A4 being service, A3 loaner

[Noffy]

I own a A4 (which I love) that i turned in for servicing today. The dealership was nice enoough to give me a A3 loaner. I was surprise to find out that the quality of the interior just does not seem as nice as the A4. With little experience in the VW golf, and none in the A3 it seemed like the A3 was closer to the VWs in terms qualty and workmanship. the a3 is the front trac 2.0T, Tip.

I have been considering buying one of these for my wife, and still might but I was just surpised about how much "inexpensive" feeling the A3 was compared to my A4. I did like the paddle shifters and the cars visibility. But the interior, the ride quality is inferior.

It is still a really nice car, I was just surprised how much nicer my A4 is.

[SilverB7FL]

I had a fully loaded a3 sline as a loaner w/ DSG and I loved it. It was alot of fun to drive and picked up very well for a stock car. I didn't want to give it back! lol

[Doctor]

Yeap, A4 is not an A3 with a bigger rear end...Not at all...
Very different in the way they roll...
A4 is much more solid...We used to own an A3 in the past, so I know for sure...

[davis449]

I own a A4 (which I love) that i turned in for servicing today. The dealership was nice enoough to give me a A3 loaner. I was surprise to find out that the quality of the interior just does not seem as nice as the A4. With little experience in the VW golf, and none in the A3 it seemed like the A3 was closer to the VWs in terms qualty and workmanship. the a3 is the front trac 2.0T, Tip.

I have been considering buying one of these for my wife, and still might but I was just surpised about how much "inexpensive" feeling the A3 was compared to my A4. I did like the paddle shifters and the cars visibility. But the interior, the ride quality is inferior.

It is still a really nice car, I was just surprised how much nicer my A4 is.

That's because it's not really an Audi. It's a 4-Door GTI. NOT that it's a bad thing, but...you know.

[Doctor]

That's because it's not really an Audi. It's a 4-Door GTI. NOT that it's a bad thing, but...you know.

It's not nearly the same with GTI too...My best friend had both MKV GTI, and two A3 8p...Not nearly the same...
But as you said, A3, and A4 DO differ...

[davis449]

It's not nearly the same with GTI too...My best friend had both MKV GTI, and two A3 8p...Not nearly the same...
But as you said, A3, and A4 DO differ...

Really? That's interesting. I think aside from the suspension being a bit softer on the base A3 (excluding the S-Line), it drives just like a MKV GTI. Clutch and gear box feel exactly the same. Engine feels exactly the same too.

[redhott06]

Really? That's interesting. I think aside from the suspension being a bit softer on the base A3 (excluding the S-Line), it drives just like a MKV GTI. Clutch and gear box feel exactly the same. Engine feels exactly the same too.

x2

[b6onboost]

I agree with Noffy.

I really like the A3, especially the S-Line, but when I had my chance to sit in one it really did feel 'lower rent' than my A4. It immediately reminded me of the MKV GTI i test drove in the past. It suprised me as I figured the A3 interior would be on par with the A4, just smaller and styled differently.

[Noffy]

Well I just took it for a bit of a longer drive, I like it a little more than my first impression. The paddle shifters are pretty cool, like indy car racing, and it is pretty quick little car. If it had a few more options it would be better still. Still wouldn't trade it for my A4 but I think I would really like my wife to get one. Now I just have to convince her.

[Doctor]

Really? That's interesting. I think aside from the suspension being a bit softer on the base A3 (excluding the S-Line), it drives just like a MKV GTI. Clutch and gear box feel exactly the same. Engine feels exactly the same too.

Yeah the engines are the same...However the inside quality, differ ages...
The golf keeps cranking and making wierd noises, where as the A3 EVEN with the stiffest suspension, didnt complain at all

[Unleaded20T]

Crap! you guys are lucky, when i bring my car to the dealer i usually get a POS Jetta non-turbo and feels like shit.

[SilverB7FL]

Crap! you guys are lucky, when i bring my car to the dealer i usually get a POS Jetta non-turbo and feels like shit.

lol that sucks. u should complain to the manager that u want audi loaners at ur dealership!

[AudiWxGuy]

I had a 2006 A3 S-line with the full S-line package as well as DSG last time I took my car in for a service. I really liked driving that car. The DSG is the next best thing to a manual. What I find cool is how much torque that car with the front wheel drive. I could break the tires lose while in sport mode at like 40 MPH. The sport suspension was also cool. That pretty much sold me on making that my next upgrade. The one complaint I did have..the Brakes. Much smaller than the A4, and that makes a huge difference. Also...much, much more supportive seats.

[joseb]

Crap! you guys are lucky, when i bring my car to the dealer i usually get a POS Jetta non-turbo and feels like shit.

that sucks! I took my A4 in for the 35K mile service last month, dealer gave me a brand new (still in wrapper!) A6 3.2, fully loaded too.

[Glassnpowder98]

Haha I wish I got a Jetta as a loaner. Enterprise does the rental/loaner program at my dealership. Last time I got a Chevy HHR... Man, did I feel lame. After that I have just been stealing my girlfriends BMW when I need to bring my car in... Much better than driving a hearse.

[gyroscope]

The A3 still has better seats though. But yeah, the vents and dash trim are cheap feeling and not very strokable.

[skiaudi]

when you consider that the a3 does come with the same engines as the a4 and costs several thousand less for both models than its a4 counterpart, audi obviously had to make up some ground somewhere as far as price goes. therefore, the interior is slightly less well-done and some of the things that make the a4 the great car it is were subjected to corner-cutting. still, though, the a3 is a pretty sweet car, but nonetheless the entry-level audi it was meant to be

[HeHateMe]

why in the hell do a3s have better seats??

[a4dc89]

I had an a3 loaner. I kinda liked it, it was quieter and i really like the dsg. only bad thing was the front tires had no traction

[HeHateMe]

You guys that drove the a3 do you like the DSG more than a traditional manual transmission?

[muffinman]

why in the hell do a3s have better seats??

Seriously. I'd give up higher quality vents for better seats anyday

[AudiWxGuy]

I'd like to steal a set of those seats for my car. Hmmm...Next time I have the loaner, the seats just may get stolen...

[akasch]

i had an a3 before my a4 now that its gone i kinda miss it some days. it was faster than a stock a4 and felt like i was driving a go cart

[QuadRings]

+1 on on the better seats, and +1 again on the crappy brakes. 5 days after I got my A4 I got the infamous coil pack failure, and I got an S-line A3 as the loaner. Pretty neat little car, if I was gonna get a hatch, that'd definitely be it. And since I'd only had my car for 5 days and was a little annoyed, you best believe I test drove the shit out of that thing for the time I had it, haha.

[Unleaded20T]

lol that sucks. u should complain to the manager that u want audi loaners at ur dealership!

If you want i'll let you talk to my dealer and you can pretend that your my lawyer. >:D

Don't get me wrong, the jetta that they gave me had 700 miles on it and i beat the crap out of it but its the lack of turbo and having to go that slow and since it was white with hub caps i felt kinda gay.

[AudiWxGuy]

You guys that drove the a3 do you like the DSG more than a traditional manual transmission?

NO! But it's the next best thing if you can't get it.

[Unleaded20T]

NO! But it's the next best thing if you can't get it.

...and you could shift faster than in a manual transmision.

[turbo4s]

I love some ppl on this site, think they could shift as fast as DSG. lol

[AudiWxGuy]

...and you could shift faster than in a manual transmision.

Never said that. The DSG if fun to drive b/c not only does it shift lightning fast, when you use the paddle shifters the car actually responds very quickly. When driving a standard you clearly can not shift as fast, but you get the control of being in whatever gear you want for as long as want. And it's more fun to drive. Much more control of the car.

I never stated I could shift as fast as a DSG...that would ludacris! I said if I couldn't get a manual, it would be my next choice, thus the next best thing.

What kind of statement is that anyway. If you knew how a DSG actually works, you wouldn't have even said something so dumb.

['mk4-turbo]

i do agree with you..i also find the build isn't anything like the A4. you do get for what u pay for

[Raymax_2.0t]

At least you got a loaner, My stealership wont give me one because I didn't buy the car there.

[A4 JooN 2.0T]

At least you got a loaner, My stealership wont give me one because I didn't buy the car there.

so its not "your" dealership.....



p.s : wheres openskye and her input on this thread??

[Unleaded20T]

Never said that. The DSG if fun to drive b/c not only does it shift lightning fast, when you use the paddle shifters the car actually responds very quickly. When driving a standard you clearly can not shift as fast, but you get the control of being in whatever gear you want for as long as want. And it's more fun to drive. Much more control of the car.

I never stated I could shift as fast as a DSG...that would ludacris! I said if I couldn't get a manual, it would be my next choice, thus the next best thing.

What kind of statement is that anyway. If you knew how a DSG actually works, you wouldn't have even said something so dumb.

Wow... I was just adding to your post, that with DSG you can shift faster than in a manual. No offense.

I guess we have to read it twice to understand what i was trying to say.


Edit: Just to add, i know how DSG's and SMG's work.