I drove the A3 again yesterday and then drove a Dodge Magnum R/T wagon. Although the A3 is certainly more nimble the Dodge offered more features, speed, comfort, and much more room for less money. The average owner (12K miles per year) would only pay $300 a year more to fuel the Magnum (and it was about $3000 less) so it was a telling comparison for me.. my wife may be driving a Hemi soon.

 

too true. i work at an audi dealership and the service some customers get surprises me. in addition we shuttle people around in some p.o.s. eurotrash (eurovan), have a shockingly unpleasant arrangement for waiting, and indeed our garages are rather grim looking too. On top of this customers cars have to be driven around montgomery township to reach our various storage lots, the car wash (we dont have the facilities for in house washing and only one "detailing bay", and the other garage which services an additional 4 or 5 cars. I cant complain too much since this provides me with a not too shabby part time job but still, not what one would expect from a premium brand.

however, yes i do dig the a3 however i would be hardpressed not to buy a gti. the interior, i feel are nicer in the vw (snazzy plaid seats and the plastics feel nicer) and you actually have a sun roof you can use (however the nav in the a3 is nicer). plus its cheaper. yet you cant get 4 doors yet and you dont get free maitnence. so there are some trade offs but you really cant lose with either one except for the price especially with the 3.2. you can get a stick 3.2 a4 wagon too so that is another albeit more expensive alternative to the a3 3.2

 

you drive both car for about an year as a daily driver
and you will see immediately
why the audi is overpriced.

 

blah blah blah.

 

why, of course.
you got rid of the mighty s4 for a little a3
and have to keep telling yourself "no regrets",
so my "blah blah blah" opinion won't make you too happy.

 

have you actually driven the 3.2? probably not. so don't talk.

and as for my "blah blah blah" to what you said.. "overpriced" is the stupidest word to be associated with new cars. ALL new cars are overpriced. the market has gone nuts. besides that, it's all about values. i wouldn't care for an S2000 anymore because I got my head out of my butt and realised it's the most impractical car I could have bought (living in Wisconsin). there wouldn't be much value to me having an "overpriced" 2-seater in a state where there's snow on the ground 8 months of the year.

 

Wake me up when/if the RS3 ever shows up....

 

Just saw one at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit. It was a 3.2 "S-Line" with DSG standard.

Price?
339xx base

The show car had some options:
18" wheels & performance tires
"Open Sky" roof
and some other stuff.

Grand total: 38,xxx.

Audis and VWs are getting way too expensive nowadays. Too much for a Golf in a tux. If I were in the market for European hatch/small wagon, I'd go with the Volvo V50 T5 AWD. $35k nicely equiped.

 

Last generation RS3 was exactly that, had the 2.7TT motor in it. Of course they didn't send any over here, but it's possible to gray market it through Canada.