agreed, I'd have paid thousands more if I wanted my spec in facelift.
Audi owners in here!
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
Fair comments. Any guides to look at would be grand then thanks guys.
I think if I was looking at petrol I'd choose the 1.8 TFSI. I know bits and bobs about them but want something concrete to study. I can't spend too much on it but if things work out with the house we've viewed, the Civic is too low (speed bump central!), too noisy and I feel too old for it to want to park it within a nice estate. So time to get something sensible and cheap enough to run, I probably do 15k a year miles at the min.
I think if I was looking at petrol I'd choose the 1.8 TFSI. I know bits and bobs about them but want something concrete to study. I can't spend too much on it but if things work out with the house we've viewed, the Civic is too low (speed bump central!), too noisy and I feel too old for it to want to park it within a nice estate. So time to get something sensible and cheap enough to run, I probably do 15k a year miles at the min.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I liked it but I banked the money didn't II wouldn't be spending 8 grand on buying an A3, more like 4. I can't justify more at the moment.
The thing that rings alarm bells for me was that there were a few bits you didn't like about the 120d in the end - these things are present in the A3, too, and it's even less of an event to drive than the 1 Series. It's an incredibly dull drive sadly.
Which if you just want a half decent car to get from A to B is absolutely fine - there are many strengths of the A3 (IMHO it's a great looking £4k hatch) but if you want or expect more than that you may end up regretting it
And if you do just fancy a nice car then I'd argue a £4k A4 2.0TFSI S-Line might be a nicer thing.
Probably stating the obvious here but you can find a lot of info on audi sport though its all fairly generic. How helpful the forums are also depends on engine, not many 1.8t owners so I had to search abit more throughly.
Typically notice the following pop up:
Rear windscreen wiper unit
Mechatronics
Timing chain tensioners (1.8t)
Heavy oil consumption
Oil pick up blockage
Since you change so often, I'd consider the resale value, so you might want to prioritise spec if you go for one.
Fox you're right of course but I can pick fault in anything I've ever owned but at the moment my priorities are different. This one would have to stay for a while due to house purchase. I literally do need an A-B car now but nothing from other marques grab me enough to want one. My next toy as such will actually be something 4x4 for greenlaning but I will finally have room for a couple of cars I just want something well built which granted, looks newer and worth more than it is, pop my private plate on and job done.
Spec wise S-Line would be a must hopefully with Xenon's and reasonable audio but otherwise I am used to sparse cars.
I'm not too fussed if it's not exciting as for a while as that will not be my priority. I'll have a flick through Audi Sport. I know the 140BHP TDi's can suffer turbo issues and from a couple of friends who have had 170BHP diesels of said era from various marques they've had constant DPF regens which made the ownership annoying at times. I've had enough cars around this kind of money to know perfection is impossible so some flaws are to be expected but a nice safe good A-B car which is well built and still quite nice looking for what it is will do nicely without having a Focus, Astra etc etc. I just prefer A3's than other stuff at this money, there's loads of VAG independents around here too in close proximity which is handy. I would be looking for manual definitely. Purely to avoid expensive bills from transmission issues.
I just want something well built which granted, looks newer and worth more than it is, pop my private plate on and job done. Spec wise S-Line would be a must hopefully with Xenon's and reasonable audio but otherwise I am used to sparse cars.
I'm not too fussed if it's not exciting as for a while as that will not be my priority. I'll have a flick through Audi Sport. I know the 140BHP TDi's can suffer turbo issues and from a couple of friends who have had 170BHP diesels of said era from various marques they've had constant DPF regens which made the ownership annoying at times. I've had enough cars around this kind of money to know perfection is impossible so some flaws are to be expected but a nice safe good A-B car which is well built and still quite nice looking for what it is will do nicely without having a Focus, Astra etc etc. I just prefer A3's than other stuff at this money, there's loads of VAG independents around here too in close proximity which is handy. I would be looking for manual definitely. Purely to avoid expensive bills from transmission issues.
Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 12,957
Why are Audi car cycles longer than the competition? Audi release cars every 8 to 10 years. Everyone else does it every 6 or so years.
