My first Audi

[Clewsy]

Hi all, I'm new on here although I have been reading for the past few weeks and taking notes!

I borrowed an A3 SE 3 door for a weekend from an Audi dealership at the beginning of February, and after 300 miles and many hours I knew this needed to be my new car (company car).

2 litre diesel was very economical, and felt almost as strong as my old Leon FR+ (which had 20bhp more).

The spec on the SE was pretty good, although this demo had (not unusually) a lot of extras. But for me, as a mid-20s aspiration sort that had a rather lovely Special Edition Fabia vRS TDI as his first company car few years back, the sporty looks and spec of the S-line was what I fancied.

After a lot of back and forth with the dealer, and a test drive of a Mk7 Golf (great, but really not on the same level as the A3 in terms of interior quality and general aesthetics), I got the deal I needed on the A3 I wanted

A3 Sportback S-Line 2.0 TDI

• Misano red pear - I think the press cars look great
• Aluminium roof rails - putting bikes on roof will look neater
• Privacy glass - keeps prying eyes off bikes/kit in the back
• Interior lighting pack - looked cracking on the demo
• SD nav - it's free until the end of this month, and works really well
• B&O sound system - 705w and some more LEDs, it would be rude not to
• Comfort pack - parking sensors were a must, as was cruise

Expected at the dealer 7th May, and I am really looking forward to it!

 

[Sandra]

Hi, welcome to audi-sport.net. Where are you located? Im sure you will enjoy the forum, we are a friendly lot on here. For local meets, click the link below. Enjoy the forum. x

Smaller (Local) Events

 

[Clewsy]

Hi Sandra, thanks very much! I'm based in Leeds most of the time. I'll be sure to check out that link

 

[Vertigo1]

Congrats, nice car and nice spec

 

[deci]

After a lot of back and forth with the dealer, and a test drive of a Mk7 Golf (great, but really not on the same level as the A3 in terms of interior quality and general aesthetics), I got the deal I needed on the A3 I wanted

 

[Clewsy]

Ha, really?! I felt all the buttons were a bit boring compared with the simplicity of the Audi. For me, it wasn't as nice a place to sit.

Don't get me, I think the mk7 golf is great, but I think an A3 S-Line trumps a Golf GT.

Maybe I'd have been more swayed if there was a golf GTD out that felt a bit more special, but there isn't yet to who knows!

Also as a slight aside, I do own a mk1 Golf GTI cabriolet so I'm not an Audiphile at heart!

 

[deci]

Ha! I was just kidding. I basically said the same as you in the Golf v A3 thread a while back and was accused of being biased despite having owned 3 VWs and only one Audi in the past.

More cars should have interiors like the A3. Clean, simple, intuitive and quality. I liked the Golf mk7 but its just not as special as the A3... In my opinion of course.

Only a month or so til mine arrives. Can't wait I'm off to take some photos of my old A3 now so I can sell it:')

 

[hittchy]

Maybe I'd have been more swayed if there was a golf GTD out that felt a bit more special, but there isn't yet to who knows!

Spot on - the S-Line is probably a more direct comparison to the GTD.

Lovely spec though. I've always liked Misano Red.

 

[viperfire]

Ha! I was just kidding. I basically said the same as you in the Golf v A3 thread a while back and was accused of being biased despite having owned 3 VWs and only one Audi in the past.

More cars should have interiors like the A3. Clean, simple, intuitive and quality. I liked the Golf mk7 but its just not as special as the A3... In my opinion of course.

Only a month or so til mine arrives. Can't wait I'm off to take some photos of my old A3 now so I can sell it:')

its fact though. The a3 interior quality is way better than the golf. Only people who need to justify getting the golf say otherwise. The golf may have some more options but the a3 looks better and has much more build quality

 

[h5djr]

its fact though. The a3 interior quality is way better than the golf. Only people who need to justify getting the golf say otherwise. The golf may have some more options but the a3 looks better and has much more build quality

I'm afraid, having sat in both cars, I don't agree. You say only people who need to justify getting the Golf say otherwise, but personally I would put it the other way. Only people who need to justify the extra cost of the A3 say that the A3 is better quality.

I currently driving my 8th A3 and my wife currently drives an A1 so you could say we like Audis. I have spent some time sitting in both the new A3 and the Golf VII and I think they are equal in quality, just different in design. Both cars use the same engines and gearboxes made in the same factory as well as using the same MQB platform developed by Volkswagen. Which you prefer is down to personal taste and whether you prefer the Audi MMI setup or the VW touch screen. Before the new Golf VII I would have agreed with you, which is why I drive an A3, but the new Golf is a definite step up in quality compared to the previous model.

