obLu

Gonna be a bit long. Right now I'm driving an e90 330i. Liked the way it handles, but I'm getting sick of the sh%tty clutch, never liked how it looked, and I'm hitting 2yrs which is when I usually start looking for something new. Plus my wife just bought a Q7, and the Audi dealers here are completely awesome compared to the BMW dealers. Oh, and since she now has the house on wheels, I just need a commuter car which had me thinking about an A3 a couple of months ago, but gave up on it ... and this'll sound retarded ... because I didn't like the 07 style wheels. I'm a big wheel nut.

So fast forward; I keep seeing A4 titaniums running around and think they look great. Not that great in pictures, but in person they look really cool for a from the factory car. But can't buy a B7 when the B8 is already introduced. Looked today and they've got a titanium for the A3?!? Cool.

So question #1, they're not planning on redesigning the A3 for next year are they? Question #2, I've never had an Audi without awd, and kind of think of it as blasphemy. Is the 3.2 massively front heavy? And is the quattro fulltime 50/50 or is it fwd until it sense slip? Question #3, I sat in the backseat at one in the showroom and it seemed just about as big as my 3 series. Anybody here carrying kids in forward facing seats?

obLu

PS can't find current A3 lease rates ... can find A4 and TT, but not A3?

vplaza

#1 - No word on any redesign of the A3 yet. It came out in 2005 as a MY06 car, so it's not impossible that they change it for MY09.

#2 - Quattro on the 3.2 is Haldex, not Torsen. I believe it is FWD bias, as opposed to 50/50, but not 100% sure (I have a 2.0T FWD.)

#3 - I have two children (9 and 6 yrs old) in booster seats. No issues with legroom.

vplaza

You can check out Leasecompare.com, but as an example, an base A3 3.2 leases for $661/mo (36mo, 12K mi/yr, $0 down).

But an A4 2.0T Avant with Premium, Convenience, and Nav leases for $671/mo (36mo, 12K mi/yr, $0 down). Not really apples-to-apples, but A3 leases have just never been as attractive as other cars' leases.

absoluTT A3

Here's what is coming in 2010:
<img src="http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/september2007/audi-a3-1.jpg">

L0U

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/53106/002.jpg"></center><p>The back seat has adequate legroom compared to an A4 or a 330. With me in the back I have a few inches left for knee room. The car seat will fit.

The only real tight spot for me on dimensions is rear headroom. The GTI has a ton, tha A4 has a bit more, the A3 my hair scrubs the roof if I gel spike it. 1" more headroom and I would be completely pleased. Then again 2 kids will have no problems.

redesign is for 2010. The car is very desireable though, and not much needs addressing other than offer more power, or quatro, body is ok. Chip the thing and add 32 HP for kicks.

Lou