Audi A1 buying advice

chrissy_W

Hey, just wondering if anyone has any experience with the Audi A1. I'm really interested to hear what they are like and whether or not they are reliable cars. I'll most likely be looking at the 1.2 for my first car, about three or four years old. I haven't actually been to see one but looking online they seem like quite good cars. Just any pointers or advice on them would be great.

Thanks!

colm_mcm

They're basically a polo.
Have you been in one yet?

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

They're basically a polo.
Have you been in one yet?

No, I haven't been in one yet. I just like the look of them so wanna know a bit about them! I looked at Polos too but I do really like the A1

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

They're basically a polo.
Have you been in one yet?

No, I haven't been in one yet. I just like the look of them so wanna know a bit about them! I looked at Polos too but I do really like the A1.

colm_mcm

The A1 feels smaller than the Polo.

If I were getting a polo, I'd find a TSI model. Had one as a rental last year and it was great.

The a1 gets this engine as standard.

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

The A1 feels smaller than the Polo.

If I were getting a polo, I'd find a TSI model. Had one as a rental last year and it was great.

The a1 gets this engine as standard.

Thanks, I'll look at the Polo too. What's the difference between the TSI and non-TSI?

colm_mcm

Tsi is turbocharged, ie more powerful

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

Tsi is turbocharged, ie more powerful

Okay, thanks for that. I'll talk to my parents about the Polo too. I do like the look of the A1 but if the Polo was notably cheaper I would definitely consider one instead.

colm_mcm

Look at the Opel Adam, Toyota iq and Fiat 500 while you're at it.

These are 3 door only.

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

Look at the Opel Adam, Toyota iq and Fiat 500 while you're at it.

These are 3 door only.

The IQ will be much too small and I think the 500 too. I actually quite like the Adam but I haven't ever seen one and I'm not sure how big they are. I would like a car with reasonable space in the back to take my camogie gear and some other stuff!

colm_mcm

The adam is around the same size as the A1. They feel a bit dead for a 1.4 though.
Nice media system connects with your smartphone and loads of customisation options.

They're a relative sales flop so some potential bargains out there.
I like the citroen ds3 too


What's your budget?

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

The adam is around the same size as the A1. They feel a bit dead for a 1.4 though.
Nice media system connects with your smartphone and loads of customisation options.

They're a relative sales flop so some potential bargains out there.
I like the citroen ds3 too


What's your budget?

I'm not overly concerned about how quick the car is, but something reasonably decent to drive would be nice. I see an almost new Adam is around the price of a four year old A1 also.

Budget is around €15,000.

The DS3 looks beautiful btw!

colm_mcm

Maybe a Nissan Juke would fit the bill, they're doing €4k scrappage on them.

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

Maybe a Nissan Juke would fit the bill, they're doing €4k scrappage on them.

Being blessed with the gift of sight rules that out!

colm_mcm

Y'know I thought that when they were launched too. They've grown on me in the meantime to the point that if my missus wanted one I wouldn't object

€15k can get you so much though, choose carefully, don't buy into the A1 being uber cool or cutting edge.

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

Y'know I thought that when they were launched too. They've grown on me in the meantime to the point that if my missus wanted one I wouldn't object

€15k can get you so much though, choose carefully, don't buy into the A1 being uber cool or cutting edge.

Lol, I really can't say I'm a fan of them. They're a bit big too and really not my style or at all what I want. I've been driving my parent's Ford Galaxy for the last while. It's quite versatile and the space is cool for my gear and surf boards fit in great but for day to day driving I'm after something much smaller with slightly better cred.

Thanks'f for the help though. Loads to look for now. Polos and Adams definitely on the list. I won't be buying for a while anyway so I have loads of time to look at loads of cars.

colm_mcm

Ðrive as many different cars as you can. Even ones well below your €15 k budget.

chrissy_W

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ðrive as many different cars as you can. Even ones well below your €15 k budget.

Yeah I will do of course, and of course if we can spend below budget that that's a bonus!

chrissy_W

Hey, so I was looking online at some potentislly suitable cars and came across the Alfa Romeo Mito. Does anybody know what these are like? Pricing seems fine and they are good looking cars.

My Dad says Alfas are baaaad though!

Mervyn Skidmore

Saw a new Skoda Fabia today that looked decent. New Hyundai i20 looks nice too.

Sh1tbag OToole

I have been driving one the past few days, it is a nice enough yoke, pulls along nicely in the low gears, seats are comfortable enough for a long drive but the suspension is a bit hard (s line). The gearstick is also a bit clunky - like pushing a wooden stick into a bucket full of marbles, maybe it's not so bad on the petrol ones.

The boot is tiny. Barely holds 1 suitcase and there is a lot of wasted space under it as there is no spare wheel and they put the battery in the back. So there is also a fair bit of empty space in the engine compartment. You see a lot of parts in these cars that are the same in the Fabia, still though my own Fabia is not as comfortable as the A1

mhackett102

A1 is a smashing looking car, and I would love one myself! But as Colm has mentioned already, they are a Polo.

To be honest, I think you'd be better off getting a 1.2 tdi Polo, seen a 2012 model one for sale for €12k in a Volkswagen garage last weekend and its a great looking car with interior nearly as nice, if not nicer, than the A1.

boreder

mhackett102 wrote: »

A1 is a smashing looking car, and I would love one myself! But as Colm has mentioned already, they are a Polo.

To be honest, I think you'd be better off getting a 1.2 tdi Polo, seen a 2012 model one for sale for €12k in a Volkswagen garage last weekend and its a great looking car with interior nearly as nice, if not nicer, than the A1.

But a Polo is just a Fabia, so why not just buy one of them?

Hell, lets just cut to the chase and start recommending an Octavia. Some boot on them.

mhackett102

boreder wrote: »

But a Polo is just a Fabia, so why not just buy one of them?

Hell, lets just cut to the chase and start recommending an Octavia. Some boot on them.

If this person is bringing her camogie gear & surf boards with her, then maybe a saloon car may be more appropriate?

If so, she could easily get a 2011 Vw Passat for €15k? If not less!

166man

You'd get a much better Polo, relative to an A1, there's really very little difference with them.

Alfa Mito wasn't Alfas finest hour tbh, I wouldnt.

Truckermal

166man wrote: »

You'd get a much better Polo, relative to an A1, there's really very little difference with them.

Alfa Mito wasn't Alfas finest hour tbh, I wouldnt.

I think the Mito is a handsome looking thing always loved Alfas though, someone suggested a i20 don't because they are awful Polo is nice though especially a GTI..

chrissy_W

Thanks for the replies guys and sorry for the late reply here. I still have not been to see any cars yet but I am hoping to do so on the weekend with my parents.

Skoda and Hyundai just aren't my style at all to be honest. I'm sure they're good cars but just not up my street at all. Also I don't want a saloon - again, not my style. Plus I just want something much smaller than the current Galaxy I currently use.

I really like the A1. Like I said, I haven't been to see one yet but I think they look really good. I probably won't be able to get an S-line model within my budget but even still, the more basic model does look well. The Polo I also like. They are much cheaper than the A1 and even some pretty new cars are within budget compared to the slightly older A1s. I intend on viewing a Polo and A1 first, to get a feel for both cars and check out the room in each car.

Like I said, fitting my sports gear into the car is nearly essential as it is part of my job and when I start college I'll also need the car to carry around a lot of sports and camera equipment.

We will be keeping the Galaxy when I get my new car as we use it for family surfing trips and for taking my brother's kayak around the country as my parent's don't like using they're own car, so really I don't have to worry about fitting my boards into the Polo or A1.

Sh1tbag OToole

chrissy_W wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys and sorry for the late reply here. I still have not been to see any cars yet but I am hoping to do so on the weekend with my parents.

Skoda and Hyundai just aren't my style at all to be honest. I'm sure they're good cars but just not up my street at all. Also I don't want a saloon - again, not my style. Plus I just want something much smaller than the current Galaxy I currently use.

I really like the A1. Like I said, I haven't been to see one yet but I think they look really good. I probably won't be able to get an S-line model within my budget but even still, the more basic model does look well. The Polo I also like. They are much cheaper than the A1 and even some pretty new cars are within budget compared to the slightly older A1s. I intend on viewing a Polo and A1 first, to get a feel for both cars and check out the room in each car.

Like I said, fitting my sports gear into the car is nearly essential as it is part of my job and when I start college I'll also need the car to carry around a lot of sports and camera equipment.

We will be keeping the Galaxy when I get my new car as we use it for family surfing trips and for taking my brother's kayak around the country as my parent's don't like using they're own car, so really I don't have to worry about fitting my boards into the Polo or A1.

You probably won't even want the S-Line after driving it on Irish roads for 2 minutes so don't worry about that, all it does it give you tougher suspension and a couple of badges really that you can buy on ebay yourself if you want. If you're going to be transporting a lot of stuff better get a hitch and small trailer because you won't fit much inside the car.

There is no estate model A1, which is a shame because you can fit a kayak inside a Fabia estate easily enough with a bit of string to hold the lid of the boot down.

chrissy_W

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

You probably won't even want the S-Line after driving it on Irish roads for 2 minutes so don't worry about that, all it does it give you tougher suspension and a couple of badges really that you can buy on ebay yourself if you want. If you're going to be transporting a lot of stuff better get a hitch and small trailer because you won't fit much inside the car.

There is no estate model A1, which is a shame because you can fit a kayak inside a Fabia estate easily enough with a bit of string to hold the lid of the boot down.

I think the S line looks great. My heart says look for an S line but my head says don't, because of the stiffer suspension (I know a girl with an A3 S line who complains about it). I'd like to drive both anyway, just to see, but being realistic, I shouldn't even look at S lines. I think.

Anyway I don't have to be overly concerned about fitting my boards into the car or my brother's kayak. We bought the Galaxy for this very reason. It's just a second car and we have only ever used it for this, my parent's don't drive it now that I can drive so my brother and I have free reign over it and he'll use it when he can drive. But I still need to take a closer look at the A1 for it's interior space to see if it suits my needs specifically.

GavMan

You'll probably be able to drive a hard bargain on an Adam in an Opel dealer as sales have not been great.

But if your heart is set on an A1, then find the best spec and condition you can for your money and go for it

Cen taurus

colm_mcm wrote: »

The adam is around the same size as the A1. They feel a bit dead for a 1.4 though.
Nice media system connects with your smartphone and loads of customisation options.

They're a relative sales flop so some potential bargains out there.
I like the citroen ds3 too

What's the reliability of the Adam like, I hear mixed reports ?

colm_mcm

Haven't a clue tbh.

Sh1tbag OToole

Cen taurus wrote: »

What's the reliability of the Adam like, I hear mixed reports ?

Sure they are barely making their way out the factory door at this stage, if they are packing up now they would be fierce bad altogether

bazz26

The Adam has been on sale for about 2 years now though they are hardly a big seller in this country.

A little less conventional but what about a Citroen DS3:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Citroen/DS3/VTI82-BENEFIT/144614241774173960/

chrissy_W

bazz26 wrote: »

The Adam has been on sale for about 2 years now though they are hardly a big seller in this country.

A little less conventional but what about a Citroen DS3:

Definitely, I do like the DS3 and space in the back looks ample. I looked at a few online and all examples in budget are diesel but if I could find a petrol model I would very much consider it.

imurdaddy

chrissy_W wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys and sorry for the late reply here. I still have not been to see any cars yet but I am hoping to do so on the weekend with my parents.

Skoda and Hyundai just aren't my style at all to be honest. I'm sure they're good cars but just not up my street at all. Also I don't want a saloon - again, not my style. Plus I just want something much smaller than the current Galaxy I currently use.

I really like the A1. Like I said, I haven't been to see one yet but I think they look really good. I probably won't be able to get an S-line model within my budget but even still, the more basic model does look well. The Polo I also like. They are much cheaper than the A1 and even some pretty new cars are within budget compared to the slightly older A1s. I intend on viewing a Polo and A1 first, to get a feel for both cars and check out the room in each car.

Like I said, fitting my sports gear into the car is nearly essential as it is part of my job and when I start college I'll also need the car to carry around a lot of sports and camera equipment.

We will be keeping the Galaxy when I get my new car as we use it for family surfing trips and for taking my brother's kayak around the country as my parent's don't like using they're own car, so really I don't have to worry about fitting my boards into the Polo or A1.

Id go for the S Line A1, cracking little car and S line will be worth more when time comes to sell, thats if you can get one in budget.

Cen taurus

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Sure they are barely making their way out the factory door at this stage, if they are packing up now they would be fierce bad altogether

I've seen a load of BMW's / Audis / VW's and give a load of bother in their first two years, (and recently Toyotas) so it's nothing unusual.
With car manufactures buying parts all over the shop these days, and assembling cars in the cheapest country they can find, nowadays the individual model is a much better guide to reliability these days than a make is.

Sh1tbag OToole

Cen taurus wrote: »

I've seen a load of BMW's / Audis / VW's and give a load of bother in their first two years, (and recently Toyotas) so it's nothing unusual.
With car manufactures buying parts all over the shop these days, and assembling cars in the cheapest country they can find, nowadays the individual model is a much better guide to reliability these days than a make is.

Bath tub curve I suppose

Cen taurus

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Bath tub curve I suppose

Depends on the model again, but who wants to wait 3 years for them to sort all their own problems, meanwhile leaving a load of problem models on the market.

Mintoe

Parkers.co.uk is good independent place to go for pros and cons on every make/model

chrissy_W

Okay so I got to drive an Audi A1 at our local dealership. It was a 1.2 Sport model. I was quite impressed with it. Obviously a lot more nimble than the Galaxy which I am used to but for such a small car it seemed quite refined too. On open roads I was able to get up to decent speeds without much bother and it sat quite nicely on the motorway. My verdict, in a nutshell - nimble but a lot more refined than I was expecting from a budget hatchback.

But onto the more important bit; could I fit all of my gear into it? Er, sort of. My camogie stuff fits into the back okay. I can fit a hurl into the boot okay which is really quite ideal. Obviously it is much too small for my boards and my Dad reckons it might be a bit small for a roof rack to carry them also but overall I am happy that the car is spacious enough for day to day activities.

I have not yet driven a Polo but I think I've fallen for the little A1...