Audi A3 for £3k? What else should I look at?

GeX

GeX

GeX

Soldato
Joined
17 Dec 2002
Posts
6,992
Location
Manchester
Hi all.

I want to replace my 2002 Xsara VTS. Whilst I don't hate the car, I don't much like it either. I think the fact that it broke down within 5 hours of me buying it have sullied the bond.

I currently have ~£1500 plus the VTS (~£900) to spend. But am in no rush to buy anything, and am still saving more.

One of the main reasons I want rid of the VTS is that I'm scared by it's electrics. Things seem to be beginning to play up with them and Citroens of this age don't really have a very good rep with their electrics. I'm worried it's going to get worse.

I want something more reliable to replace it, but not something that's totally boring. The VTS has 167bhp, so isn't ligthening fast - but it's not a slouch either. MPG wise, it's not awful - but it's not great either. Over the year or so I've had it I think the average MPG is around 28mpg, but on long motorway trips it will do around 42mpg.

I'll be using it to commute to and from work (7miles, city centre traffic, bit of dual carriageway) and occasionaly a ~300mile jaunt to see friends/family.

So, OcUK - what is there in that kind of price range that I may have missed?

A friend of mine may be selling his 206 GTI180 in a month or so for "around £2k". Granted it's another French hatchback but it's newer (54plate) but has a known history and I know it has not been abused (but is dented, hence the price!).

I had a look at the Focus ST170, but have heard some shocking tales of MPG from them.

What else is out there, I do like the A3 and I'd rather have a turbo'd engine over something like the Clio RS. I don't want a diesel.
 
GeX said:
Raymond - They all seem to be 5 doors, I'd rather have a 3 door.

Yes Fox, coming from an old Citroen - won't an old Audi will be more reliable?

A Focus? Did you read the post?

Civic, like; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...da/postcode/s92rx/page/1/radius/200?logcode=p ?
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You think an old, higher mileage 1.8T A3 will be reliable? As I've said time and time again recently, the 1.8T likes to throw up engine management errors for fun. The running costs are artificially higher due to servicing and parts costs, and they aren't particularly fast in stock form either (150PS).

The only Focus you mention is the ST170, so quite why you say

GeX said:
A Focus? Did you read the post?
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is beyond me.

Yes, all Seat Leons are 5 door, not that this matters, it just makes it far more practical than a stupidly large-doored 3 door.
 
paradigm said:
You think an old, higher mileage 1.8T A3 will be reliable? As I've said time and time again recently, the 1.8T likes to throw up engine management errors for fun. The running costs are artificially higher due to servicing and parts costs, and they aren't particularly fast in stock form either (150PS).
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I've not seen you say that time and time again recently, I don't read every single thread on here? Tell me about the parts and servicing costs?

paradigm said:
The only Focus you mention is the ST170, so quite why you say
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What else is there that isn't going to be slower than my current car?

paradigm said:
Yes, all Seat Leons are 5 door, not that this matters, it just makes it far more practical than a stupidly large-doored 3 door.
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It matters, I don't want a 5 door car. Having two extra doors doesn't make it more practical for me.
 
You may as well stick with what you have, its a decent enough hot hatch and you don't really have enough to buy something as quick that will cost you less in repairs and be more reliable than your current car without going much older which brings with it its own problems.
 
I am just concerned about the electrics degrading, and it getting worse though.

How much do you think I'd need to save to get something 'better'. I am happy to hold out and save for longer.
 
GeX said:
I've not seen you say that time and time again recently, I don't read every single thread on here? Tell me about the parts and servicing costs?
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Coil packs fail quite regularly, DV valves are a weak point, MAFs fail, as do other sensors in the engine bay. Water pumps fail if they haven't been exchanged for metal impellared versions, and depending on the mileage, it may be due the CAM chain tensioners (internal to the block, the car has a cam belt externally). They also gunge up their oil pickups if they haven't always had the right oil, and changed regularly (can be a problem with the longlife servicing schedules).

None of the above is particularly cheap, although I don't have costs to hand.

GeX said:
What else is there that isn't going to be slower than my current car?
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Remapped TDCi?

