Is the VW Golf as good as the Audi A3?

shrek2

shrek2

shrek2

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Just looking at a new car to buy.
I have narrowed it down to these two cars. My budget is 15K plus whatever I can get as part ex on my current car.
I can get a GTI for 15K whereas an A3 1.8 TFSI.
Thanks
 
You'll get more for your money with a Golf in terms of features, toys etc. but the Audi will be the more premium finish.

Personally I'd get the Golf but I know plenty who wouldn't even consider a VW over an Audi.
 
Gaygle said:
In pretty much all senses I'd rather have a 2012/2013 VW Golf GTI than any Audi A3.
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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.
 
shrek2 said:
Aren't Audi positioned as a premium brand and make better all round cars?
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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.
 
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.
 
I'd take a Golf GTI over an A3. I borrowed an almost new A3 SE Technik through work for a couple of weeks and was quite disappointed by the interior for a "premium car".
 
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.
 
Jokester said:
I didn't realise the A3 was considered premium. Sure, add £15k of options will make a bit premium, but a standard A3?
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It's an Audi mate, gotta have that premium German marque on the driveway, nevermind if it has cloth seats and no sat nav
 
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.
 
TheVoice said:
Personally I'd buy a Leon over a Golf.
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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
 
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.
 
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