I have an original Audi A3 and I like it
Discussion
Whilst both my old Merc's are having work done I am using the garage's (my parents...) original shape Audi A3. I thought it was nothing special, just a W-reg, 51000 mile 1.8 in green with bad wheels.
I would be the first to point out to someone that it's the same as a Golf or tell myself a Leon is nicer looking and a smarter choice. I would also be extremely quick to laugh at posh idiots in their Audi A3s thinking they're the best person in the whole world.
However... I am really enjoying it. It is a really, really, really great car. Everything about it feels nice, and gives you a good feeling, like you own a special, expensive car. It has this way about it that the Leon, Golf and especially Skoda Octavia just do not. There's no particular area that it excels, but the most noticeable thing is the quality all round. I know this gets said about Audis all the time but it really makes the whole car feel different. The interior: not just semi-convincing pretend quality like a new Golf or Passat can feel; a genuinely nice place to be. Whilst trying to put my finger on it, it took a while to figure out what it was about it that was so nice; then it struck me - it is totally, deathly silent. There is not a single, tiny, slight creak or rattle at any speed. Only engine noise due to the low gearing intrudes on the motorway. Incredible on a 6 year old car. My old Mercedes' generate more rattles in the interior in spite of their supposedly excellent build quality.
The general day to day drive is not far off like being in an A8, and I have spent much time driving our family A8. Even the ride is great, it feels strangely better than a Golf or Leon, and better than that on the new A3s I have driven.
And then, you can drive it like the hatchback like it is. Yes it is not superb handling - somewhat floaty when going for it and not terribly engaging - but the 1.8 20v is, for the first time, rather enjoyable in this the lightest of cars the VW group installs it in. It's fun to rev to the redline and slip from gear to gear, exiting roundabouts at the limit of the tyres' lateral grip. The handling is nicely neat and tidy, pretty competent and grippy for the small tyres. It won't thrill but can certainly give enjoyment when things get bendy. Again, a surprise for me.
It has even converted me against diesel too - I would have jumped at a 1.9 TDi powered A3 over the 1.8 20v previously; now I think an awful lot of the refinement, class and fun would be lost in the diesel, which is a shame.
As great as a Focus is to drive, it would take a lot to convince me out of an Audi A3. A huge amount. Even thinking about the interior of a Focus and noise of a 1.6 zetec makes me start to cringe. If everyday people test drove older A3's before buying their Focuses, Ford would have a serious problem.
So all this has totally, completely surprised me. I've owned Mk4 Golfs before and they're nice, in a Golf sort of way. But this A3 really does feel a cut above, and you really feel like you own a nice car.
Russell
I would be the first to point out to someone that it's the same as a Golf or tell myself a Leon is nicer looking and a smarter choice. I would also be extremely quick to laugh at posh idiots in their Audi A3s thinking they're the best person in the whole world.
However... I am really enjoying it. It is a really, really, really great car. Everything about it feels nice, and gives you a good feeling, like you own a special, expensive car. It has this way about it that the Leon, Golf and especially Skoda Octavia just do not. There's no particular area that it excels, but the most noticeable thing is the quality all round. I know this gets said about Audis all the time but it really makes the whole car feel different. The interior: not just semi-convincing pretend quality like a new Golf or Passat can feel; a genuinely nice place to be. Whilst trying to put my finger on it, it took a while to figure out what it was about it that was so nice; then it struck me - it is totally, deathly silent. There is not a single, tiny, slight creak or rattle at any speed. Only engine noise due to the low gearing intrudes on the motorway. Incredible on a 6 year old car. My old Mercedes' generate more rattles in the interior in spite of their supposedly excellent build quality.
The general day to day drive is not far off like being in an A8, and I have spent much time driving our family A8. Even the ride is great, it feels strangely better than a Golf or Leon, and better than that on the new A3s I have driven.
And then, you can drive it like the hatchback like it is. Yes it is not superb handling - somewhat floaty when going for it and not terribly engaging - but the 1.8 20v is, for the first time, rather enjoyable in this the lightest of cars the VW group installs it in. It's fun to rev to the redline and slip from gear to gear, exiting roundabouts at the limit of the tyres' lateral grip. The handling is nicely neat and tidy, pretty competent and grippy for the small tyres. It won't thrill but can certainly give enjoyment when things get bendy. Again, a surprise for me.
It has even converted me against diesel too - I would have jumped at a 1.9 TDi powered A3 over the 1.8 20v previously; now I think an awful lot of the refinement, class and fun would be lost in the diesel, which is a shame.
As great as a Focus is to drive, it would take a lot to convince me out of an Audi A3. A huge amount. Even thinking about the interior of a Focus and noise of a 1.6 zetec makes me start to cringe. If everyday people test drove older A3's before buying their Focuses, Ford would have a serious problem.
