A3 TDI v Golf GT TDI????

[missnaughty666]

Please help!
Until very recently i was the very proud owner of a MK4 Golf GT TDI 150 PD. My beloved car(Sid), got written off wednesday, thanks to being in the middle of a 5 car accident. Having a Transit van up the rear and a people carrier at the front, and being in the middle of the 5, Sid didn't stand a chance! However, now i have to get a new car. I've always been a fan of the Audi A3 but the Golf stole my heart when i test drove it! I cannot face getting anothing Golf as it would have to be the same, but of course it wouldn't be Sid, would it? My question is, will a A3 1.9 TDI 130 Sport give me the driving pleasure that my Sid did? I have yet to find an A3 to test drive but i've been told the two are very similar. Please help me! What can i expect from an Audi that would differ from my Golf??

[ed'sA3-1.8THK]

an audi A3 (8L) shared (past tense) the same floor pan with the vw golf IV - same front suspension and same rear suspension (fwd models only, not quattro/4motion)

if you're refering to present a3 (8P) with significantly improved multi-link full independent rear suspension, you will find this an improvement over a golf IV (fwd, not 4motion) - for what it is worth, trackdays seem to be slightly more entertaining with mildly modified A3 (8L) than mildly modified A3 (8P) largely because there is more driver involvement lining up earlier torque beam rear axle - present A3 (8P) can be set up for corner entrance with less effort / albeit reduced steering feedback

such is "progress" ... both are entertaining to drive at speed...

the previous and present chassis do feel differently, suspension + revised elec assist steering

I strongly encourage you to test drive before making any purchase/lease committments...

[missnaughty666]

Thank you

[sportsmatch]

like yourself I owned a 150hp tdi Golf then switch to an Audi A3 170hp s-line quattro. I find to Audi has far more grip in the corners probably down to the s-line supsension 18"tyres and the quattro system
taking off from standstill where the golf used to scrabble for grip the audi does not
I would look at the 140 hp tdi Quattro to test drive


Gary

[missnaughty666]

Thanks Gary. Hope i will love an Audi like the Golf. What a car!

[engineermk]

I switched from a 1.8T Golf (51 reg / 70000miles) to a new 2.0TFSI A3 (07 reg) 20 months ago.

The A3 is equally we put together as the MK4 golf and after 24000miles is rattle free.

Positives - aero wipers stay on the sreen at speed, std headlights beat the Golf IV. quatrro banishes wheel spin (if it bothers you)

Neagtives - handbrake is operation blocked by the arm rest (if you have one). the rear window sill is higher so the view less good when reversing. Audi dealers charge more than VW for the same work (shop arround to get a good price). std radio/cd sound is very average. 25mpg ave vs 27mpg!

I miss my Mk4 golf loads, it was very good car. the Audi sin't a huge step above but it's loads better than teh Mk5 golf i had as a stop gap for a few weeks.

Hope it helps.

[missnaughty666]

Thanks for the advice. I currently have a 58 plate tdi on hire until my insurance co pay out for my car. I don't go much on it, nice to drive having said that.
The more i talk to people the more i think i'm going to stick with a golf. I either want the same again or the petrol version. I have been looking around and it seems there are bargains to be had......high mileage on them though. I really do miss my golf. Its perfromance was brilliant and i got a real buzz driving it