Hi everyone,

I have been viewing cars recently and have test driven a 170Hp diesel A3 and was impressed. I was told the 200Hp Petrol 2.0T A3's were even better but when test 'driven' in one, I felt it was sluggish and didn't have the oomph of the 170 diesel. Is this the general feeling with the petrols?

Cheers!

 

I actually drive an 07 2.0t (non diesel) and I don't have a sluggish feeling. Once you hit the 2500rpm range that things picks up and goes (thanks turbo!).
Anyhow my model is a stick - not automatic. Not sure if the model you drove had quattro and automatic. Both will draw a lot of power away from where you would need it.
Also with older cars it could be in need of some maintenance to restore power. Next to spark plugs and coil packs they also had issues with the catalytic converters; cam followers and carbon build up.

Maybe you just tested one of those models that haven't been treated well.