Audi A3 TDi S line for 11-12K

James

James

James

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Hi all,

Looking to change my golf gti for something more sensible and economical.
Really like the audi after something that looks good is economical and is a nice place to be when driving I.e comfortable, leathers, Bose etc

Should get a facelift for this sort of cash? Any advice? Any good alternatives?

Thanks in advance.
 
Is your Golf GTI a MkV?

If so, an A3 TDI S-Line is no more comfortable, practical or sensible than your Golf. It is technically speaking the same car - its built on the same platform to similar standards. The only fundamental difference is the engine. Therefore given that you will presumably lose money on the change, this would seem like an entirely pointless sideways move.
 
Thanks for your reply, it's a MK5 GTi I bought last year.
It's been revo'd and had a few bits done so its 280bhp (RR printout), which seemed great a year ago!
However I now do lots more miles and 300 miles to a tank isn't cutting it.
The thought behind the Audi was increased economy, less insurance tax etc... My golfs realistically probably worth around 7Kish 60K FVWSH etc
Thought the Audi seemed like a good bet for a long term car.
 
I'd rather have an A4 than an A3. You should be able to get into a B8 (pre-facelift) for that, which gets you an inherently newer car (with better technology) than the ancient A3.
 
James said:
Thanks for your reply, it's a MK5 GTi I bought last year.
It's been revo'd and had a few bits done so its 280bhp (RR printout), which seemed great a year ago!
However I now do lots more miles and 300 miles to a tank isn't cutting it.
The thought behind the Audi was increased economy, less insurance tax etc... My golfs realistically probably worth around 7Kish 60K FVWSH etc
Thought the Audi seemed like a good bet for a long term car.
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So effectively then you'll spend £4-5k to reduce your insurance, tax and fuel bill but end up with a car that at best is 'the same' as your current car but more realistically won't be as enjoyable to own.

Keep the Golf and use the money you'd have spent changing on running the Golf. It's equally as comfortable as the Audi, given its pretty much the same car.

The Audi is just a diesel version of what you have now with different styling and a nice badge. And less performance.
 
The thing is I'm not too worried about performance.
I take your point fox, I'm not worried about blasting down back roads any more.
I just want something good looking to put diesel in and drive to where I need to go.
VAG is ideal because one of my friends is an audi tech so can maintain for not a lot.
Paradigm, I have been checking out A4s in my budget as well I think in my head I want an Audi but thought I'd ask those in the know.
 
James said:
The thing is I'm not too worried about performance.
I take your point fox, I'm not worried about blasting down back roads any more.
I just want something good looking to put diesel in and drive to where I need to go.
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But you can that in your Golf *and* you don't need to spend £5000 on top its value like you do with your £12k Audi idea.

It makes no economic sense to plough £5000 + your car into a car thats fundamentally the same just to benefit from lower costs. Do some investment appraisal on spending this £5k and you'll then discover that unless you drive a significant distance every year the payback period is years and years. It makes no financial sense, and the reasons you cite for wanting to change are all financial.

How many miles do you do a year?

VAG is ideal because one of my friends is an audi tech so can maintain for not a lot.
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If you get your mate to service your £12,000 Audi, no matter who it is, it's going to devalue it even further adding more cost to its ownership.

I'm not sure you realise quite how closely related your Golf and an Audi A3 are. I'm not just saying 'they are the same' because they are both hatchbacks. I'm saying it because they are fundamentally the same car, the only major differences being interior and exterior styling. The mechanicals, electronics, parts etc... are all largely identical.
 
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So do you think I'd be better to just step sideways like for like?
It would be serviced via the dealership but with discount so it's not like it wouldn't benefit from proper servicing and stamps.
I was doing about 8K a year, that's doubled now and may increase more.

I just thought I'd upgrade to a newer car whilst changing I have the money in the bank so there's no finance involved.
I do realise the Audi is a golf with different body panels I just like the diesel audis looks better than the comparable gt tdi on offer.
 
James said:
So do you think I'd be better to just step sideways like for like?
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No, I think you'd be better not bothering until your budget is sufficient to genuinelly upgrade the Golf.

I just thought I'd upgrade to a newer car whilst changing I have the money in the bank so there's no finance involved.
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Although a £12k A3 is 'newer', the A3 itself is an older car than the Golf - it came out before it. So other than the numberplate on the front it won't feel newer than a nicely looked after Mk5 Golf.
 
Thanks for your advice so far, the 08 plate facelift on the a3 is in my budget.
Is this any different from the pre facelift apart from the lights?
 
You will shoot yourself through the head with a nail if you swap a Mk5 GTi for a TDi SLine I promise you and it will cost you more too so pointless really.
 
Ok I'm glad I asked! Saved me making a mistake! Any other suggestions?
What's a reasonable upgrade?
 
The A4 that paradigm mentioned is a reasonable shout, but really you need more than 12k at the moment to properly upgrade a MK5 GTI.
 
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