2005 Audi A3 2.0T DSG

[LiamB]

_Rich_ said:

I had the same car as yourself, like you it turned out to be a right lemon (suspension needed replacing, 2x ECU's, as well as something on the engine (can't remember at the minute)). really frustrating after spending money having the gearbox service, cambelt, new brakes, service and 4x tyres as well, only keeping the car for roughly 8 months. Think it racked up about 3k in bills.
An expensive mistake and tbh a very boring drive has put me off Audi.

Regarding the corsa VXR, I had one when they first came out. Kept it for 3 years and still one of my favourite cars I've owned, the clio will be the better drivers car but like yourself i found the interior is much better in the corsa, and if you go for full leather you'll get heated seats.
Things to look out for are split a/c pipes (I'm sure theres pictures online to help find there location). Also wheel bearings tend to go (my rears went once in the 70k miles i did). I changed the exhaust to a remus exhaust which was great fun, a bit more noise and pops and bangs on gear change when hooning was great fun. Also in the grand scheme of things dirt cheap to run for a hot hatch.

Thanks for your reply, it's a shame about the Audi as it's put me off them too. Regarding the VXR I think your post has swayed me towards them, with a 4K budget I'll be getting a higher mileage 2007/08 car so hopefully all the niggles will have been sorted but even so wheel bearings aren't an expensive fix anyway. Thanks for the heads up on the AC pipes too, I'll have a little read

I've also seen a couple of videos with the Remus 3 piece fitted and I really like the sound! Definitely something I'll be doing if I get one.

sleepera6 said:

The Blue 330i M Sport, WU06 FMX, has been doing a steady 10-15000 miles a year, which means it's probably genuine motorway. It has also never failed an MOT.

Worn the miles very well too.

However,
£1k insurance assuming
- you are a Marketing Consultant from Pinner
- is a full UK resident with a UK driving licence
- are 25 years old today and have held a driving licence since becoming 17 on 07/01/2009
- rent your home ( I used a random address, and this house is worth £680000
- have no children
- want £350 excess
- prefer to pay annually
- own no other cars
- no crashes before, 8 years NCB
- are called Janine Alexandria

I know my "assumptions" are extremely well off but the car is in group 34 so insurance is going to be quite high.

It does seem like a nice example for once!

I've just got a quote for £1200 as a 20 year old Landscape Gardener with 2 years no claims and passing at 18 which is all correct info so it's definitely do able, I'm currently paying around £1050 for my A3 for comparison

[LiamB]

sleepera6 said:

Nice.
Do it! You won't regret it. Practical, fast, beautiful sound, looks the part, a bit more grown up on the outside. The 330i was evo mag's all time favourites, in E90 generation
I like the Corsa VXR, but this is a million times better both the Corsa VXR and Corsa 1.0 combined!

Are you still driving the Corsa? Do you still have it and SORN'ed it or did you sell it long ago?

It's definitely a contender for the next lemon I buy! I wanted one when I bought this but every single one that was near me was either chavved up or had a really bad MOT history which put me right off. If I can find the right one I'll go and view it 100%

Regarding the Corsa, I gave it to my sister when I went and swapped for the Juke I had for a while but she still hasnt started driving (she's bloody useless) so it's just sat at my mums farm sornd so I'll just use it as a stop gap while I find something else, I might try and steal it back and stick it in the garage to do something stupid to it when I'm done with it haha.. red top conversion maybe?

Due to not leasing a car anymore I can finally start swapping and changing my cars which I'm loving so what ever I get, if I don't fall in love with it will be changed within the year so why not try both!

[LiamB]

sleepera6 said:

You started off with a Corsa that gave you back pain
Sad about the Juke, I remember reading that it had been written off by some knobber in a Roomster.
Then you bought a Clio. Which you hated.
Next you bought an Audi A3, which was a lemon.

Thoughts are with you

Jokes aside you really need a reliable car.. maybe a Honda Type R with leathers?

I haven't had much luck the best car I've had so far has been the Juke probably, it was so comfortable and was very good on fuel, it only had the 1.5 Diesel engine but it went well enough too, I'd probably still have it if it wasn't written off!

