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Looks like a Wagon, but....
I wasn't so sure about this car, but my fiance insisted that it is/was the best value on the road. We test drove it in Washington DC and bought it in Honolulu, HI. This car is incredible. It's fun to drive, has a definite wow factor, roomy, etc. We haven't had anything go wrong, but I have been tough on the wheels! I take corners fast and I love the feel of the car as it pulls through every turn. I have surprised numerous drivers on the road since many assume this car is just a wagon, but once I hit the gas petal, the A3 accelerates past pretty much anything out there.
Fast, but Open-Sky is cheap quality
Initially happy with the power and interior quality. A little turbo lag, especially in 1st gear. Quattro should be available with the manual transmission. I had to go for front-wheel drive to get M.T. which feels inferior to rear-drive cars like 325ci. Car is fast and nimble, but nowhere near that of the 3-series (2003 for comparison). The interior sunshade for Open-Sky system is cheap looking and feeling. The latches are breaking (common problem). This is an Audi luxury brand car and should not have such cheap parts. The rest of the interior is of good quality and presentation, though.
- 2.0T WagonMSRP: $4,900339 mi away
- 2.0T WagonMSRP: $3,995515 mi away
- 2.0T WagonMSRP: $3,999695 mi away
My first car ...
It's my first new car. Premier package with Opensky. I am driving a car again after two and half years break and am still getting used to it. Mileage is as expected. Acceleration and handling feel great but sometimes it doesn't seem to respond as well to gas pedal. I don't know if it is my driving. The front sunshade latch on the Opensky broke after 5-6 times of use. The dealership admitted that they have been getting lot of complaints about that latch. The screws attached to the net/hook in the cargo area are really loose. I also occasionally hear some rattles from behind. It is the first production apparently. Otherwise, the storage space seems to justify why I preferred this to A4 sedan.
Feel of luxury for a great price
Never thought I would own a brand new Audi, but from the minute I saw this car I new I had to have it! The price with some luxury options was reasonable considering the happiness I feel driving it. The paddles are fun, the seats are comfy, the open sky is beautiful and it is so peppy..getting by the trucks on the highway is a breeze. Had some minor problem with the keys bu the dealer to care of it. Have 15000 miles on it already and the car is running beautifully. Best bet for an entry luxury car...has the look of it's higher priced brothers and sisters and a top notch engine and interior design.
An overlooked vehicle
Having owned an A4 1.8T previously, I've had first hand experience with the Audi product. The 2.0T is a huge improvement over the already great 1.8T and the DSG transmission is a blast to drive. The tight handling and fun to drive factor have made me forget about many of the luxury items I became used to in the A4, including Quattro. My A3 is the best car I've ever owned.
All-Time Favorite
A terrific vehicle overall. Fast, fun, with practical features. Beautiful interior and exterior design elements. 2.0T engine a driver's delight. Audi Concert audio very capable. Ride, handling, comfort, and thoughtful touches allow all-day comfort and fun in the twisties. This car makes me smile during and after every drive. Premium and Cold Weather pkgs. nice. "Sportswagon" more apt than "hatchback." The A3 "concept" and execution is dead-on. I'm 6' and OK in the back seat without Open Sky. Solid feel. Looks small, but really isn't. I love this car. The center arm rest can interfere with the hand brake, but it's no big deal. Options can add-up to 30+k. Form follows function.
Audi All the Way!!
Researched the car for over a year and finally test drove an A3 among other brands: BMW, Volvo, and Acura. A3 won me over mainly for its fuel economy and the performance - TURBO. A very capable "sportswagon". Most of my friends couldn't believe how well handled the car is on the road - mine comes with the sports option. The AudiConcert sound system is quite good. I can't wait to take this car along the Coastal Hi-Way in Calif. Nice work, Audi!
Great Car!
I was looking for a car good for a small family, 25+mpg, and fun to drive. The A3 is a perfect fit. I've only had it for 250 miles but completely love it so far. It was tough to get the exact one I wanted and had to include XM radio. This is my first Audi and was nervous about going non-Japanese, but it felt so great to drive. MPGs are not quite what they say. I have the black leather interior and everyone comments on how great it looks. Also seen comments about the sunroof letting light in when closed but the glass is really tinted so I haven't noticed much heating effect. I think the ventilation system is also really great and intuitive vs other cars.
