If you are going to get into auto eroticism, it might as well be with an Audi. However, if your spouse/interest/significant other starts questioning where you are going at night, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to tell them you are having an affair with an Audi.

The Audi A3 proves that Audi knows what it’s doing when building an affordable, customizable and reliable car. Starting at about $27,000, the 2009 Audi A3 2.0 T, packs the same impressive engine as the VW GTI, and weighs 300lbs more. This is not surprising considering the A3 is 8.1 inches wider, and 4.8 inches longer, which translates to a slightly bigger frame and body.

On a larger scale, the differences between the GTI and the A3 are purely aesthetic. Still, many car enthusiasts and tuners would argue that these differences can make or break the decision between buying an Audi or a Volkswagen.  Both the Audi and the GTI share they same basic stats, 200HP with 207 lb/ft @ 5100 RPM, yet despite this, the GTI boasts a slightly better power to weight ratio at 15.7 compared to the A3’s 17.3. At an even deeper level, the difference in drag between the two cars is somewhat surprising, with results yielding only .01 difference on the drag coefficient scale.

When driving an A3, the most noticeable difference is the handling. Compared to the GTI, the A3 sports a softer suspension, providing a somewhat more comfortable ride, yet sacrifices a little of the racing edge that can be felt in the GTI.

In the end the A3 more than suffices to satisfy one’s thirst for adventure and still provides the comfort and reliability expected from an everyday car. Choosing between the GTI and the A3 ends up being purely aesthetic considering the plethora of after market parts available for both models, allowing for each to compete to a degree far beyond what was originally intended from VW and Audi. Both models easily would satisfy your auto-erotic desires yet still be cars you could bring home and introduce to your parents.