3-door vs 5-door - owner opinions? any regrets/issues?

[Mojave96]

Hi guys!

I'm so excited as I'm virtually just about to decide to order my new A3. I'm financing it so I can see there's about a £30-40 difference per month in 3 door and a sportback...3 door being the cheaper one.

Are there any major differences regarding the way the car drives, comfort etc? How about any issues with the cars?

I've got all the same options on both (privacy glass, xenons + comfort pack, non smoking back, deletion of badges) so it's just a matter of choosing the body style.

Bare in mind I'm currently driving a 2005 A3 sportback and haven't had the chance to test drive the 3 door and I think I won't be able to do do quickly.

The most I had were a couple of reviews online etc but that's about it. Just wanted to see what the actual owners think. Any regrets etc?

You're the best, thanks.

- David

 

[S32B]

I have the three door and it does me perfectly, 90% of the time it's just me and the wife in the car, if you have kids or have a lot of people in the car often, then I'd say get the 5 door. If the back was been used regularly I wouldn't fancy moving the seats back and forward all the time.

 

[Mojave96]

Yeah I was thinking about the passenger bit. It's a pain to constantly move the seats but then again I don't really have passengers there. It would just be a case that the ******** would scratch the back seats Lol.

 

[Snibo]

I have the 3 door.
Looks better and lines flow nicely.

However, if you regularly need to access the back seats the 5 door is the only option.
Even if it's only to lay your coat on the back seats - I put my coat in the boot rather than the back seat.

Enjoy whichever one you go for.

 

[richinsoton]

I like the idea of a 5 dr for the added practicality (dog owner), but 99% of the time it's just me in the car so a 3 dr is fine (even in narrow parking spots without much door swing room) & I find the little quarterlight in the C pillar of the 5 dr is slightly awkward looking & ruins the side profile of the car imho but as you've had a sportback previously it obviously doesn't bother you.

 

[MikeParkin]

I have a 3 door and my son is always in the back and doesn't really bother me in the slightest to move the seat. It's not as if it's a hard task to do and they move forward with no trouble and I have the super sports.

 

[batch]

I got a Sportback. I'd love to reel off all these Gucci reasons as to why I chose that having had a three door, but essentially it boils down to my Mrs said "If I'm letting you trade us up early into another S3 then we're having the 5-door so it will be practical when we have kids".
So that was me told. However I now prefer the shape, I've got used to it and it's handy having the extra doors - I have elderly parents and also taking mates to our away rugby matches they make life easier. Plus, I suppose if kids come along this will prove to have been a good idea...

 

[Mojave96]

Thanks for all your input guys. Good points about the passenger practicality...but does it justify those couple grand more just for a 5 door :/

In all honesty I'd prefer the 5-door for practicality, but then again, I suppose it all boils down to budget..for now lol. Can't complain at a brand new Audi anyway, even if it's for those 3 years and especially coming down from a 2005 SE lol. Think I will go and get that 3 door then. After all, Audi is an Audi.

 

[RO65ERS]

I've had avants, saloons, sport backs and hatches! i much prefer the look and flow of the hatches!
if i needed the rear doors, id go for saloon over a sportback again, but i don't. so i much prefer the hatches!

 

[MikeParkin]

If you don't need the sportback then the 3 door is best for you. Why pay more when you don't need to, the extra money can go towards mods haha.

 

[S32B]

Thanks for all your input guys. Good points about the passenger practicality...but does it justify those couple grand more just for a 5 door :/

In all honesty I'd prefer the 5-door for practicality, but then again, I suppose it all boils down to budget..for now lol. Can't complain at a brand new Audi anyway, even if it's for those 3 years and especially coming down from a 2005 SE lol. Think I will go and get that 3 door then. After all, Audi is an Audi.

Just picked up on your money side of the question! Where did you get the couple of grand more from??? It's £620 more for a five door over a 3!!!

On a side note, a mate of mine who drives a 3 door Golf GTi looked puzzled when I told him I'm getting a saloon next!!! He said he thinks 3 doors looks more sporty!

 

[RO65ERS]

@S32B 3 doors do look more sporty! i was contemplating the saloon for a long time, but when i picture a car racing around, i picture a hatch!

 

[Mojave96]

Just picked up on your money side of the question! Where did you get the couple of grand more from??? It's £620 more for a five door over a 3!!!

