View Full Version : Why buy the A3 over the new golf hatch ?
Crazy Quattro
02-01-2005, 02:54 AM
Whats the difference? Not trying to flame, i just dont know the real difference between the two.
LEDFoot
02-01-2005, 08:53 AM
Does the golf come with quatt... sorry 4-motion, other than as the r32?
Really, the same reasons you would buy an a4 over a passat I guess...
Anthony
02-01-2005, 12:23 PM
Yeah, I like the looks of the new Golf too, but...
1) A3 will be out here first.
2) I love my Audis, there's a slightly higher level of refinement that comes with the higher price tag.
3) And for most people, quattro. Not many VW models have the AWD here in the States.
AudiSnawb
02-01-2005, 03:14 PM
Originally posted by LEDFoot
Does the golf come with quatt... sorry 4-motion, other than as the r32?
Really, the same reasons you would buy an a4 over a passat I guess...
The A3 doesnt have quattro yet anyways, Its only FWD...
LEDFoot
02-01-2005, 03:51 PM
Originally posted by AudiSnawb
The A3 doesnt have quattro yet anyways, Its only FWD...
That's why I wouldn't consider it until the quattro version makes it over here. I just don't think I could handle having another FWD car.
AudiSnawb
02-01-2005, 03:57 PM
^^^ I hear yah, no one understands unless they have owned one! The defonitly make a huge difference, expecially going from a RWD M3 in the snow to all wheel drive heaven!
LEDFoot
02-01-2005, 04:00 PM
I would consider RWD, not FWD. At least RWD is fun and predictable.
Anthony
02-01-2005, 07:44 PM
They all have their advantages and disadvantages. I just don't use AWD enough for it to be of that much concern. Not for the A3 anyway.
If it was a very powerful S version, or something larger that I took on longer trips through various weather conditions, then no doubt. Quattro all the way. But I have lived without quattro in my current daily for the past year and a half and I am pretty sure I can live without it for another few years in this car.
I think the GTi may be in order for me...
But its too long out.. I am sick of riding Nissan the rents gave me [eek]
**** decisions..
AudiSnawb
02-02-2005, 02:54 PM
Originally posted by LEDFoot
I would consider RWD, not FWD. At least RWD is fun and predictable.
Im opposite, Id rather have FWD, only because i live in blizzard country... NH... should i relocate to a warm tropical climate, I would be RWD ALL year round, wouldnt even care about quattro
Awadd9
02-02-2005, 04:59 PM
At the rate Audi is going I would be suprised if the A3 lasts 3-5 model years in the US market
DoThisMyWay
02-03-2005, 08:26 AM
Done the Golf thing... Done the GTI thing... Time to move on! [up]
LEDFoot
02-03-2005, 08:40 AM
Originally posted by AudiSnawb
Im opposite, Id rather have FWD, only because i live in blizzard country... NH... should i relocate to a warm tropical climate, I would be RWD ALL year round, wouldnt even care about quattro
I used to live in snow. I would take a RWD car any day of the year sun or snow. FWD in snow is hopeless, ever tried driving an accord in snow?
LEDFoot
02-03-2005, 08:43 AM
Originally posted by Awadd9
At the rate Audi is going I would be suprised if the A3 lasts 3-5 model years in the US market
???? what's that supposed to mean??
Originally posted by LEDFoot
I used to live in snow. I would take a RWD car any day of the year sun or snow. FWD in snow is hopeless, ever tried driving an accord in snow?
What? Front wheel drive is the only option besides of course awd any where you get lots of snow. Rear wheel drive is absolutely worthless in the snow.
foofighter
02-03-2005, 11:09 AM
i dont care either way...both Audi and Vw have really stepped things up in terms of finish and quality for this latest MkV chassis. It'll be the pricing and the options that will make me decide. If VW brings over a 4motion of their GTi/R/Golf then i would condsider it. But i think that would bite into the Audi brand as they are more known for their AWD cars than anybody else.
Lastly w/ the introduction of the independent rear suspension ont he MkV chassis all the negatives of the 3 legged VW is now gone.
Anthony
02-03-2005, 11:33 AM
But the three wheeled motion is so much fun!!! [:D]
LEDFoot
02-04-2005, 08:45 AM
Originally posted by Kent
What? Front wheel drive is the only option besides of course awd any where you get lots of snow. Rear wheel drive is absolutely worthless in the snow.
Not if you have any idea at all on how to drive. RWD is much more predictable and therefore safer since you know what the car will do and can correct it. Just like AWD isn't really going to do you a whole lot of good unless you know how to drive it. It amy help you get going quicker, but that's just going to put you in the ditch quicker.
FWD in slippery conditions is nuts, especially FWD with traction control, there is no telling where the heck the car is going to go if you loose traction.
