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Took my RS in for a couple of minor things and they let me borrow a brand new A3 saloon. They also had the new S3 sportback there as well.

As a general car for mr boring it is probably quite nice. The general drive is OK and probably perfect for mr boring or the personthat has bought it just to have the Audi badge. Maybe I didn't have the best screen in this A3 because it was pants in terms of resolution and grpahics. Outside styling is pants also.

My main point though is that I really didn't like the interior, I expected it to have caught up with the B8 A4/5 but it just felt like it hadn't. Some very cheap plastics and a dull dash with horrible seats as well; they seemed to dig into the sides of my back. Driving position is odd as well, I couldn't get one I liked. Only drove 20 miles and I was glad to have gotten out.

As a potential buyer of the new RS 3 when it comes out and as man who likes interiors I think the RS 3 may be off the cards I may just keep the RS 5. Nice interiors are a big plus point for me, altough the B8 RS 5 isnt the most amazing, it just feels like a nicer place to be and one which is in my price bracket.

New generation of the 3 =

If you want pics I can provide.

Maybe I'm just spoilt with the RS 5 now. Although even my neighbours weren't impressed and the best car in my cul-de-sac is a Vauxall Astra!!

Yeah bung some pics up!

I think you must be spoiled!

The A3 saloon is strange because it doesn't use the normal A3 front end, you can se the differences in styling when they are parked side by side. Its actually slightly wider too. Why Audi has done this I have no idea!? The differences are so minimal

Sounds like it had the entry SD Card Nav with a 5.8 inch screen (cars without navigation use this screen too) rather than the £1500 Nav Touch with a higher resolution 7 inch screen. Sport and S line get the same seats as the S3.

Oldly I can get a better driving position in my dads A3 (previous shape) than my S4, partly because the seat goes far lower in the A3 than the Recaros in my S4

I do agree the dash layout is very different to the B8. Excluding the outgoing 2006 TT and 2007 R8, the B8 is now the only Audi of the mainstream five seat models to use the older design fixed position sat nav screen. The A3 is much more modern and similar only really in layout and design to the A1.

Sat in both an S3 and an A3, hoping to drive one when mine and dads are in for service in March April time!

Finally, yes I agree they are spec dependent, a 1.6 TDI SE with no options and no nav will feel like a cave! However there are lots of well specced 2.0 TDi Sport and S line 'launch spec' demos out there at the mo with Nav Touch, xenons, B&O, leather etc etc.

This one is a launch model and has some of the options you mention above. The driving position I still can't get right for me.

I just checked and it is a 31k car. So has some spec on it.

Christ! Was a Sport or S line then for sure! Strange you didn't get on with the seats then

Audi are cheeky bastards charging more for the saloon than they do for the Sportback.

Not a full match on the vrn as its so new, but DVLA confirms its definitely a Sport. Can see the seats from the front end shot, same as those in the S3.

Those alloys are revolting! Shame as the optional 18s on the 3 and 5dr are gorgeous

I can see where they got their styling ideas from

Nickyboy wrote:

Not liking that at all

erm.... I think this is where they got the styling from.