I'd love a Type R but I really really hate where the gear stick is located and DC2 Integras (one of my favourite cars) are too far out of budget for me

[LiamB]

sleepera6 said:

We might as well make a list of hot hatches, they seem to suit you.

Alfa - MiTo?
Audi
BMW
Citroen
Ford - Fiesta ST, Focus ST?
Honda
Kia
Mazda - Mazdaspeeeeeed3
Peugeot - 207 GTi, RCZ?
Skoda - Fabia VRs
Toyota - Corolla T Sport, MR-2
Volkswagen - MK4 Golf Anni, MK5 GTi?, Polo GTi, Lupo GTi
Volvo - C40 R Design
HTH

Out of all of those at the moment I wouldn't mind an ST, MK5 GTi or an older Polo GTi I'm too fussy

Never been too keen on any Lexus at all really, I'm sure they are nice cars but I don't think I could have one.

I never went to get the Corsa as it seems to have developed some sort of electrical problem so I have a hire car which I absolutely love. It's a 66 plate Ford Fiesta ST Line 125 and I'm in love with it! The 1.0 turbo engine is amazing and it handles so very well. I had a lot of fun thrashing it down the back roads from Buckingham to home today and it returned over 40 mpg!

I'm really really tempted to get a Black Edition Fiesta now with the 140 engine on a lease deal, I wouldn't have to worry about reliability and with a few small mods they can go up to 170hp..

[LiamB]

Yazza54 said:

Sorted it yet?

Struggling to see how you/they think changing the injectors will rectify a low fuel pressure fault.

If I were you I'd probably get a fun hatch, fiesta ST maybe

Nope! Getting it recovered to Essex tomorrow then as soon as it's fixed it's being sold, I don't even want to drive it.

I'm pretty settled on getting a lease deal on a new ST Line Fiesta with the 140 engine and a few extras because I'm absolutely loving this hire car I have at the moment and it's only the 125, I'll try get a picture up but I'm stuck on my phone.

bungz said:

Was it a private seller you purchased this from?

I would be starting to look at any angle I could to get my money back, had the car since Nov and only driven it for a week from what I read? Its now 2nd week in jan!

It was indeed, the seller paid for the new engine to go in but now I'm about to pay for this issue to get fixed. I just want it fixed and gone really. I've only driven it about 200 miles when it was fixed but near on 1000 when it was broken and st to drive.

Shadow R1 said:

Fiesta with the 140bhp 1.0 is a good choice, the team i work in has 2 on lease.
Keep in mind with the 1.0, the engine has to come out to do the cambelt, as its inside the cases like on a bike.

Good to know but I will hopefully be getting a new one on a 2 year deal so hopefully I don't have to worry about that!

sleepera6 said:

Something like this?

Way out of budget and I don't think I'd be able to trust it

Does look lovely though

[LiamB]

[LiamB]

The Fiesta pictured is my hire car, I'm looking to get something exactly the same with a couple of options. Been wanting to drive one of these for a while and it really hasn't disappointed.

[LiamB]

problemchild1976 said:

ah - confused - sorry

so why not the ST?

the ecoboost engine is ok but its top end is pretty poor and lack of torque means changing gear more to keep the turbo spooled thus reduced MPG

last time i looked the fiesta ecoboost was big money when the ST was the same and better specd plus a more driveable engine

JJ

The one I'm driving now is the 125 version which I think is really nice to drive but I'll be going for a 140 which should be a bit better, it has shorter gear ratios too.

I'm looking at 2 year lease deals with around £1700 deposit and less than £200 a month on a new St Line 140. Every ST I've seen has been a lot more expensive or id definitely go for one!

[LiamB]

BrettMRC said:

Get a Forester XT manual...lots of potential, still practical and not a bd to insure either...

Can't say I'm keen on them the only thing I have struggled to insure was the 3.2 version of this car which was about £1900, this 2.0 is only £1100 and the Fiesta I'm hopefully about to get should bring it down to a lot less than a grand hopefully.

[LiamB]

Saw this on the way home from Buckingham today and had to have a look, I would really really like an ST2 or 3 if I can find one with a good 9+23 deal, if not I'll happily go for a 140 ST Line with a few mods instead.

Buying a used performance car just doesn't appeal to me anymore after this utter faf. The Audi is in Essex for a repair again and I completely forgot I owned it.. it actually made me sad when I realised I still had the piece of st!