View attachment 82579

On a side note, a mate of mine who drives a 3 door Golf GTi looked puzzled when I told him I'm getting a saloon next!!! He said he thinks 3 doors looks more sporty!

I know some people will hate me for saying this but I'm getting an s tronic and I think that changed it up to around the 1k, so yeah I said BS regarding couple grand haha (its a little bit dearer with the same options and the engine choice still) but it's still money which can go to other things I suppose...such as mods like @MikeParkin suggested lol

 

[Jassyo06]

Sportback is better looking, 3 door na,normally l would say a 3 door is always better looking over the 5door but not in the case of the A3

Hence why they don't make a 3 door RS3
Lol
Anyway wise choice s-tronic/sportback

 

[RO65ERS]

see, now i regret not getting S-tronic!
i've had it in previous cars and loved it, the s3, the mrs said it had to be manual, i kind of agreed with her, but i don't get the up farts like the s-tronic, which i love.
i don't get launch control which i love
i don't get paddles - which i love
i also have a left knee that has decided it no longer wants to bend without causing ALOT of issues, which makes depressing the clutch a freaking nightmare! something i do not love.

next car, will be s-tronic!

 

[buz]

If you're financing it then last time I looked you were getting £2500 deposit contribution from Audi on the 3dr S3 rather than just £1000 on a Sportback.

 

[Jassyo06]

If you're financing it then last time I looked you were getting £2500 deposit contribution from Audi on the 3dr S3 rather than just £1000 on a Sportback.

That's probably true,because they sell far more sportback car's than they 3 Door car's, so a incentive to sell more by giving better deals on them

 

[Jassyo06]

see, now i regret not getting S-tronic!
i've had it in previous cars and loved it, the s3, the mrs said it had to be manual, i kind of agreed with her, but i don't get the up farts like the s-tronic, which i love.
i don't get launch control which i love
i don't get paddles - which i love
i also have a left knee that has decided it no longer wants to bend without causing ALOT of issues, which makes depressing the clutch a freaking nightmare! something i do not love.

next car, will be s-tronic!

Hey mate ye really need learn to play the car/wife game better ,it's called,lts OK darling,but in your head your not listening
Just hearing lol

 

[RO65ERS]

Hey mate ye really need learn to play the car/wife game better ,it's called,lts OK darling,but in your head your not listening
Just hearing lol

thing is, I've had s-tronic before and i missed manual, hence why i agreed to go manual, now I've got manual, i miss s-tronic!
it doesn't look like the s3 will be going anywhere anytime soon, so i shall go sit in the corner and feel sorry for myself and learn from my mistakes.

 

[pburv]

see, now i regret not getting S-tronic!
i've had it in previous cars and loved it, the s3, the mrs said it had to be manual, i kind of agreed with her, but i don't get the up farts like the s-tronic, which i love.
i don't get launch control which i love
i don't get paddles - which i love
i also have a left knee that has decided it no longer wants to bend without causing ALOT of issues, which makes depressing the clutch a freaking nightmare! something i do not love.

next car, will be s-tronic!

That's what happens when you listen to another woman.....Man Up!......LOL
On another note about S Tronic I have convinced the 'other half' to getting a Seat Leon automatic after going on and on and on about how effortless driving my car is...
The downside of this is she wants to save for a holiday in Florida next year so no more spending on my car.....Guess I should Man Up also.....

 

[Scottyg]

I have the 3dr A3 and probably should have bought the SB having two kids. But I remember saying to my wife years ago when we didn't have kids that I would never buy a 5dr car! Well I did when the kids were young. Now they are older the 3dr is no bother at all as the seat slides back to the same position you left it in.
Here you go, they do look rather lovely.

 

[Mr.G]

Oooff...the uninterrupted lines of the 3 door and in Sepango fandango! Who could ask for a better looking S3 !

 

[Mr.G]

Just did a sex wee!

 

[Jassyo06]

View attachment 82603

Oooff...the uninterrupted lines of the 3 door and in Sepango fandango! Who could ask for a better looking S3 !

Ye can't always get everything in life correct lol

 

[jetron]

No choice in my case David. The e-tron was only available as a Sportback. In any case I would not have chosen a 3-door as I would not have been open the driver's door when I'm in the garage. The longer door on the 3-door variant needs a considerably wider gap to provide space to get in and out.

