Quattro, classy LED DRL's and tails, the open sky package, and the more comfortable seats (for my big self), should make up for it.

[TBomb]

Thanks for the reply^. The car I'm getting has the DRL's already (switch has options for DRL, parking lights, then headlights), but yeah, sounds like its similar to when I first got my GTI with xenons, but no freaking auto turn off on the headlights. I hope someone may know if there is a way to vagcom it or do a switch upgrade. I know it can be done on the GTI, so I wonder if its the same module/situation on this car perhaps, where you can make it so the lights go off with the ignition. I'll have to see if any local VCDS guys can look for me.

Glad to hear on the windows.

Gauges - ok, so thats pretty much it. OSIR is just not very... in the line of sight, but I kinda want to not repeat what I did in the GTI by losing a vent, and im not sur eim sold on the steering column pod for such a "nice luxury vehicle" - I dont know, unless I maybe do the OSIR and make sure whatever gauge I get has a memory readout to see where you really are peaking, etc., especially as I will be adding a K04.

on the GTI - haha, yeah... A LOT more, I will be missing KESSY, Dynaudio, Nav, etc.. but the switch to DSG, the sexy look of the car, the Quattro, classy LED DRL's and tails, the open sky package, and the more comfortable seats (for my big self), should make up for it.

I still don't get what you are saying with the headlights...sorry

Yeah, I still haven't decided what I want to do as far as a boost gauge goes, kind of for the same reasons. I don't really want to lose a vent or even stick a gauge in one...not a fan of the look. I'm also not sure I want one on my column...but it seems like a better solution than the vent. We'll see I guess.