Audi A3 vs Opel Astra

BGozIE

My brother is in the market for a new car. Now he hasn't actually asked my opinion but I wonder what you guys think.

The Audi is 2005 1.6 fairly base model I think (Although it has a sun roof :pac:). It has 73k miles. Nct until 2015 and a fairly good SH.

The Astra is a 1.8 2006 SRi model. 61k miles. Nct until 2014 not too sure on the SH history, there is some records I believe.

Both are roughly the same price.

I think id have the Astra, but what do you guys think?

Foxhole Norman

I'd have the Astra. I'm a big fan of Audi's but only if they are well specced. Otherwise they look crap inside and boring on the outside without a kit such as the S-Line one. The SRi also has about 40 more horses under the bonnet which is a huge difference in carting around cars like those. 100 horsepower in the A3 i feel is too little.

BGozIE

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

I'd have the Astra. I'm a big fan of Audi's but only if they are well specced. Otherwise they look crap inside and boring on the outside without a kit such as the S-Line one. The SRi also has about 40 more horses under the bonnet which is a huge difference in carting around cars like those. 100 horsepower in the A3 i feel is too little.

I agree, for me the Audi has a nice style but its just to plain. The extra power is a biggie for me too, but that obviously comes with extra cost (tax & consumption) - do the 1.8 Astra's drink petrol?

The Audi looks like a more comfortable place to be? He drives a fair bit but doesnt warrant a diesel in his eye's.

Comfort may be all the Audi has? As reliability I think the Astra may be better (or that engine atleast)

Foxhole Norman

BGozIE wrote: »

I agree, for me the Audi has a nice style but its just to plain. The extra power is a biggie for me too, but that obviously comes with extra cost (tax & consumption) - do the 1.8 Astra's drink petrol?

The Audi looks like a more comfortable place to be? He drives a fair bit but doesnt warrant a diesel in his eye's.

Comfort may be all the Audi has? As reliability I think the Astra may be better (or that engine atleast)

I found the Astra to be way more comfortable than the A3 but I wouldn't know much else about Astras but a user on here, Ardennes1944 had a 1.8 SRi for a few years before selling it this year. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to give a more detailed post about them.

jarvis_c82

I can speak from experience about the Astra. I've owned one from new since 2007. I've a few extras as I ordered it ie integrated bluetooth, cruise control and a few other options.

I've never found that it drinks petrol but any car will depending on the type of driving. I drive the majority of my time on national roads and motorways and it rides smooth. If the car has the upgraded 18 inch alloys beware of curb rash as the alloys look great but are about 2 - 3 mm outside of the rubber on the tyre and can easily be scratched. The sport button is fun but a novelty to be honest. Great fun on a windy road but drinks petrol.

BGozIE

jarvis_c82 wrote: »

I can speak from experience about the Astra. I've owned one from new since 2007. I've a few extras as I ordered it ie integrated bluetooth, cruise control and a few other options.

I've never found that it drinks petrol but any car will depending on the type of driving. I drive the majority of my time on national roads and motorways and it rides smooth. If the car has the upgraded 18 inch alloys beware of curb rash as the alloys look great but are about 2 - 3 mm outside of the rubber on the tyre and can easily be scratched. The sport button is fun but a novelty to be honest. Great fun on a windy road but drinks petrol.

You have the 1.8 engine? Sounds good

Are the upgraded alloys the 4 spoked ones? Funny enough I actually prefer the ones that come on the 1.4 gtc, I think there very nice

Cheers for opinions

bazz26

What sort of budget does he have? There are plenty of other options other than those two.

Ardennes1944

Is it a 3 door or 5 door OP?
there are 2 variants of the 1.8 engine, the older z18xe and the newer z18xer vvt engine, 125bhp vs 140.
I had the older one for 2 years, never had any problems with the engine or car in general, the only issues I had was from me dicking around with it :pac:

Lower gearing makes the car feel much quicker than it should and anyone that drove mine commented on how nippy it was. Mpg aint bad either, didnt notice any real decrease in economy when i moved from a 1.4 astra.

Here was mine when I was finished modding it



Sri spec is nice and i still think the Astra H is a nice shape car.
Any picture of the car? Does it have OPC-Line alloys or anything?

BGozIE

bazz26 wrote: »

What sort of budget does he have? There are plenty of other options other than those two.

I think he's spending about 5-6k and likes the look of the two cars. You don't really rate either of these I guess?

It's the 3 door adriennes1944. I unfortunately don't have a pic of either but I know he is looking on the usual sites and there on done deal for sure, sorry I just don't know the exact one he's viewed. I also have no idea about which engine it is. How would you check that?

I think the alloys you have are the ones on the one he has viewed. Do they stick out from the tire as said previously.

I don't think it has opc alloys, but I'm not sure what they are like.

Yours is really nice and I usually don't really like the 5 door. Really nice when it's lowered. And withe the body kit. Shame ya don't have it anymore

Funny enough he is edging towards the A3 or so he told me today

PS 120bhp on a 1.8 isn't the best is it?

Ardennes1944

I only sold it about 4 weeks ago

If its a 3 door and 2006 id be 99% sure it has the newer vvt engine.

The alloys on mine are the OPC-Line ones, along with the lip kit too, but i doubt it has that as well if its an Irish car.

The older 1.8 has 125 bhp but as I said feels much quicker than it should

Many dont like the Astra H on here and prefer the focus but I hate them so Im biased
Both the a3 and astra can look well when high spec and subtly modded but youre gonna get better value in the Astra anyway.
They are hard enough cars to sell, the 1.8 astra, so Id tell him to offer low if he's really interested

BGozIE

Ye I think hes planning on offering about 700-800 under the asking price at first. Don't know what he will go to. Here's the car in question;

He said it was the SRi model, but looking at the pictures I cant tell?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4900686

Ardennes1944

It has Sri alloys anyway. And the half upgraded info screen
Tax must be up 8/13 not 2014.
Pictures of it are ****e!

BGozIE

Ye the pics are rubbish alright! Taxed for over a year :pac: excellent!

I think it looks quiet clean anyway, think i'll be viewing it next week with my bro even tho he is leaning towards the Audi - maybe I can try convince him otherwise

Are those the alloys that stick out a few mm from the tire wall?

Do you remember what kind of mpg you were getting? I know it depends on how you drive it but in general?

Cheers for opinions so far - sounds like the car is fairly solid.

Maybe some one else thinks otherwise :pac:

Ardennes1944

Mpg was around 29 but that's all around town with a very heavy foot.
3 of my friends have the 3 door and 1.4s of course but they have never had any problems with them either to be honest.
Those alloys don't stick out from the tyre

BGozIE

cheers for the info!

I don't think he wants the 1.4 as there a bit sluggish? (hes coming from a diesel though)

And not many 1.6's around so he was looking at the 1.8. 29mpg isn't too bad for a 1.8 I suppose.

Ardennes1944

The 1.4 in the older Astra g I had was quick enough for what it was but in the heavier H it's terrible. The mpg my friends are getting is like 32/33 so not much difference.

BGozIE

Ah ye not much difference really.

Here's the Audi he is interested in if anyone cares;

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/5018749

Ardennes1944

Silver :eek::(

BGozIE

haha I don't think its too bad. Bu in general I wouldn't like grey cars, very dull. Its better then red in the VAG's isn't it? - (thats the only color you dont pay extra for?)