Model not specified
Mileage unknown
A3 8Y
Unfortunately, the 1.2 four-cylinder engine was no longer available. The car was bought as a second car, mainly for city driving, so I bought the 1.0 three-cylinder. (The Audi accountants stole the fourth cylinder!) For its displacement, it's quite brisk. The three cylinders only growl during hard acceleration – if you've driven a diesel, this won't bother you. Fuel consumption is quite good: 6-8 liters in the city, 5.5 to 6.5 liters on the highway. The average over 12,000 km from new is exactly 6l/100km. I drive quite dynamically but without
Pros:
Quite brisk for its displacement, Decent fuel consumption, Three-cylinder growl only noticeable on hard acceleration
Cons:
Unavailable 1.2 four-cylinder engine, Third cylinder seemingly removed by "accountants"
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Audi A3 8Y: A Dynamic and Practical Choice
Given the current used car market prices, I decided to look for a new car. I wanted a sedan/fastback suitable for two people, large enough to carry things but also agile and dynamic for comfortable driving. I considered the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Mazda 3, Mercedes CLA, and Hyundai i30. After initial test drives, I was leaning towards the Corolla (the Mazda was a bit too cramped, and the Mercedes, despite its attractive visuals...
Pros:
Agile and dynamic driving, Sufficient space for two and moderate cargo, Modern appeal
Cons:
Higher new car prices compared to used, Mazda 3 perceived as cramped
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Audi A3 8Y: Early Glitches Plague New Arrival
Purchased the car 2 weeks ago from the dealership. Driven 350km so far. Nothing but problems from the start. It failed to start three times already, requiring about 15-minute resets involving the MMI, closing/opening, and powering off/on the start button. The infotainment system typically takes about a minute to boot up and, on average, every third engine start, it loses all saved settings – favorite radio stations, equalizer, ambient lighting, etc. Yesterday, the car began reporting errors.
Pros:
New purchase experience
Cons:
Multiple start failures requiring MMI resets, Infotainment system slow to boot, Frequent loss of saved settings, Reported errors shortly after purchase
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Audi A3 8Y: Surprisingly Capable 3-Cylinder
I'm pleasantly surprised by the 3 cylinders. The car is quite lively despite the 1-liter engine. If someone needs a car to race on the track, they always have the S3 as an option, but the regular A3 with 999cc has truly sufficient acceleration for enjoyable driving. The sound of the 3 cylinders is pleasant for me after switching from a diesel. Fuel consumption is below 6L, which is really good for a car this size. The car is usually used by 2 people, but passengers in the back seats also praised it.
Pros:
Lively acceleration for its engine size, Pleasant 3-cylinder engine sound (for me), Good fuel economy (under 6L), Comfortable for rear passengers
Cons:
Not for track racing (S3 is an option)
Model not specified
Mileage unknown
Audi A3 8Y Facelift
After a wonderful Focus Mk4, I was looking for a compact car with at least a 1.5-liter, 150 HP engine, a manual gearbox, multi-link rear suspension, physical climate control panel, and a galvanized body. My choice fell on the Audi A3 after its facelift. I was tempted because I found a unit at the dealer for the price of a well-equipped Golf VIII, and besides the physical climate control panel, the Audi is simply prettier in my opinion. This is my first post-facelift car. They say facelifts always improve things.
Pros:
Attractive design, Physical climate controls, Good value proposition
Cons:
Specific preference for multi-link rear suspension not met, Manual gearbox availability might be limited
