Used car Audi 1.9 tdi - any good

shed head

Hi,

Looking to get a diesel as my commute to work is increasing, basically from one side of Dublin to the other. It currently costs me approx 60 euro a week in a 1.6 petrol.
If i were to buy an Audi diesel, i have been told it will probably come down to 40 a week.
Anybody own one of these cars. It wold appear the average proce for an 09 model is approx 16 - 17k.

Good value for money? Are they a good car?

I have been looking at a few, is the mileage to high on these?



http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A3/1.9TDI-E/201233209630065/advert?channel=CARS

I am thinking these 2 would need a new timing belt/water pump soon?


Any information appreciated.

Good alternatives?

Atlantic Dawn

Your going to spend 16k plus to save €1k a year, stick with what you have.

shed head

well 360 on road tax too and i would be spending 10k after trade in - at a guess plus i want a newer car

shawnee

If you are thinking of buying any modern diesel , my advice to you is to buy one with service history. Mileage is usually high on diesels , but if they are serviced properly then high mileage shouldn't be a problem. I bought a focus diesel with 110k miles on it and fsh. It was only three years old but many thought the mileage a bit high. I got another 200k out of the car without trouble and traded it on afterwards. I have however noticed many lower mileage diesels giving problems , they are not as easily maintained as the older diesel engines.

shed head

shawnee wrote: »

If you are thinking of buying any modern diesel , my advice to you is to buy one with service history. Mileage is usually high on diesels , but if they are serviced properly then high mileage shouldn't be a problem. I bought a focus diesel with 110k miles on it and fsh. It was only three years old but many thought the mileage a bit high. I got another 200k out of the car without trouble and traded it on afterwards. I have however noticed many lower mileage diesels giving problems , they are not as easily maintained as the older diesel engines.

interesting, thanks for that. Is the price level say of the cars above accurate, 16k for what will soon to be a 4 year old audi a3?

bazz26

If you are looking for value for money then an Audi a3 diesel is the wrong car to be looking at, they fetch silly money and most have bog standard specifications also. Imo you will get better value from the non premium brands in this price range.

Something like this for example:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Opel/Astra/Sri-1.7/201240210354010/

shed head

bazz26 wrote: »

If you are looking for value for money then an Audi a3 diesel is the wrong car to be looking at, they fetch silly money and most have bog standard specifications also. Imo you will get better value from the non premium brands in this price range.

Something like this for example:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Opel/Astra/Sri-1.7/201240210354010/

An Astra - in fairness Audi is a lot better a car than that??

Compton

shed head wrote: »

An Astra - in fairness Audi is a lot better a car than that??

In the spec you're looking at the astra is better

YouTookMyName

Them 2 Audis are horribly basic for that kind of money.

daaaycent boy

YouTookMyName wrote: »

Them 2 Audis are horribly basic for that kind of money.

+1 boy

shed head

appears to be the going rate for them A3's though. I appreciate all the feedback, please don't take it wrong etc.

mickdw

I found that model astra to be a very nice drive chassis wise. Reasonable internal finish too. I had one on hire for a few days.

squod

Mad money for those yokes OP.

road_high

shed head wrote: »

An Astra - in fairness Audi is a lot better a car than that??

You're taken in by brand snobbery and perception OP if you think an old model Audi (based on a Golf from some time back in the Stone Age ) is better than the Astra "because it's an Audi"!!!!

shed head

mfitzy wrote: »

You're taken in by brand snobbery and perception OP if you think an old model Audi (based on a Golf from some time back in the Stone Age ) is better than the Astra "because it's an Audi"!!!!

thanks for the enlightenment, i assumed it was a better car, it gets good reviews on other sites but i didn't realise the engine was designed over 10 years ago, having aid that, somebody must be buying them if they are that price
I will have to hold out a while longer and get some more money together, maybe for a scirocco or something

cheers

monkeysnapper

I own a Audi a4 avant . 1.9tdi red 03 I have to say I've driven loads of new cars and I still reakon my Audi beats them all hands down. I've done 90k so far.

The only bad thing is tax is a bit steep but the money you save on economy is huge.

I find a lot of people look down their nose at a car that's a 03/04 . But I find a top of the tree car of that year is way better than a 1/2 year car of today. Ie the extra expense of getting a new version of my car/ or a cheaper car that isn't as good.

Think of it as a tool for a job. If you save a few grand on getting a older car that will do the same job spend the savings on a nice holiday.

MuppetCheck

There's nothing wrong with the A3 really, it's a very good car. A bonus is a relatively low-tech diesel engine that should prove more trouble free than many in the long term. The issue is the cost of it relative to equally good cars. Sure the interior will have nicer fittings and it has a better image than a Focus or Astra. It's not a bad purchase if the price was right, and there's nothing wrong with buying one if you want an Audi. However you will probably find an equally good car, with a better standard specification for a better price.

