Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.
https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
New car info wanted - A5 3.0 TDI vs. BMW 330d shortlist.
Options
-
26-06-2016 9:21pm#1
Comments
-
-
-
-
I agree buy the Audi. It looks better and is less common. Just be aware my friend had an A5 and was plagued by electrical problems.
On a side note I have been looking to buy a straight 6 BMW 320 as a second car. It's actually very had to find a good one. So if/when looking to sell I'd appreciate if you could PM me.
Yes the fact it's less common would be a plus. Ideally I'd like to get an S Line but I would make do with a Sport if it has the spec I'm looking for.
I'll remember to get onto you when selling, mine is a great example if I say so myself
Are they coupés you are looking for in both? If so I think the a5 is the better looking car which is very important in the coupé market, possibly the most important.
I would choose based on looks between those 2, Audi has the edge here. Driving dynamics will probably favour the bmw but only slightly.
As for prices, I am not sure but I think you will be looking to the UK before long unless you want the 2.0d in either of them.
Yep I'd be looking at the coupe in both. I'm not a fan of the E90 BMW front end, but I think the E92 is great. Unfortunately it does look like I might have to venture to the UK. Hopefully the pound only gets worse!
The power in the larger engine is one of the main reasons I'm looking at these. The 2.0d wouldn't interest me in either. I'd stick to petrol if I was buying sub 200bhp. The Quattro is another draw for me over the RWD.I've an A5 for 8 years and no electrical problems bar a sensor that is exposed to road dirt.
That's great to hear. Yours must be around the same age as what I'm looking for. How have you found it? Obviously pretty good if you've kept it 8 years!0 -
UnknownSpecies wrote: »Yes the fact it's less common would be a plus. Ideally I'd like to get an S Line but I would make do with a Sport if it has the spec I'm looking for.
I'll remember to get onto you when selling, mine is a great example if I say so myself
Yep I'd be looking at the coupe in both. I'm not a fan of the E90 BMW front end, but I think the E92 is great. Unfortunately it does look like I might have to venture to the UK. Hopefully the pound only gets worse!
The power in the larger engine is one of the main reasons I'm looking at these. The 2.0d wouldn't interest me in either. I'd stick to petrol if I was buying sub 200bhp. The Quattro is another draw for me over the RWD.
That's great to hear. Yours must be around the same age as what I'm looking for. How have you found it? Obviously pretty good if you've kept it 8 years!
Mine was bought new and well minded.
very reasonable to run but mine is a front drive 1.8T
The issues I've had relate only to fact that it's not the quattro so of no concern in your case.0 -
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
Audi S3 is a cracking car, but both the old look hatch and new look saloon have extremely limited space in the back. They are also pretty darn low, you step down into the car really. If you are anyway tall, take it for a long test drive. If you are north of 6ft 3", it will get uncomfortable at your head and knees, even more so with a sunroof, and a longer drive on the sport-er ride can be quite hard on your back. Its a world apart from the 3-Series and A4/A5 in terms of comfort, but you make that up in bucket loads of power (300bhp+)
Even the fact that I'm considering the A5 means legroom is at the back of my mind I'm 6ft with short legs so space shouldn't be an issue.
I'd be looking at the '08 S3s (if at all) and they make 265bhp stock, so only around 20 more than the A5 but with less torque. Ideally I'd like to drive an S3 but they're not easily found. I drove a GTI V with the the same 2.0 TFSI engine that was mapped making 265bhp and I was seriously impressed with it but it did tend to spin wheels even in dry conditions.
I'm going to try my best to drive a 330d and an A5 before making up my mind but on paper, the A5 is winning for me right now. It's ticking all the boxes for me and the more I look at them, the more I like them. Have to get saving now is the only problem!0 -
-
S3 attracts looney money here and are far rarer than the Golf GTI. They are worlds apart however. The GTI is coming close to its limit of power even stock. You have all that power on the front wheels meaning you can map and tune all you like, but you'll eventually reach a point where the power just won't be put down. The S3 is Quattro, and as silly as it sounds, in Ireland with our climate is golden. It will put down the power in any conditions. If you can't stretch to the S3, there is a rare 2.0 Quattro A3. Pretty tricky to find but its essentially an S3 with a Golf GTI engine, the major differences being the cams, turbo and the engine internals / head.
If you are choosing between the GTI or S3, I'd have to urge you to pick the S3. Its a far more capable car and usually top spec if you find one here as they were so rare to begin with. If you really want the Golf, you'd be better off with the new Golf R, very capable car and on par with the S3 in all respects really. The downside however is most I have seen here are really low interior spec.
Oh no, there's no question of buying a GTI over an S3. I drove my friends GTI. I only mentioned it because I felt the performance was similar to an S3, but obviously the Quattro would be a massive factor there. Quattro in the A5 is a big draw too as I've mentioned. I don't know if I could go back to front wheel drive either. The rarity of the S3 really appeals to me but I think the interior would be a downgrade compared to my 320 even. Compare the interior (and price) of this S3 to this A5. There's something very barebones about the S3, which in a way I understand but I want the best of both worlds.
With a €15k budget, I think an R is out of my league But I do love those cars. Seriously eye catching and even though it's just a Golf you'd know it's something special. I noticed the same as you with interiors and extras. I don't understand how someone could buy that car and put cloth seats in it. 0 -
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
UnknownSpecies wrote: »I don't understand how someone could buy that car and put cloth seats in it.
I did just that. I prefer the cloth to the "leather" VW offer. 2k for leather in a Golf is a bit rich too imo. A lot of owners who have it admit that the quality is poor. For me it's not worth the premium they charge. I often hear people say things like I don't know how someone can buy something without speccing this or that. Thought I'd give you "one of those people's" reasons. 0 -
vintagevrs wrote: »I did just that. I prefer the cloth to the "leather" VW offer. 2k for leather in a Golf is a bit rich too imo. A lot of owners who have it admit that the quality is poor. For me it's not worth the premium they charge. I often hear people say things like I don't know how someone can buy something without speccing this or that. Thought I'd give you "one of those people's" reasons.
Ah no, that's definitely fair enough. When quality comes into play it's a different story. I'll admit that when I see cloth in a car that cost €50k+ it baffles me, but if the leather is genuinely just not as good, then fair enough.0 -
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
Advertisement