After a relatively short space of time I have got out of the A3 Saloon. The problem was I could never get the seating position right, it always felt like I was sitting on the car not in it. I know this might sound strange but I never felt hunkered down in it always perched on the seat. I came from a B7 A4 and after 8 years in it the A3 was supposed to be a step forwards but I felt as if I had gone backwards. Road noise was very obvious although that wasn't helped by the 19's and the whole feel of the car felt a little, dare I say cheaper than I was hoping. The spec was good but boy did I pay for it. I don't regret this as the car was lovely to look at just not drive. I had major issues with the leather from day one which was fixed by the end and a rattle which drove me insane did get resolved but I am relieved to have got out of it. This forum has been very useful and welcoming so at least I can say I have enjoyed the social side of owning it. Cheers Mart.
Takes all sorts !!! I find my saloon comfortable and quiet. Relatively low road noise - but standard wheels with Cinturatos. No rattles etc. No problem with leather seats cos mine are fabric -
Feel your pain. I have the s3 saloon and it's a mixture of happiness and dullness and some niggles. Moving on in December.
It is definitely a lovely car. Dare I say a lot nicer than the A4 saloon. Better proportioned. Shame you didn't gel with it. What you moved on to? All the best.
I can relate to the OP... and life's too short to be stuck with something you just don't enjoy. Good luck with your next one.
An S3 dull, that is surprising! I have just got an A3 after several MINIs. I have not yet found the perfect position but it is still comfortable.
Not really. It has many pluses but driver involvement. Maybe get that somewhere else. Anyways, for me an a4 avant due in December.
I have an A4 Avant just now on loan until my S3 Saloon arrives. Lovely big car but is too grown up for me and I am finding it a bit boring although it definitely is the most comfortable car I have driven.
I too find the driving position of the A3 S3 range unusual. The accelerator pedal position causes me ankle pain, something I dont get in any other car.
You are quite correct in that the seat position cannot be set right, having come from other manufacturers cars that could be, this is the one thing I also noticed and coupled with the driving control being far to 'uninvolving' as well you are correct when you say it feels like sitting on the car, not part of. A deal breaker it isn't though as a quick test drive established the positives outweighed the negatives and now I have just got used to it...
This time I'm getting the A4 Avant Sline 2.0TDI 190 Quattro Stronic Just a few toys added, -Daytona grey -Leather/Alcantara -Comfort and sound pack (With memory) -Light and Vision pack -Tech pack -Adaptive Comfort suspension -Heated seats -Electric mirrors -Rear view camera -Traffic sign recognition -Privacy glass
Agree with this and that is the only aspect of the car I am struggling with. Never had any issues with my GTIs but cannot find a comfortable driving position in the S3. Same comments, feels like I am sitting on the car and not in it. I cannot get the seat low enough, comparing with my mates S4, his seats can go much lower than I need.
I felt that way when I set in the front passenger seat of my car, felt weird. Perhaps more tuning with the lumbar adjustments or you need to break in your seat the same way you do your shoes.
Have you tried playing around with the tilt of the base part... for me that makes a huge difference if you make it either flat or tilted up at the front...?
I guess this is very individual. Feels like the seat is hand tailored for me in the S3 while sitting loose and not quite finding the comfort zone with the A4 sport seats. Prefer the real quattro over Haldex though... To op, best luck with whatever new car you get!
Thanks for the responses guys, I am glad I am not the only one who finds the sitting position awkward. I thought I was going mad for a lot of the ownership time. So on Saturday I went to pick up my new car, Audi A5 sportback black edition plus. Now you may think this is quite a departure from the saloon but here are the facts: Brand new A3 Saloon 2.0 diesel S line with 19's. comfort pack. light pack. Nav. mono pur. privacy £31,050 A5 Sportback 2.0 Diesel black edition, 19' rotors, B&O, Nav, Nappa leather. privacy. pre registered 16 plate with 14 miles on the clock: £27,170. Drove 155 miles back from Newbury Audi and it is refined beyond belief, yes, yes it's the run out model but looks great. and, yes the sitting position is 100% spot on, lovely and low, you feel part of it for sure. I'll get a picture up if anyone's interested. Cheers again, Mart.
Funnily enough i often get lower back pain in my S3. Can't get the driving position right, so interesting to read I'm not the only one. Note: I have sport seats.
I find both in mine as well, always feel like I'm sitting on it rather than in it and do get lower back pain from the seats. I have the sports seats in mine so rather annoying paying £795 to be uncomfortable. Also have an annoying creaking from what I think is where the rear high level break light housing meets the rear window. The S3 is definitely not as well made as my previous A5 coupe.
Chris!! The noise I had in mine was diagnosed as the high level break light, it was intermittent and worse when chassis was cold. Audi fixed it, although needed two days as they completely dismantled the rear bench seat to work on it. It was fixed though. There is hope!
I have to rely on it actually doing it at the time, my dealer will not take the car in for these kind of issues unless you can demonstrate it to them. As you say it is bad sometimes and then other times it can be ok
Pictures if interested? Oh come on!.............Of course you muppet...lol Glad you have got yourself a great car...As for the black edition being run of the mill?? How can you call this run of the mill...
Had same issue previously with the high break light in my saloon, garage found and fixed it under warranty no problem. I believe all they did was put a little padding strip in or something. Not ideal for a brand new £30k car like but I guess it fixed it.
Looks great mate, I've always liked the look of the A5. Do you notice much difference in the size for parking/garage etc over the A3?
As much as I like the A5, IMHO, the A3 saloon looks far nicer, and more modern....but maybe I'm biased!!
Funny, other than the new TT and R8 I think they've ruined their entire line-up.... The new S5 looks so bad compared to the B8.5....
I think it depends what you are used to, when in work I see the new Astra being built everyday.....I best leave it there lol
Yeah, the new A5 looks good, but I was commenting on the old shape A5 daytonamart has bought, shown in his photo #28
Ha yea fair enough. The new A3 is alright, but then I've always felt it was pretty unremarkable looking anyway. Same with the A4. The new Q7 just looks hideous though....! Not that bad with the new A/S5 but the front just looks off...looks like the Mondeo....
