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A3 - worth the money?
- Thread starter davemk
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The audi a3 wont TG's premium brand hot hatc but what was it up against, and why be happy with a 20 20 place. Audi finished 15th out of 35 in the last top gear survey (http://www.topgear.com/content/carsurvey/2006/features/08/2.html). Ok being in the top 50% I suppose is good but look what finished above it, hardly something to shout about.
We'll ignore the first place as I think they do well due to owners expectations!
But a head of Audi are Suzuki, honda, mazda, subaru, toyota, [B/Hyundai ***[/B] and Seat. Surely they should be ashamed that they finished behind these! They are hardly premium brands are they!
I'm not knocking audi as my A3 was a good car, I ont think it was vfm and I dont think it was really a premium car. But the fact I kept it for 2years was a good sign that I obviously liked it although not the dealership expierence....
J
The S3 is a beautiful car , compairing it to other " hot hatches " i like to think of it as a high class call girl , she looks stunning/classy in her little black dress , but when the fun begins she goes like ****! 
I'am very happy with my car , but to the untrained eye it can look like a S-Line.
p
I'am very happy with my car , but to the untrained eye it can look like a S-Line.
p
Change the ****** record PLEAAASE
but why should I?
You bang on all the time about how beautiful the A3's design is (Do you sleep with your car too?) yet I don't feel the need to constantly tell you to shut up -
Jeez, sorry someone has an opinion different to yours, go cry to mummy
That's a bit of a suprise, beaten by the ever reliable Lotus!
not sure I trust some of these surveys
Come on Audi are good! These results come from people like you and me- and sent on to Autoexpress to sort out:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/driver_power_2007/archive/?group=manufacturers
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/driver_power_2007/archive/?group=manufacturers
Had two A3's and luved em both. Stylish without the need for spoilers and crap like that. TASTEFUL and STYLISH is probably the best description and well worth the money.
Had a Astra SRI before and would be very reluctant to go back unless finances force it.
Scoobys and stuff look crap by the side of an Audi even though they can out perform most. Yer pays yer money and you get a looker in my eye's.
Had a Astra SRI before and would be very reluctant to go back unless finances force it.
Scoobys and stuff look crap by the side of an Audi even though they can out perform most. Yer pays yer money and you get a looker in my eye's.
did you actually read the quotes though?
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/driver_power_2007/207873/audi_a3.html
My mistake those are the 2007 results. It fared quite a bit better in the 2008 magazine results- I imagine this is due to the fact the the A3 model has been out for a few years and ironed out the problems it had in early life.
Either way Bacardi- I'd never convince you that it was a good car- you've had a crap one and I'd probably feel the same way as you if it had happened to me. Although, I wouldn't automatically dismiss another Audi- I do maintain they are very good cars- Both the Germans and the Japanese are top of the range for cars.
Either way Bacardi- I'd never convince you that it was a good car- you've had a crap one and I'd probably feel the same way as you if it had happened to me. Although, I wouldn't automatically dismiss another Audi- I do maintain they are very good cars- Both the Germans and the Japanese are top of the range for cars.
Perhaps you'd like to see how Audi fared in the 'What Car' survey:
http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=229285
http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=229285
Actually, you could convince me it is a good car, I too like the styling, some of the geniunely good features (the wipers slowing down on the last downstroke is cool) and the interior is definately one of the strong points compared to many other cars out there.
You'd never convince me its a superbly built car though!
I get slightly perplexed when people seem to harp on about how much of an amazingly well built piece of machinery Audi's are though, believing them to be so much of a cut above the rest, superior in any which way
Sure, mine has been a big problem car, a fair few others have too expereinced all to common repeat problems, and there does seem to be a general theme towards the attitude of the dealer network - yet some people on here seem all to happy to be blinkered and somehow dismiss those who have had problems as moaners. If anyone was to visit this forum, I feel it only fair that they get a balanced opinion
however, I do put it down to a friday car, and believe it or not, since dealing with my 4th different dealer, who does seem to care (Thanks DaveR) my opinion is changing, I would consider another Audi as a replacement
I'd want some assurance from the dealer, and the lease company that they'd take the ****** thing back off of me if it proved to be a lemon though
Getting back on topic, for what it's worth I think the A3 is worth it. I bought my Sportback from new in October 2004 and 33,000 miles later, I've only had to visit the dealer twice - once for a service, the other to get one of my Xenons lights adjusted (although I may have to get it checked again!).
