a3 vs a4

[Dub2]

ok so here is the deal i've been looking @ both the audi a3 as well as a4. i found an 06 a4 quattro 15k miles for $24000 and i found an 07 a3 with 2k for 21k. My Dilema is picking one of the 2 soo im asking for your help!

[speedydragon]

A4 = more room. Both 2.0t? Is quattro helpful to oyu? You should get the a4 just cuz of quattro :]

[Chris from Cali]

I think the A3 is a lot more fun to drive, but if you need quattro, then the A4 is the way to go... Also, I think the back seat in the A3 is a lot roomier than the A4. Plus you get a very large cargo area with the back seats folded in the A3.

[20AE428]

I have both and enjoy the A3 much more. I live in snow all winter and only miss quattro for a bit of the year. I find the A4 a pig on gas when your just zipping around town. Not that much more room in the A4 either. Of course the '06 A4 is supposed to be much better than the 1.8 5 spd that I have.

[the4ringer]

i would think that you'd feel a lil more power out of the a3 vs the a4 quattro... suckin up power ya know.

with ample mods, its gonna go away, but male genetics show that there can never be 'enough' power reached, lol

[ultimatetaba8]

both are sitting in our garage right now, along with a touareg . my dad has an 06 A4 2.0TQ, while i have the 07 A3 2.0T S-line. we love both of the cars. i was originally getting an A4 (before my dad got his), but decided on the A3. i like the looks and performance better. i would probably say that stock, i like the A4's power and handling better. but now, with a chip and other performance mods on my A3, i wouldn't even think of looking back. i drive my car every opportunity i get, as opposed to driving the A4 or Touareg. They are ALMOST the same..so in this case, i would most likely go with the 07 A3, as it is newer, has significantly less mileage, and is cheaper by about $3k. Saving money by going with the A3, you can use the $3k to put mods or whatever. This is all going, without consideration to the features (convenience package, weather package, S-Line, etc.) the cars have to offer. hope this helped.

[A3+]

Test drove both before buying. If you don't need the quattro, the A3 is the way to go. It feels that the A3 has more power due to less weight, and don't forget the A3 can be equipped with DSG.

[Dub2]

thanks for all the replies they definetly helped

[Avantss]

i have the a4 and my friend the a3, i like the a4 because of its interior but the a3 feels more sporty, thats stock to stock....overall if you will end up modding i would go a4 b7...

[Monizzle]

a3 fun factor > a4 without a doubt.
I'm over buying cars for others, if I fit in it that's all I care about. I haven't driven a manual A3 but the DSG is amazing! And when you chip it...game over.

[littlewhite]

I had a B5 A4 1.8tQ before and now with an A3. A3 is a lot more fun to drive. Great gas mileage and tuning potential – 2.0T. Quattro was nice with the B5 but lack of power even with software and light tuning. Depends what you look for and want

[Chris from Cali]

a3 fun factor > a4 without a doubt.
I'm over buying cars for others, if I fit in it that's all I care about. I haven't driven a manual A3 but the DSG is amazing! And when you chip it...game over.

I have a DSG S-line A3, but I tested a manual one when I was shopping for a DD to go w/my 911. The shifter felt VERY rubbery - I was really disappointed. The DSG is the ONLY way to go with the A3.

[GTMRS4]

I disagree - I can burnout all 4 wheels on my A4 and it is so much fun to drive. If you need the Cargo room then go with the A3.

[Monizzle]

The a3 is newer in every sense of the word, that alone is a strong plus for me.

[audiant]

a3 all the way. i am also a a4 owner and the diffrences are like day and night. i have also had the b7's as loaners and yea there is a great improvment over the b6 but the a3 is more fun to drive and much more spirited. no quattro is a downfall but im happy i dont have it. quattro in the winter is nice but you lose to much power. i tune my car so i like the fact that my car is fwd.

you really can do w/o quattro.........audi's fronttrak is excellent and with some good snow tires you are set for the winter.

MAIN REASON FOR BUYING AN A3.............DSG. i got a 6spd but dsg is great and would be the only automatic i will ever own again.

[Panzr15]

ok so here is the deal i've been looking @ both the audi a3 as well as a4. i found an 06 a4 quattro 15k miles for $24000 and i found an 07 a3 with 2k for 21k. My Dilema is picking one of the 2 soo im asking for your help!

I am also in the same dilemma, my lease is ending soon and I need a DD. I can't decide between new A3 with DSG or a new A4 Avant 2.0T w/quattro and a 6M tranny. How much more cargo room does the A4 have over the A3? Is there a big difference in the mpg between the 2? Sorry for the thread jack and the noob questions, I'm not 100% on my Audi info yet. I'm currently on the darkside (BMW)

[dmaize]

a4 avant.

