What are the advantages of the A3 over the VW GTI, which is a bit less expensive?

 

This can be easily answered.

Take away all the things the two car shares, engine, suspension, brakes, etc since they are all similar. What you have left with is exterior design and interior design differences. Side by side, I think the audi looks better.

 

I have test driven both numerous times at multiple locations.

Its interesting to compare the two cars, the A3 is what the modern redone VW Scirocco should have look like IMHO. The VW GTI has a great front-end appearance, but the rear end is for a lack of a better word - boring! It is higher on the rear end, but more shallow in storage area then the A3. Pop open the hatch and compare the two, they are not the same. The A3 looks whole lot better in the rear and the front stands out with the newer larger Audi grill. A3 also looks more streamline compared to a side view of the VW GTI. The GTI has a standard moon roof, and the A3 has a interesting dual pane moon roof system called Open Sky. Size-wise the A3 is 2.9 inches longer and 7.8 inches wider and 1.2 inches lower to ground then GTI.

The VW GTI only comes in five colors for exterior and only one interior cloth or leather color (Anthracite) while the A3 comes in 9 colors for exterior and with a choice of three different interiors colors in cloth or leather (*note some exteriors limit you to two interior colors). So right away from a color perspective you are very limited with the GTI versus the A3. You only have one choice of leather seat with GTI while you have a more A4 like leather seat with premium option and a sports leather seat with S-Line option. The GTI sports seats are manual for driver and passenger, while in the premium base A3 you can get a powered seat, or with the 3.2 S-Line the same powered seat.

The instrumentation cluster is not quite the same, the GTI layout has the temp and fuel meters at the bottom where your steering wheel visually obstructs them, where as the A3 has them on the top in plain view. VW has a habit of overly complex button layout versus a more logical layout in most Audi's. The interiors are quite different, you be the judge.

There two distinct suspensions with the A3, base and premium versus a stiffer one in the S-Line. With the GTI you have one. The wind noise seems louder with the GTI when compared to the A3. (comparing A3 with Open Sky and GTI with package 2 moon roof).

The part quality in the Audi A3 is slightly better then the VW GTI for similar engine parts.

Forgot to mention the A3 also comes with a 3.2 V6 and Quattro 4 wheel drive option the GTI doesn't.

 

I went to look at the new VW GTI's before I really found out about the A3's.

And I definetly thought the GTI was a hot looking car, BUT it lacked the LUXURY sedan look all-round. It had to much SPORT and NO LUXURY to it.

Now, the A3 had BOTH. And I would say out of 100%, it has 50 luxury and 50 sport.
And the trapezoid front of the A3 just looks way more stylish and powerful.

I also heard past issue's with the earlier GTI models, major engine issue's, faulty wiring, electric problems. And a friend of mine has a an 04' GTI and is always bringing it back to the dealer and the mechanics are not trained well to fix the issue's of the GTI.

Also, the look of the GTI would wear off on me. It looks like something a kid in high school would drive.

 

that's why the GTI will always be popular ( the old ones that is ) because It looks like something a kid in high school would drive and feels like a second chance at youth, you cant compare them with newer cars on performance because they don't have all the add ons the newer cars have so its RAW power, the good old days

 

I have both cars and my wife drives the GTI. I would have to say that the GTI is fun to drive but is very basic in the interiors. The A3 (I have the 07 S Line) is much more sophisticated and sporty in feel. I think the lines of the car are tighter. I was disappointed with the body panels and cheap plastic side molding on the GTI.

However, it is fun to drive on occasion but it's hard to go from the A3 to the GTI.

 

The body of the new VW's is fugly and they should be burned.

 

Both the A3 and the GTI have longish front overhangs, being FWD vehicles. The short rear overhang on the GTI makes this look worse. The overhangs on the A3 are about equal length front and back, which help the car appear more balanced.

 

The Mazda3 coupe would be a better comparison to the VW GTI, in styling, handling, etc. But I thought the Mazda3 was a better car than the GTI in all those catagories (and price was about the same). The A3 is a significant step up in every regard.