They are costly but I've worked out mine held on to 60% of its value after three years with perfect reliability and 48mpg. Everything else about the car just becomes a bonus, and a good one at that.
They are costly but I've worked out mine held on to 60% of its value after three years with perfect reliability and 48mpg. Everything else about the car just becomes a bonus, and a good one at that.
TBH bacardi your car seems to be the only one that has had repeat problems , sure Warren cox and bowfer had had there problems too.
Everybody has the odd problem from time to time, i think it's it's to be expected and usally gets sorted with the minimum of fuss.
We are enthusiast's/owners club , we care and look after our cars , we notice when things are not right , and come on here and share our thoughts and findings!
I don't think the average Joe notice's problems as early or care as much as us.
p
That's a fair point
L60N - did you say you were waiting for steering rack #2 in another thread?
The oft-quoted 'build quality' thing confuses me too.
It suggests the competition are rattly contraptions, ready to fall apart like a clown's car at any moment.
In my experience, the competition are right up there, no problem at all.
Even the 'mainstream' manfacturers are right up there.
Take my wife's Clio and my brother-in-law's Vectra, for example.
Both seem to be screwed together just as well as my Audi was, and both are considerably more refined than my A3 was.
Stepping into either of them, it made me think Audi had left the sound insolation out of my A3.
Surely an A3 should at least be a quieter drive than a Vectra or Clio?
Yep. I took it back as the problem has reared its ugly head again. I hope it gets sorted this time. I took one of their engineers out to demonstrate the problem. We both then went back to the service guy. The engineer whispered "Yeah its the common fault" to the service chap. This worries me somewhat.
Heres hoping its sorted after number 2....
Im not gonna beat down the Marque tho, cars made up of millions of moving parts can have teething problems, its how they are ironed out that is of importance to me...
If its not fixed after 3 attempts, i'll return the keys to Audi and let the finance company know the car they bought aint as described so ive handed it back.
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Oh dear, quite a prickly response that, maybe if you had bought the `full fat` S3 in the first place you wouldnt feel the need to rubbish it and justify to the rest of us why you bought an S-line instead.
Go on, be honest with yourself, and admit you bought the wrong model, you will feel much better and probably less angry in general.......its good to talk
hang in there bud, where in this together..
Oh dear, quite a prickly response that, maybe if you had bought the `full fat` S3 in the first place you wouldnt feel the need to rubbish it and justify to the rest of us why you bought an S-line instead.
Go on, be honest with yourself, and admit you bought the wrong model, you will feel much better and probably less angry in general.......its good to talk
hang in there bud, where in this together..
Teehee, thats how it comes across to me too, just didnt want the flame reply by pointing it out. You have big cahones PaulAr
PNH80 said he's thinking of chopping his "streamined executive S-line" for an "attention grabbing hothatch"
So i think he's finally coming round to it too
Thats comedy!!
Can I assume you've either driven or been a passenger in a (new) Clio or Vectra?
I can assure, they are both considerably quieter than my A3 was.
So much so that I decided we would take my wife's Clio to Alton Towers for a family break.
I simply couldn't face the racket my A3 made at motorway speeds.
I would venture a test drive of/in either would wipe the smile off your face.
Been in a friends vectra, wouldnt say it was rattly. Just not the same build quality. Then again, i wouldnt expect it to be, being built to standards set 10+ years ago.
The renault clio. I havnt been in one so I cant comment.
The renault clio. I havnt been in one so I cant comment.
Yeah, I hope it is fixed too, mine's had 3 - seems ok for the last 30k miles.
I do disagree on the teething problems though, the first one mine went in 2005 so they're well aware of the problem and seem to stil lbe making the same issues on new builds
Do they use the same rack in the S3 as the regualr A3's get or do they use a quicker rack out of another car? It could be that the S3 is still in the teathing stages?
The worst car I have ever owned for niggly faults was my r32, I had it for 12 months, drove it for 6 months and it went back to the dealers hundreds of times. Well almost every other week. Fanstatic car tho', loved every minute I owned it.
J.
The worst car I have ever owned for niggly faults was my r32, I had it for 12 months, drove it for 6 months and it went back to the dealers hundreds of times. Well almost every other week. Fanstatic car tho', loved every minute I owned it.
