[hand-filer]

The vehicle I owned prior to my Acura had a D.I. 2 liter motor. It couldn't reach operating temperature in city driving conditions if the temperature was -20 or colder. It was like driving in an icebox.
My brother recently purchased a new crossover with a V6 D.I. motor. It too takes an inordinate length of time to reach operating temperature.
My Acura which has a 3.5 liter V6 and conventional sequential port injection heats up quickly and the cabin is up to temperature in no time.
Hows this little Audi motor in extreme climates?

 

[boblepp]

...snip...
Hows this little Audi motor in extreme climates?

I find it warms very quickly, no complaints, even around town. But it has not been tried below zero Fahrenheit yet. I thought I read it has a special coolant circuit for fast warm ups.

 

[MPBQ3]

I find it warms very quickly, no complaints, even around town. But it has not been tried below zero Fahrenheit yet. I thought I read it has a special coolant circuit for fast warm ups.

I'm truly amazed how fast the engine reaches full operating temp.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I'm truly amazed how fast the engine reaches full operating temp.

Ditto with ours!!!

 

[hand-filer]

I decided to book a test drive when the temperatures dip down to the -20 (F) range. That's the only way to know for sure. Maybe someone from an area that actually experiences cold weather will chime in at some point.
:laugh:

 

[Quatto]

I decided to book a test drive when the temperatures dip down to the -20 (F) range. That's the only way to know for sure. Maybe someone from an area that actually experiences cold weather will chime in at some point.
:laugh:

Those in the northern states and southern canada got a good amount of snow just recently, so hopefully we'll hear from them

 

[stever]

Snow and cold, if anything, are usually inversely related at low elevation.

 

[nickjs1984]

"Unfortunately", it's not been colder than 9°F on any of my drives so far. That said, the Q3 got up to temperature within just a few minutes and the cabin was plenty toasty in about 5-10 (however long it took me to get out of the neighborhood and onto the highway). The Volvo was the only car I've owned with a quicker turnaround from ambient cold outside temperatures.

Those in the northern states and southern canada got a good amount of snow just recently, so hopefully we'll hear from them

 

[boblepp]

It took seven minutes to get to full heat at -8.5 Celsius driving at 70kph.

 

[Otto]

Once it gets to a certain low temperature you should use a heater to help get the car going. That should solve a lot of the problems you guys are running into.

 

[boblepp]

Once it gets to a certain low temperature you should use a heater to help get the car going. That should solve a lot of the problems you guys are running into.

I think the original poster was wondering whether the Q3 was able to not only get up to a good temperature but maintain the temperature even when driving stop and go in the city. It sounds like he has had trouble with a thermostat set too low or a car that simply has too much radiator for the heat produced by the engine.

 

[Quatto]

Some cars aren't that good at holding temperature, not sure what it's like with the Q3, how have you guys found it to be with how cold it's been in your parts of the world?

 

[Ohio Joe]

Some cars aren't that good at holding temperature, not sure what it's like with the Q3, how have you guys found it to be with how cold it's been in your parts of the world?

It works great here in Ohio!

 

[rnlabas]

Looks like most answers are okay, but not with the extreme temps originally asked about by the OP - i.e. -20 deg F (-29 deg C) - start, run/reach and hold temp.

So technically, we're still seeking data for : 1) a start-up, 2) time to reach operating temp and 3) holding it, all while at a typical ambient -20 deg F or colder.

There are NO problems reported, just a curiosity about that data set...

 

[Otto]

-29 deg C? We must be talking about Montreal here. No where else in NA gets quite that cold as far as major cities go.

Sorry I don't have much info to actually answer the questions asked here.

 

[boblepp]

-29 deg C? We must be talking about Montreal here. No where else in NA gets quite that cold as far as major cities go.

Sorry I don't have much info to actually answer the questions asked here.

You are forgetting Winnipeg Manitoba when the winds blow.

 

[rnlabas]

-29 deg C? We must be talking about Montreal here. No where else in NA gets quite that cold as far as major cities go.

Sorry I don't have much info to actually answer the questions asked here.

You mean that no one lives in Ft McMurray either ?? (record low -50 deg C) : now you may argue it's no metropolis (and I'd be surprised to see a gaggle of Q3s there) , but somebody has to drive there ...

 

[Arabay]

also depends on how you warm up. Sit and idle is the most inefficient and useless method possible. Start and run it lightly, 'heat soak' is much more effective that way...

 

[hand-filer]

You are forgetting Winnipeg Manitoba when the winds blow.

Yes civilization does exist west of Toronto.

 

[hand-filer]

So technically, we're still seeking data for : 1) a start-up, 2) time to reach operating temp and 3) holding it, all while at a typical ambient -20 deg F or colder.

Thanks for refocusing the thread. It sucks to factory order a new car only to find out it has no heat output.
After 4 failed attempts by the dealership to rectify the problem, I test drove the same model on a cold day only to confirm that it was an inherent problem with this particular vehicle.
I owned that car for 11 months and then traded it in for the Acura.
As much as I like the Q3 I wont make the same mistake twice.
Thanks!