Ive just sold the car so im looking at either the A3 or the focus 3dr in a 1.6 or bigger engine. Ive got £3500ish to spend.

Something like this...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/457658.htm

dont really know much about either of them... (will leave that stuff to someone whos driven them both) but the focus should be quite a bit chaper to look after :-)

p.s. / edit:

why 3 doors ?

I could never go back to a 3 door.... dont use the back doors much, but theyre damn handy when you do need them :-)

yeah the main reason is ive had a few 4 door cars and found i rarely use them. ive think the 3dr versions of those 2 look better than 5dr.

Id probably say go for a well specced focus, Ghia or Titanium if you can. It doesnt seem worth the premium for the A3, the Focus is a good car to drive anyway.

 

The Audi just has the wrong image. A good Focus just looks normal.