Audi A3/A4

poet123

Is the A3 vastly inferior to the A4 in terms of drive and comfort and performance on long journeys?

Sgt_Pepper_2

How can a samller lighter car with the same engine be inferior in performance?

neilmcl

poet123 wrote: »

Is the A3 vastly inferior to the A4 in terms of drive and comfort and performance on long journeys?

I'd think we'd need a few more details, ie, model spec, engine, etc.

poet123

Top of the range A3 as compared with bottom/middle A4. Sorry, cant give the specs too technical for me!!

Basically a friend is looking to buy either/or and another (male) friend is saying that as they do long motorway journeys 500 miles plus on a regular basis(once, maybe twice, per week) the A4 is the better care for such journeys, more comfort, less vibration, just better overall performance.

I was wondering if that was correct or if it is just a case of bigger always seems better.

neilmcl

Well again without any details regarding spec, engine size, type, age of car, etc then it'll be difficult to comment regarding performance as there's far too many variables. Generally an A4 saloon has more room so it will probably be a better place to be in over a long journey like that. I suggest your mate has a look over on honestjohn.co.uk to compare the different models.

poet123

Thanks, it wasn't room, it was specifically comfort for one, not a car full of people. I think he is biased towards the bigger car, not for reasons of performance but because he thinks size matters!!

sam1970

I think the A3 is too girly so if your friend is male he might be better off with A4...that is only my opinion

Sgt_Pepper_2

poet123 wrote: »

Thanks, it wasn't room, it was specifically comfort for one, not a car full of people. I think he is biased towards the bigger car, not for reasons of performance but because he thinks size matters!!

He really needs to try both and see which is most comfortable for him. I've had small car that were more comfortable over a period of time than some larger cars.

Notmyrealname

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

He really needs to try both and see which is most comfortable for him. I've had small car that were more comfortable over a period of time than some larger cars.

And in my case its vice versa.

If he's looking at paying out a not inconsequential sum for the car I would see about hiring one of each for the day and doing the long journey its most likely to be doing.

nearlyrich

I drive an A3 now have had the same engine/gearbox combo in an A4 just before and another A3 just before that, so A3/A4/A3 in the last year, apart from some refinements on the A4 that I don't have on the A3 ( built in sat nav/ Multimedia centre /reversing sensors to name but three) the two are interchangeable really, same seats, steering wheel positions etc. I like the A3 because it's nippier and the hatch is more suitable for my role than the boot on the A4 ( I am quite short and reaching the back of the boot is hazzardous LOL..with the hatch I can pull the backseats forward to retrieve wayward objects. The A3 is more economical but the is irrelevant to me as the fuel card costs me the same in tax however the company car tax is lower on the A3 which isn't irrelevant at all due to the lower cost price of the A3. I drive 500 to 1200 miles each week so would notice a lack of comfort.

poet123

I assume you can have the upgrades on the A3? (Sat Nav,Multimedia, sensors etc) as that would be a deal breaker.