I'm shopping for a new DD. Depending on who you ask, it's time to either put the trusty 84k miles '96 Cherokee in someone else's hands (my queen), or to supplement it with a new DD (her jester).

I'm rather enamored of the Audi A3 Quattro. I've been doing a lot of reading and I'm sort of leaning towards a ~2007 3.2 V6 over the 2.0T or 2.0 TDI diesel (only available in FWD).

Other vehicles on the fringes of my mind are Mazda 3 hatchback, Mazda CX-7, VW GTI, Infiniti M35 or M37. Not a big BMW fan (plus my wife hates bimmers).

I thought it would be dumb not to inquire with my car buddies here who are far smarter and experienced when it comes to these four-wheeled hunks of metal that drink fossil fuels.

Comments, criticism, donations, and hijacks are hereby requested!

Friend of mine was about to pull the plug on a A3 FWD 2.0t w/ Stasis full package (From Stasis) last year but couldnt finance it. He absolutely LOVED the car.


I drove the 08 mazdaspeed 3 and felt it was a poorly designed sportscar. The power delivery was HORRIBLE. I as driving a stock car, and the traction control light lit up in 1st, and the gear shift of 2nd and 3rd. This was no clutch slipping or anything just normal easy full throttle runs... If that is what STOCK felt like, I would HATE to see what a chipped car felt like. Suspension was Meh, and the rest of the car was good for the price.


See if you can find a modified 2.0t A3 in your area for a drive, I hear they handle like a quattro, Very nice.

If that wont work for you, Quattro is an amazing system and I fully back it! V6's sound good with some magnaflows as well

I love my 2007 G35 for a DD.

Astonishing acceleration. 0-60 in 5.3

Only 20mpg if you don't beat it, but 60-90 mph is killer! Launch is positively awesome. Low gearing makes it a rocket, but 3200 revs at 80.

And you can get one just past 60k miles for 18k.

Just pick a good color. This car is bulletproof. But the brakes can cost, and the rears wear out first.

Also, every 45k you need to clean the throttle body.

Outside of that, it is just Gas/Tires/Oil.

I have 64k miles on it and on the 3rd set of just new skins. Got about 32 out of 2 sets of RSA's then switched to a more aggressive asymmetric set for dry handling.

These cars are a much better value than any M series, but the 2002 M45 is a pisser in the old body style for even less.

4.5L in a small frame. But pricey for parts. And they are now 8 years old.

John

A3 Quattro......if your wallet let's you...do it!!

Great choices in cars!
I have owned an older VW GTI and currently own a 04 GLI with chipped computer and a cold air intake. By far this has been the best car I have ever owned. The car is most likely pushing about 220hp and is lots of fun. Not a complete rocket by any means but a fun handling driver and a great DD.

Since Audi and VW are so closely tied I can only imagine a A3 would be even that much better!!!

Good Luck!
ED

Glad there's no advice to run away so far.
We almost pulled the trigger on an M35x last year, but something held us back. We also drove the G35x which I liked a lot better than the M but my wife did not.

The Mazda stuff just seems low quality.

A3 and VW Golf are based on same chassis from my understanding. Might look at that as well.

The one I have my eye on is an '07 3.2 Quattro in Atlanta. One thing I learned from buying my 914 is that it's fun to fly somewhere, buy a car, and drive it home. Plus I can try to sneak in a visit to Auto Atlanta.

IDK, I do like my Mazda3 and haven't really noticed any quality issues. The fit and finish is really as good as or better than many of the cars that I looked at (Subaru, VW, etc) and I don't know anyone who has had quality related issues. That said, the traction control is a bit odd, but can be turned off quite easily and power delivery on the speed3's isn't the best.

It looks like the base A3 list price is much higher than all but a fully loaded 3.

Thanks Jim. I won't count the Mazda 3 5-door out yet then.

The '07 A3 3.2 v6 Quattro I was pursuing was apparently just sold (or was bait-and-switch?)

So now maybe '09 2.0T Quattro. I'd sure like the 3.2 v6 tho..

get a VW bus, with a big motor, that would be a nice family car, and seats more than the audi. german quality too. then again the idea of a VW jetta diesel is nice, great mpg and it dont look like a prius either!!! plus they make them turbo!!!

fast and economical at the pump!!!

I agree, get a bus.

or a couple more 914's

Maybe a beetle, you can fit like 12 people in one!

I did toss the bus idea out there but wifey didn't go for it. I'm sure the kids woulda been all over it!

'76 911S coupe was denied as well, even after showing a photo clear illustrating that the car seats will fit with no trouble.

Too bad the wife dislikes the big bimmers. A asked a guy what kind of mileage he gets with his Mazda 3-5 "S" he told me 28mpg. Why would I get into a sardeen car when I get that and better sometimes with my full sized BMW 525IT (touring or as the wife calls it the station wagon ) Plus, 245K on the odo with no major work. (Knock on Wood)

i would steer clear of an audi...anything
designed for a short life, with spendy fix ups along the way

Pete,

Know this from experience?

Its a german car, Engine's last quite a while. 200k or so, and the chassis are rock solid. Sure it has maintenence items like other vehicles, and yes those maintenences costs more. Its a German car. Its not a honda. Repairs and are on par with all German cars, and life is greater than most german cars.

Audi Experience here:

I have a 2007 A4, and bought it used. In one year of ownership, three coil packs died. Got a recall letter for the coil packs and took it in.

We'll see if will still have problems...

Love the car otherwise. Got good at replacing coil packs on the side of the road.

-- brett

How about the new VW bug, I've test drived them and they have alot of zip but have never owned one....someone chime in if any experience.

Although the one thing they do lack which bugs me from the rounded design is that the rear seat only works for kids, any adults and your head will hit the top.

Dave

Yup, They switched brands on the coilpacks ~ 03 and have had problems ever since. There are some non Audi brands (read Jap) that the performance guys use that are better and cheaper. However for most, the recall covers it.

Personally, I havent had coilpacks go bad on me yet. Had the car (sig) for 40k miles, 125k-165k. Only thing I havent replaced yet is the rear diff and the motor itself. However the rear diff needs to be replaced. The trani got eaten up from AWD burnouts and launches or else it would still be in it (in fact, I only replaced it because the syncro in 1st was bad due to the burnouts).

Extremely well designed cars, Working on them is no more difficult than working on my Honda. Its just a little more time consuming. Parts on the other hand are 2-3x as much.

But just ask me which car I prefer driving. Ask me which car i'd keep if I could only drive one car for the rest of my life. (I'd say 944 turbo.. but thats not in my garage at the moment). Ya, the Audi is a much better and well designed car.

I want an Audi Avant. The european sport wagon is a classic. I think they look better than the A4 sedan actually.

Look into a MB E 320 you can get into them for a good price see my post about Mommas new toy.

I'm saving for a golf tdi. One of the few eco-friendly options with a 3rd pedal.

They got good scores for initial quality but i'm going to wait a few years i think...my 03 gti vr6 started falling apart (literally and figuratively) around 65k miles.

Also, maybe they'll come up with a gti tdi...that would be awesome.

Or a gti tdi with haldex or quattro...

now i'm just dreaming.

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If it's just a DD why bother replacing a 'new' vehicle with only a few K? just drive the dd into the ground and save the nice car for yourself or you wife??????

Please force VW to make us US folks a GTI TDI - if it had a real transmission I would go into debt for one. But then what would I do with my almost new 1980 Volvo??? If I was really cool I would drop in a D24T from the 'Euro land' and be a very happy camper.
Steve