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Thoughts on Audi A3?

  • 24-06-2010 05:40PM
    #1
    LeifErikson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 50 ✭✭


    Hi all,
    I'm thinking of buying my second car early next year, been driving two years now and am 23. I'm pretty much only considering hatchbacks but I'd like something a bit different that is reliable and looks good, the a3 seems to fit the bill.

    I'd have around 4.5-5.5k to spend on it, I would say. Would I be better off going for something like a Golf that is a couple of years older? Anyone got any experience with this car and any idea how insurance/cost to run would compare with other hatchbacks?

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    jaffa20
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,579 ✭✭✭jaffa20


    Great little car and very reliable. Never gave me any problems. Was considering getting a golf instead of it too but thought the Audi a3 looked better and they are less common.

    Btw.. ahem. See my sig:o


  • #3
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,897 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Golf in a party frock.


  • #4
    tc2010
    Closed Accounts Posts: 264 ✭✭tc2010


    As someone who has experience with both i can say that the golf is a heap of scrap compared to the A3.

    Silly to say there the same car. Why? because there made by the same people and are both hatchbacks?

    The attention to detail in the A3 is incredible. Golf is just so so


  • #5
    frank gooding
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 259 ✭✭frank gooding


    Of course you will have to get the hair dressing job to go with the A3 :D

    Avoid the poverty specs


  • #6
    mooman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 486 ✭✭mooman


    tc2010 wrote: »
    As someone who has experience with both i can say that the golf is a heap of scrap compared to the A3.

    Silly to say there the same car. Why? because there made by the same people and are both hatchbacks?

    The attention to detail in the A3 is incredible. Golf is just so so

    The attention to detail is the same, as are the mechanics of it thats why they call it a golf in a party dress, nobody said they look alike:rolleyes:


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  • #7
    johndaman66
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,100 ✭✭✭johndaman66


    To me I've always thought of the Audi A3 as being a half baked, non too classy attempt at emaluating the A4. Looks somewhat similar but something major aside from the boot got lost in translation all the same. Thats just my thought though and different strokes for different folks too!
    LeifErikson wrote: »
    Would I be better off going for something like a Golf that is a couple of years older?

    Would you not be aiming for a Golf thats a couple of years newer for the same money I would have thought?


  • #8
    tc2010
    Closed Accounts Posts: 264 ✭✭tc2010


    Also just to answer your Insurance question

    My insurance halved when i moved to the Audi from VW. Why dont you just go to a site that gives you an online quote and check?

    They cost about the same to run in every other department. Except parts, but if you buy one in good nick that wont be a worry. Just make sure the timing belt has been done recently and you wont meet any big suprises


  • #9
    Spudzzmurphy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 355 ✭✭Spudzzmurphy


    tc2010 wrote: »
    As someone who has experience with both i can say that the golf is a heap of scrap compared to the A3.

    Silly to say there the same car. Why? because there made by the same people and are both hatchbacks?

    The attention to detail in the A3 is incredible. Golf is just so so

    +1


  • #10
    LeifErikson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 50 ✭✭LeifErikson


    johndaman66 wrote: »
    To me I've always thought of the Audi A3 as being a half baked, non too classy attempt at emaluating the A4. Looks somewhat similar but something major aside from the boot got lost in translation all the same. Thats just my thought though and different strokes for different folks too!



    Would you not be aiming for a Golf thats a couple of years newer for the same money I would have thought?

    Hah yeah sorry, that's what I meant to say.

    Frank, what do you mean by poverty specs?


  • #11
    tc2010
    Closed Accounts Posts: 264 ✭✭tc2010


    id say he means A3s with no added extras. i.e sunroof, alloys etc...


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  • #12
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    LeifErikson wrote: »
    Hah yeah sorry, that's what I meant to say.

    Frank, what do you mean by poverty specs?
    tc2010 wrote: »
    id say he means A3s with no added extras. i.e sunroof, alloys etc...

    Aircon.


  • #13
    LeifErikson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 50 ✭✭LeifErikson


    What are peoples thoughts on an 04 Astra or Almera as an alternative to the above?


  • #14
    nogoodnamesleft
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,031 ✭✭✭nogoodnamesleft


    tc2010 wrote: »
    As someone who has experience with both i can say that the golf is a heap of scrap compared to the A3.

    Silly to say there the same car. Why? because there made by the same people and are both hatchbacks?

    The attention to detail in the A3 is incredible. Golf is just so so



    Your incorrect.

    The Golf Mk4 and M1 Audi A3 are based on the same chassis platform A4 (pq34)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group_A_platform


    Many of the VWs Audis, Seat and Skodas also share many of the same engine and gearboxes......they even have the same engine and gearbox codes across the 4 manufacturers. So essentially you can have the same chassis, engine and gearbox in 2 different cars in different marques.:P

    Some of the smaller components such as suspension parts can have different part numbers for the exact same part. The benefit of this is to reduce production costs for the manufacture.


    The difference in the handling you refer to is most likely due to the different suspension setups in different spec cars (e.g. thicker anti-roll bar, springs etc).

    The marketing gimic about the audi being a "superior brand" is just that. Although without a doubt Audis are better finished interior wise they suffer from the same problems as the rest of the car across the VAG fleet that they share the same parts with. Off the top of my head as of late:

    DMF's
    clutches
    2.0 oil starvation in the diesels
    Electronic Parking brake etc


  • #15
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    LeifErikson wrote: »
    What are peoples thoughts on an 04 Astra or Almera as an alternative to the above?

    Oh god no, not after thinking about the audi. A mate bought a 01 a3 in the uk nearly 8 years ago. Never gave any trouble worth talkin about. As someone else said avoid the poverty spec. Golfs are way way overpriced for such a basic bog standard car.


  • #16
    LeifErikson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 50 ✭✭LeifErikson


    SARASON wrote: »
    Oh god no, not after thinking about the audi. A mate bought a 01 a3 in the uk nearly 8 years ago. Never gave any trouble worth talkin about. As someone else said avoid the poverty spec. Golfs are way way overpriced for such a basic bog standard car.
    What makes you say this? I'd like a 5 door and 1.6 engine at most and it seems harder to find a3s that fit the bill


  • #17
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    LeifErikson wrote: »
    What makes you say this? I'd like a 5 door and 1.6 engine at most and it seems harder to find a3s that fit the bill

    Astras give a lot of trouble. Almera not to bad. A3 is a nice car but the 5 door is almost non existant until 07+. If you were willing to try uk you will have a fantastic choice of A3`s with a good spec.


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