So all this has totally, completely surprised me. I've owned Mk4 Golfs before and they're nice, in a Golf sort of way. But this A3 really does feel a cut above, and you really feel like you own a nice car.
Russell
I am not being funny but my 13 year old S2 is exactly the same. The only noise in the cabin is my seat belt buckle squeashing against the leather occassionally. Oh and the lovely turbo charged five pot!
I think you have hit the nail on the head there about Audis. There is a special feeling you get when you drive one. It jsut feels right.
I think you have hit the nail on the head there about Audis. There is a special feeling you get when you drive one. It jsut feels right.
Got to agree with everything above. I moved from an Allroad to a Golf R32 (the other half now has the estate car) - all the Audis I've owned (A4 1.8T, S4 2.7T and Allroad 2.5 TDI) have felt really well "together" and I would definitely buy another one - if only the RS3 was going to become a reality 
but the new S3 with the 2.0 TFSI and Haldex 4WD will be very tempting when it comes out...
but the new S3 with the 2.0 TFSI and Haldex 4WD will be very tempting when it comes out... 
The thing is, I seem to be driving it very fast everywhere.
I can't quite figure out why. It is quite fun to drive quickly, and very competent. But I think in truth, because it is a little numb, and you are fairly removed from what is going on, it's only fun to drive at 110%. That would explain why I am driving it so fast.
On the way back from home, I had a race from 0-70 on a dual carriageway against a maroon BMW 523i. I don't know why? There was some business man driving it, and I lost by about 1 1/2 car lengths by 70mph (not tooo bad a performance I didn't think). Then I raced a Saxo VTS and lost that too. It was very fun, but I don't know what had come over me. I think it has a lot to do with how smooth, solid and safe it feels; my girlfriend picked up on it too when she said she didn't mind going fast in this.
It feels very very safe, and you feel quite removed from things, there's little road/engine feel, so you drive like a maniac because it just feels normal and safe. But that's actually a downside, so when not driving like a maniac, I think it feels perhaps a bit too removed and safe and you feel like driving it faster.
Wow, an amazing intellectual thought there!
Russell
I can't quite figure out why. It is quite fun to drive quickly, and very competent. But I think in truth, because it is a little numb, and you are fairly removed from what is going on, it's only fun to drive at 110%. That would explain why I am driving it so fast.
On the way back from home, I had a race from 0-70 on a dual carriageway against a maroon BMW 523i. I don't know why? There was some business man driving it, and I lost by about 1 1/2 car lengths by 70mph (not tooo bad a performance I didn't think). Then I raced a Saxo VTS and lost that too. It was very fun, but I don't know what had come over me. I think it has a lot to do with how smooth, solid and safe it feels; my girlfriend picked up on it too when she said she didn't mind going fast in this.
It feels very very safe, and you feel quite removed from things, there's little road/engine feel, so you drive like a maniac because it just feels normal and safe. But that's actually a downside, so when not driving like a maniac, I think it feels perhaps a bit too removed and safe and you feel like driving it faster.
Wow, an amazing intellectual thought there!
Russell
Well I love my S3. Can't think of another car that's has the same combination of practicality/economy/performance/comfort/luxury/girlfriendlyness that it has. The only complaint I would make is, as pentoman says, you need to go quite fast for it to get exciting and, now I have it remapped, that is well into license loosing territory. I think it might be safer to get something that feels like 100 when you are doing 60 as opposed to feeling like 60 when you are doing 100. For me that would probably be an Elise. Hate the idea of selling the S3 though.
Some people hate the bland steering and ride of Audis.
We had an A3 1.8T before the TT. The A3 is a sweet car, and a nice design. Pity the new A3 is so aggressive looking in comparison. The 1.8T in an A3 moved it along quite well too. I'd have one as a daily driver if I wasn't so lanky - an A6 fits me better. 121k miles in my A6 and no rattles or squeaks either. I know the TT is a marmite car, but its perfect for my girlfriend (but its no sports car, she just needs to be able to overtake safely so ultimate speed isn't needed).
Pity the dealers are so crap. Mind you, that seems to apply to most German marques!
We had an A3 1.8T before the TT. The A3 is a sweet car, and a nice design. Pity the new A3 is so aggressive looking in comparison. The 1.8T in an A3 moved it along quite well too. I'd have one as a daily driver if I wasn't so lanky - an A6 fits me better. 121k miles in my A6 and no rattles or squeaks either. I know the TT is a marmite car, but its perfect for my girlfriend (but its no sports car, she just needs to be able to overtake safely so ultimate speed isn't needed).
Pity the dealers are so crap. Mind you, that seems to apply to most German marques!
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