Help with buying a modern A3 ?

Eddy · 28-06-13, 08:15 PM

Right chaps
We are looking to buy a 2005-2008 audi a3, time to say by by to the A2

Any views on good and bad ?
I would like the 3.2 quattro but Mrs sensible would like a fwd 1.9tdi

I have heard of a few problems with the 1.9tdi (glow warning lights) ?

Would it be better to think about 2.0 petrols as they are cheeper to buy ?

So many options

Tim C · 29-06-13, 10:33 AM

We've been looking for (or keeping an eye for one if it happens to come along) a similar aged A3/A4.

I also had hankerings for a 3.2 after having my V6 S4 a few years ago.
My wife only covers two or three thousand miles a year, so mpg isn't so much if an issue.
They seem to be cheaper than other models, due to the expected running costs I guess.
What really hurts though, probably more so than the mpg, is the £475 road tax!!!

Don't know much about the diesels, she doesn't really want an oil burner and with the few miles she covers, we'll never recover the purchase price premium.

So it looks like a 2.0T quattro for us. I drove one a few years back, nothing exciting, certainly didn't feel like the claimed 200hp, but nice enough.
Should keep her happy anyway, if I can find an s-line with all the toys in red!

Eddy · 29-06-13, 10:46 AM

Cheers Tim,
Off to look at some today,
Gonna miss the wee A2 tho, just need a bit more space for the kid, oh hang on, sell the kids and get her a rs3

S4_SAT · 29-06-13, 11:46 AM

Best model to go for is the 1.9TDIe or the 1.8T. Depends on the mileage and type of use. Spec is very important in these as the base models can be very basic. My ideal choice would be a 1.9TDIe Sport as it comes with all the bits you need except bluetooth.

Coxy · 29-06-13, 12:55 PM

glad someone started this thread up as I'm looking at the same myself as a daily.
I have the jeep Grand Cherokee but being as large as a house, an auto and a diesel, it ticks zero boxes for me.
I've looked at 2005 on 3.2 A3's. Not overly fussed about mpg, however, I wasn't aware they are £475 a year tax!
can handle getting shafted once for tax, but twice is daylight robbery!

Any views on the 2.0 TFSI model?

mikes2 · 29-06-13, 02:52 PM

The £475 road tax only affects cars registered after March 2006

Coxy · 29-06-13, 03:02 PM

Think my one and only option then is a 55 plate one.

How much are they? £280?

Eddy · 29-06-13, 05:27 PM

Found a nice 2.0tdi 140ps, sport back 2006 in red, panoramic roof ooooooooh,
Drives like a very low mileage one, 86tho on the clock.

She is cuffed, collect it next week,

Was looking at the 2.0fsi but heard they chew up cams ?
We even had a look at the 1.6petrol but with the car fully loaded I recon the mpg would be as good as a 3.2 .

So, anyone fancy a 2003 A2 1.4 tdi, silver, 103tho
£3500

moonwatcher · 29-06-13, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coxy

glad someone started this thread up as I'm looking at the same myself as a daily.
I have the jeep Grand Cherokee but being as large as a house, an auto and a diesel, it ticks zero boxes for me.
I've looked at 2005 on 3.2 A3's. Not overly fussed about mpg, however, I wasn't aware they are £475 a year tax!
can handle getting shafted once for tax, but twice is daylight robbery!

Any views on the 2.0 TFSI model?

My 59 plate TFSI was 265 BHP, chipped up by 40 BHP 3 glorious years of driving

Hanuman · 29-06-13, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy

She is cuffed...

kinky

29-06-13, 10:33 AM	#2
Tim C Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Poole, Dorset, England Posts: 1,729	We've been looking for (or keeping an eye for one if it happens to come along) a similar aged A3/A4. I also had hankerings for a 3.2 after having my V6 S4 a few years ago. My wife only covers two or three thousand miles a year, so mpg isn't so much if an issue. They seem to be cheaper than other models, due to the expected running costs I guess. What really hurts though, probably more so than the mpg, is the £475 road tax!!! Don't know much about the diesels, she doesn't really want an oil burner and with the few miles she covers, we'll never recover the purchase price premium. So it looks like a 2.0T quattro for us. I drove one a few years back, nothing exciting, certainly didn't feel like the claimed 200hp, but nice enough. Should keep her happy anyway, if I can find an s-line with all the toys in red! __________________ quattro RR - crystal silver quattro WR - 1981 Lombard RAC rally recreation (50% share) Nissan Navara - tow car / service vehicle for above A4 2.0T quattro s-line special edition - wife's http://www.flickr.com/photos/37654549@N06/sets/

29-06-13, 02:52 PM	#6
mikes2 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Polmont Posts: 2,617	The £475 road tax only affects cars registered after March 2006 __________________ 1991 90 quattro 20v sport 1991 90 quattro

29-06-13, 10:46 AM	#3
Eddy Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Glasgow Posts: 904	Cheers Tim, Off to look at some today, Gonna miss the wee A2 tho, just need a bit more space for the kid, oh hang on, sell the kids and get her a rs3

29-06-13, 11:46 AM	#4
S4_SAT Grown up member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunny Glasgow Posts: 442	Best model to go for is the 1.9TDIe or the 1.8T. Depends on the mileage and type of use. Spec is very important in these as the base models can be very basic. My ideal choice would be a 1.9TDIe Sport as it comes with all the bits you need except bluetooth.

29-06-13, 12:55 PM	#5
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	glad someone started this thread up as I'm looking at the same myself as a daily. I have the jeep Grand Cherokee but being as large as a house, an auto and a diesel, it ticks zero boxes for me. I've looked at 2005 on 3.2 A3's. Not overly fussed about mpg, however, I wasn't aware they are £475 a year tax! can handle getting shafted once for tax, but twice is daylight robbery! Any views on the 2.0 TFSI model?

29-06-13, 03:02 PM	#7
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	Think my one and only option then is a 55 plate one. How much are they? £280?

29-06-13, 05:27 PM	#8
Eddy Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Glasgow Posts: 904	Found a nice 2.0tdi 140ps, sport back 2006 in red, panoramic roof ooooooooh, Drives like a very low mileage one, 86tho on the clock. She is cuffed, collect it next week, Was looking at the 2.0fsi but heard they chew up cams ? We even had a look at the 1.6petrol but with the car fully loaded I recon the mpg would be as good as a 3.2 . So, anyone fancy a 2003 A2 1.4 tdi, silver, 103tho £3500