GeX said:
It matters, I don't want a 5 door car. Having two extra doors doesn't make it more practical for me.
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Course it is more practical. You can park in an average car park without fear of needing 12 foot to open your doors. You can also get things in and out of the back. They are also cheaper than their 3-door brethren (car-by-car) typically, and given your budget is small, and you want something that isn't run of the mill, and reliable, you need to compromise somewhere.

GeX said:
How much do you think I'd need to save to get something 'better'. I am happy to hold out and save for longer.
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£6-8k assuming you don't want something too old or too French.
 
paradigm said:
Coil packs fail quite regularly, DV valves are a weak point, MAFs fail, as do other sensors in the engine bay. Water pumps fail if they haven't been exchanged for metal impellared versions, and depending on the mileage, it may be due the CAM chain tensioners (internal to the block, the car has a cam belt externally). They also gunge up their oil pickups if they haven't always had the right oil, and changed regularly (can be a problem with the longlife servicing schedules).

None of the above is particularly cheap, although I don't have costs to hand.
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Thanks for that.

paradigm said:
Remapped TDCi?
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I don't want a diesel. I know they have higher servicing costs, I do diddly-squat mileage - and as refined as they are, they still rattle, stink and belch smoke. (i'm basing this on sitting behind myriad modern diesels in traffic!)

paradigm said:
Course it is more practical. You can park in an average car park without fear of needing 12 foot to open your doors. You can also get things in and out of the back. They are also cheaper than their 3-door brethren (car-by-car) typically, and given your budget is small, and you want something that isn't run of the mill, and reliable, you need to compromise somewhere.
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As I say, 5 doors is no more pratical for me. I don't fear opening my doors. I can get things in out of a 3 door car by using the boot!

Fair point on having to compromise though.
 
Fair enough on the diesel, I'd not want a smelly, rattly 4-pot either ;)

As Fox said though, there isn't much out there for your budget (that isn't French) that will be quicker, notably newer than what you have, and reliable.
 
OK, thanks guys.

I *might* buy the GTI180 (which will put my fears of the VTS electrics to rest) - and then save up and buy something in 6 months time.

Given a budget of £6k-£8k, what would you be looking at?
 
Had a test of an S3 recently. Even particularly dog eared examples seem to command quite a price.

For the sake of 2 doors, you'll get a better Cupra for your money than an A3.
 
Does it have to be a hatch for £6-8k, or would a coupé be OK?

The 2.0T FSI engine is much smoother than the 1.8T counterpart, and you'd get a more modern shaped A3 for that budget http://pistonheads.com/sales/3192350.htm

However, you end up paying a premium because it's a small, higher-end branded hatchback. Larger saloons and coupés are cheaper/better value for money.
 
I'm not hung up on the shape of the car, just don't want a big family car!

That newer A3 is nice :)
 
GeX said:
OK, thanks guys.

I *might* buy the GTI180 (which will put my fears of the VTS electrics to rest) - and then save up and buy something in 6 months time.

Given a budget of £6k-£8k, what would you be looking at?
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Make sure you have a good long test drive in it first, some people find the driving position horrendous. Especially if you have anything other than very small feet.
 
Davefran said:
Make sure you have a good long test drive in it first, some people find the driving position horrendous. Especially if you have anything other than very small feet.
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OK. I don't have small feet, so will bear this in mind when testing. As I said - it's being sold by a friend of mine, so I might be able to borrow it for a week or so to see if I like it.
 
GeX said:
OK, thanks guys.

I *might* buy the GTI180 (which will put my fears of the VTS electrics to rest) - and then save up and buy something in 6 months time.

Given a budget of £6k-£8k, what would you be looking at?
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How will buying another PSA car put your fear of French electrics to rest?
 
Because the VTS has played up all the time I've owned it. My friend has owned his GTI180 for 5 years and the electrics haven't thrown a wobbler.
 
GeX said:
Because the VTS has played up all the time I've owned it. My friend has owned his GTI180 for 5 years and the electrics haven't thrown a wobbler.
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But that doesn't really mean anything in isolation.

You could own a car described as the most reliable ever, but happen to own one of the few 'dogs' that always breaks down, and vice versa.

Not saying the GTI180 isn't more reliable, you just need to look at the bigger picture reliability wise to see if it's worth changing.
 
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