Audi A3 Models... What The Heck???

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bigmarvloyal

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hey guys, first post here so please be gentle ;-)

Right, I'm looking at getting an A3 but to be frank the terminology used to describe them is baffling.

I'm looking at a 2008 A3 and the 1.9TDI Engine.

I settled on a Sportback 1.9TDI Special Edition in Phantom Black.

Now I see there are Hatchback Special Edition 1.9TDI models.

Then there are Sportback 1.9TDI Special Edition SE models.

My question is simple... is there any difference between the Hatchback Special Edition and the Sportback Special Edition...??? Is this all just terminology? Why is it so complicated? ;-)))

Also, any other folks on here with the 1.9TDI Sportback Special Edition care to share their experience with it?
 
Oh no.....

We recently had a very similar thread to this earlier in the week http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=53067- in the end it left me in a state of confusion and I thought I understood Audi's model offerings !!!

My belief is (was) that Audi offer a number of models:

Audi A3 (Basic)
Audi A3 SE (Lots of standard kit but softer suspension)
Audi A3 Sport (Not as much kit as the SE but firmer more sporty handling)
Audi A3 Sline (Lots of kit, harder suspension, more aggressive looking)

I thought they then offered Special Editions (not to be confused with the SE above) that take the basic A3 and give you a few extras but it would appear that just to confuse everyone that little bit more they offer Special Edition SE's, Slines etc etc.

Sorry I don't understand it myself so I can't help much more than this :banghead:
 
whiteunderarm said:
Sportback = 4 door, hatchback = 2 door....andi would think SE stands for Special Edition?
Click to expand...

Oh no no no....There's another thread regarding this further down. Don't confuse SE for special edition. They're not always the same. There is an SE model which is NOT a special edition (SE in this case refers to the spec level) but then sometimes 'special edition' is abbreviated to 'SE'.
All very confusing i know...
 
Markm49 said:
Oh no.....

We recently had a very similar thread to this earlier in the week http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=53067- in the end it left me in a state of confusion and I thought I understood Audi's model offerings !!!

My belief is (was) that Audi offer a number of models:

Audi A3 (Basic)
Audi A3 SE (Lots of standard kit but softer suspension)
Audi A3 Sport (Not as much kit as the SE but firmer more sporty handling)
Audi A3 Sline (Lots of kit, harder suspension, more aggressive looking)

I thought they then offered Special Editions (not to be confused with the SE above) that take the basic A3 and give you a few extras but it would appear that just to confuse everyone that little bit more they offer Special Edition SE's, Slines etc etc.

Sorry I don't understand it myself so I can't help much more than this :banghead:
Click to expand...

LOL... think we posted at exactly tha same time....spooky.
 
Yup, an "SE Special Edition" will have a few factory fitted extras on top of the standard "SE" spec.
 
There is a 'special edition' model which is slightly better than 'base', but not as good as 'SE'.
Yes, it is very confusing.
 
The world of confusion certainly exists. One might say ask the dealers but I'm sure on many occasions they would only add to the confusion! Some random thoughts on your post:

Currently I've not heard at all of the 1.9TDI Special Edition SE models -could you perhaps post a link to where you have found out about this or tell us more of what you exactly you know about this 'model'- prices, specifications, etc. As the previous posts shows, we've know Special Edition be shortened to SE, but I don't think we know of a separate 'special' SE edition. If one exists, its not on the Audi website (but that again is not foolproof!)

The Special Edition is available for both the 3 door and the 5 door. I'm guessing that hatchback is the terminology relating to the 3 door as Sportback relates to 5 door.

Btw according to the Sept 07 brochure I have in front of me, the only difference in kit between standard and special edition is manual air conditioning.

So attempting to answer your original simple (but in Audi world it is not!) question of is there any difference between the Hatchback Special Edition and the Sportback Special Edition. I'd say yes - one has 3 doors and one has 5 doors!
 
mister.c. said:
According to the Sept 07 brochure I have in front of me, the only difference in kit between standard and special edition is manual air conditioning.
Click to expand...

yep thats correct

you do feel a bit silly when people say, so whats special about the special edition, and you respond i have manual air conditioning

:applaus:
 
Is that really all there is to the 'special edition'?
How more do they charge for it, over a base model?
 
On the Sportback the petrol is quoted OTR £545 less for the special edition (£16,040 as opposed to £15,495 for the special edition) which perhaps lends itself to the conclusions drawn in the previous thread - the 1.6 standard is the FSI whereas the special uses the even less special old 1.6 lump.

On the diesel there is a £100 premium for the special edition.
 
So my colleague's 1.9tdi sportback special edition will have been £100 more than a base 1.9tdi sportback?
So, basically, manual aircon for £100?
Is that a bargain?
His car has an aux socket, which he didn't pay for.
Has the base got that?
 
bowfer said:
So my colleague's 1.9tdi sportback special edition will have been £100 more than a base 1.9tdi sportback?
So, basically, manual aircon for £100?
Is that a bargain?
Click to expand...

Over £17k for a special edition - in my eyes its not a great bargain - mind you he'll have 119 CO2 emissions so tax will be good & suggested mpg of 60. Hopefully it will be put together ok (leap of faith of course!) & if it suits his requirements then I hope he'll see it as a bargain.

On the Manual air con for £100 - not too bad i guess!
 
mister.c. said:
Over £17k for a special edition - in my eyes its not a great bargain -
Click to expand...

No,I agree.
As I said before on the other 'special edition' thread, I was amazed my colleague went for it.
Some of the other cars on his approved list just struck me as much better value for money./
Better equipment and much more modern engines.
He just had the badge blinkers on.
 
It's not in the configurator though.
Or it certainly wasn't when we ordered our one here.
 
Thanks for all your help guys ;-)

I'm actually going to be getting this on personal contract hire as an opt out of a company car scheme...

So if anyone knows of any deals on PCH for a better spec Audi then let me know but it seems this is the most popular choice for leasing.
 
Being a tad nosey, but what the heck?! I guess your company car scheme is pretty restrictive?
 
mister.c. said:
Being a tad nosey, but what the heck?! I guess your company car scheme is pretty restrictive?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily.
His company car scheme may allow him to get a Merc, but he's choosing to opt out and PCH a basic car instead.
Then pocket the difference.
That's what one of the directors did here.
He could have a nice BMW/Audi, but he chose to opt out and drive a Toyota Avensis.
His choice, he's probably better off in the pocket.
Not for me though.
 
audi upgrades
That sounds a more restrictive approach than operates in my car scheme.
We wouldn't necessarily have to opt out to drive an Avensis. We have an allowance that if it was for say a large merc that your director could get would be significant. If he wanted an Avensis, he could choose that car, then pocket the (potentially) significant difference in his total available allowance and the (lower) cost of the lease of the Avensis.
If i ended up wanting a special edition, then I'd get the car and get paid a cash payment as well! - might be an option if i go part time and get a lower allowance.
 
We certainly don't operate the system your company does.
If I decided I wanted a £20K Honda, instead of a £28K Alpina, I wouldn't suddenly be paid the 'difference'.
It's a take it or leave it thing, really.
I could opt out altogether, of course, but I can't be *****.
 
mister.c. said:
Being a tad nosey, but what the heck?! I guess your company car scheme is pretty restrictive?
Click to expand...

If you say so ;-)

Anyway, sanctimonious bile aside, is this car actually worth getting? The A3 Sportback 1.9TDi that is?
 
bigmarvloyal said:
is this car actually worth getting? The A3 Sportback 1.9TDi that is?
Click to expand...

To answer that question for yourself, you need to drive it, assess the competition, sort out the finances, does it match up with what you want to pay, does it come with all the options you want, if not, can you live without the things you want? Is the deal a cracking deal or overpriced?

I'd say it wasn't worth getting at all. Old Engine, old car, poor spec and an overpriced car.

If you are actually having to ask whether the car is actually worth getting, you'll need to show effort to find out for yourself. We'll offer opinions but they'll be just that.
 
bigmarvloyal said:
is this car actually worth getting? The A3 Sportback 1.9TDi that is?
Click to expand...

That's difficult to answer.
On the minus side.

A/ The 1.9tdi engine is ancient
B/ It only puts out 105bhp
C/ The kit is sparse
D/ The alloys are truly awful

On the plus side

A/ Economical
B/ Low road tax
C/ No congestion charge in London
D/ Audi badge

IMO, I wouldn't have one.
There are some pretty good cars in that price range, with superior kit and engines.
Some will undoubtedly mock, but one of the options my colleague looked at was the new Fiat Brava, in 150bhp t-jet sport trim.
Lovely looking car, lovely 18" alloys, powerful 150bhp GM diesel engine (used in Saab,Vauxhall,Alfa and Fiat) and tonnes of kit.
He doesn't have residuals to worry about.
I was, frankly, amazed he still went for the Audi.

The power of the badge, dude, the power of the badge.
 
Thanks guys!

I've decided to now go for the Audi A3 2.0TDI Sportback Sport (140 BHP) model...

Hope I am vindicated in my choice ;-)

:blackrs4:
 
Bumping as i'm getting confused! My mate wants to buy a 5-door A3 but getting confused between the basic, SE and Sport models. Is this how it goes then...?

Audi A3 (Basic)
Audi A3 SE (Lots of standard kit but softer suspension)
Audi A3 Sport (Not as much kit as the SE but firmer more sporty handling)
Audi A3 Sline (Lots of kit, harder suspension, more aggressive looking)

...And then exactly the same for the 5-door Sportback?
 
Not quite

Standard is the lowest model, comes with a few things (A/C etc) but is fairly basic

SE doesn't have that much more kit than Standard. Fog lights, multi-function steering wheel and driver's information system is about it. The normal, softer, suspension with the higher ride height.

Sport DOES have as much kit as SE - everything SE has, Sport has, plus a bit more and the sportier handling. It's lowered slightly, a better stereo and sports seats. 3-spoke wheel and a couple of other trim things. More importantly, it gets climate control (I think).

S-Line is more aggressive looking, lowered more than sport, better equipped again with partial leather and a couple of other bits and bobs.

And one more you missed, Black Edition, is sportier looking again, further lowered and comes with the Xenons and Bose along with a few other things.

Sportback is the exact same, it's just a fancy way of saying 5 door. Finally, some cost options are only available at higher trim levels, and things like alloys improve up the range.
 
Cheers, does get a bit confusing! He's ideally looking for an A3 Sportback Sport but his budget is only about £5k so I think he'll struggle!
 
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