Lovin' It!
We're a growing family, had to find a car to replace my old 2 seat Honda del Sol SI. We're a Honda family, and I had my heart set on an '06 Civic SI. But I just couldn't get excited about it after driving. Drove 8 cars back-to- back-- Honda, Volvo, Mercedes, Lexus, Acura, even a Prius, and in the $30k range, the A3 was BY FAR the most spirited drive out there. It's a German car and has it's quirks, but for a $5k premium over the Civic SI (with options), this is a *lot* more vehicle. Not too many of them on the road either, and it definitely gets attention. White exterior with Black Open sky roof / Black interior gives a sharp contrast aka some of the Mini's....
Fun drive
Car is fun to drive. The turbo engine needs a slight more power, nothing a chip upgrade won't fix. Front wheels due seem to spin a bit, but after some driving time you learn how to minimize the spin.
Couldn't ask for anything more
Being that my father used to work at the Audi plant in Stuttgart many, many years ago, I know of the German reputation for building quality cars. I have not been disappointed. The single most thing that stands out for me is the performance. I have been thrown back into my seat on several occassions when stepping on the gas. The interior is impeccable along with the skyroof and especially the onboard computer. I no longer have to use a calculator to figure out my gas mileage. The comfort and functionality of the seats are first rate. My last four cars were all Ford models. This is my first Audi. If the A3 is any indication, this definitely wont be the last
Upgraded from 01 GTI
Upgrading from the GTI, the Audi feels very familiar. The 6MT is silky smooth, and feels even better than the GTI (awesome feel). I have the lux.pkg., sunroof, coldweather. I am a bit worried about snow and the 17" tires. In researching, I was wanting the 4-door GTI (not avail as of yet) or A3. My 3 main gripes: sunroof in my GTI was superior (1-touch/better sunshade). The basic radio is NOT mp3 compatible and aux input not standard. The climate controls are NOT intuitive (but make sense after studying the manual). It's a great auto, don't get me wrong. The road feel, engine note, steering wheel feel, interior look/design, it just feels right. Oh, my insurance increased only ~$60/year over my GTI.
Green Sports Car
This car is awesome!! For one thing this is not a dime a dozen car. I love that not every car in the parking lot is an A3. I always get 28-30 miles to the gallon highway and almost the same in the city. What other car can zip you around town take corners fast and get good gas. I got open sky it great is makes the car feel roomier. The DSG is fun when your driving just for the hell of it. Plus you can feel you are in a well bulit car. My doors are way heavier (3 steel beams per door vs. 2) than an american counterpart.
Very Fun Car, Worth Every Penny!!!
Since I knew for a while that I was going to drive from PA to FL 1,180 miles I waited to write this review. I have a 2.0T, DSG, Sport Package, 17 wheels, and the car is AWESOME. Honestly, it could not be better! The engine is very responsive, transmission is smooth and fun to use on all three modes (Sport, Drive, and Shift Pads), interior finishing is upper class, audio system is excellent, and the exterior looks from every angle very sporty. I had never had a car with sport suspension and was afraid that I would get tired of the firm ride. When I test-drove the A3 premium package and the sport package prior to make my decision, I had no doubt that the sport package was the way to go!
FUN TO DRIVE
My A3 is an excellent ride. I drive 60 miles to work one way and it is all freeway. The vehicle handles and performs well. I feel safe on the road. I have averaged 32 mpg on the highway. The car is responsive and when the turbo kicks in I can easily move through traffic. The hand brake could be in a better position. The car should have a compass. Get the deluxe package and 17" wheels.
One of the Best Choices Under 30K
I've been driving my A3 for a little over a year. The handling is amazing with the sport package. DSG is cool for lazy feet, but not for me. Bottom line: there are a lot of cars out there in this price range. More importantly, there are many above this price range. A GIAC or REVO for this car, and it will hang with the M3s and STIs of the world. However, with the A3 you also get practicality and comfort, which those cars do not have. AND, I'm getting 36 MPG highway!
Upgrade
I drove a Ford Ranger before this car, obviously it's a huge change and upgrade. Still, having driven a standard for the last 25 years, I didn't like the auto transmission for the first 5000 miles, but once it was broken in, it's been a dream since. Cost was fair value; I don't think it is overpriced at all even with the luxury package and Open Sky.
