Audi A3 or Golf?

Yanu

Hi guys,

There are two cars that I like, same year, same tax, roughly the same mileage and at the same price. Can't decide though…

Audi A3 1.6 TDi SE 105 BHP 5DR SPORTBACK
Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI SE 105PS

I'd like to know what you people think, thanks

Yanu

MuppetCheck

Have you got links to the cars?

Yanu

http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1202165&r=saved-ads.php%3Fg%3D0
http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1224826&r=saved-ads.php%3Fg%3D0

MuppetCheck

Personally I'd be more inclined to the A3 for the same money.

This one is a small bit more, lower miles and a much better engine.

http://m.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1204512&r=s.php%3Fm%3D7%26o%3D42%26e%3D15000%26f%3D2%26yn%3D2010%26g%3D0

Yanu

Thanks MuppetCheck.

The one on your link is nice indeed but has the tax a bit more expensive. It also is from Dublin, I'm in Galway and I'd like to buy locally. I bought my previous car from a dealer a couple of hours from my house and regretted it a lot as during the warranty i had to drive there 3 or 4 times. Thanks anyway, much appreciate the input

bazz26

Motor tax on cars from 2008 on wards is not based on engine size. The tax on the 2.0 TDi is €280 v €200 on the 1.6 TDi which is next to nothing considering the extra bit of power.

Here is a higher spec Ambition model in Galway:
http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Audi/A3/SPORTSBACK-2.0/150414265184190750/

Alanstrainor

Yanu wrote: »

Thanks MuppetCheck.

The one on your link is nice indeed but has the tax a bit more expensive. It also is from Dublin, I'm in Galway and I'd like to buy locally. I bought my previous car from a dealer a couple of hours from my house and regretted it a lot as during the warranty i had to drive there 3 or 4 times. Thanks anyway, much appreciate the input

The difference in tax is nothing given what you're spending. I wouldn't get to hung up about an extra 90 euro a year!

Yanu

Thanks guys. It is not only the extra €90. it also has a bigger engine and I don't really need that, 1.6 is enough for me. Don't need extra power, I just want a reliable car.
I'm not even trying to get the best audi on the market. It took me a lot of work to convince the wife to higher up our budget to get to the price of those two and no way I'll get her to spend more…
The choice is between those two I mentioned really. I was just wondering if, for example, the audi is more expensive to service or parts are more pricey…
Thanks for comments and links

peege

I had an audi a3 for 4 years. I only traded it in a couple of weeks ago. I found the audi far more comfortable than the VW golf. Also there is a bigger cabin in the Audi. For reliability 1.6 TDI are not the best. Audi,VW, Seats have all the parts and the 1.6 Diesels with 80000km plus are prone to gearbox issues from my experience.

You also need to find out what type of driving the previous owner did. Motorway commutes or just popping down to the shops, this will have a big bearing on the engine.

In be general petrol engines are better but if you are doing longer commutes eg 30minute stints at least and avg 50km per hour then go for a diesel but id be going 1.8 or higher.

A lot of people out there think diesel are the way to go but it has to suit your driving habits. Short journeys in any diesel car and you will inevitably experience problems.

Yanu

I do about 20000 km per year. I guess that is slightly above average. I don't mind getting a petrol car though, price at filling station is nearly the same and from what I have heard they give less trouble. Thanks peege

peege

Yanu wrote: »

I do about 20000 km per year. I guess that is slightly above average. I don't mind getting a petrol car though, price at filling station is nearly the same and from what I have heard they give less trouble. Thanks peege

Diesel is cheaper generally at the pumps but there are extra maintenance cost for a diesel car. DPF filters are the most common issue with diesel engines. For what you think you are saving with a diesel it might not actually work out that way with maintenance costs.

I actually drive a diesel myself but do mostly motorway driving.

Special Circumstances

Just buy the 1.6 diesel and follow the recommended service interval.
Be grand like.

Yanu

a3 or golf?

bazz26

They are both the same car underneath so which one will boil down to personal preference.

seankb

Has vrt been paid on the golf? That might be your answer there.