Awadd9
02-11-2005, 01:30 AM
Originally posted by LEDFoot
???? what's that supposed to mean??
If the A3 ends up being a $30,000.00 hatchback it will not move. They need to differentiate from the A4. I just priced out the A3 on the UK web-site. for the options I wanted it was only about 1500 GBP less than a similar outfitted A4.
THat will be a problem.. just in my opinion though.
Andrew
Nor_Cal_Driver
02-14-2005, 06:36 AM
Hot hatches are just that, hot and AWD Turbo 4's is the combo that is key at the moment. It will be interesting to see how it fairs against faster cars in the market. (i.e. Evo, STI, etc.)
LEDFoot
02-14-2005, 08:39 AM
Originally posted by Awadd9
If the A3 ends up being a $30,000.00 hatchback it will not move. They need to differentiate from the A4. I just priced out the A3 on the UK web-site. for the options I wanted it was only about 1500 GBP less than a similar outfitted A4.
THat will be a problem.. just in my opinion though.
Andrew
Ahh ok yeah I suppose that makes sense.
I thin kin Europe they can sell a smaller car for almost as much as the bigger one and people will still buy it because of other things that makes smaller cars popular over there (fuel economy, taxes, etc.).
I hope they realize here in the us people really don't care about things like that.
What I am afraid of is that the A3 will replace the A4 in the pricing range and the A4 will move upwards instead.
pdxa4
02-21-2005, 02:39 AM
Originally posted by LEDFoot
Does the golf come with quatt... sorry 4-motion, other than as the r32?
Really, the same reasons you would buy an a4 over a passat I guess...
The Golf does have 4-motion in Europe...you can get it on a TDI...
http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3040831.001/1009.jpg
http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3040831.001/1002big.jpg
And Quattro (which is the 4-motion haldex) is available on the A3 2.0T as well as the 3.2 in Europe...
I'm guessing the US market may not see this for a while though...
LEDFoot
02-22-2005, 09:08 AM
Originally posted by pdxa4
The Golf does have 4-motion in Europe...you can get it on a TDI...
http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3040831.001/1009.jpg
http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3040831.001/1002big.jpg
And Quattro (which is the 4-motion haldex) is available on the A3 2.0T as well as the 3.2 in Europe...
I'm guessing the US market may not see this for a while though...
Yeah, we're not supposed to see A3 quattro at all here for a while still [:(].
And we'll likely never see the TDI again.
Awadd9
02-26-2005, 07:28 PM
Originally posted by LEDFoot
Ahh ok yeah I suppose that makes sense.
I thin kin Europe they can sell a smaller car for almost as much as the bigger one and people will still buy it because of other things that makes smaller cars popular over there (fuel economy, taxes, etc.).
I hope they realize here in the us people really don't care about things like that.
What I am afraid of is that the A3 will replace the A4 in the pricing range and the A4 will move upwards instead.
From a while ago but looks like you scenario may be the more likely of outcomes. Love the line up of cars. But I looked at the sticker on a B7 at the dealer the other day, I can't remember if it was a 2.0T or a 3.2 but I saw the 40 as the first two numbers and I was like what?
no really where is the new A4 I am not interested in the A6?
I hear the A3 is on the US sight now I am going to go look..
Love the cars, I am cringing at the price, especially when I think about the experience I have had with dealers in my area. Hopefully Audi will begin to elevate the entire experience.
AMW
A4Kevin
02-26-2005, 07:57 PM
A3 quattro will be here in the fall.
Anthony
02-26-2005, 08:01 PM
Unless they moved the release date forward, this Fall is too early for the quattro A3.
nmarkusA4
03-06-2005, 08:54 PM
I just spoke with my local dealer manager and he assured me that may will be when the FWD version will be available there for sale. The Quatt version will be in the fall. He said he is affraid that the price is gunna be too high due to the inflated exchange rates. He wasnt completely sure though.
foofighter
03-06-2005, 09:48 PM
i'm still holding out that VW will step it up this time and bring over their 4motion on some of the cars on a limited bases. They know awd sells so they would be dumb not to.
Golf/Jetta Variants, R32, R36, Passat, Golf SUV they have a lot coming and their level of refinement will be right up there w/ Audi...must be difficult to be the VAG product planner for the US as it's a heavily competitive market.
They probably will figure one sale to vw or audi is better than the sale going to some other make so they might just make things more available for the VW line.
kombi
03-07-2005, 06:10 PM
Haldex was an option on the Golf4 Highline model overseas. VW hasn't even announced a new Highline yet over there.
I'm thinking 4-Motion VW's are a long way from showing up here.
I thought $28k was a good guess at the price of a US market Golf4 V6 4-Motion back then.
Audi Magazine Jan. 05 says the A3 3.2 quattro should be here "early 2006". About this time next year.
[cool]