Overview & Reviews
Audi brings the A3 four-door hatchback to our shores for 2006.
- Best automatic transmission around, great driving dynamics, versatile interior space, powerful and sophisticated engine.
- Cargo and rear-seat legroom a bit tight, price can get quite steep with dazzling options.
User Reviews:
Showing 11 through 20 of 175.00-
Nearly 4 years in... - 2006 Audi A3
By AW - January 4 - 9:48 am... and just passed 65,000 miles. Still love driving the car. Clutch still good. So far, failures are: a/c compressor, turbo valve, psgr lock button and radiator gave way at 52,000 miles the last one really got me bent cause the car was just out of warranty. Now have check engine light on, but car is running fine. Coded as fuel cap leak, so not worried. Car is on third set of tires. Original pirellis VERY noisy when worn, got zeons then yokahamas. Zeons good but wore out in about 5 minutes, yokahamas are a good compromise.
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amazing value - 2006 Audi A3
By kimberly - November 3 - 7:46 pmIncredible. After test driving all the luxury vehicles and being shocked at what they were asking for price, I found my Audi. The price is not a reflection of what you get... you get so much more!! I love my new car!!
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Reliability is terrible - 2006 Audi A3
By jopsomer - October 26 - 6:27 pmIve had an Audi A3 2006 and its been nothing but trouble, with numerous repair visits to the dealer (covered by warranty until recently). The problem areas have been the fuel injection system and various electronic components. Just in the last 6 months, Ive been to the dealer 7 times. If you like to spend time in the waiting room of your dealership, this is the car for you. Otherwise, there are much better (and cheaper) choices out there.
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The S.U.V. alternative - 2006 Audi A3
By Michael Zebrowski - October 2 - 4:00 amI love my new A3. I originally wanted to buy an S.U.V., but with gas prices on the rise with no end in sight, I needed to look for something else. The A3 offers the refinement of a near luxury car, a genuine sporty pretense, and real utility, all with great gas mileage. With the rear seats folded down you can fit an amazing amout of stuff in this vehicle. I got mine with the sport package and believe me, the A3 handles at least as well or better than my former Infiniti G35. The A3 is a great value for what you get. I highly recommend at least giving it a serious look. In my opinion, the A3 and cars like it will eventually replace SUVs in America as gas prices clime to near Europe prices.
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A3 Tire noise - 2006 Audi A3
By Irv - August 30 - 12:47 pmI love the car, however, at 7500 miles I complained about tire noise. The dealers response was to replace the tires. I felt that this answer was inadequate. Am I supposed to replace my tires every 7500 miles? Audi obviously knows about the problem on the A3 but refuses to do anything about it. This has soured me on the car. I will never buy another Audi.
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The perfect commuter car - 2006 Audi A3
By bradley_earl - July 14 - 11:06 pmLiving in Los Angeles, this car nearly perfectly suits my urban needs. The DSG transmission is brilliant. It actually shifts faster than the manual, which (according to Motortrend) translates to faster 0-60 times than the manual as well. Shifting is as easy as driving a playstation car- yet a visceral experience equal to the best of any performance car Ive driven. The 2.0T is perky, and offers plenty of performance- unfortunately, more than the suspension and all-season tires can handle. Fit and finish are typical Audi- which is to say exceptional. The interior is a blend between the A4 and the TT. It isnt nearly as industrially stark as the TT, and yet not as anonymous as the A4.
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Little red wagon - 2006 Audi A3
By lark - July 9 - 4:53 pmFun to drive and gives you confidence that it will always go where you point it .....the over all package is very nice.
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Now I Get It! - 2006 Audi A3
By Florida commuter - May 22 - 2:21 pmI needed a decent mileage, daily commuter that I could live with. Looked at domestic and Japanese offerings - settled on an 06 A3, 2.0T, DSG, 25,000 miles for $19k. The hatch layout provides extra room when I need it. This car is fun, fun, fun. Dont know how I ever lived without DSG trans. My 1st Audi and handles awesome. Had a 09 S4 convertible loaner during last service w/o DSG and couldnt wait to get mine back. Both front and back armrest latches have broken and there was a turbo problem - handled under warranty with loaner. The little problems are worth the fun factor for me!
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Great car--lousy service - 2006 Audi A3
By bob52r - May 15 - 11:28 pmThis 06 A3 has been described to me as over engineered. When the car works well--95% of the time it is fantastic. When the a/c compressor went, it took 3 visits to the dealer with them telling that nothing was wrong, until I went crazy and an exec got into the car and told the service manager I was right. The radio switches stations on its own randomly--Audi says its my imagination and I should buy my own aftermarket replacement etc.....I really dont know if the collection just has bad service or Audi USA is not consumer friendly --as they blame each other. 4 or 5 other thing have gone wrong over 21,000 miles. Not horrible, but not top reliability. Its a fight to get the dealer to fix it?
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Very VERY Disappointed - 2006 Audi A3
By Baz Naz - May 4 - 2:34 pmI was excited to finally own an Audi. At first the car was fun to drive then things started to go wrong at around 12,000 miles. First the diaphragm for the turbo. Then the DSM Transmission failed. Had to get towed. After my dealer rebuilt the transmission the car lurches into gear never a smooth take off. Last week the entire cam shaft had to be replaced because the lobes on the shaft that drive the fuel pump worn completely through the follower and into the pump itself. Check engine light comes on constantly. Engine uses 1 quart of oil every 4,000 miles. Sun roof cover has been broken 3 times since I got the car and now is fixed with a temporary paper clip. Ugghhh!