A3 is a great car!
The A3 is a cross between the TT and A4 Avant. The 2-liter turbo scoots, car handles well and the wagon design is practical. Interior design is a beauty, with brushed aluminum trim included with the premium group. And you don't see A3s coming and going all the time on the roads. It's almost a well-kept secret.
2006 California A3-DSG-2.0T
This Audi replaces my previous 2002 GTI 337 edition, and it is noticably refined even better than the 06 GTi which can be optioned to cost as much as an '06 A3. Prices for these cars [mine bought w/5K miles on odo] have a large range of prices. As a CertUsed purchase you can get upto 6years/60Kmiles on overall Audi warranty. More comfortable and vuality ride than anything previous. Slightly more body roll than I am used to, but it never pretended to be a sports car. Throttle response is good but occasionally confused with DSG happenings. Interior and creature comforts is where ths vehicle shows head & shoulders above the Mazdaspeed3 and WRX-Saab 9-2. Getting used to the DSG takes time.
Pretty to look at, but don't buy it!
Great car, but not a month goes by without the check engine light coming on. 2 air conditioning compressors, misfiring cylinders, won't eject CDs, 1 qt of oil every 4K miles, 2 coolant leaks, leaking turbo inlet and seals, and on and on... I will NEVER buy another Audi, what a giant let down!
A sports car without the pain
Manual, Premium package (much better seats), xenon lights, Bose sound (big improvement), Sirius, Bluetooth etc. Replaced the crap stock P6s with much better tires. This car grows on you. The longer you own it, the more you realize how good it is: great steering and handling, big broad power band, beautifully built, so smooth, surprisingly quiet. 5K miles so far: NOTHING has gone wrong -- not a rattle, not a screw loose. We have been very surprised at how good a high speed (85 mph) long distance cruiser it is. Amazing stability. Immune to gusty winds. Very comfortable. Surprising amount of room and trunk space. We prefer it to our previous larger, more expensive cars.
My Review
A lot of fun to drive and a good value for the money. I waited for this car to come to the US because it's one of a kind. My car has Cold weather, Premium Pkg., DSG, Open Sky and Lava Grey Paint.
Audi's TSX
Feels a lot like "luxury" Golf, and that is a very good thing! A3 may not perform as well as as the VW Golf, but its just as fun to drive. This is one of those cars where you can take it work on a weekday, and race it on the weekends!
audi-standing
I have owned my A3 for 3 weeks and I am more and more convinced every time I drive this car on what an amazing vehicle it is. Even though I really liked the stock rims, I have changed them out for light-weight 17 enkei performance racing rims and have plans to replace the stock springs with neuspeed sport springs and using the neuspeed engine management upgrade increasing HP to 250+ and torque ft/lb to 295+. The 6-speed manual is as controlled or aggressive as you need it to be. A3 is truly a wolf in sheeps clothing. bad placement of center console w/ 6-speed but folds up out of the way if needed.
A3 DSG premium sound sat.
I have had the car 3 weeks. So much fun to drive. Shifting the car with the paddles rocks, normally I just up shift and let it down shift for me. It works great. Great car highly recommended.
agility and speed
Overall an exciting car to drive. I'm able to navigate busy DC with little problem, and the DSG TRANNY IS KICKIN. The only complaint I have is the driver seat seems to be losing its support. Seats started out firm, but now they are uncomfortable. Limited thigh support for my 6'1" frame. Sunroof is a blast. Wanted all-wheel, but didn't want the 6 cylinder. Overall a kickin car to drive.
Best and only small luxury hatchback
Great fuel economy, a huge upgrade in performance from last year's A4 base models. An automatic transmission that has better performance than manual and better fuel economy. That's quite a feat. Interior build is excellent. Great value too, no disadvantage vs. the A4 in space.
Love Mine
it was great from the start! maybe i am biased, but i think my audi is faster than most cars i meet on the road. the best part of the acceleration is when i am going about 60 and i need to pop around someone quickly. man, she has some pickup. the interior is stylish and roomy, considering the size of this car. the rear view mirror even has an automatic dimmer to keep headlights from behind out of my eyes. handles like a dream. i will continue to drive this car for quite a while, at least until i settle down with a family. then i intend to get an A8. i will always own an audi. no other car will do.