 

[allonym]

I'm afraid, having sat in both cars, I don't agree. You say only people who need to justify getting the Golf say otherwise, but personally I would put it the other way. Only people who need to justify the extra cost of the A3 say that the A3 is better quality.

I'm not sure about this whole "need to justify" business but I started with a fairly open mind in considering potential new cars and quickly narrowed the options to A3, Golf and 1 Series. I'm pretty much set on the A3 now and although there are many factors that have played into that decision the cabin interior is a major one. I much prefer the A3 over the Golf and would place the BMW in the middle of the three (just in terms of cabin). I'm comparing A3 Sport, 1er Sport and Golf GT. Too much shiny black plastic in the Golf GT, and the fake carbon fibre trim doesn't do it for me either.

As always, each to their own of course. All three cars will make a lot of owners very happy.

 

[h5djr]

I'm not sure about this whole "need to justify" business but I started with a fairly open mind in considering potential new cars and quickly narrowed the options to A3, Golf and 1 Series. I'm pretty much set on the A3 now and although there are many factors that have played into that decision the cabin interior is a major one. I much prefer the A3 over the Golf and would place the BMW in the middle of the three (just in terms of cabin). I'm comparing A3 Sport, 1er Sport and Golf GT. Too much shiny black plastic in the Golf GT, and the fake carbon fibre trim doesn't do it for me either.

As always, each to their own of course. All three cars will make a lot of owners very happy.

Agree about the shinny black plastic in the Golf GT. Personally I much prefer the dark brushed stainless steel of the SE spec. It looks very 'grey' in most of the photos but if fact it's a very dark colour. That was my reaction when I sat in both an SE and a GT in Autostadt in Germany before they were released in the UK and my opinion is still the same having seen the UK models.

My current A3 Sportback is an SE spec so if I went for a Golf it would almost certainly be SE spec. My problem at the moment is I think my next car will have to be an Estate which rather rules out an A3. I will be interested to see both the new Golf Estate, which I think is being released at the Geneva Motor Show in March or even possibly the new Skoda Octavia Estate which is due for release later this year.

 

[allonym]

My current A3 Sportback is an SE spec so if I went for a Golf it would almost certainly be SE spec. My problem at the moment is I think my next car will have to be an Estate which rather rules out an A3. I will be interested to see both the new Golf Estate, which I think is being released at the Geneva Motor Show in March or even possibly the new Skoda Octavia Estate which is due for release later this year.

My problem is that I'm pretty much set on the 1.4 ACT and I can't order it yet in the A3. I just hope Audi don't restrict the engine to the 'top' trim line like VW have. I don't really like the most expensive versions either the Golf or the A3, although for different reasons - cabin in the GT, body kit on the S-Line.

I haven't looked closely at the SE cabin so can't really comment but from what you say it does sound better than the GT.

Edit. By ACT I of course mean COD!

 

[number3]

My problem is that I'm pretty much set on the 1.4 ACT and I can't order it yet in the A3. I just hope Audi don't restrict the engine to the 'top' trim line like VW have. I don't really like the most expensive versions either the Golf or the A3, although for different reasons - cabin in the GT, body kit on the S-Line.

I haven't looked closely at the SE cabin so can't really comment but from what you say it does sound better than the GT.

Edit. By ACT I of course mean COD!

theres a call of duty option for the car?? i never knew that lol.

.

 

[h5djr]

theres a call of duty option for the car?? i never knew that lol.

.

Is it Call of Duty or Cash on Delivery.

All the Volkswagen literature refers to it as ACT - Active Cylinder Technology or Aktives Zylindermanagement. It's strange because even in the German brochures they still refer to it as ACT whereas you would have thought it would be AZM.

 

[deci]

So aye, can of worms

Its not just the layout that's different with the A3 interior, the cabin materials feel better. Everything feels solid and well built like in the VW but its just feels that bit more luxurious... to me at least.

If you prefer the Golf though you're obviously better off with a golf, and its a great car. Not everyone will appreciate the sleek minimalism of the A3 interior.

 

[Clewsy]

So aye, can of worms

Its not just the layout that's different with the A3 interior, the cabin materials feel better. Everything feels solid and well built like in the VW but its just feels that bit more luxurious... to me at least.

If you prefer the Golf though you're obviously better off with a golf, and its a great car. Not everyone will appreciate the sleek minimalism of the A3 interior.

I'm with you on that one. And for me, the A3 felt like a more special place to sit. Forget the cost vs quality justification, as I managed to get both on the budget given by work (just), and the difference in BIK is minimal, so my decision was purely on which can I preferred.