The current Audi A6 was released in 2010, and will be replaced in 2018!
The interior looks dated compared to the E Class, 5 Series and XF.
The current Audi A6 was released in 2010, and will be replaced in 2018!
The interior looks dated compared to the E Class, 5 Series and XF.Why are Audi car cycles longer than the competition? Audi release cars every 8 to 10 years. Everyone else does it every 6 or so years.
The current Audi A6 was released in 2010, and will be replaced in 2018!
Audi lifecycles are bizarre. The A6 was actually 2011 so a 2018 replacement will be 7 years which is the same as BMW.
However the A5 lasted almost 10 years
The 160 1.8 is a sensible choice given the issues surrounding the 2.0...Had to rebuild one myself and it wasn't cheap.
If it's just an A-B car, why S-line? Compare an s-line and SE for ride quality. Yes, the former looks better and sportier but I can tell you coming from an A3 followed by an A4 s-line that they aren't comfortable at all. I was doing heavy miles in my A4 at one point and it near killed my lower back and I was always tired. Obviously this depends on your own mileage of course. If you're doing a sub 10 mile commute every day it's not so bad!
Nicer looking is most of it really, no need to change wheels, nicer seats, a bit sportier. I've had plenty of rough and ready cars, a standard A3 with S Line spec suspension would be comfortable to me
I'm not much for A4's from an aesthetics point of view really. Although I have seen some very well priced ones here and there.
I'm not much for A4's from an aesthetics point of view really. Although I have seen some very well priced ones here and there.
You need a slap mate.
Its to low? Wind it up a bit.
To chav for a nice estate? Really?
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It's not on coilovers. And I'm also no longer in my 20's no matter how much I wish I was 
I may take the exhaust off and put an OEM one on though if I keep it. Mainly for clearance, as the centre section is incredibly low!
I may take the exhaust off and put an OEM one on though if I keep it. Mainly for clearance, as the centre section is incredibly low!Me again I've seen a very very tidy 1.9 TDI A3 Sport, 2006 for good money.
I know the engines are a bit more agricultural but are they reliable units? A safe remap would get the power up a bit so it's not too annoying as they're only 105BHP or so standard... but it's quite a cheap car for it's great condition, service history and sensible mileage. It's basically an S Line with cloth seats. I can live with that. I can only presume the 1.9 in the 8p shape A3 is a PD unit as per the older range of MK4 Golf's, MK1 Leon's, A3's etc? Thus likely a more reliable car?
I've seen a very very tidy 1.9 TDI A3 Sport, 2006 for good money.I know the engines are a bit more agricultural but are they reliable units? A safe remap would get the power up a bit so it's not too annoying as they're only 105BHP or so standard... but it's quite a cheap car for it's great condition, service history and sensible mileage. It's basically an S Line with cloth seats. I can live with that. I can only presume the 1.9 in the 8p shape A3 is a PD unit as per the older range of MK4 Golf's, MK1 Leon's, A3's etc? Thus likely a more reliable car?
The 1.9 TDI is really terrible - don't do it! I know you'll gloss over what i say as I reckon every 4 pot diesel is terrible but this one genuinely is terrible. It was great in 2001, not so much now. I'm surprised it was even carried into the A3 - it was only available as a very entry level car.
I was warned off the 1.9 TDI years ago by the Audi specialists I used. I wasn't even in the market for a diesel, I was just given the "whatever you do, don't buy a 1.9 tdi". Apparently it's awful. From a reliability point of view, it seems ok going by threads on other forums.
Associate
- Joined
- 15 Jan 2004
- Posts
- 1,462
- Location
- Doncaster
Just passed 90k on my TTRS, meaning I've done 30k in around 26 months. Been a while since I was on here. Currently it's stage 1, upgraded rear brakes, forge intercooler, forge silicone hoses, secondary cat bypass. Has the factory option leather bucket seats too. Had an alloy refurbed not long back and you'd really struggle to tell that it's an almost 100k mile car.
Here's a pic from the other day after I'd gone round the back roads home! (It's been cleaned today)
Here's a pic from the other day after I'd gone round the back roads home! (It's been cleaned today
)