2003 Audi A3 review from Australia and New Zealand

Electric sunroof potentiometer played up a few times.

Bulbs blew on front headlights; one rear brake-light.

Bought our lil' Audi secondhand off a lady that had used it to go to her office and back (exactly five miles up the road). This resulted in us with an almost new black 2003 Audi, with tinted windows. Beautiful looking car, although I spoiled it by bloody backing into stump within the first 3 days of ownership!

Unbelievably though, despite having a dent the size of two fists in the lower rear bumper area, over the course of the journey back to Sydney (two and a bit hours), we noticed when we stopped for gas that the dent had become smaller and smaller. The next day, it was gone!

Rang Audi Australia to ask if the car had some sort of new compound that reversed crash damage, but they obviously thought I was having them on.

Anyway, it's been a great little car, combining economy with performance. I've driven it reasonably hard with no complaints whatsoever. It sucks premium unleaded and CAN start to guzzle fuel if you consistently hit 4000 /4500 rpm, but otherwise, it's been a pleasure to own and drive.

Only things wrong have been the sunroof playing up once or twice (fixed under warranty), and the headlights / rear lights bulbs blowing. Still, $30 per bulb has been relatively cheap for all the fun and joy the car has given us.

Service was relatively expensive in Australia - $600 for 30,000 km service. Toyotas et al will hit you for half the price.

Sorry to see it go, really. Recommended buy. Audi's service has been excellent all round.