Thinking about an A3...which model?

Thinking about an A3...which model?

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Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

242 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
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My wife will soon be taking and hopefulyl passing her driving test. We were planning on getting a Mini Cooper as the insurance was OK for her, and it would be OK for me to drive too. But the tiny boot is putting us off so my thoughts have turned to a 3 door A3. How would a 1.6 compare to the Cooper? Or would a TDi be a better bet? We won't be doing a lot of miles in it, but it would be nice to have an alternative "weekend away" car to the TVR, so good motorway performance is important for me, but so is suitability for her.

Any advice? Looking at around £7.5k so an early current shape model is proabbly on the cards.

What about running costs, reliability etc? Any help or info much appreciated.

Cheers

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

242 months

Thursday 27th November 2008
quotequote all
What about the equivalent engined Golf? Same?

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

242 months

Friday 28th November 2008
quotequote all
To be honest I'm starting to be drawn back to the Mini now, despite the piddly boot. The reality is we don't often have other passengers, but sometimes might need to take one other person to the airport, so would have to fold down a seat to fit the luggage.

It doesn't have to be German, but there's not many small cars out there that catch my eye, and that would be entertaining for me to drive and sensible enough for a newbie. The Fiat 500 is just too cute, Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra too old-ladyish, Polo - possibly but no comparison to the Mini IMO. Fiesta - a possiblity but not something i would want to do any long distance in.....

See my dilemma?

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

242 months

Friday 28th November 2008
quotequote all
A2s look a bit mumsie to me....

Gavstar

Original Poster:

1,305 posts

242 months

Friday 28th November 2008
quotequote all
esuuv said:
I had a MINI - which was great, although as you said the small boot is a problem, then I bought an A3 - a 2.0T S-Line and within a couple of months hated it - ride was rock hard but the car had zero feel so you couldn't really drive it properly, looked good though, practical and well screwed together - I had it for 9 months and bought another MINI to replace it.
Interesting.....and the fact is a 2.0T is not realistic for my missus as a first car. Looks like the Mini is still the favourite.