I'm 30yr old and have an 11 month old,
But I prefer the looks of the sportback
i also happen to much prefer the Sportback's look over the 3dr version. I fail to see what age or having children have to do with visual preference.
I am genuinely astounded that someone would choose a sportback s3 over a 3 door JUST for looks. A 3 door version of anything, almost by default, looks sportier than the 5 door equivalent. Ive always thought that VW done a better job with the mk5 Golf, as they at least kept the car virtually the same, just adding the extra doors. But Audi stretch out the a3 to make the sportback and just make an awful job of it IMO, and then to do it to the S variant....sacrilege.
I agree. We have no kids and I much prefer the SB for ease of use.
If I thought the s3 in any guise was anything more than a fast hatch (ie a sportscar) then I would be deluded.
One good old friend (now sadly passed) said to me this - you know your car is properly special when it either a model in its own right (ie chassis up) or it is made from majority custom parts for just that model. For eg, a 911 or an m3.
The s3 is an a3 with stick on bits and a decent engine. It's still an a3.
An rs3/rs4 is different though. Custom brakes, custom engine, custom body panels etc etc.
Back to the point - it doesn't matter what variant a3 we're driving as it's still only a family run around (cabrio excluded obviously)
For ease of use, exactly. Not gonna argue that one. Thats what sportback is all about as far as I can see. But I do not think that this works well on the s3, as the s3 is just that little bit more special, and to bang on extra doors for the children and the shopping and blah blah just ruins it totally. I do agree with your other points though. I know an s3 is nothing more than it is, but that doesn't mean you have to ruin what it is either.
That's why they decided to make the 3dr RS3 yeah? with the official line being that the company reckons a three-door version would offer limited practicality gains over the (supposedly) dynamically sharper TT-RS. So what's there to suggest that Audi's view wouldn't change when the next RS3 is released, arguably the ultimate hot hatch?
Well of course its going to offer limited practicality. The RS3 shouldn't be about practicality! The fact that Audi released the RS3 in sportback (and with only automatic gear box might I add) has annoyed me since I first heard about it. Total travesty in my eyes and such a let down. Obviously down to the type of customer that would buy the RS3, typically being old enough to afford the thing to start with, wanting more practicality out of the car, rather than just looks, and if there arnt enough people with the dosh for a 3 door, then Audi will probably think twice before making it unfortunately, which is what happened with the RS3. And I think that's the reason why we see so many s3 sportbacks actually, people wanting the s3 package, but also want the practicality. But to me that's compromise. If I wanted more doors I would buy an s4. Just my opinion folks, as Ive said before, each to their own. For me its all about the 3 door hot hatch with manual box. Happy new year to all my fellow Audi drivers