I bought an A3 three months ago, and I still make-up excuses just to go drive it. It is a great call to have, especially in the DC area where traffic sucks, and maneuverability counts. The turbo it a blast to drive, however there is some turbo lag. There is plenty of power, but I will probably modify mine in the next year or so. I was comparing the Legacy, Volvo V50, and the Saab 93, but this thing won because of its overall package. The interior is great, the seats are firm , but comfortable, the sunroof kicksass.
The only real things to consider are:
Sports vs premium package (I have the premium, because I couldn't tell the difference when I drove the two)
Do you want to wait for the all-wheel drive V6 due out in a couple of months. I would have liked to had all wheel drive.
All in all an awesome car to have.