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 1 through 10 of 175.00-
Sporty & Practical - 2006 Audi A3
By webdevasp - November 16 - 3:07 pmI cross shopped this car against the Subaru Legacy GT/ WRX, and Audi S4 V8. The Legacy felt bland and the WRX unrefined. While the V8 S4 with its 300hp was the best motor, the interior was small and the A3s hatchback trumps it for practicality. The A3 S-line comes with all the bells and whistles: Sirius XM, Bluetooth, heated driver and passenger seats, twin glass roofs, self leveling HID lights etc. Audi continues to make cars with handsome interiors. Of course the famed Quattro drive makes winter driving a breeze. Performance is brisk for 250Hp and launches are surefooted with AWD. Brakes haul down the car in an instant with little fade.
-
Great car let down by DSG - 2006 Audi A3
By ic70 - September 21 - 2:00 amI wanted a fun-to-drive car, with a bit more luxury. The A3, being based on the GTI, should be fun-to-drive, and come with nice Audi touches, so I thought this was the car for me. The Audi comfort touches are all there, but sadly, the fun-to-drive was not. The major problem is that in Drive mode, the DSG transmission like to conserve fuel, so it keeps rpm low (1500rpm). This means that when you need power, it takes a long second or two to kick down 2-3 gears to get going, which really really kills the fun-to-drive factor. On Sport mode, its nice and aggressive (never drops below 3000 rpm), but for daily driving, its a little too "caffeinated."
-
Great car when it runs - 2006 Audi A3
By helloworld - September 5 - 3:00 pmHad A3 2.0T 6MT Sports package. Very fun to drive, but very unreliable. Over 4 and 1/2 years of owing it at 45000 miles, I had window sensor issues, hutch lock system replaced, ignition coil failed 3 times, cannot keep alignment more than 6 months, coolant start leaking, center console for rear broke off, temperature sensor failed. Dealer in MA will charge each inspection $110 even it is nothing more than error code download and same task. Start costing me a lot to own it. I finally got rid of it
-
Love It! - 2006 Audi A3
By KK - February 19 - 10:18 pmI love driving this car! It handles great around corners and has a nice tight suspension. The extra moon roof is a great addition. Not too happy with the cellphone charger application as it became out of date pretty fast but the bluetooth on the other hand was ahead of its time. Only at 38,000kms and pretty happy with it. I found when I put winter tires on it was really quite noisy in the car. So far the only issue I have had with it is my rear tail light keeps burning out and I am not sure why? I still need to take it in for some kind of recall with the gas cap issue. People actually stop me and ask me about this car, too bad they wont be making it with the 3.2 anymore.
-
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.
-
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?
-
Dissapoinment - 2006 Audi A3
By a3sfca - November 15 - 12:10 pmThe reliability has been terrible. Back in shop over and over again in the past six months. The warranty and the extended warranty has been useless. Always pondering what will break next. Not fun when you are driving a seven year old around.
-
Looking good, but many major problems - 2006 Audi A3
By LZ - May 8 - 8:42 pmWe leased the car in October. By July AC broke down in 90 degree heat and 100% humidity. Audi couldnt fix the problem for a month. They had to replace the compressor twice. Then a year later I fule pump broke down on a highway and the car almost stalled. I barely avoided the accident. Now my just simply wouldnt start one day. When mechanic from Audi came - the and tried to start it - the engine started smoking. Week later they tell me oil pump is broken and they are replacing the engine. I am getting rid of the car - I no longer feel safe driving with kids in it. Total dissapointment.
-
Nice but UGLY - 2006 Audi A3
By Me - January 10 - 4:00 pmI test drove the new A3. It was very responsive and quick. No noticeable turbo lag which is common in most turbo cars. The interior was well designed but it is an ugly car on the outside. It looks like an oversized VW GTI. If they kept it the same size as the GTI it wouldnt be as ugly. It shouldve been aborted in the design stage.
-
Pretty to look at, but dont buy it! - 2006 Audi A3
By sfo_pete - May 3 - 11:53 pmGreat car, but not a month goes by without the check engine light coming on. 2 air conditioning compressors, misfiring cylinders, wont eject CDs, 1 qt of oil every 4K miles, 2 coolant leaks, leaking turbo inlet and seals, and on and on... I will NEVER buy another Audi, what a giant let down!
