REVIEW: Audi A3

Auto companies have known for years that it’s important to catch customers early in life. Give a young buyer an excellent ownership experience and it’s easier to direct them to more luxurious, expensive and, ahem, profitable models as they age. At GM, the path has been Chevy to Buick then ultimately Cadillac. Toyota hopes you’ll upgrade to Lexus. Honda happiness leads to Acura.

Some brands like Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes have tried a different route -- low cost models to mainstream folks right into their prestigious nameplate. This approach has been largely unsuccessful. Jag’s X-Type hasn’t exactly set the market on fire, has it? The Mercedes C230 coupe is gone. Remember BMWs 318 ti? This stubby hatchback version of the 3 Series was nixed years ago. Available in Europe, the 2 Series is MIA in the US. The argument is that these lower-rent rides cheapen the brand.

Still, Audi has dived into the entry-level market with the A3. They could groom Volkswagen buyers to upgrade to their premium brand but the 3 gets those who aren’t lawyers and CEOs into Club Audi right away. Membership dues can be reasonable. Front-drive A3’s sticker for as little as $25,400. That’s a pretty good deal. I’m testing the S-line model which immediately tacks over $9,000 onto the window sticker.

Full review here

chewy - 5/31/2006 10:37:19 PM

0 Boost

I can't post on the above link either. The A3 is a pretty good vehicle, of course checking all the boxes makes it a lot more expensive. Also, some options on Audis are little to pricy.

chewy - 5/31/2006 11:43:58 PM

+2 Boost

Watch this video. The Golf R32 (similar to the Audi above) owns the BMW 1 series. Just because it has a propeller on the hood, it doesn't mean it is better than others.
Watch the whole video.
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/09s8eMLHIUM"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/09s8eMLHIUM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

chewy - 5/31/2006 11:47:10 PM

0 Boost

Here is the link
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09s8eMLHIUM</a>

chewy - 6/1/2006 7:29:35 PM

0 Boost

Whatever you want you can have, but you have to admit that the R32 owned it on the track with the Stig behind the wheel of both cars.