[r0nd3L]

a3 all the way. i am also a a4 owner and the diffrences are like day and night. i have also had the b7's as loaners and yea there is a great improvment over the b6 but the a3 is more fun to drive and much more spirited. no quattro is a downfall but im happy i dont have it. quattro in the winter is nice but you lose to much power. i tune my car so i like the fact that my car is fwd.

you really can do w/o quattro.........audi's fronttrak is excellent and with some good snow tires you are set for the winter.

MAIN REASON FOR BUYING AN A3.............DSG. i got a 6spd but dsg is great and would be the only automatic i will ever own again.

So, when you tune your car FWD is better? I find complete opposite. I like having traction.

[Panzr15]

So, when you tune your car FWD is better? I find complete opposite. I like having traction.

+1 Unless I've missed something coming from the RWD or 65/35 AWD school of thought

[tdn]

If you want to modify your car besides lowering it and getting a chip, definitely get the quattro a4. If you live in an area that gets a decent amount of snow or rain, and you drive often.. get the a4 quattro. The weather is nice all year round and you don't care about modding it other than maybe a chip, exhaust and suspension.. go with the a3. either way, you're going with a nice car in my opinion.

If one of the cars used to be a loaner and the other one wasn't.. go for the one that wasn't.

[audiant]

So, when you tune your car FWD is better? I find complete opposite. I like having traction.

what i mean is that i rahter tune my fwd car b/c to me its so much more fun to drive as opposed to my quattro a4. if i had the money i would of gotten a 3.2 a3 with haldex awd b/c i love vr6's. but an a4 quattro to me is no fun to drive, of course this is my opinion and everyone is entitled to their own

[b6onboost]

Hatchback vs Sedan...thats the biggest question between these 2 cars.

Quattro? need or merely a want.
DSG vs Auto? will you really shift it yourself that often.

If you are still unsure after answering those...the A4 is a nicer car and the A3 is sportier and more fun.

[RSiliconValley]

The only place the size difference is noticeable between the A3/A4 is the trunk.. the rear seat space is almost exactly the same.

Either way, like said before, it's an aesthetic. The A3 is definately a more unique car in the US, basically the best looking hatch around.

[audiant]

x2

[JMVant]

Go for an a4 avant ^_- hybrid

[mercury26]

Love my S4 Avant, but I might be swayed to trade-in for an A3 2.0T Quattro w/ 6MT. If they ever decided to offer it in the US. If you need Quattro go for the A4, if not looks at the A3 2.0T. I was not thrilled with the 3.2 and DSG, so I went with the S4.

Cheers,

Chuck

[audiant]

s4 is a beast

[tiptronic]

ended up with an A3- instead of the A4- although it was between a brand new A4 Quattro Sline versus an A3 2007 2.0t(used with 240miles only-but full warranty/full coverage, etc--another story) I must say that after deciding between the two (well, the price really is what did it-- and well, the style!!) I found the A3 the perfect fit for me- i can fit my massage table no problem, i can still mount my mountain bike up top, and i found that the rear room is pretty much the same as our V6 Passat glx, and well, it is the same as the A4 b7.
I would recommend going for the newer A3 than getting a used B5 A4 with 1.8t only. also- this my first car to have esp- (our glx only has asr, and my prvious 1.8t wagon passat- has only traction control up to 40mph).. i must say that this car handled the wet twisty canyon from this past storm that pestered southern calif w/out any drama/complaint.

[littlewhite]

Welcome to the fam!

[Cingulus]

I tried the A3, GTI, and the A4, I bought this car as a daily driver (to save gas 100Mile/day commute). I ended up getting a used 2006 A3 for under 23K about 4 months ago. I like it better that my TT 350Z. I am a big guy (6’, 350lbs), and I fit very well in the front and back. I found the A3 to be roomier than the A4 (door arm rest positioning, wider back on seats). I have done an ECU flash, intake and TBE and I love it. I think the suspension needs some work and it needs better tires, and will do those soon. Great car for the price…I plan to sell the Z and get a GT-R or M3 for weekends and tracks but I will defiantly keep the A3. It is so much better than I thought a car at this price could be.

[tiptronic]

Welcome to the fam!

Thanks!
id post pics- but maybe after i get out of the ''stock'' look



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[ALPHA3]

check out my review on VWvortex.com - on the Audi Forum, A3/8p. purely my observation, of course.