So a buddy drove the new GTi. He's owned the previous VR6 and driven my A3.

April · 01-31-2006, 09:53 AM

His impression was that the GTi may not have been quite so fast as my car - but he allows breaking in may play a part in that. At least it didn't "feel" as fast.

As for the interior, he says it's a distinct downgrade from his MK IV and not even close to the Audi. Good for the Subaru/Mitsubishi/Mazda class, but no longer distinctly Germanic luxury in look or feel. Things in general a bit more hollow and brittle.

He's going to drive my car again on Thursday while his impression of the GTi is still fresh in his mind, and see if his opinion needs revision.

qfrog@work · 01-31-2006, 11:02 AM

SilvrBulleTT · 01-31-2006, 11:53 AM

definitely not the same quality as the A3, even though the salesman said it had an Audi-looking interior.

sorry for the crappy cell phone pics:

Silver_Patrone · 01-31-2006, 12:29 PM

claud · 01-31-2006, 02:11 PM

About four months ago I test drove an auto BMW 330i with sport pack. It was way more agile and fun than my 04 Acura TL. Last Saturday I drove a DSG 2.0T A3 sport pack. May be not as fast, but just as much fun or more, with more room, nicer interior, and much better gas milage.
I tried looking for a car today. Trying to figure out options other than sport pack. What I want to know is, what A3 does April/Verdegrrl drive, options, mods, engine etc?
By the way, I agree, nice hands.

April · 01-31-2006, 02:57 PM

Only mod has been Hartmann RS4 replicas in 17 inch (they save about 6lbs per corner). Since it's a lease, there isn't much point in modding and then having to take it all off in the end. Ultimately it would be nice to have an A3 V6 in stick. Hoping that happens before lease end. I think the A3 is an ideal around-town car, with quick responses and good sightlines. It doesn't hurt that it's a sleeper, so nobody thinks to cut you off until too late, and the police don't look twice

I do some track driving, but usually in an Alfa sedan.

My friend who drove the GTi is quite a good driver and his old VR6 was a real sleeper with coilovers, Volk lightweight wheels, TT brakes, and a built engine with lightened flywheel, knife edge crank, flowed head, exhaust, etc.

Hand comment makes me chuckle. Trash them constantly and my manicurist deserves huge credit for patching them up:-)

821 dtw (Greg) · 01-31-2006, 05:10 PM

GTI won

353/s/ · 01-31-2006, 05:37 PM

judgegavel · 01-31-2006, 05:43 PM

jpatkinson · 01-31-2006, 06:17 PM

The MkV GTI, which I have test driven four times over the past couple weeks, back-to-back with the A3 2.0, 3.2, and the MkIV GTI 1.8T (depending on the day), is an amazing car.

It is more engaging and tossable than either my previous 03 GTI VR6 5M or 04 A41.8T 5M Avant, with a much higher grade interior than my 03 GTI VR6 (contrasting with your friend's perspective). There is more road and wind noise transmitted to the cabin in the GTI than in the A3, and ... the clincher for me ... it is simply a design disaster on the outside. For a few grand more, the A3 is a much better choice in both design and materials. FWIW, I think the A3 looks more teutonic (to me this translates to less focus on flash, more on purpose).

The hardest thing for me is test driving these cars after getting out of my partner's E46 325i sport (my commuter for the past 3mo). How DOES one go gracefully from oversteer to understeer and feel good about it!?

01-31-2006, 11:02 AM	#2
qfrog@work Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,388	my conclusion of the interior is simple A3 > MKV GTI

01-31-2006, 11:53 AM	#3
SilvrBulleTT AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,295	i sat in one yesterday definitely not the same quality as the A3, even though the salesman said it had an Audi-looking interior. sorry for the crappy cell phone pics: __________________

01-31-2006, 12:29 PM	#4
Silver_Patrone AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,770	The only thing i like about that GTI is the Pedals.. thankfully they fit the A3....:) __________________ 2006 A3 Light Silver, 2.0T, DSG, Sport Package, Navigation W/ 4GB of Music, Open Sky, Xenons, Sound (Bose), Conveinence, Cold Weather, Sirius, 2007- 18" S4 wheels, Contact2 235/40/18, Votex Side skirts, Votex Front Spoiler, S-line rear valance, TT Alum Pedals w/Dead Pedal, TT Light Switch, Air Leather DSG shifter, S3 Ashtray delete, S4 OEM Polished Alum Mirrors, Touareg torch, S-line front Grill, Oval Mag Flow Exhaust Tips, All Season Mats Silver_Patrone

01-31-2006, 02:11 PM	#5
claud AudiWorld Member 2011 MINI Cooper My Garage Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 124	So April/Verdegrrl, tell me about your A3. About four months ago I test drove an auto BMW 330i with sport pack. It was way more agile and fun than my 04 Acura TL. Last Saturday I drove a DSG 2.0T A3 sport pack. May be not as fast, but just as much fun or more, with more room, nicer interior, and much better gas milage. I tried looking for a car today. Trying to figure out options other than sport pack. What I want to know is, what A3 does April/Verdegrrl drive, options, mods, engine etc? By the way, I agree, nice hands. __________________

01-31-2006, 02:57 PM	#6
April AudiWorld Uber User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 52,940	My car is nothing special. Stickshift 2.0T, Premium package and Bose. Only mod has been Hartmann RS4 replicas in 17 inch (they save about 6lbs per corner). Since it's a lease, there isn't much point in modding and then having to take it all off in the end. Ultimately it would be nice to have an A3 V6 in stick. Hoping that happens before lease end. I think the A3 is an ideal around-town car, with quick responses and good sightlines. It doesn't hurt that it's a sleeper, so nobody thinks to cut you off until too late, and the police don't look twice I do some track driving, but usually in an Alfa sedan. My friend who drove the GTi is quite a good driver and his old VR6 was a real sleeper with coilovers, Volk lightweight wheels, TT brakes, and a built engine with lightened flywheel, knife edge crank, flowed head, exhaust, etc. Hand comment makes me chuckle. Trash them constantly and my manicurist deserves huge credit for patching them up:-) __________________

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01-31-2006, 05:10 PM	#7
821 dtw (Greg) Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,153	new C&D - compared GTI and Civic si GTI won __________________

01-31-2006, 05:37 PM	#8
353/s/ AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 6,039	ahhh... add the seats and steering wheel too! __________________ 353S /

01-31-2006, 05:43 PM	#9
judgegavel AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 953	But the euro RS4 steering wheel is even nicer.

01-31-2006, 06:17 PM	#10
jpatkinson New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 16	I have owned Mk I to IV and the V interior is way nicer than Mk IV. The MkV GTI, which I have test driven four times over the past couple weeks, back-to-back with the A3 2.0, 3.2, and the MkIV GTI 1.8T (depending on the day), is an amazing car. It is more engaging and tossable than either my previous 03 GTI VR6 5M or 04 A41.8T 5M Avant, with a much higher grade interior than my 03 GTI VR6 (contrasting with your friend's perspective). There is more road and wind noise transmitted to the cabin in the GTI than in the A3, and ... the clincher for me ... it is simply a design disaster on the outside. For a few grand more, the A3 is a much better choice in both design and materials. FWIW, I think the A3 looks more teutonic (to me this translates to less focus on flash, more on purpose). The hardest thing for me is test driving these cars after getting out of my partner's E46 325i sport (my commuter for the past 3mo). How DOES one go gracefully from oversteer to understeer and feel good about it!?

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