Is the VW Golf as good as the Audi A3?
- Thread starter shrek2
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Aren't Audi positioned as a premium brand and make better all round cars?
I wouldn't. The interior of the A3 is far nicer.
That said, it depends entirely on your requirements, your budget, and if you care about the "feel" of the interior fixtures and fittings.
For the most part, especially on the "sportier" models, it's pretty much a common theme amongst reviewers that the Golf has the edge on handling, but the Audi tends to have more power for the "same" engine, and the Golf is beaten hands down on the inside and the tech available. This "tech gulf" has been addressed somewhat with the facelift (gesture control on the Golf but not the A3 for example) but you still end up with a less ergonomically designed cockpit.
But it depends, the two cars you're looking at evidently have different engines and will have different spec lists. If you want better quality interior plastics you buy the Audi, but a Golf at the same money will likely have more kit.
Personally I'd buy a Leon over a Golf.
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Golf all the way. If the Audi is anything like my brothers S3 the interior is a bit flash harry and not all that great anyway.
Soldato
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audi is theoretically vw's "premium" wing, and whilst i personally prefer the a3 to the golf, i wouldn't say it's empirically better. the actual spec matters here as others have mentioned for the money the golf may well be better specced.
in terms of whats under the hood it'll all be straight out of the vw standard parts catalogue so no real difference there all other things being equal.
in terms of whats under the hood it'll all be straight out of the vw standard parts catalogue so no real difference there all other things being equal.
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It's not really though is it?
I've always found the A3 a bit of a pointless car really - if you want a premium car, buy one - if you want a small hatch or similar, then the Golf is a better package.
Soldato
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The Golf GTI is well a Golf GTI.
It sits outside the premium brand/image debate in that regard.
You don't really feel the benefits of the premium brands until you are at the c/e class or 3/5 series and equivalents these days.
Most cars in the A3/Golf size at a £15k used car budget are going to be a nice enough place to be.
It sits outside the premium brand/image debate in that regard.
You don't really feel the benefits of the premium brands until you are at the c/e class or 3/5 series and equivalents these days.
Most cars in the A3/Golf size at a £15k used car budget are going to be a nice enough place to be.
Soldato
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Audi though, premium badge innit bruv
Depends how old and what you are comparing it to really.
It's an Audi mate, gotta have that premium German marque on the driveway, nevermind if it has cloth seats and no sat nav
I'm doing it wrong
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yes it is
the a3 has the vents in the middle of the dashboard for no decent reason other than to make it different to the golf. To achieve this they have had to put a screen on the top of the dash which just looks rubbish. Because it uses the stupid mmi interface they need a silly wheel on the centre console which is in the place the cupholders should be so they have to put the cupholders where the ashtray should be meaning they are in the way of the dashboard and the gearstick bumps into them.
Just buy a golf which is designed properly.
the a3 has the vents in the middle of the dashboard for no decent reason other than to make it different to the golf. To achieve this they have had to put a screen on the top of the dash which just looks rubbish. Because it uses the stupid mmi interface they need a silly wheel on the centre console which is in the place the cupholders should be so they have to put the cupholders where the ashtray should be meaning they are in the way of the dashboard and the gearstick bumps into them.
Just buy a golf which is designed properly.
Came in to say that! Something like
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201704044047928?fuel-type=Petrol&model=LEON&sort=price-desc&year-from=2013&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&price-from=12000&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.8&advertising-location=at_cars&make=SEAT&radius=90&postcode=gl60bj&price-to=15000&keywords=FR&page=1
or
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201612220772428?postcode=gl60bj&year-from=2013&advertising-location=at_cars&sort=price-desc&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&radius=1501&model=LEON&keywords=FR&fuel-type=Petrol&price-from=12000&price-to=15000&minimum-badge-engine-size=1.8&make=SEAT&page=1
edit... actually the Curpa is more like the GTI than the FR is, so something like
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...el=LEON&postcode=gl60bj&year-from=2011&page=1
Soldato
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Yer the Seats are great value but they do have a different market position to the Golf or Audi.
Depends if you are brand conscious or not. Plus in my experience most people wanting a Golf GTI aren't normally swayed from it.
Depends if you are brand conscious or not. Plus in my experience most people wanting a Golf GTI aren't normally swayed from it.