2011 Audi A3 to Feature Many Variants, Added Bulk
We've never known quite what to make of the A3. Sure, sure, it's a great car with the DSG and the AWD and the big engine, but then the price tag can bump $40k and well, STI please. Those in the know also know that underneath the A3's pretty skin sits the guts of a Volkswagen Golf, er Rabbit. Even at "just" $25K, that's expensive. However, those that don't know, don't care and the A3 has been selling well. Well enough in fact that Motor Authority is reporting Audi will be developing a number of A3 variants. These include but are not limited to a 3-door hatch, a convertible, an S3, a wagon, a small sedan, a sportback and an A3 Allroad. Also, one can never forget that Audi is a German company, meaning that each successive must be bulkier than the previous. And since the new A4 has swelled to nearly BMW 5-Series proportions, expect the 2011 A3 to compete size-wise with the Bavarian 3-Series. If not price-wise, too.
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I have to agree with Mj0lnir and BigMass, I can definitely see being embarassed that you drive an STI or EVO. I definitely can't see you taking your boss to lunch in one. However, I can't see a good reason to have one over a GTI.
Why not go for the ultimate A3? Make it an Allroad Cabrio. Heck, why they are at it, make it an amphib. Now that I put all that down, I realize that VW already made the Schwimmwagen. I wonder how it sold?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I wouldn't be embarrassed to drive the MS3 or the STI (my brother has a regular 3 hatch, and it's really nice). I'd actually love either car. However, to me at least, the MS3 looks like a college kids car and the STI looks like a boy racer's car. There's nothing wrong with either of those things at all, but with respect to my clients, perception is reality, and I need to seem as professional and conservative as possible. Believe me, I'm not a fan of this, as in my previous life (working on a doctorate in mathematics) I had cool long hair, earrings, and shaved twice a week. Needless to say that is no longer the case. And for disclosure, I did look at the A3 vs. the GTI, and picked the GTI (it no longer has the GTI badges, and the red grill ring has been painted black to make it seem more appropriate to my clients). They are very, very different cars in my estimation.
Strippo : That A3 ragtop makes the VW Cabrio look butch. Thanks, I plan to put the top down this afternoon. I'm a dude with a beard. I figure I may be the only American male driving one of these with a wife and kids along for the ride. VBG!