2003 Audi A4 1.8T Test Drive
Casey's List: The Good
The Bad
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Memory MisserWe drove this to compare the 1.8t to the 3.0. This was much peppier, but the details weren't as nice. Instead of wood inserts in the dash doors and surrounding the shifter, this had grey fiberglass. It looks okay in grey and black interiors, but it doesn't match the tan ones, and it's just not as nice an effect as the wood.
The 1.8s also don't offer memory seats, which crossed them off our list. The memory driver seat is so convenient when a seat adjusts 12 different ways and takes forever to get just right. It's nice to be able to save that so I don't have to do it every time. It also helps when drivers are different heights (which I'm assuming most of us are).
I liked the steering and feel of this car more than the 3. It felt lighter and was easier to steer. The buzzy engine made you feel like you were cruising fast.
Update
We took my car in for service and were given a 1.8T CVT as a loaner. It had a much buzzier ride than the 3.0; I'm not sure if that's a result of it being lighter or the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), but it was annoying. The car was also fairly slow; I never could tell if the turbo actually kicked in. I had a lot of trouble with the turn signals in this model; I kept signaling the wrong direction (I have no idea how I managed to do that, but I did it twice). The signals are the same as my car though, so maybe I just hadn't had enough sleep. I really missed my radio controls on the steering wheel! Funny how fast I've gotten used to those. After driving this around Houston for half a day I was very glad we'd made the decision to step up to the 3.0 and the nicer trim level. The price difference wasn't much and was worth every penny.