A3 Buying Advice

neo283 · 13-08-2008, 03:21 PM

Hi all,

After many years (well, 2), I have decided to jump back into VAG ownership. I've scraped together a budget of around £8k, for which I was suprised to find a number of 53-55 plate A3's. The last Audi I ownded was a Mk 1 A3, so I'm more than a little behind the times interms of engine specs and what changed when. I guess my question is, how do the earlier engines in the facelift A3's compare with the newer FSi engines? And is it worth me holding out for an FSi model (with possibly higher miles) over an older model with a previous generation engine?

The missus would settle for a 1.6, however I would rather a 2.0 - petrol preferred (don't do enough miles to warrant a deisel).

Apologies in advance for my ignorance on the subject!

Booster · 13-08-2008, 04:35 PM

I could do you some VERY cheap finance (6.9%APR subject to status. Written quotations available on request- I have to do that bit

) on the difference between your £8k and the price of mine if you want:

Audi : 2005 05 Audi A3 2.0T Quattro S-Line Massive Spec

neo283 · 13-08-2008, 09:31 PM

Tis a beauuuudiful car you have there. However, the 8k is including a lump of loan.

Booster · 14-08-2008, 05:52 AM

No worries! Happy hunting!

Hopsta · 14-08-2008, 05:35 PM

Hey booster, you missed out the FSA bit

Booster · 14-08-2008, 06:08 PM

No I didn't. We don't need to use that as we aren't regulated by the FSA as we don't sell any bolt on insurance products

neo283 · 18-08-2008, 01:38 PM

Well I've decided on a 2.0 FSI for sure. Test drove 3 cars over the weekend and decided that the 2.0 is actually much easier to drive than the 1.6 and the MPG figures are almost identical (the meter was showing 33mpg when I test drove the one I'm interested in).

I've found one locally that I am considering, however it has only had 1 service since new. It's a 2004 model, and was serviced at 18k. It's now showing 33k - I'm pretty sure it's on the 18k intervals (if there is such a thing?) - if this is the case, should I be worried about a huge servicing bill coming my way? Everything seems in order on the test drive & the garage does its usal pre-delivery service but nothing stamp-able.

Cheers

PetrolDave · 18-08-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo283

It's a 2004 model, and was serviced at 18k. It's now showing 33k - I'm pretty sure it's on the 18k intervals (if there is such a thing?)

The service intervals are fixed 10,000 miles or 1 year (whichever happens first) or AVS variable up to 20,000 miles (reducing depending on driving style) or 2 years (whichever happens first).

So on AVS at the very least it should have had a service in 2006 (when the brake fluid should have been changed as well) and is due (or overdue) one now.

I'd check the service book for the brake fluid change - if that hasn't happened it would indicate to me that the previous owner wasn't as careful about servicing as he should have been.

neo283 · 18-08-2008, 04:34 PM

I thought as much. Although I looked at the car again tonight and it appears to ahve new brake pads all round - would be odd to do this and not replace the flud... but not unherd of.

Thanks for the pointers. Do you have any idea what a basic cost of a 10k or AVS service would be? If I went for this (or any A3) I'd be looking to get one done as a matter of course.

aliAUDI · 27-08-2008, 02:33 PM

that's a nice pitch however booster!!

13-08-2008, 03:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
neo283 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 401	A3 Buying Advice Hi all, After many years (well, 2), I have decided to jump back into VAG ownership. I've scraped together a budget of around £8k, for which I was suprised to find a number of 53-55 plate A3's. The last Audi I ownded was a Mk 1 A3, so I'm more than a little behind the times interms of engine specs and what changed when. I guess my question is, how do the earlier engines in the facelift A3's compare with the newer FSi engines? And is it worth me holding out for an FSi model (with possibly higher miles) over an older model with a previous generation engine? The missus would settle for a 1.6, however I would rather a 2.0 - petrol preferred (don't do enough miles to warrant a deisel). Apologies in advance for my ignorance on the subject! __________________ In search of a 2003-2007 A3 Petrol. PM me if you have one going spare

13-08-2008, 04:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Booster Nissan GTR Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,906	I could do you some VERY cheap finance (6.9%APR subject to status. Written quotations available on request- I have to do that bit) on the difference between your £8k and the price of mine if you want: Audi : 2005 05 Audi A3 2.0T Quattro S-Line Massive Spec __________________ Audi A5 3.0TDi Quattro Sport Tiptronic Last edited by Booster; 13-08-2008 at 07:45 PM.

13-08-2008, 09:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
neo283 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 401	Tis a beauuuudiful car you have there. However, the 8k is including a lump of loan. __________________ In search of a 2003-2007 A3 Petrol. PM me if you have one going spare

14-08-2008, 05:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Booster Nissan GTR Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,906	No worries! Happy hunting! __________________ Audi A5 3.0TDi Quattro Sport Tiptronic

14-08-2008, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hopsta Administrator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Government Statistic Posts: 12,423	Hey booster, you missed out the FSA bit __________________ If you choke a Smurf what color would it turn?

14-08-2008, 06:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Booster Nissan GTR Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,906	No I didn't. We don't need to use that as we aren't regulated by the FSA as we don't sell any bolt on insurance products __________________ Audi A5 3.0TDi Quattro Sport Tiptronic

18-08-2008, 01:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
neo283 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 401	Well I've decided on a 2.0 FSI for sure. Test drove 3 cars over the weekend and decided that the 2.0 is actually much easier to drive than the 1.6 and the MPG figures are almost identical (the meter was showing 33mpg when I test drove the one I'm interested in). I've found one locally that I am considering, however it has only had 1 service since new. It's a 2004 model, and was serviced at 18k. It's now showing 33k - I'm pretty sure it's on the 18k intervals (if there is such a thing?) - if this is the case, should I be worried about a huge servicing bill coming my way? Everything seems in order on the test drive & the garage does its usal pre-delivery service but nothing stamp-able. Cheers __________________ In search of a 2003-2007 A3 Petrol. PM me if you have one going spare

18-08-2008, 04:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
neo283 Vauxhall Corsa VXR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 401	I thought as much. Although I looked at the car again tonight and it appears to ahve new brake pads all round - would be odd to do this and not replace the flud... but not unherd of. Thanks for the pointers. Do you have any idea what a basic cost of a 10k or AVS service would be? If I went for this (or any A3) I'd be looking to get one done as a matter of course. __________________ In search of a 2003-2007 A3 Petrol. PM me if you have one going spare

27-08-2008, 02:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
aliAUDI addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 411	that's a nice pitch however booster!!