Poverty Spec Audi A3

Soldato
Joined
17 Oct 2002
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7,169
Location
Ipswich
My mate has just spunked a fair chunk of money, I think about £12k on a 54 plate Audi A3 3 door 1.9TDi.

Looks OK-ish but has some pretty poor alloys on it but what surprised me was the equipment level, it doesn't even have air conditioning or a sunroof, are Audi really that tight with spec that they don't put anything in at all?

For a £10k+ hatchback not to have air conditioning is pretty poor!
 
Base spec lacks all these things.

Still, he didn't do as badly as an Aunt of mine. 2 weeks before the new A3 came out in 2003, they paid list price for the old model and asked that the AC be replaced with a sunroof..
 
Having air con and a sunroof *** :)

My neighbour has just bought a 56 plate Toyota Avensis for apparently £11k. Can't work out whether this is a good price or not. Looks like a fairly high spec model; big alloys, sat nav etc. T3-S model on the back
 
all german cars have shocking standard equipment.
mercedes didn't even used to give you a radio, just "pre-cabling"...
 
IIRC the norm in germany is that the car is provided very basic and you add options, unlike here where you get trim levels?
 
all german cars have shocking standard equipment.
mercedes didn't even used to give you a radio, just "pre-cabling"...

I wouldn't say all German cars, even 3 series BMWs (e46 coupes at least) in the UK come with things like cruise control, parking sensors, climate control etc as standard.

My 52 plate MG ZS has wind up windows, and absolutely NO toys.
 
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I don't get why he bought one second hand, which didn't even have aircon when his previous Citroen Xsara did! Commuting to work in the summer will be pretty uncomfortable...
 
With the A3 they put two pretty good packages together for £1k that includes A/C on both and other options depending which pack you spec. Thats what brings the car up to either SE or sport spec. When looking at one you have to be mad not to spend the extra £1k for all the options and thats what they bank on to get more money out of you. I have to say your mate is pretty bonkers not getting either an SE or sport as that is what a lot of people look for when buying.
 
He bought the car from a trader who he used to wash cars for for years. They stitched him up on his car, a Fiat Uno for £650 which was a real heap. He thinks they've done him a deal but in reality have stitched him up again.
 
If there is no ECC (same as air con on Audis) what is there in replace of it? Anyone have a pic? Pretty shocking stuff, could have easily got a 2.0 tdi with a least sport spec
 
If there is no ECC (same as air con on Audis) what is there in replace of it? Anyone have a pic? Pretty shocking stuff, could have easily got a 2.0 tdi with a least sport spec

It just has a dial for the temp(red to blue) fan speed next to it and another dial for where you want the air to go.
 
all german cars have shocking standard equipment.

I quite agree, I was shocked to find only dual zone climate control, auto recirculation, auto dimming rear view mirror, front and rear park distance control, electric windows with remote total closure, headlight washers etc as standard equipment on my car. The spec is simply appaling.
 
[TW]Fox;11169246 said:
I quite agree, I was shocked to find only dual zone climate control, auto recirculation, auto dimming rear view mirror, front and rear park distance control, electric windows with remote total closure, headlight washers etc as standard equipment on my car. The spec is simply appaling.

My god! Im surprised you even got a steering wheel!
 
my bad, UK spec is significantly better than EU spec
which is unfair, but then i guess cars are slightly more expensive in the uk

I wouldn't say all German cars, even 3 series BMWs (e46 coupes at least) in the UK come with things like cruise control, parking sensors, climate control etc as standard.

:eek: really?

in the EU, NONE of that will be standard
you have to get 'packs', which almost all cars will be ordered with, to get the basic things at a good deal
i mean we get orange indicator lenses ffs ;)

edit @ fox - yeh, but you have SE trim or sports or whatever, that is only in the UK.
SE trim does not exist on the continent :p
 
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LOL. I paid less than that brand new for another VAG Group car using a plenty of the same bits, more power and a better spec.

Badge snobs... ;)

And the Audi isn't a 10k hatchback - it was more like 16k when new.
 
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