Shopping for daily driving, Audi A3?

[uniqueMR]

Hello all

I am shopping for a daily driving vehicle and interested in buying 2016 or 2017 Audi A3 with less than 20K miles.

Any input on Audi and A3s? Such as reliability, mechanical/technical/electrical issues, so forth.

Feel free for input/advice/comment

[HyeWarrior]

Get a GTI instead, save $5k

[Never_Enough]

Lease a Jetta. Stupid cheap

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Lease a Jetta. Stupid cheap

I think this is because the last Jetta was around since 2010 so leases were cheap as they try to move inventory.

The new model Jetta just arrived so those won't have as cheap a lease on them.

[Delta0311]

We got a loaded 228 for my chick back in 2016. We drove both the A3 and 228 and hands down the 228 feels way sportier and agile. Drive a 228 before you pick up the A3 you will notice the difference.

[Z K]

I test drove the current A3. I ended up in an A4 for my daily driver. I think the A3 is not a bad car. It's small and light, has quattro and saves a lot of gas. It also has a ton of power for the size and if you flash a tune on it, you'll have over 300hp from the car and 0-60 is under 5 seconds. Reliablity is very good when stock - the engine is the same in the A3 as the GTI, A4 and other VW/Audi. Parts and maintenance is dirt cheap.

What didn't do it for me was that the visibility out the back is not very good. If you get one with a backup camera, it is fine. The other thing is, the normal front seats are completely flat. It is kind of uncomfortable to sit on and you slide side to side any time you take a corner even at normal speeds. If you get it with the sports seats, it is much better - but very few A3s have the sports package. That and a lot of cheap hard plastic makes the car feel more economy than it should be.

If I found an A3 with the sports seats/package and back up camera that fit my budget, I may have gotten one.. but the A4 seemed like a better deal than the A3 and it didn't cost more pre-owned.

[Red Bread]

Sedans are for goobers. GTI or Golf R.

[angelr]

Previous a3 wagon....love them and they are cheap

[VPB74]

Depends on what is important for you in a daily driver; gas mileage, reliability, looks, handling, comfort, convenience, etc. When my wife needed a new car we looked at the A3 and the Gulf. In the end, we bought her a Corolla. For her, it came down to price, reliability, and convenience. We have a Toyota dealer right here in town, but the Audi/VW dealer is about 15 miles down the road - not as convenient when dropping if off for service. The Corolla was also $5k to $10k cheaper. It is a Corolla, but to her that didn't matter, and we have the BMW when we want something nice to drive.

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Get a GTI instead, save $5k

Need something with a trunk

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Lease a Jetta. Stupid cheap

I might look into 2019 Jetta R-Line

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

We got a loaded 228 for my chick back in 2016. We drove both the A3 and 228 and hands down the 228 feels way sportier and agile. Drive a 228 before you pick up the A3 you will notice the difference.

I will definitely check out 228i

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by Z K

I test drove the current A3. I ended up in an A4 for my daily driver. I think the A3 is not a bad car. It's small and light, has quattro and saves a lot of gas. It also has a ton of power for the size and if you flash a tune on it, you'll have over 300hp from the car and 0-60 is under 5 seconds. Reliablity is very good when stock - the engine is the same in the A3 as the GTI, A4 and other VW/Audi. Parts and maintenance is dirt cheap.

What didn't do it for me was that the visibility out the back is not very good. If you get one with a backup camera, it is fine. The other thing is, the normal front seats are completely flat. It is kind of uncomfortable to sit on and you slide side to side any time you take a corner even at normal speeds. If you get it with the sports seats, it is much better - but very few A3s have the sports package. That and a lot of cheap hard plastic makes the car feel more economy than it should be.

If I found an A3 with the sports seats/package and back up camera that fit my budget, I may have gotten one.. but the A4 seemed like a better deal than the A3 and it didn't cost more pre-owned.

I was falling for A3 due to smaller car and tighter. Plus I drive about 80-100 miles a day so really need good mileage, reliability, dependability...But I will give a try to A4. Nothing to loose

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Sedans are for goobers. GTI or Golf R.

haha. Well I do have M4

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by VPB74

Depends on what is important for you in a daily driver; gas mileage, reliability, looks, handling, comfort, convenience, etc. When my wife needed a new car we looked at the A3 and the Gulf. In the end, we bought her a Corolla. For her, it came down to price, reliability, and convenience. We have a Toyota dealer right here in town, but the Audi/VW dealer is about 15 miles down the road - not as convenient when dropping if off for service. The Corolla was also $5k to $10k cheaper. It is a Corolla, but to her that didn't matter, and we have the BMW when we want something nice to drive.

I drive about 80-100 miles so gas mileage, reliability, handling, comfort is important to me. Its interesting to see you skip Audi A3, VW Golf for Toyota Corolla And yea, Japanese cars are much cheaper in price and maintenance. No doubt!!

[uniqueMR]

At this moment, I will be test driving the following:

2016/2017 Audi A3
2016/2017 Audi A4
2019 VW Jetta R-Line (coming out around August)
2017/2018 VW GTI


I have owned 2 VW Jettas (2004, 2013) and 1 VW Passat (2017). But for some reason, VW quality is going down.

I had some issues with Jetta and Passat. The worse was Passat R-Line, I bought it new and around 10K miles it was falling apart (mechanical, electrical, tire noises, no traction in rain and sharp turns, around 70 mph I felt like Passat will just disassemble

Worse VW I ever owned, Passat. And very disappointed from Volkswagen brand. German brand should be best to none...

[Germanauto]

The A3 seems like a decent commuter car.

With that being said, I can't get over its exceedingly drab interior and feminine looks.

The 2-series doesn't scream "masculine" either, but it sure looks cooler than the very girly A3. It's more fun to drive as well.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Get a GTI instead, save $5k

But then you'd look like an immature boy racer.

[HyeWarrior]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

But then you'd look like an immature boy racer.

Sounds like you care too much about what people think based on the car you drive.

Not like the E82 is a “manly” looking car by any means

[chumley]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

The A3 seems like a decent commuter car.

With that being said, I can't get over its exceedingly drab interior and feminine looks.

The 2-series doesn't scream "masculine" either, but it sure looks cooler than the very girly A3. It's more fun to drive as well.

Exactly this. Everyone loves the S3 and RS3 perhaps for good reasons but I'd be hard pressed to find a much less interesting car for the money than the a base A3. Lazy styling that relies on Audi badging to sell. Minimalist = acres of dull matte plastic and a near useless back seat.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Sounds like you care too much about what people think based on the car you drive.

Not like the E82 is a “manly” looking car by any means

Not necessarily what people think of me, but more of who I choose associate myself with.

The E82 doesn't scream "masculinity" but it sure as hell isn't a complete chick car like the A3.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Not necessarily what people think of me, but more of who I choose associate myself with.

The E82 doesn't scream "masculinity" but it sure as hell isn't a complete chick car like the A3.

This post says you care about others too much.

I drive a Miata (& it's my 3rd one!). I give no fucks. Buy what makes YOU happy.