Audi A3 2007 - 130k miles (petrol)
Discussion
Hi! I'm considering getting a 'new' car, and have seen locally an A3, 2.0L Petrol. It has just shy of 130k on the clock, and the asking price is £3k.
Would I be a fool?
I sold my 2009 Ka in the summer, and was given a 2004 VW Golf MK4 Estate, 165k on the clock, 1.9 SDi. It's a real work horse, has good mileage, but is starting to cost to keep it going (so far with service, MOT, catalytic converter and some welding was over £800, and I only got it is September!). However, I am well aware these cars can keep going, and mechanically it seems happy enough, it's just the bodywork letting it down (more rust as advisories on the last MOT).
I don't know what to do for the best. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, and think I can possibly get a decent reduction on the A3, but open to opinions!
Would I be a fool?
I sold my 2009 Ka in the summer, and was given a 2004 VW Golf MK4 Estate, 165k on the clock, 1.9 SDi. It's a real work horse, has good mileage, but is starting to cost to keep it going (so far with service, MOT, catalytic converter and some welding was over £800, and I only got it is September!). However, I am well aware these cars can keep going, and mechanically it seems happy enough, it's just the bodywork letting it down (more rust as advisories on the last MOT).
I don't know what to do for the best. I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, and think I can possibly get a decent reduction on the A3, but open to opinions!
At that age/mileage you're buying on condition and history, rather than anything else really iand it's not necessarily going to be any less expensive to maintain than the golf. It's also worth noting with the golf that if you've been replacing major parts then that's likely going to have 'solved' those issues for 'x' amount of miles, you might be walking away from a car that you've made roadworthy for another 40k miles for instance.
If the golf continues to be roadworthy I'd be tempted to keep hold of it and put more funds in to your savings for a new car, then I'd be looking at something which would be more econominal to own and run, whatever that may be for your needs.
PS - Somewhat may be along in a moment to tell you that particular engine in the 2007 A3 is bulletproof, I don't know the engine so can't comment on it specifically.
If the golf continues to be roadworthy I'd be tempted to keep hold of it and put more funds in to your savings for a new car, then I'd be looking at something which would be more econominal to own and run, whatever that may be for your needs.
PS - Somewhat may be along in a moment to tell you that particular engine in the 2007 A3 is bulletproof, I don't know the engine so can't comment on it specifically.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Yes, I know what you mean. The Golf had no service history, so we don't actually know what has been done before. We were toying with the idea of getting all of the bodywork sorted, cambelt changed etc., but we'd be looking around £1500 for all of that, it also has a minor oil leak, though that doesn't have to mean the end of the world of course - and we're getting the driveway replaced in a couple of years anyway so a few oil splots here and there isn't too concerning! haha!
The A3 seems well looked after, has a good service history but I am wary of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!
Yes, I know what you mean. The Golf had no service history, so we don't actually know what has been done before. We were toying with the idea of getting all of the bodywork sorted, cambelt changed etc., but we'd be looking around £1500 for all of that, it also has a minor oil leak, though that doesn't have to mean the end of the world of course - and we're getting the driveway replaced in a couple of years anyway so a few oil splots here and there isn't too concerning! haha!
The A3 seems well looked after, has a good service history but I am wary of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!
I've had 3 8P model A3s - a 2.0T quattro, an S3 and then nearly a decade later a plain 2.0T. From anecdote at least, I feel fairly well able to comment!
The last of those A3s was 12 years old when I got it. I had needed a stop gap car very quickly due to a family health situation and turned to a model I felt I knew, cancelling a lease I was waiting for.
At first it seemed extremely impressive for a car if its age and I think it would be a decent upgrade over most Mk4 Golfs. I couldn't believe how I'd paid only 13% of what my S3 had cost only 8 years beforehand!
It's not clear from the post, but I assume it might be a 200PS 2.0T rather than a rare 150PS N/A? The former is an impressive engine and tunable if you want.
However, all cars of this age are sold-on for a reason. Mine "needed" £2k of work within a couple of months, though thankfully I was able to use it for business miles and recouped most of the outlay. This included common 2.0T (Golf GTI) engine issues and servicing, cambelt, door lock, suspension arms and a few bits and bobs. My costs could have been halved my DIY'ing.