 

[Mr.G]

I came from an A3 S-Line Sportback in Daytona. I listened to family and got a Sportback when my heart was in a 3 Door.

I do like each variant equally though. What's not to like about A3/S3/RS3!

Oh I forgot...my absolutely ***** stereo lol.

 

[steeve]

Personally I think the three door looks much better. But that's just my opinion (and I have a Sportback).
The three door hatch has much bigger doors though and it can be a pain in tight car parks, although I wont park in those.

If you need to use the back seats for passengers on a regular basis then then it has to be a five door, who wants to get out in the cold and rain to let some in / out of the rear seats?

Manual or stronic? matter of choice but although I'm getting on in years I'm not yet old enough for an automatic and I'd rather me choose when to change gear than leave it to the car.

 

[moonlight]

I had a Scirocco (new shape) when my first little one was born and it was a real pain...but I thought the car was worth putting up with it.....what I found to be a bigger pain was letting rear passengers in and out...again I thought it was worth it - and of course the rocco only do a 3dr....

Up until 3 years ago I had never owned a 5dr (actually disliked them-on any car) but when the 8v was released i thought it looked out of proportion compared to the SB and we were then expecting a 2nd child so it became a no brainer...in truth looking back i think convinced myself to dislike the 3dr as i knew i would end up with the SB....I do still think that the 3dr looks a tad small....but If i had no children then I would go for the 3dr - it also looks a younger persons car IMO....as you will note from my sig I am ditching the SB in favour of the saloon...purely for aesthetics (renewal of co car) as I believe the saloon is the fairest of them all....

 

[Jassyo06]

View attachment 82604

Just did a sex wee!

Awesome shine you've got going on the Mr G.....

 

[Jassyo06]

I think lf l wanted just 3/2 door's l would go coupe TT?S5. Rather than a hatchback

 

[Simon L]

I think lf l wanted just 3/2 door's l would go coupe TT?S5. Rather than a hatchback

Yep agreed mate, only nice looking Audi 3 door is the S5 coupe................

 

[Jassyo06]

Yep agreed mate, only nice looking Audi 3 door is the S5 coupe................

They have stunning example at Audi approved dealership in Hamilton just down from me mums
S5,Silver 20"s alloys, chrome,Sepang,pano-roof tasty
Now bog off and get some gloss goin on.lol

 

[steeve]

Yep agreed mate, only nice looking Audi 3 door is the S5 coupe................

S5, A5 three door too big, it's out of balance. A bit smaller it would be stunning

 

[Jassyo06]

S5, A5 three door too big, it's out of balance. A bit smaller it would be stunning

Specsavers..........

 

[Snibo]

From the Pictures in Post Number 11 above, the Cabriolet looks the best by a million miles.
Saloon second choice.
Wouldn't bother with any of the others.

Strange thing about going from a 3 door to a 5 door is that you think something has attached itself to your car.
Then you realise with a second look that it's the rear door handle.
Most off putting.

The ease of 5 doors though cannot be under-estimated.

 

[Jassyo06]

From the Pictures in Post Number 11 above, the Cabriolet looks the best by a million miles.
Saloon second choice.
Wouldn't bother with any of the others.

Strange thing about going from a 3 door to a 5 door is that you think something has attached itself to your car.
Then you realise with a second look that it's the rear door handle.
Most off putting.

The ease of 5 doors though cannot be under-estimated.

How the **** is a door handle off putting lol
And how can you judge anything by that computer/website comparison image is beyond me,the Cabriolet is a saloon with the roof chopped off so it's going to be the most attractive yeah the saloon is a stunner,fact is Audi don't sell a lot of 3 door S3's

 

[Scottyg]

Saw that S5 pasting this morning. Stunning car. They've got a good few high end models siting out from including a Q5S, again in SP.

 

[Tristan2]

Saloon is best

 

[Jassyo06]

Saloon is bestView attachment 82675

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder old cliché, but true lol

 

[Jassyo06]

Saw that S5 pasting this morning. Stunning car. They've got a good few high end models siting out from including a Q5S, again in SP.

Sepang's RS3,S5,Rsq5,S3 Sportback,Panther RS6, but S5 really shows them scot