I just test drove a C30 with package 1 (in C30 parlance, that means the less sporty suspension, wheels and tires). Oh my god, if you're not suicidal now, just drive the C30. You will be. It seems like the C30 was intensionally put together to cause sensory death. Everything about it (except the exterior rear end) moans of depression. Throttle response is soft. Exhaust note sounds like a dying dog. Chassis communication seems intentionally designed to send you the wrong signals. Steering feedback is like that of a Chevrolet Cavalier from the 1980's. Oh and the sometimes lauded interior feels like a sensory deprivation penalty-box (to me anyway). Sweden has the world's highest suicide rate. Do their cars cause this or do suicidal people design their cars?

I test drove the C30 before I bought my A3. It was okay, but yeah feels very removed from the road...like an Buick.

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'08 A3 S-Line Manual

The numbers say the C30 is faster than A3 2.0 It didn't feel that way to me. I liked the seats in the Volvo,but that's about it. Oh yea and the C30 is several thousand cheaper.

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2007 A3 S-line 2.0T 6-speed White/Grey GIAC

You all might find it interesting what the C30 group said about the A3
http://www.c30world.com/forums/showt...hlight=Audi+A3

ps It was me who started this thread.

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2007 A3 S-line 2.0T 6-speed White/Grey GIAC

hmmm interesting it seems like if it werent for crapy sales experiance about 60% of them would have gone with the A3

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A3 2.0 dsg black on black s-line, open sky, cold weather, 20%

I'm beginning to wonder if poor dealership practices are engrained in Audi dealer cullture. There seems to be more problems in sales with Audi than any other dealership, period...let alone just premium brands. Does Audi WANT their dealerships to perform so poorly?

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2007 A3 3.2 Quattro :: silver/black :: tech :: cold weather :: Sirius :: Open Sky :: blindspot mirrors :: Formula One tint and bra :: Revo

Next up: Milltek exhaust

C30 backend reminds me of those pickup trucks with the door that goes down into the tailgate. Hideous in my opinion. Plus Volvo has always seemed more like a womans car to me, but that could just be cause my mom and gf were always saying they wanted one.

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2011 Audi A4 3.0TDI Quattro 6-speed S-Line
Phantom Black Pearl Effect
Black Leather
Cold Weather, Convenience, and Titanium Package
Convenience Package
Ipod and bluetooth integration

WOW! You think Audi USA should have someone checking threads like this. Almost all of them had crappy dealer expreiances. The funny part about that is if you go back and read some of our threads our love of the A3 has us deal with that. It sounds like its becoming a bad problem with Audi and horrible dealership service. And hence it used to be the standard.

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2006 A3 2.0T Sport DSG. Open sky, Sirius, AWE Vent Boost Gauge.

And don't you love it when the sales and service reps pressure you into answering "excellent" to all the questions on the surveys? I guess I was lucky to have a good experience at the dealership.

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2007 A3 2.0T - DSG - Lava Grey - Premium - Open Sky - Tinted

Ditto for dealership experience here in Taiwan.

Extremely nice. Extremely incompetent. You literally have to research the problem and then show them the solution. And they completely rip you off on the options pricing. One example...add $2500US if you want Open Sky. $2000 for bi-xenon.

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2008 TT 2.OT Ibis White
ABT Chip 19" S6 Rims