Hello,

I've been searching for a car to buy over the past few weeks... and I've decided on getting either a new A3 or A4. Probably an A3. I know that the generation of A3's is coming to an end, but I'm not a fan of the new audi look (most notably, the change of door handles and general look).

Would anyone like to offer some insight into whether an A3/A4 would be better than the other?

getting either with 2.0T engine

Thank you

 

Tough Q without knowing more.
How will you use it, where are you located, how many people typically ride, what style of driving do you do?

 

I'm friends with the local Audi Service Manager and he recommended to me the A3 because it comes standard with their most advanced transmission, the A4 on the other hand requires you upgrade to that transmission. From what he told me I came to understand the standard a4 transmission has a lot of issues and will eventually just fail.

 

The A3 comes with a transmission with 2 clutches, it is like riding a bicycle with some gears in the left and other gears in the right, you just switch a gizmo to have the left gear engage from the right gears, and then it will shift the right gear to the next gear so when its time to upshift again, you do the same thing. As opposed to standard trannies where you have to stop applying power to the pedals when you change gear.

The A4 std trannie is like a propeller spinning in water with another propper in the other side getting spinned by the water. It will feel smooth, but all your energy goes into spinning the water instead of spinning the propeller. The S4 has the bicycle with 2 derailleur analogy setup indicated above.

Not sure about issues on the A4 transmission, since when it operates like a washing machine, there is alot less shock (thus your clothes in there never gets shredded apart). Its like doing water aerobics, no impact.

 

When I got an A4 as a loaner I always felt it was sluggish compared to my A3. I also like the manual shift which the A4 doesn't have anymore.

 

ya i've driven the 2011 models for both (quattro and fwd for a4), and although specs say that the a4 is faster (more torque with better rpm range, better 0-60), the a3 was a much better drive and felt quicker. i could definitely feel a difference in transmission... a3 was a much more enjoyable drive.

 

A3 is a lovely drive--but watch the electrics, the leaking rear windscreen wipe and don't whatever you do trust it to a non Audi expert for any kind of service or repair. Remeber also that it is basically a posh Golf, with a different body and many of the same parts and bits as a Skoda and a Seat....

 

got it a week ago. i really enjoy driving it, much more than the a4 i drove around for a week. looking to put a stasis ecu in it

 

Are you going to wait for the 2011 Stasis ECU to come out first? Could you pm me when you get than done, let me know how it is, what it cost... etc? I'd really appreciate it, as I'm looking to do the same thing in a couple of months.