You can slip yourself into an Audi A3 for as little as 35 grand. But the one you want is probably more like 50 and for that kind of money you can buy a very, very tidy Volkswagon Golf. To help us weigh up those options here's car advice road tester Paul Merrick. Mate. Audi and Volkswagen do share a lot of R&D and a lot of engine crossover.
So what's the justification for buying an A3? I think it just comes down to the cachet you get having that Audi, the 4 rings. I can't really see any other reason you'd go for it. because the Golf and the A3 beneath the skin, they share a lot of the same technology. And you can have a Golf R, which is an awesome performance car for much less than the cost of an S3.
That's it, and as I said it just comes down to brand cachet. But on that same token you do get a lot of the privileges Audi driver. You get the dealership experience and the overall package that you would expect for paying extra for the car. And 35 grand is a pretty cheap entry point for the four rings, let's face it.
That's right and I think it's a good way to start if you want to move up in the Audi branch, and there's always space to move from there. There's definitely a lot more available once you move on from an A3-sized vehicle. okay. The range is extensive and it stretches from the TDIE efficiency model up to the S3 sports-oriented model, and there's a Cabrio in the middle as well So, walk us through the range and tell us which ones you like.
I think when your set starts at 35 grand, you can move all the way up to the S3 which is the turbo-charged all wheel drive, and it's an absolute hoot to drive. The 1.9 TDIE is such a great car because it matches Prius, beats Prius. I've got it down to 4.4 liters per hundred k's on tests, which shows you just how good a diesel it can be once you drive it efficiently.
And you don't have to have all the factors involved in a hybrid car with Well with Prius, you trade in a lot of driving engagement and enjoyment for the efficiency. And they do that with the TEIE model of the A3 or is it actually fun to drive?
Definitely not. It's still great fun to drive. You do have silly looking wheels, they've got these eco-hubcaps, and you have low-rolling resistant tires. But on that token, it's still great fun to drive and certainly a great handling and great steering car.
So if you're new to the Audi experience you might not understand Quattro. Just walk us through Quattro in a nutshell.
Quattro is basically Audi's All-Wheel-Drive system, and as you move up in the range, they couple it with mechanical torques in differential and this basically means that you get still a grip out of a great package and when you go with the S3 with the turbo charge four-cylinder all-wheel drive, it sticks to corners like no other car in this price range.
What you're basically saying here is thinking means WRX.
Exactly right. And its got the audio nut to match with the
Okay . How many of the A3 model range have you driven? I've driven the entry level, the 1.9 the S3 and the outgoing V6 which is now being replaced due to emissions regulations. If there's a value proposition in the prestige car set and that's a hard call to make.
Which one would you park in your own garage? It all depends on what you're after. The convertible offers great value for money with a smaller engine and then you can also move up to the sporty variant which gives you a bigger engine and more sportiness. And then of course you have the S-3 for performance enthusiast.
But I think the 1.9 CDI is the picture of the bunch simply because it is forgo it look's good quite build quality finish and it's fun to drive. five grand is a pretty affordable way to get into the Audi brand. But, when you're there, is there a really extensive options list? Look, it is the case unfortunately with the A3.
While it does come with a reasonable amount of equipment, there's always more to be had with Audi and the like. So you can tick as many boxes as you want and you can literally double the car's price in not too much of a hurry.
Rear seat accommodation, kids only?
No, look, it's okay. You can fit adults in it but it'd only be for short trips. Kids on the other hand, you can put as many as you like in there and you'll be in business.
And the Golf versus the A3, if you are only at that 35 to 40,000 dollar spending point, what would you recommend then?
Look, at 35 grand you can get yourself a pretty neat looking Golf or an entry level A3. I think if you are willing to spend maybe five grand more you could probably go with the A3 and be quite impressed with what you'd purchased. But at that price range I'd have to go for a Golf. The main competitor, the 1 series.
Is there anything from house of Mercedez-Benz that you might also consider?
Yeah, you've got the 1 series and also the B-class, which is definitely a different looking vehicle and might not match up in terms of handling and performance when it matches up against the 1 Series and the A3. Still got the important cachet badge, though. Absolutely. Can't do without it. That was Paul Meric on one of the most affordable ways to get yourself into the four rings.
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