[LiamB]

Not much of a fan of the current shape Focus unfortunately, I think I'm settled on a Fiesta for now..

[LiamB]

aspirated said:

Give it a few months you could be into a Golf R for not much more...

I'd be lying if I said I haven't been looking

I'd happily have a Golf R but whether my insurance will be happy with it is another question!

[LiamB]

Piece of st Audi should be back next week. Interestingly I think it's just a fuel pipe by the filter that has been the cause of all my problems..

Forgot to mention this but I had a look under the car before it went away and the fuel line going to/from the filter had some sort of bodged fix on it which had a hole in causing petrol to leak and air to get into the fuel lines (explains the very faint petrol smell) That hole has slowly got bigger and bigger to the point of rupturing and stopping the car running whilst I was driving and spraying fuel everywhere underneath when the ignition was turned, could I be right in thinking this could be what was causing the st running, low fuel pressure code and piss poor mpg? The garage won't explain much to me until I go and get it as they're useless on the phone.

This is just a guess I'm obviously not a mechanic

[LiamB]

Fuel was leaking under the car at the rear where the fuel filter is, not in the engine bay fortunately. Although if it did set on fire I don't think I'd be too annoyed at this point

[LiamB]

Put the Audi on whocanfixmycar today because I'm lazy and to my surprise it is already on it's way back to me with upgraded fuel lines. Someone had previously used an air line instead of a fuel line which is obviously very stupid and it's slowly failed to the point of completely rupturing.. how it lasted as long as it has is beyond me! The low fuel pressure code has been cleared but there is still a code for fuel regulator limit exceeded which isn't throwing up a light but just requires a new sensor.

I was dreading getting it onto a flatbed as it was boxed in parked on a road and I thought it wouldn't start because it didn't start when it died a couple of weeks ago, but to my surprise it started up first time and I drove it onto the flatbed leaving behind this mess..


I shall report back when I have the car.. I hope it works. I'm still very much enjoying the Ecoboost Fiesta hire car I have at the moment

[LiamB]

Ended up telling the mechanic to replace the sensor as it went into limp mode when he test drove it, which has done nothing.. so I've just paid for a new fuel pump and regulator to be fitted today which he said should fix my problem 100%.. to be honest I've been told so much st I don't even know what the problem is anymore I just want the car back so I can sell it asap

[LiamB]

Whoever has been working on this car before must have looked a bit like this

[LiamB]

I didn't get the car back again, phoned at 5 and they told me there was a very very intermittent fault where the car would lose all power for a split second on a test drive and the car turned off and on again when he wiggled the loom suggesting a loose wire which he is fixing for free he just had to find it except he now isn't answering the phone so I reckon he probably made that up to get out of delivering the car to me on a Friday evening when they were about to close

Hopefully tomorrow then!

[LiamB]

Well he got back to me so he has been working hard, he offered to deliver me the car tonight if I needed it but it was in limp mode some of the time which was nice of him but I've learnt my mistake and I've told him to keep it so he's taking the inlet manifold off tomorrow to have a proper look at the problem.

Nice chap!

[LiamB]

Yeah i apologise for how confusing this thread is but the timeline is:
- Bought car that had a new engine with supposed cambelt change within engine guidelines as assured by private seller
- Cambelt went on the engine and the previous owner paid for a new engine to be put in but it was only the bare engine, end up getting a reconditioned turbo due to slight play in the old one
- Get the car back with a low fuel pressure code and don't have full power, it was over fueling and running like st but I needed the car and couldn't afford a hire car and they didn't know what was wrong
- Car breaks on the way back to Essex to get it repaired when a fuel line ruptured which turned out to be an air line had been used in place of a fuel line and bodged
- Hire a Fiesta Ecoboost and decided I need one
- Audi put on whocanfixmycar and recovered to a local garage after a week or so of sitting broken
- Audi driven onto flatbed to go to garage where it is now
- Fuel line changed which sorted the leaky problem but there was still gremlins with the regulator and fuel pump so I got a new one as copper grease had been used where it shouldn't
- Car now has an intermittent fault where it loses power and goes into limp mode due to something in the wiring loom
- I give up and burn it

I think that's pretty much it..