The base spec A3s are indeed awful. You usually seem them driven by sales reps and women (done this subject before) who would rather have a base spec car with a "badge" than a decently specced Ford/Vauxhall/VW.
That said, I'm a bit confused as to exactly what the OP's mate has got. It's obviously base spec as the SE, Sport & S-Line all come with full climate but I was under the impression that even the base spec got AC, just not climate. You sure it doesn't have AC?
The base model also comes with steel wheels so either his has got some optional alloys or they're not alloys at all.
I was given a base spec A3 1.6 a few years back as a courtesy car for the day and it was truly awful. Looked bland, didn't go, plastic & cloth everywhere you'd expect leather and zero toys/gadgets/conveniences. BMW and Audi sell such models because it gives them headline entry price figures to advertise and they know there's enough muppets out there for whom the badge is literally everything.
