kjl214

Hi, I've been lurking around here for a few months envying the new A3 owners. Great site and forum.

I was really sold on the A3 since I saw them in Munich about a year ago. Waited for them to show up in the states. Now it's here, but I'm not quite ready to buy. May be 6 months yet. And I just recently learned of the 2006 GTI 5-door. Same platform, same engine. Obviously some differences, but a lot of the Euro magazine reviews like the GTI better than the A3. Saying that the GTI is slightly lighter and faster, yet quieter and with a better ride. Plus the GTI costs less. My only concern is that as far as I can tell, the hatch area will be smaller on the GTI. If the A3 has more cargo area then I'd probably stay with the A3. Anyone know?

Thanks,
Ken

MikeSS

arriving in the US approximately 1 year after the 3-door.....according to Len Hunt, VW bigwig.

kjl214

D'oh!

I hope that's not true. I'm not at all interested in the 3-door.

AlexTTQ

Unfortunately it is true...

PD Performance

First yes like mikess said if the 5 door does end up coming (which they are saying it will) they won't show up for a while after the GTI.

You can't really compare a european GTIs handling to one for the US as they are totally different. If I had to guess it would be similar to the sport package on the A3.. the sport packge on the A3 is on par with the difference between a golf/gti or jetta/gli in the past. So dont' expect anyting fantastic.

Hatch area on the A3 is about the same as the current MK4 GTI hatch.. maybe a hair larger.. so I'd say it should be similar (easy enough to just check the specs though).

GTI will cost less but you need to factor in things such as services, which are covered on the Audi and not on the GTI.. Also well up till this month waer and tear items were covered from Audi but not from VW. Audi you are also more likely to get a loaner when you are in for service then VW. And in general they treat you much better. I was in for my service today with the A3.. I can say that Audi owners in general after being there for a little over an hour are *******S... absolutely no respect for other human beings.. But the service writers were always polite.. VW dealer if you even hint you are upset they will just start to tell you off and give you a hard time..

so far I am much happier with my Audi (other then having to be associated with many of the people who own them) then I have been with my VWs in the past, and I've worked at dealers so I never had to deal with any problems since I did it myself.. but I've witnessed how they deal with people and its horrible.

Sales experience was great also, my GFs saab experience in the last few weeks was even better though, but that was just the dealer, my moms saab experience was terrible.

April

The hatch area is taller on the 5 door GTi, whereas it's tapered in the A3. However, it's also shorter than the A3. The Sportback (5 door) A3 is 4286mm long (168 inches), and I think the GTi will be 2 inches shorter - but I can't readily find specs at the moment.

When comparably equipped (or as close as you can get), there will likely be only a $2K spread in price. Depending on how long you plan to keep the car, the all inclusive warranty of the A3 may make more sense.

<img src="http://vw.co.uk/images/new_cars_newGolf_gti_ext.jpg">

<img src="http://www.arts.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/graphics/2004/08/24/Audi1.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://media.vw.com/print_doc.cfm?article_id=9618">http://media.vw.com/print_doc.cfm?article_id=9618</a</li></ul>

kjl214

Thanks for the response. Actually, I've had a somewhat difficult time finding specs for the GTI. Obviously there is no US site for the car yet. So I perused the French, German and UK sites. I did find some specs for the cargo area, but it was not clear if the specs were for the 3-door or 5-door (maybe they are the same).

Anyway the capacity given for the GTI was 350 liters. This converts to ~12.36 cubic feet. The US Audi site says the A3 has 19.52 cubic feet. Also, the length of the GTI is listed as 4216mm or 165.98 inches. The A3 is listed as 4286mm or 168.7 inches. So, its appears the A3 is almost 3 inches longer. The wheelbase is the same at 2578mm. The weight of the GTI is 2945 lbs vs. 3263 for the A3.

And strangely, the GTI's mileage is rated at 25/45 (from the UK site, IIRC), while the american A3 is 24/32. I know that US emissions standards may drop the GTI's mileage here, but still. I'd love to have a fun to drive car that could get 45 MPG on the highway. I mostly do highway driving.

rovision

that will give you about 20/36 mpg US. Not too bad, but not exceptional either. 36mpg if you drive at 55-60Mph, no extra weight on board probably!

kjl214

Thanks. I forgot about that.

PDXA4

On of the guys in our Audi/VW club in Ireland has one, it looks rather good in the flesh.

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/gtijim/jimspictures042.jpg">

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/gtijim/jimspictures043.jpg">

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/gtijim/jimspictures044.jpg">

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/gtijim/jimspictures047.jpg">