J.
This is what I mean though.
If it doesn't rattle/fall apart, then how can you differentiate it's build quality from an Audi?
You must be looking at materials used, which is a seperate issue from build quality, IMO.
Yes, the materials used in a Vectra aren't as pleasant to look at/touch as an Audi, but then you wouldn't expect them to be, for £xxxx less.
Again though, the competition are making efforts to catch up.
The new Laguna, for example, uses some nice soft-touch interior materials.
I just don't see anything in an Audi that shows it's physically built/screwed together any better than the competition.
Hell, rattles were one of the first problems I had with my A3.
Rattles, in any car, drive me nuts.
I would guess the dashboard material suppliers have different 'grades'.
Perhaps only pennies between them, but that will multiply over thousands of units.
Once upon a time, a 'mainstream' car buyer (Ford, Vauxhall, Fiat etc.) would have accepted hard plastics.
They are becoming more discerning/demanding though, hence the reason the likes of Renault are now using the same suppliers/materials as Audi/BMW.
Audi/BMW must be worried though.
Think about it from their point of view.
If their competitors are using the same materials, and screwing it together just as well, then they've lost one of their USP's.
If you can't physically 'touch' the difference between a £24k Audi and an £18k Renault any more, then they have to find other reasons for you to buy one.
You still have the French electronic's to worry about
If you go for a sport model in Clio/Megane with aircon the engaines are shoe horned in so tight that Aux belt change is like £350 and cam belt change is like £800.
p
PNH80
Low life livin' the high life.
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PNH80 said he's thinking of chopping his "streamined executive S-line" for an "attention grabbing hothatch"
So i think he's finally coming round to it too
Thats right, and i maintain i don't much like the bodykit on the S3. I stand by every comment i've made! If you read my thread, it's becoming obvious that you might as well just bite the bullet and go for the best spec'd car you can afford. I'd rather have an S-Line spec'd up to S3 level but it's a complete waste of money and retro-fitting is a bit of a mugs game financially.
So yes, despite my dislike of various aspects of the S3 i am considering one due to it just making more financial sense and i'd be more likely to hang onto the car for longer. Nothing to do with performance at all.
Anyway i'm not getting pulled into childish arguments with certain forum goers...
I do however have a few niggles with the A3 which i'm guessing will apply to the S3 also, so i'm undecided.
As marriedblonde pointed out i am seriously considering a Z4 coupe. I love the idea of a N/A 3.0 engine and rear wheel drive. Proper sports coupe isn't it unlike the beetle-ish TT.
Man, I am loving rear wheel drive..
Second gear roundabouts are just a giggle.
Very Irresponsible but TC off and let the smiles begin
Also the 3.0Si lump sounds gorgeous in the Z... Even better with the GruppeM induction kit.
But it's only got 2 seats and you can't chuck £500 at it to get a decent hike in power.
J.
Well maybe in a while we'll see a world first Thread on here titled:
"Retro fitted S-line bumpers and skirts to my S3 - Lots of pics"
Man, I am loving rear wheel drive..
Second gear roundabouts are just a giggle.
Like a guy in a red BMW 3-series a few weeks ago at a large roundabout in the pouring rain. I think he must have applied a tad to much power because he ended up doing a 180 spin and facing me on the roundabout. His face was nearly as red as his car. Fortunately it was a Saturday evening and we were the only two car on that particular stretch of the A1.
There is just sometimes about non german cars I don't like. Call me a snob but there is no way I'd spend what is a huge amount of money on a boring car.
French cars especially don't make you feel good.
They're so bland and dull, have you seen the rear end of the new laguna?? I have never seen something so hideous in my life.
It was just an example of how other manufacturers are closing the gap, when it comes to build quality and interior materials.
If one were to go to a deserted airfield, don a blindfold and get into a new A3/A4/3 series/Laguna/Mondeo/Mazda 6/Citroen C5, I don't think anyone could tell the difference.
You could touch the dash, clunk the doors, click the switches etc.
I seriously doubt anyone could pick the 'premium' brand out.
If you were to drive the cars under the same 'blind' scenario, the only one I think you would notice as 'different' would be the 3 series, because it's RWD configuration instantly feels different to FWD.
I bet the rest would just become stabs in the dark.
