« Reply #78 on: 13 January 2022, 16:49 »
Really good feedback Dervy, and reassuring to know you’ve definitely made the right decision.
That engine and chassis combo really appeals to me (throw in the good looking exterior to cement it together).
My son has a 2021 A3 S-Line on a lease so I’m familiar with the interior. It’s definitely much lower grade feeling/looking than the last A3 and possibly a step back from the mk7 Golf (which in itself slightly cheapened over its lifetime, my 2013 GTI PP and 2015 R interior definitely felt slightly superior in build and plastics to the 2017 and 2019 models I owned). I’d say it was about on a par with the mk8 Golf but its design has changed significantly from its dowdy predecessor to make it very stylised as opposed to the Bauhaus Golf. Swings and roundabouts. To my eyes the Audi is much more attractive than the mk8 Golf especially when comparing say an R-Line Golf versus the S-Line A3.
One definite plus at this time of year is that the side window demist vent is better positioned in the A3. It’s only in use that you appreciate these boring details.
When spending upwards of £50k on a ‘fun’ type car the fact it puts a smile on your face is very important. I’ve driven and owned quite a few cars over the last 30 odd years and when I think about it there aren’t actually that many that put a proper smile on my face. Many were satisfying to drive but few had the grin factor and that is quite telling.
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‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten
