Audi A3

Hercules99

Hi All,

I am buying a new car and would appreciate any help anyone can give. Basically looking at buying an Audi A3 3dr hatchback 2007 or 2008 probably.

Would anyone have advice as regards petrol or diesel, advantages or disadvantages of either, or indeed anyone put me off said car - is it a good car?

Also would someone be able to say what the tax would be for this car for 1.6 L both diesel and petrol and same for 1.9 L?

Lastly would there be any other 3 door hatchbacks that people might recommend

Thanks.

colm_mcm

How much is the tax on this car?
Engine cc based road tax
Co2 based road tax

MuppetCheck

Don't buy the 1.6, it's noisy and really uneconomical for what it is. It's reliable though and not bad for what it is.

The diesel is better but if you found an early 1.4tsi it would be a good option.

Hercules99

Thanks - how would you know what tax band your in - is there a way to find out the cO2 emissions for a particular model of car?

Seems a lot cheaper to buy a car post 2008 as c02 emission tax band prices a lot lower than engine size tax band prices.

Hercules99

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Don't buy the 1.6, it's noisy and really uneconomical for what it is. It's reliable though and not bad for what it is.

The diesel is better but if you found an early 1.4tsi it would be a good option.

Thanks MuppetCheck - what about a 1.9L then?

When you say uneconomical do you mean hard on fuel?

MuppetCheck

Yes, extremely hard on fuel compared to other 1.6s.

colm_mcm

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Yes, extremely hard on fuel compared to other 1.6s.

Cutting edge when it was in the Audi 80 24 years ago though

Moneymaker

I'd be avoiding the 1.6 A3 like the plague. The Sport model in particular. Uncomfortable and slow.

I had an older 1.9(2002), lovely car.

i30 and Kia C'eed are alternatives, neither has the class of the A3 but would be cheaper and are good cars too.

There's always the Golf and Focus as well.

colm_mcm

Volvo C30 worth a look too.

Hercules99

Thanks all

So the shortlist:
Audi A3
Ford Focus
Volvo C30
Hyundai I30
Volkswagen Golf
Kia Ceed

Anyone what to order them 1-6 in terms of say reliability, ecomony of fuel consumption, looks??

bazz26

How many miles per year do you drive and what sort of driving is it? Mostly city driving that involves a lot of starting and stopping? Modern diesels hate stop/start driving which can have a detrimental effect on their reliability, diesels are also not very economical on short runs as they never get warmed up to optimal efficency.

colm_mcm

Looks wise for me it'd be

C30
A3
Golf
I30
focus
ceed

But you're the one buying it.

Have a look at a civic too. I have one so they're obviously great.

Hercules99

bazz26 wrote: »

How many miles per year do you drive and what sort of driving is it? Mostly city driving that involves a lot of starting and stopping? Modern diesels hate stop/start driving which can have a detrimental effect on their reliability, diesels are also not very economical on short runs as they never get warmed up to optimal efficency.

It would be 50% motorway/dual carriageway - 30% normal main roads - 20% in the city.

bazz26

What sort of budget do you have OP, you would probably pay around the same as this for a clean 2009 A3 diesel:

Kia Proceed:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/pro_ceed/1.4-Tx/38013891002907560/

Hercules99

Thanks Bazz - appreciate the help - budget is around 10K.

That car looks good thanks for the picture.

bazz26

If you have no car to trade-in then I think it would not be unreasonable to buy that car close to budget.

bazz26

Another to consider is the Honda Civic Type S:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Civic/1.8-TYPE/37013825249054160/

I know it's 1.8 litre but they are €570 a year to tax, have 140bhp and 40mpg is achievable.

Droghead

I have a Audi 1.6 TFSi model (diesel) and it is very economical, I get nearly 1,200Km to a tank and the tax is €190 per annum...

My sister drives the Hyundai i30 and she delighted with it and you would pick one up cheaper than the audi a3...