Audi A3 2.0t vs. c230 Kompressor (battle of the hatches)

[4dmin]

we went looking for a new ride for kate... two cars caught our eye:

A3: 2.0t turbo roughly 200hp fwd (22k sticker for 2006 w/ 25k miles, black/black)
c230: 1.8l SC roughly 190hp rwd (16k sticker for 2003 w/ 34k miles, metiallic green/black)

Audi: i took the A3 out first right off the bat i noticed this car is a drivers car... i've owned many VW and none feel like this when you are sitting in the seat. I've even test drove the new GTI and i think the A3 just feels better. From the seat to the pedal everything just felt like it was designed for me. I know in previous Mk4 VW the armrest got in my way, but not on the A3 its designed perfectly for you to drive with it down. I also noticed the car delievered power perfectly from a dig to changing gears ripping up the street. I was fortunate enough to have a cool salesman so we hit 125mph and let me add i hit it with much ease. If I was looking to buy a VW/Audi look no further the A3 is superior to the competing VW/Audi classes.

Now the bad... I was very dissapointed to see a car in the low-mid 20's have such a cheap look to it... the door panels are very cheap looking almost plastic; kinda like you would find in very cheap domestic make under the 18k range. I also noticed the seat backs were plastic too which to me still gave me a cheap feel. I will say the dash/center console are beautiful in this car.

c230: My first look at this car i love the color its much like the Phoenix Yellow M3 color... i've never owned a benz so i'm going in w/ a very open mind. The 1.8L motor is supercharged, just turning it over and driving around the lot you can hear it whine a bit (kinda loud). The interior is definately nicer then the Audi, but the drivers feel isn't the same... this just isn't as comforatable as the Audi which fit me like a glove. Taking the benz on the road turning off ESP this car just raped rubber like the Audi and the kick of power felt alittle stronger. I did the same i did with the Audi and tore it up to the 125mph mark... the sales guy is right now! (reverse is a trip in these cars... if you thought Germans could get any crazier... lol) Only other con i can say is the cabin seems alittle smaller due to 2 doors and larter hatch area.

Overall: I like c230 better... the car looks beautiful in/out; power is very similar w/ the Audi. The downside is the Audi aftermarket is very good, so the Audi will easily make 250whp+/300lbs+ with new software at the cost of 500-600$. But with the 22k sticker its just a little high for what you are getting... I am able to get a very sexy car with nice power for nearly 6k cheaper. If i was buying a car for aftermarket performance alone i would buy the Audi hands down, but the c230 is a great car for someone looking for something similiar

[GermanMuscle]

personally i would take a audi over a benz anyday since its more of a drivers car. But with the benz i think you would end up paying the same for the benz as the audi in the long run since a mercedes is expensive to own even if its their lower class model.

[OneSlow5pt0]

damn,thats a wild color...but that a good looking benz,dont think u can go wroung with ether

[GTScoob]

Go with the A3. Those C230s just dont do anything for me in the looks or performance categories but then again I'm benchracing and have never driven one.

[thegreatfnr]

I think audi is suppose to start bringing the A3 2-doors over soon as well as the S3. Once they do that the prices of the 4 door would go down I would think if thats the major rub with purchasing one.

Lee

[4dmin]

I think audi is suppose to start bringing the A3 2-doors over soon as well as the S3. Once they do that the prices of the 4 door would go down I would think if thats the major rub with purchasing one.

Lee

nice

na i need to get her something soon and i think for the price the benz i just the way to go... i found one today black/black for 13k we are going to look at tonight. i'm a die hard VW/Audi man the last 6 cars i've bought have been VW... for the A3 is kinda over priced i think; if we had them here for a few years longer i'm sure the price would be lower and i would be buying that; but most are in the 20's.

[ironchef]

You also gotta remember though, resale values on audis are at an alltime high across the board right now. Which is a good and bad thing, but definitely something to keep in mind as the reason for it being in the 20s.

[OneSlow5pt0]

how bout the A4?

[Digipix]

come to the dark side we need more a3 drivers on the road i think i the only modded a3 in north ga

[4dmin]

nice ride man +25 , but i bought her a black/black c230 this week

[GermanMuscle]

any pics of the new benz?

[4dmin]

here you go... i got wheels on order too

[GermanMuscle]

i like that color alot better than the weird green

[Crowml]

very nice brother. Sad to see u renig on the A3, but I agree with your purchase.

[R_Rated]

do you ever want to be able to work on the car yourself?
get the audi

do you want to mod it?
get the audi

do you want to be different but pay 3K for a catback and like priced bolt ons?
get the benz.

[GermanMuscle]

he already bought a black benz

[4dmin]

^ the benz is for my wife... but if i was buying a car to specifically mod i would buy the audi ... but the audi is over priced for what you are getting in my opinion; the benz is a great alternate just be prepared for over priced dealer prices. they wanted 200$ for an oil change

vw/audi has the best aftermarket out of any euro make

[Congogrey]

Admin that is a good choice. The rims are sweet.

[katokars]

I have a SLK230 for sale if you are interested

[asserwer]

Audi all the way and stop trying to pawn your WIFE's car Kaido

[KartboyWRX]

YEAH Audi, FTW!

[T.S.]

umm he bought a Mercedes and holy fucking old post captain!

[4dmin]

^ dayum talk about dead thread... actually i still got the benz great choice!

[SampaGuy]

my friend has one, im in love with the interior