Josh,
I dunno man. I could never step down to a gti. Slow, although decent handling and good interior. It just lacks a special quality that s2000s and evos have. Id rather get a Subaru wrx, used sti or a brz or anything else. I know you can chip a gti etc but fwd sucks. Id even get a miata or mini instead of a gti. Or even wait and get a mustang gt in 2014 with the redesign and no live axle. Talk to the wife. You live only once...

 

George, I need a four door. THE WRx/ sti autos suck. I.e. not much fun and mini, which would be the countryman cleans't impress me for the price. The gti is the only fd car I didn't feel torque steer too badly for how much hp it has. I hear ya about taking a step back. Right now I'm not in too much of a rush. I'll have time the third or last week of July to take my S back to stock. The in August I'll most likely buy something. Hopefully around then i'll find a S4. Who knows.

 

A3 is a GTI with AWD. car looks great lowered with nice wheels.

 

I really like the A3, but it's an old chassis now. The new one came out at the Geneva show this year, and goes on sale in Europe soon, so it might be better to wait.

[Edit for 2014 Audi A3 pic]





Or get a fully optioned used one to tide you over and re-evaluate/trade up in a year or 2. But an S4 is pretty nice as well.


Unfortunately, I've never driven an A3 or newer GTI so I'm merely going on reviews and other recommendations.

 

I recommend taking a spin in an S60 T6 myself. 300hp (325 with polestar), Twin Turbo I6 (just like the 335xi) and man oh man does it love to cruise.

26mpg on regular grade petrol as well, have to go premium with the Audi, Merc or Bimmer.

Just a suggestion. Hope you are doing well Josh.



Sinister Black

 

Drove an 09 STI 5 door a few days ago. Pretty impressed with the mid-range torque, once the turbo spools up it's really fun to drive. Biggest downside for me is that it felt heavy. The suspension and body roll makes the weight known. The shifter throw was a tad long as well. Otherwise, I'm debating getting rid of my box-on-wheels (the Honda Element) and getting one of these. Maybe by next season or something.

 

My fleet of DD's are all getting long in the tooth so I've slowly begun to look around. ( 162K, 165K, 207K )
I really haven't seen anything that excites me. ( OK I'd love the CL550 4matic but seriously now )

The wife wants something "small" and mumbled something about the bane of the modern highway, a prius.
While that ain't gonna happen, it does portend potentially contentious negotiations.

 

Kenta, can we interest you in a gently used 2008 WRX? We've thought of trading it in on something else. It's a fine car, but we never would have bought a Subie except for Rick's employment at the time. The employment situation changed and we have no real Subie love here.

 

Probably wont be starting my hunt until next summer fall, but even then I'll probably be on the look-out for an STI. Unless of course you got an STI, then we'll talk

 

Nope STI wasn't practical enough and too $$$ for a commuter car.