Ice is broken. Today my wife test drove Manual Petrol A3 at Reading Audi and liked it in principle.

** The car that is only 7mm narrower than D2 mirror-to-mirror **

So, will be looking for:
* Petrol & Manual A3 or S3
* Post 2013 as advised by Adrian
* Quattro or non-quattro dosn't matter
* 1.4 or 2.0 TFSI. Ideally 2.0
* would be nice Nav High
* would be nice Apple CarPlay
* would be nice Sunroof
* Colour strictly Misano Red

Anything bad about these cars that ew need to know? Anything to avoid?

budget up to 20k

Some A3/S3 brochures for you, in case you dont have them.....

Hmm C6 RS6... Only car I'd replace the D2 with...
...naughty, mustn't think like that :tuttut:

How big a car do you want? B7 A4, or C6 A6 both seem the logical choices to be able to get a nice V6 or V8 in.



Did I miss something Ian?

Edit: bit late with my $0.02! Sorry, loaded this page hours ago and just read it missing the updates!

Cheers Ian.
You're right, we don't have brochures yet. Thanks !!

I'd say drive an A3, see how you get on, but as a comparison piece, find an A6 3.0 TDI Le Mans and see how it feels, know that with a remap its a mega car as well. They drive pretty spectacularly for a diesel estate

If you settle on A3 size, try a Golf. I think they’re more practical and they’re definitely a bit cheaper for same spec. Love ours - drives great and you only miss quattro in the damp months

Cheers Adrian.
Will look at Golf, but something is telling me it’ll be A3 :)

Is s-tronic relibale on A3 platform?
Currently only considering manual.

Thanks. Will be wife’s car :) Looking for petrol only.
Settled on post 2013 A3 platform

I've had it 6 months..... Brought it out at the annual meet and updated my sig at the same time..... Happy to chat in a new thread about it, don't want to mess up this thread.... +++

Hiya

Very reliable - 6 speed unless you go for one of the very newest, which are 7 like the s-tronics in the S4. They're smoother to drive in the Mk7 Golf compared to the B8/8.5 platform A/S4 as I think they've got the software more resolved.

Personally I'd only buy an auto - it just lends itself to stop-start and town driving. The 6 speed auto pulls very sensible revs on the motorway on these later cars. We test drove a previous generation S3 Sportback and that seemed too rev-happy on the motorway, but that won't be an issue if looking at later shape as you are.

Re Golf vs A/S3 I actually prefer the Golf to look at. Just seems better resolved. Standard spec kit is better on the Golf (buy a GTI and you get adaptive cruise as standard) and if you look carefully you can find some with spec on them.