Yanu

Don't know yet. I'll go to the dealers sat and talk to them. I will also drive both and see

damianb

I'd go for Audi. Imo a 2010 A3 looks much nicer than a 2010 Golf. And I think it holds its value better.

Alanstrainor

damianb wrote: »

I'd go for Audi. Imo a 2010 A3 looks much nicer than a 2010 Golf. And I think it holds its value better.

I did wonder why the Audi wasn't more expensive given how similar they both are.... Either the golf is expensive, or the Audi is cheap.

Vote 4 Pedro

Get the A3,
I have a A3 1.6TDi SE Sportback for 2 years now and it's a very nice car, I had a Golf before the A3 which was also a nice car but the A3 seems better.
Feels great to drive, Great spec, looks nice and IMO more desirable than the Golf so it should sell easier when your ready to sell.
it's just cost me two tires and a service in the two years but it's due another service now and tiers now, done 60,000km in the two years.
Just done a deal at Galway Audi for another.

Muff Richardson

I'd go with the A3 purely for aesthetics. Had one and it was great, maintenance costs seemed relative to any other car but I was going to regular garages and not Audi dealerships...genuine Audi parts are going to cost a lot more. Mileage is quite high on both so ensure timing belt has been changed in the last while.

Only thing is, they both seem quite expensive for age and mileage on the clock. If you've 13/14k you could probably do better, especially by buying private.

Vote 4 Pedro

Muff Richardson wrote: »

they both seem quite expensive for age and mileage on the clock. If you've 13/14k you could probably do better, especially by buying private.

They do seem a bit overpriced alright

Yanu

The idea would be to get them both for €1000 less than the asking price. Especially the golf as the timing belt is not done yet. The dealer says there is no need to replace it until 126000 miles but I won't wait that long. I'm not an expert and the assurance of a warranty for me is important, that's why I'm more inclined to shop from a dealer

Special Circumstances

Can't see any dealer knocking 1K off a 14K diesel VW/Audi in Ireland.
But I know SFA about that par tof the market.

Yanu

told you I am not an expert…..
"But I know SFA about that par tof the market." what do you mean?

bazz26

A used car warranty is only as good as the dealer who is honoring it. Some dealers are better than others at sorting problems while others can be a nightmare.

Also I don't think the mileage on either car is high for the year, these are 5 years old diesel cars with less than 20k miles per year on them which would be normal enough mileage for a diesel car bought for it's intended use. I'd be more concerned with a low mileage diesel just used for short stop/start journeys.

Special Circumstances

Yanu wrote: »

told you I am not an expert…..
"But I know SFA about that part of the market." what do you mean?

I buy cheap japanese petrol cars with big engines rather than german cars with small diesel engines. I know Sweet F*** All about buying a 14k 1.6 TDi VW.

black & white

What about this one in Ennis ?

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/volkswagen/golf/used-2010-volkswagen-golf-clare-fpa-153314279940305150?


Has timing belt and EGR done, FSH as well. Main dealer selling it though it is a UK import.

Yanu

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look

SpannerMonkey

Audi purely for the looks they are pretty much the same car

Sunny Dayz

sorry to bring up an old thread - but was looking at an A3 at the weekend, wasn't really in the market to changing the car but one caught my eye. Only problem - apart from the fact that I don't NEED to change my car - is that it's a diesel and I don't do much mileage, maybe 15K kms a year. Ive never had a diesel before but the impression I get from this thread is that they're only suitable for high mileage?

Sunny Dayz

Yeah that's were I think I would get caught out. Most of my driving during the week is nipping around the town as I live and work in the same town. In the summer (if we get one) I would often walk instead. Motorway driving over to the next town 2 or 3 times a week 15/20 mins drive away. Dublin few times a year 250km round trip. Few trips (usually one trip per month) to visit relations on National roads ranging from 2 hours away to 3.5 hours away. But for those journeys we usually use the husbands car.

Yanu

I'm not an expert but if I didn't need the diesel, I wouldn't have bought one. I prefer driving the petrol ones. I find them more responsive and, apparently, they give less trouble.