I test drove a silver 3.2 A3 today with Open Sky bixenon and Cold Weather package. Its the exact package I want except maybe the Lava Grey.

MSRP is 37750, Invoice is 34560.
The fees etc at our negotiated price take the car to 39900. Negotiation wasnt too easy either but I think fair. They start counting invoice with deal prep and ad fees included so the margin is lower.

So not only is the car about 3k more than I want to spend, any lease deals are out the window with a 52% residual. Thats w 15K miles 36months.

The car itself is incredible. i tested the 2.0t a while back and this one doesnt have any wheel spin and the power comes on without the turbo lag, although the 2.0t over the 1.8t has less of it. Seems like the DSG compliments this engine better than the 2litre. As i downshifted it managed the engine very well.

The base package is also very well done with bose and the sline trim included. Leather sports seats with power drivers side are well bolstered.

So what to do? Lease deals on a4 avant 2.0tqtips are pretty decent. The a3 is the perfect size car for my tastes though and I really like the dsg.

in price IMHO, to get the car you really want. You know if you don't get what you want, you'll always be haunted by the idea of what you could have had. It's not that much more than a loaded 2.0T.

<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/32711.phtml">short options list</a></li></ul>

Edmunds has the pricing available too.