How does this Audi A3 look?

Slinger

Slinger

Slinger

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Joined
4 Dec 2006
Posts
468
Location
Hertford/Portsmouth
Hello all,

I am looking into purchasing a A3 tdi, closely around the 3k mark. I don't mind the mileage, as I can know what to check for around this mileage with regards to DMF, clutch, turbo etc.

Seen this car, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152013667779?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

and wondered what others thought? I get a good feeling from the effort his taken to write a good description (although, I know you can't believe it still and would be cautious!)

In particular, I wonder what others think in terms of how much I should offer him, taking into account the brakes need doing soon, and rear wiper motor and also, from my conversations with him, that it is still on its original clutch and DMF and turbo. Being on 122k these things are top of my list to check. Also, he mentions it sticks sometimes in 1st gear or reverse, a new master cylinder is probably about a 100 quid job all in. but is the possibility of it being much worse that this a big worry in this case?

I would prefer a car to already have had these done, but I am maybe looking at a higher mileage, maybe 140k plus and ones I've seen have been far away or in much worse condition. This is a very nice spec model. Also, bare in mind, I would be coming from a T reg clio. yeah.... When it comes down to these parts, how long do they generally last, I've read some go at about 80k, others at 140k. Spoken to my Dad, who is a mechanic, and he view is, if it all checks out fine now, and there is no sign of something on its way out, then go for it. Kind of a "how long is a piece of string" scenario with cars!

anyways. its a good thing its spend its life on the motorway for the last 4 years, and was only on 45k in 2012 at that point already being a 7 year old diesel. This is much easier on all the components.

I am pretty set on A3's in general, and do like a good diesel! Just got to be very cautious when looking at these within my budget.

Anyways, any tips you wise bunch can give would be much appreciated! Apologies if my post is a bit all over the place!
 
Do you need a diesel for the mileage you cover each year?
Do you find the Audi is the best car for your needs or just what you want for the Audi badge?

It sounds like it has a few issues now and the rambling advert doesn't do it much help. Look elsewhere and if you're not covering at least 15K+ or doing long motorway journeys, get a petrol.
 
You have £3k to spend. Don't try and buy both a diesel and a premium badge. Any savings you expect to make on fuel costs will be dwarfed by the cost of keeping a high-mileage diesel in top-condition.
 
Oh my - must be one of the only A3's made with wood trim (although oddly it has electic seats - fairly rare in A3's ) :(


As above though - at £3k I think you are better off looking at something else.
 
I'll be honest guys, I won't be doing over 15k mileage a year, but I do on average at the moment about 8k. Maybe bit more as I plan to do some road trips into europe.

It's more I like it as, yes its an Audi, they are lovely to drive and I want something more exciting that my rattly clio(and I know, anything at 3k, will be better than my clio) . I am considering VW too, but golfs are coming up very similiar in price to Audi, but not nearly as nice imo.

I have considered other brands, but not a lot takes my fancy, maybe its the audi badge snobbery playing its part :P. I'm finding this picking a right car task very hard, and in the end I just want to get what I like, as I enjoying driving and life too short isn't it!

The 1.6 FSI engines in my budget, generally have about 100k on them. I have not done my research into these engines, so still wonder if maybe thats a better choice.

Maybe I should just get a boring ole focus? :p

Thanks for your input guys, I shall move on from this one! It has too many concerns!
 
If it helps with haggle room, just let my Audi A4 S-Line (140bhp) Auto, 56 plate with 110,500 on clock for £3k cash.

How desperate is he to sell it? Don't be scared to make a low ball offer of say £2500...I accepted because I get my new car either tomorrow or Wednesday with a bit of luck.
 
MOT history doesn't paint a very good picture. I think trying to get a car like this with your budget will land you with a piece of junk.

The fact it picked up an advisory for low coolant on a failure, and then it's still there on the retest shows it's not been looked after.
 
Janesy B said:
MOT history doesn't paint a very good picture. I think trying to get a car like this with your budget will land you with a piece of junk.

The fact it picked up an advisory for low coolant on a failure, and then it's still there on the retest shows it's not been looked after.
Click to expand...

The fact you have brought this up too, and with him saying "no expense has been spared" and them him leaving the wiper motor and parcel shelf issue leaves me now to think his getting shot before something big crops up.
 
2.8k for that it's gonna be an absolute shed! A decent one of them with less than 100k on would be worth 4K in black. A diesel at that age and mileage could just be a potential money pit with Turbo's and dmf's etc. And if your buying it just because it has an Audi badge to impress people ain't nobody impressed by a run of the mill A3 anymore.
You don't need a diesel doing 8k per year. 3k would get you a low mileage 2006/7 Titanium Focus which would have half the mileage on and half the running costs
 
Love the way he states in the Audi advert that the second owner was a very wealthy lady from Texas :D yeh sure she would have a diesel PoV spec A3
 
Slinger said:
The fact you have brought this up too, and with him saying "no expense has been spared" and them him leaving the wiper motor and parcel shelf issue leaves me now to think his getting shot before something big crops up.
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Trouble is pretty much everyone selling a 10 year old car like this is getting shot for similar reasons.
 
I've been on the lookout for an A3 for the last 6 weeks or so, albeit a higher budget. From what i've seen in my criteria, typically around 2009/2010 with 50k/60k on the clock they're going for around 7k.

Although this model is slightly older and much more mileage on the clock, it sounds like the owners trying to shift it before it starts getting expensive to repair.
 
Slinger said:
It's more I like it as, yes its an Audi, they are lovely to drive and I want something more exciting that my rattly clio(and I know, anything at 3k, will be better than my clio) . I am considering VW too, but golfs are coming up very similiar in price to Audi, but not nearly as nice imo.
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Your Clio will almost certainly be more exciting to drive than a diesel A3 ;)

What do you not like about Golfs that the A3 offers?

You'll get a better Focus, or even a Seat/Skoda if you are set on VAG than Audi/VW for the same budget.
 
A full set of premium Bridgestone tyres was fitted at Christmas. No expense has been spared on this vehicle.
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Reads the paragraph above on the advert then he writes this. :rolleyes: :D

It's one of those people... if the fixes a just minor problems get them fixed if the cars in good enough condidtion as he claims then up the price by a few hundred to cover the cost. No problems selling it then amirite? :P
 
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