How can you tell which year an A3 is just from seeing it from the outside? (the newest generation of course)

 

I can think of a couple things.

If the 'T' on the 2.0T badge is red, it is an '06. They changed it to chrome in the later '06s though, so if it is chrome you can't automatically assume it's not an '06.

If it's got black trim around the grille (instead of chrome) it is a Titanium package, which was not offered until '08. Again though, any non-Titanium '08 will still have chrome trim.

L7's '06 A3 has a larger shark fin antenna than my '07, but I'm not sure if this is true of all '06s or when it was changed. For the record, neither of us has nav so I don't think is the cause.

I think the wheel offerings have been changed with each year too, but I can't tell you off the top of my head which ones are which.

 

Double post, sorry.

 

'06 2.0 Sports don't have the S Line bumpers or badges, but do have the 2 tone wheels, bigger spoiler, and aluminum vent rings. '08 S Lines have power drivers sport seat, previously unavailable.

 

Couple more things.

'06 had optional HomeLink buttons on the driver's sun visor, after '06 this was not available.

'08 has the compass display on the rear view mirror, '06 and '07 did not.