Jogathon

I always go for a car with a high spec now. The heated seats are lovely on these cold mornings! I drive a VW Eos 2l diesel and it was the bones of €10,000 cheaper than the A3 convertible of the same year and is a much more comfortable car due to the higher spec. I did go to England for it though.

road_high

shed head wrote: »

thanks for the enlightenment, i assumed it was a better car, it gets good reviews on other sites but i didn't realise the engine was designed over 10 years ago, having aid that, somebody must be buying them if they are that price
I will have to hold out a while longer and get some more money together, maybe for a scirocco or something

cheers

Scirocco is a lovely car alright but damn pricey still, though I expect them to slip a bit in the coming years as they get more familiar.
I'm prob being a little harsh on the A3, they are a nice car, just overpriced

Idbatterim

how about lpg conversion or a prius?

shed head

lpg conversion - are there many filling stations around with this?
Prius - don't like it

On an above comment, where it was mentioned the engine was old design, how is this as the emissions are really low, surely it can't be a 10 year old design??

road_high

shed head wrote: »

lpg conversion - are there many filling stations around with this?
Prius - don't like it

On an above comment, where it was mentioned the engine was old design, how is this as the emissions are really low, surely it can't be a 10 year old design??

I'm not sure but I think they can do work redesigning and respeccing the engine to bring the emissions down. And reduce the power as well

Idbatterim

Op when you say you are driving across dublin, are you using m50 or driving through town?

shed head

Idbatterim wrote: »

Op when you say you are driving across dublin, are you using m50 or driving through town?

Both - morning town. Evening m50

Idbatterim

you may well save E20, but there is more to go wrong with the diesel & if you are borrowing the rough 10k you need to change, the cost of depreciation and interest, will dwarf the savings from fuel... just bear that in mind! actually, the new golf starts at E19995, and has gotten excellent reviews, that might be an option for you. If your looking at a poor spec a3 that is about to go 4 years old for 16-17k... Also bear in mind you shouldnt have to spend anything on golf for first few years, plus you would have warranty and no nct for 4 years & probably includes. also interest would be far cheaper, assuming you planned on borrowing for the a3, take a look at the below link...

http://www.volkswagen.ie/en.html

Tea 1000

shed head wrote: »

An Astra - in fairness Audi is a lot better a car than that??

Nope. It's not. The Audi you linked has an ancient noisy engine with a narrow power band, and is bland inside and not exciting to drive, and looks a bit cack. The Astra looks very well, has a better engine (although the 2 litre is a good bit better again) and actually has some dynamic appeal to the way it goes about its business on the road.

shed head

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Nope. It's not. The Audi you linked has an ancient noisy engine with a narrow power band, and is bland inside and not exciting to drive, and looks a bit cack. The Astra looks very well, has a better engine (although the 2 litre is a good bit better again) and actually has some dynamic appeal to the way it goes about its business on the road.

i was just in a 10 astra this evening, i disagree with all of the above bar the engine part, i don't know about this. The 09 audi is far better inside, and personaly i think the audi looks better, just looking at it, it looks stronger/better built. Was getting dark though

Idbatterim

the a3's look fairly poor value along side these. Of course the timing chain issue may rear its head with these options...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520D-SE-/30813533337468230/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/5-Series/520-D-E6/31913542839543490/advert?channel=CARS

Tea 1000

shed head wrote: »

i was just in a 10 astra this evening, i disagree with all of the above bar the engine part, i don't know about this. The 09 audi is far better inside, and personaly i think the audi looks better, just looking at it, it looks stronger/better built. Was getting dark though

The Audi has higher quality plastics inside alright, but just look at it is right!!! It's chronic in fairness, like some kind of van with back doors! Terrible looking thing. Also a waste of money. If you really want some kind of badge, get a Golf.

wandatowell

Idbatterim wrote: »

you may well save E20, but there is more to go wrong with the diesel & if you are borrowing the rough 10k you need to change, the cost of depreciation and interest, will dwarf the savings from fuel... just bear that in mind! actually, the new golf starts at E19995, and has gotten excellent reviews, that might be an option for you. If your looking at a poor spec a3 that is about to go 4 years old for 16-17k... Also bear in mind you shouldnt have to spend anything on golf for first few years, plus you would have warranty and no nct for 4 years & probably includes. also interest would be far cheaper, assuming you planned on borrowing for the a3, take a look at the below link...

http://www.volkswagen.ie/en.html

Great advice, almost made me think of changing