Selecting an A3, best value for additional €2K

Stoner

A friend of mine is looking at new car. I've been to many places looking Megane (110BHP) Capture (90 BHp), Golf, A3s (105 bhp) Focus (95 bhp) etc

anyway she drove a 2L A3 last week 150 BHP, I told her that once she drove the 2L A3 150BHP it was going to be very difficult for the other 1.5 and 1.6 Diesels to compare, once you drive something that much more powerful it's hard to go back etc.

Anyway she seems to be very close to selecting a
A3 Sports back with metallic paint, 2L 5 door 150(BHP) SE model

So there are a number of things that she could add for €2K, the above model will be approx €34K

Options

1. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L (150 BHP) €34K
2. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L (185 BHP) €36K
3. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L quattro €36K
4. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L auto €36K

Does anyone have an opinion on the above, should she just leave it the standard 2L SE or is there an obvious €2K that should be spent , note the 150BHP is powerful enough for her, resale value etc is an option.

She is spending 30 on the motorway and 30 min in City Traffic to and from work every day 5 days a week

BTW if I'm missing different model or car please let me k now, she might even look at a second hand S line.

thanks in advance.

bazz26

If she doesn't need extra power or 4wd then rule out option 2 and 3. The DSG auto would be worth spending the extra money on out of that list imo.

Has she looked at the Seat Leon FR? Pretty much the same car as the A3 but much cheaper to buy. Would leave more room for speccing it up:



http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Leon/FR-2.0/33913630893557920/

lomb

I drove a 1.6 tdi Passat recently and it was unusable to me. The 2l tdi is just so much better.
Ive no idea but new cars are a rip off here and I doubt Id buy one ever. Over on Pistonheads in the UK they are getting deals on cars like new SL320s that list here at 150k for 350 euros a month with 2k down vat inclusive to private buyers and hand the car back after 2 years. Apparantly Merc cant shift them so have offered rock bottom lease rental rates. Audi A6 Slines are under 250 euros a month inc vat!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=96&t=1311266&i=40&mid=0&nmt=Best+time+to+buy+a+new+SL%2E%2E%2E

colm_mcm

How is she not considering a Golf GTI or GTD?

Or don't spend €36k and get a highline 1.4 TSI 140 or whatever

L-M

lomb wrote: »

I drove a 1.6 tdi Passat recently and it was unusable to me. The 2l tdi is just so much better.
Ive no idea but new cars are a rip off here and I doubt Id buy one ever. Over on Pistonheads in the UK they are getting deals on cars like new SL320s that list here at 150k for 350 euros a month with 2k down vat inclusive to private buyers and hand the car back after 2 years. Apparantly Merc cant shift them so have offered rock bottom lease rental rates. Audi A6 Slines are under 250 euros a month inc vat!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=96&t=1311266&i=40&mid=0&nmt=Best+time+to+buy+a+new+SL%2E%2E%2E

:eek:

I wish I lived in the UK

OP Does she need the Sports back?

R.O.R

If I had to spend the €2,000 on top of the SE, I'd be looking at:

CH2 or CJ1 - 17" Alloys @ €974
7P1 - Elec Lumbar Support @ €341
9VD - Audi Sound System @ €355
PU7 - Auto Dimming rear view mirror and Light & rain sensors @ €327

If the 16" wheels are acceptable to the driver, then leave them and spec 9AK - Dual Zone Climate Control @ €767

Other option, if the hatch isn't required, would be to go for the new Saloon. €850 more than the Sportback, estimated better resale, and it is a very good looking motor in the flesh. Needs the wheel upgrade to 17" though.

JJJJNR

Alfa depreciation on 35k though... ouch..

Scortho

JJJJNR wrote: »

Alfa depreciation on 35k though... ouch..

Buy a demo model then....you know who's oul pair bought a demo spider last year of tracta for 14k with feck all miles on the clock.
If I was after a giuletta it'd be the gqv...:cool:

MuppetCheck

There's a very limited supply of Giulietta as they aren't selling full stop. There's been a handful sold, and I bet anything properly nice is a factory order and a wait. Plus the front end only a mother could love which ruins it. Also a demo for €14k? Surely that's about a third of the price new? For a car under a year old? That's a shocking fall in value.

The new A3 is a really nice car, but it is worth looking at the Leon/Golf too before making a decision. The interior of the Leon isn't the nicest to look at and the Golf can look a little awkward without a wheel upgrade but they are essentially the same car just with visual/trim differences. The prices are lower as a result too. The interior of the A3 is a nice place to spend an hour each way of a commute though.

billie1b

BMW 120d MSport

MuppetCheck

OSI wrote: »

At least it's not the same front end we've been staring at for the last 10 years

As I said, I really like the A3, it was on my list before I bought the GTI, but I could not justify the cost of one, that and the new one looked old before it was even launched would see me questioning someone's sanity on spending 34k on one.

