The A3 has the world s best gearbox, and it isn t afraid to use it.

$40k for a hatchback?

· Speed Merchants:

· Fashion Victims:

· Treehuggers: No

· Mack Daddies: No

· Tuner Crowd:

· Hairdressers: No

· Penny Pinchers: No

· Euro Snobs:

· Working Stiffs: No

· Technogeeks:

· Poseurs:

· Soccer Moms: No

· Nascar Dads: No

· Golfing Grandparents: No

· Manufacturer: Audi

· Model tested: A3 3.2 quattro DSG

· Model year: 2006

· Price as Tested: $37,700

· Engine type: 3.2 liter V6 DOHC

· Horsepower: 250 hp @ 6300 rpm

· Torque: 236 lbs-ft @ 2800 -3200 rpm

· Redline: 6500 rpm

· Wheels and Tires: 17-inch 5-spoke cast alloy wheels with 225/45 all-season tires

· Drive type: Haldex quattro all-wheel drive

· 0 - 60: 5.9 secs.

· 1/4 mile: 14.4 secs.

· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)

· Fuel economy city/highway: 21 / 27

· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NYR

Related:

Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Audi A3 3.2 Quattro DSG , [internal]

The manual transmission is dead. Long live DSG. Yes folks, it s true: the Direct Sequential Gearbox