Audi A3 versus VW Rabbit (luxury, vehicle, manual transmission, AWD)
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Engine & driveline options, suspension tune, interior appointments (more standard features on the Audi). The Rabbit's base engine is a 2.5L inline-5 delivering 150 to 170HP, depending on model year. The optional upgrade is a 2.0L turbo 4 putting out 200HP in the GTI version. This is the base engine in the A3 with the optional engine being a 3.2L V6 producing 250HP. In the Rabbit the standard transmission is a 5-speed manual with a 6-speed manual or automatic option; in the A3 the 6-speed is the base transmission with an autostick 6-speed optional. The Rabbit comes in 2 or 4 door while the Audi is 4-door only. The V6 A3 comes with AWD while there is currently no AWD variant of the Rabbit/GTI.
The only way I'd get an A3 is if it had the 2.0T and a manual transmission. It's not outrageously priced in that guise (starts at about $26,000), and for the money you're getting a well-equipped entry luxury vehicle that's fairly practical and entertaining to drive. If you opt for the V6, you don't have the option of a manual, and you're adding weight and money without getting a significant difference in speed. A great car overall, but the bigger engine just doesn't appeal to me.
The only way I'd get an A3 is if it had the 2.0T and a manual transmission. It's not outrageously priced in that guise (starts at about $26,000), and for the money you're getting a well-equipped entry luxury vehicle that's fairly practical and entertaining to drive. If you opt for the V6, you don't have the option of a manual, and you're adding weight and money without getting a significant difference in speed. A great car overall, but the bigger engine just doesn't appeal to me.
Unfortunately, the A3's "quattro" system is actually VW's "4Motion" system (read: FWD 95% of the time) and not the Torsen system on most other Audis.
I'd still take it over the FWD haldex is not torsen, but still a darn nice car!
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