In the Alfas case they should have kept the old front end:D

I think cars in that class on a whole are going up in price though, especially with an anyway decent engine. Then it comes to speccing one right...

Stoner

Limerick man wrote: »

OP Does she need the Sports back?

Yes

PurvesGrundy

What about a Volvo V40?:

Kace

Stoner wrote: »

A friend of mine is looking at new car. I've been to many places looking Megane (110BHP) Capture (90 BHp), Golf, A3s (105 bhp) Focus (95 bhp) etc

anyway she drove a 2L A3 last week 150 BHP, I told her that once she drove the 2L A3 150BHP it was going to be very difficult for the other 1.5 and 1.6 Diesels to compare, once you drive something that much more powerful it's hard to go back etc.

Anyway she seems to be very close to selecting a
A3 Sports back with metallic paint, 2L 5 door 150(BHP) SE model

So there are a number of things that she could add for €2K, the above model will be approx €34K

Options

1. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L (150 BHP) €34K
2. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L (185 BHP) €36K
3. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L quattro €36K
4. Audi A3 Sports back SE model metallic paint 2 L auto €36K

Does anyone have an opinion on the above, should she just leave it the standard 2L SE or is there an obvious €2K that should be spent , note the 150BHP is powerful enough for her, resale value etc is an option.

She is spending 30 on the motorway and 30 min in City Traffic to and from work every day 5 days a week

BTW if I'm missing different model or car please let me k now, she might even look at a second hand S line.

thanks in advance.

Don't let her drive the Quattro or she will find it hard to avoid shelling out the extra €2k for that.

colm_mcm

Ditto DSG

CGI_3

The wheels on the SE aren't great and an upgrade is the best part of 1K, something to keep in mind. As for future residuals, a 2 litre buyer is probably going to be set on s-line as well, (3K more, but the wheels more acceptable).

Stoner

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

Stoner

what about the Civic 1.6 i-DTEC diesel, looking at the ES model about €25700 OTR and she has a 1.4 Civic since 2006 and could trade in a honda for a honda. I didn't know Honda had knocked out this engine, it looks good,
120 BHP, 78 MPG, 10.5 sec 0-62 etc from the carzone specs.

Also there is a serious amount of extra kit on the ES compared to the SE, and a lot of the poor review comments area bout stuff shes not bother by, or worried by as she has the similar model, ie head room, visibility, the cabin layout all score poorly but its not really an issue shes happy with her current car.

She going to test drive one next week, it looks like a mad run around in a circle to come back to the newer model of your current car, but I bet she'll go for it as shes had the other one since new (2006) without an issue.

she would not be the first person to do it TBH.

colm_mcm

I'm still not convinced about the styling on the current civic.
Its growing on me but its nowhere as well thought out as the 06+ model.
€10,000 less probably makes sense too.

What does she think of the Hyundai Veloster?

coolbeans

Is it just me or is €36k a hell of a lot of cash to be spending on a Golf with a few frills and a fancy badge?

bazz26

Just take note that the Civic is getting a mild facelift over the next few months. Gets the same front end as the new Tourer below:

bazz26

Is the new Mazda 3 an option? Resale values would be a concern but the new 150bhp diesel engine from the 6 is supposed to be a real gem. Even the top GT spec comes in at just under €30k.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

Just take note that the Civic is getting a mild facelift over the next few months. Gets the same front end as the new Tourer below:

I think it just amounts to different colour plastics

Cleveland Hot Pocket

coolbeans wrote: »

Is it just me or is €36k a hell of a lot of cash to be spending on a Golf with a few frills and a fancy badge?

Yeah I think the only small car I would consider buying new at that money is a 1 series BM.

But surely it would make sense to drop down 2-3 years, you would get so much more car in a '10 or '11 model for that kind of money. A 5 series/Passat/A4/A6 for instance, rather than an A3

TBi

Stoner wrote: »

what about the Civic 1.6 i-DTEC diesel, looking at the ES model about €25700 OTR and she has a 1.4 Civic since 2006 and could trade in a honda for a honda. I didn't know Honda had knocked out this engine, it looks good,
120 BHP, 78 MPG, 10.5 sec 0-62 etc from the carzone specs.

Definitely test drive one. I was very impressed with the 1.6 when i test drove it. Plus reliability of Honda is generally better than VW (lots of horror stories...).

I'd have one but i've an aversion to spending my hard earned money on something that will depreciate more in three years what it will be worth after the 3 years. I'll buy one in three years if i don't get a Prius in the meantime

EDIT: Wait for the face lifted model which will be in showrooms at the start of next year, or take advantage of the reduction you might get on the current model that are on the showroom floors at the moment.

Also the Seat Leon is a nice car, had one for rent in Italy and it was a nice place to be. Wouldn't buy VAG car though.

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote: »

I think it just amounts to different colour plastics

New headlights that now integrate the LED DRLs and slightly different front bumper. Interior gets freshened up too. Honda facelifts are usually reserved for anorak wearers.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

New headlights that now integrate the LED DRLs and slightly different front bumper. Interior gets freshened up too. Honda facelifts are usually reserved for anorak wearers.

The current drls are a bit stupid looking to be fair

L-M

MuppetCheck wrote: »

There's a very limited supply of Giulietta as they aren't selling full stop. There's been a handful sold,.

Since reading this Ive seen 9 of them! Bloody shocked.

There's also one out in a Dealer in Limerick with what I thought to be 27k on the window :eek:

MuppetCheck

Limerick man wrote: »

Since reading this Ive seen 9 of them! Bloody shocked.

There's also one out in a Dealer in Limerick with what I thought to be 27k on the window :eek:

I saw one in Carlow the other day but it had been a good long while since I'd seen another.

Vote 4 Pedro

I have a 132 reg A3 Sportback SE, and find it very good, the only thing I got extra was the stop start package, the keyless entry system and some aluminium trim inside.
The keyless entry is worth every penny.

Vote 4 Pedro

OSI wrote: »

Gotta be honest, I would have thought they'd all be standard an Audi by now. The likes of Renault have been doing that crap for years.

Ive had a few Renaults in my time, enough said..

bazz26

Limerick man wrote: »

Since reading this Ive seen 9 of them! Bloody shocked.

There's also one out in a Dealer in Limerick with what I thought to be 27k on the window :eek:

My next door neighbour has a Giulietta, a petrol one at that.

L-M

I've noticed (Because I've started taking notice) that it seems to be an older generation that is driving them.

The front of the is quite ugly to be fair.

Stoner

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm still not convinced about the styling on the current civic.
Its growing on me but its nowhere as well thought out as the 06+ model.
€10,000 less probably makes sense too.

What does she think of the Hyundai Veloster?

She really liked it but 3 doors is not an option.

Stoner

The civic es 1.6 are 26300 on the road with metalic paint . She was offered 6300 on the 06 1.4 with 101000km

Test drove it today and she preferred it to the Megan, the focus and the golf but seems to think she preferred the drive on the 1.6 Audi

Looking at about 400 euro of accessories if they are thrown in I'd say she'll go for it.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions and help, it was great.

One more thing I called in first yesterday and asked the salesman about the change on the front he denied it but said he'd check , he told herself that its not being changed, that he checked with Honda and they said it is not happening,

TBi

Stoner wrote: »

One more thing I called in first yesterday and asked the salesman about the change on the front he denied it but said he'd check , he told herself that its not being changed, that he checked with Honda and they said it is not happening,

Definitely happening. Check out civinfo.com . He'll probably say there is no tourer version coming out either. Don't believe a word a salesman says, he just wants to sell off old stock which will be worth a whole lot less in a month or two when the new model comes out.

Although if she's happy with the current model she should get a deal if she hangs tough, she'll pay the same for the new model anyway so if he don't shift in price she can just wait

RedorDead

Vote 4 Pedro wrote: »

I have a 132 reg A3 Sportback SE, and find it very good, the only thing I got extra was the stop start package, the keyless entry system and some aluminium trim inside.
The keyless entry is worth every penny.

Start stop is standard so hope the dealer didnt charge you for that! Aluminium trim standard on the SE also so same applies to that. Keyless entry is nice alright, hope you havent ruined where key would normally go with key-marks like i did.

As ROR said - defo look at alloy upgrade and possibly the light and rain sensor or xenon - SE is very well specced and doesnt need many other options. Or if you want to go all out - just go up to S Line for €3150 more

Stoner

TBi wrote: »

Definitely happening. Check out civinfo.com . He'll probably say there is no tourer version coming out either. Don't believe a word a salesman says, he just wants to sell off old stock which will be worth a whole lot less in a month or two when the new model comes out.

He said the tourer is coming out but no civic change, I had a look on that forum but haven't found a mention of it yet.

Its ok I found it thanks

lomb

Generally xenons, heated leather are the only worthwhile upgrades. Alloys can be bought aftermarket or oem on ebay.de if preferred for a fraction before or after the tires wear out.
The satnav in the A3 is very nice so if money was no object it would be nav, xenons and heated leather in that order. You end up with a very dear car. Tbh I would be looking at a used VW CC but that's a different argument altogether.

colm_mcm

Stoner wrote: »

She really liked it but 3 doors is not an option.

Theres a back door on one side though

Stoner

colm_mcm wrote: »

Theres a back door on one side though

I thought you were pulling my leg, had a look , looks good. I'll run it past her, resale could be an issue looks great though, the 2 +1 seat is a novel idea

She was on to Honda in Clonskeagh, they said the heard nothing about the model change, but its on honda web site and the car is made in the uk. they must really want to shift the old stock first.

Looks like there are significant changes, not just the led lights but they have made a lot of little changes, smoother drive according to the reports.

here is the link on the Honda web site

http://world.honda.com/news/2013/4130910Frankfurt-Motor-Show/index.html

""Honda Civic 2014

Refreshed and Refined

Honda will show the updated Civic 5-door for the first time at Frankfurt Motor Show. The car will benefit from a refreshed exterior design and interior refinements that give the Civic 5-door a more distinctive, sportier appearance. The refreshed exterior styling of the Civic focuses on the rear of the car with the introduction of privacy glass to the rear window and the exterior window. In addition, smoke colored rear combination lights have also been introduced. A license plate garnish, tailgate garnish and a new lower bumper garnish all finished in black have been added. The updated Civic 5-door also features a new front bumper garnish finished in black, darker wheel arch garnish and new 17” Aluminum wheels finished in silver and black.

Civic 5-doorzoom
Civic 5-door
Subtle cosmetic changes to the interior further emphasize the interior quality and sporty appearance of the updated Civic 5-door. These styling changes include new white stitching detail that has been applied to the steering wheel, seat and knee pad and black buttons on the audio panel and steering wheel switches.

The updated Civic 5-door has also undergone small adjustments to the front and rear suspension and steering in order to optimize linearity, stability and the ride comfort particularly at high speeds. More information will be provided at the European Media Test drive later this year.

The updated Civic 5-door will feature the same suite of new sensor based active safety systems that use a combination of cameras and short range lidar technologies that are being introduced on the Civic Tourer. For details of Advanced Driver Assist Systems fitted to the Civic Tourer please see “Safety for Everyone” section below.

The updated Civic 5-door will be built at Honda’s UK manufacturing facility and will be launched in Europe from early 2014.""


here is a brief review of the changes, worth waiting for i think

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/civic/76744/honda-civic-2014-review

colm_mcm

If you read between the blurb, they're saying its pretty much exactly the same.

TBi

colm_mcm wrote: »

If you read between the blurb, they're saying its pretty much exactly the same.

Updated looks, updated iMID and other software settings. Updated springs/shocks for better road handling. Not to mention more spec for your money, the lowest spec 2014 model is closer to the mid spec 2013 model.

Pretty much the same but a few nice differences to make it worth waiting for unless dealer drops price on current model.

colm_mcm

If its cheaper and better equipped then its a no brainer. Its rarely that simple though!

Stoner

OK was on to the garages they confirmed that Honda UK are getting them in with the hatchback, but Honda Ireland will need to shift current stock first so not necessarily matching UK arrival

irish_emma85

I would highly recommend the new Mazda 3 executive SE model. I test drove this at the weekend. I am currently driving a 2011 mazda 3 sport 1.6diesel and the new one is a 2.2 diesel. The interior of the car is topclass and alot smoother on the road.

Stoner

Just to let you all know that we ended up with the honda civic 1.6D tourer.
getting 4.6 L/100 LM on average 50% motorway and 50% city.

Very happy with the car , great extras little things like the remote putting the windows up or down or the mirrors in and out, lots of handy extra features like a button to turn off the sensor alarm if you have a a dog in the car etc.

All the phone integration is great can't really fault it.

Anyway thank you all again, this was a very helpful thread.

TBi

Great news. We were looking at a civic for ages but wanted to wait until the tourer came out. The back of the hatchback wasn't the best. Fortunately/unfortunately we got a great deal on a second hand car in the mean time so we went with that instead. Might look at the Civic some time again in the future.

There is a great forum of Civic owners called civinfo which you should have a look for. There seems to be a few guys working in English dealers on there.

What spec level did you go for?

dodzy

RedorDead wrote: »

Keyless entry is nice alright, hope you havent ruined where key would normally go with key-marks like i did.

All this talk about keyless entry Pardon my ignorance, but is this not just a remote locking feature on the fob ? A feature that has been around for eons on even the most basic of cars ? Or am I confusing it with something else ?

TBi

dodzy wrote: »

All this talk about keyless entry Pardon my ignorance, but is this not just a remote locking feature on the fob ? A feature that has been around for eons on even the most basic of cars ? Or am I confusing it with something else ?

It's something else. You can walk up to the car with your key still in your pocket and the door will open automatically for you. Also when you get inside you can just start the engine with the key still in your pocket. My wife loves it in our Mini since she can never find her keys in her bag.

dodzy

TBi wrote: »

It's something else. You can walk up to the car with your key still in your pocket and the door will open automatically for you. Also when you get inside you can just start the engine with the key still in your pocket. My wife loves it in our Mini since she can never find her keys in her bag.

Class.

Cheers for the lesson TBi