Someone got a proper hidden gem when I sold it on - or, at least, a head start on the maintenance needs of a 12-year-old A3.
In the final analysis, it clearly wasn't box fresh and my wife and kids really didn't hold my semi-shed A3 in as high regard as me. Several annoying things like a weak handbrake would be expensive to rectify and really helpful as we live on a hill, but not necessarily MoT-troubling. I could easily afford something newer and so I did.
I'd say go for the A3 and savour its strengths - but be prepared for some extra spend to get it up to standard. Otherwise you might as well just shed in the Golf for a while longer.
The last of those A3s was 12 years old when I got it. I had needed a stop gap car very quickly due to a family health situation and turned to a model I felt I knew, cancelling a lease I was waiting for.
At first it seemed extremely impressive for a car if its age and I think it would be a decent upgrade over most Mk4 Golfs. I couldn't believe how I'd paid only 13% of what my S3 had cost only 8 years beforehand!
It's not clear from the post, but I assume it might be a 200PS 2.0T rather than a rare 150PS N/A? The former is an impressive engine and tunable if you want.
However, all cars of this age are sold-on for a reason. Mine "needed" £2k of work within a couple of months, though thankfully I was able to use it for business miles and recouped most of the outlay. This included common 2.0T (Golf GTI) engine issues and servicing, cambelt, door lock, suspension arms and a few bits and bobs. My costs could have been halved my DIY'ing.
Someone got a proper hidden gem when I sold it on - or, at least, a head start on the maintenance needs of a 12-year-old A3.
In the final analysis, it clearly wasn't box fresh and my wife and kids really didn't hold my semi-shed A3 in as high regard as me. Several annoying things like a weak handbrake would be expensive to rectify and really helpful as we live on a hill, but not necessarily MoT-troubling. I could easily afford something newer and so I did.
I'd say go for the A3 and savour its strengths - but be prepared for some extra spend to get it up to standard. Otherwise you might as well just shed in the Golf for a while longer.
Hi, thank you so much for your reply - it's appreciated!
The current owner had the brakes and tyres replaced prior to the last MOT in January, had a cambelt done less than 10,000 miles ago, and the car looks tidy, at least on the photos - I haven't been to see it yet. It's a private sale, as she's not driving as much as pre-lockdown, and is looking for an automatic car. It has a full service history, which I'll read through of course.
I'm not anti-high mileage cars, my Ka was at 145,000 when we sold it, the engine was sound too, but we were given the Golf Estate which seemed a good swap. Then it started costing a lot in a very short time. I know the Golf is likely to just keep going, as long as we keep it road worthy. I just really like the look of the A3, and the fact it has had so much of the fund-draining work done.
Around once a month I go visit family, usually, and that is a 300 mile round trip. The Gold does the whole thing on half a tank of diesel. My commute is only an 8 mile round trip, so petrol is better for that I imagine?
My other half isn't so keen on me getting the A3, he thinks we'd be better spending the £2.5k on the Golf, getting the bodywork done, cambelt etc., and I see his point of view, and up until seeing the A3 I wasn't considering another car!
I am unsure, but think maybe going and seeing/testing the A3 and going from there is the best bet?
The current owner had the brakes and tyres replaced prior to the last MOT in January, had a cambelt done less than 10,000 miles ago, and the car looks tidy, at least on the photos - I haven't been to see it yet. It's a private sale, as she's not driving as much as pre-lockdown, and is looking for an automatic car. It has a full service history, which I'll read through of course.
I'm not anti-high mileage cars, my Ka was at 145,000 when we sold it, the engine was sound too, but we were given the Golf Estate which seemed a good swap. Then it started costing a lot in a very short time. I know the Golf is likely to just keep going, as long as we keep it road worthy. I just really like the look of the A3, and the fact it has had so much of the fund-draining work done.
Around once a month I go visit family, usually, and that is a 300 mile round trip. The Gold does the whole thing on half a tank of diesel. My commute is only an 8 mile round trip, so petrol is better for that I imagine?
My other half isn't so keen on me getting the A3, he thinks we'd be better spending the £2.5k on the Golf, getting the bodywork done, cambelt etc., and I see his point of view, and up until seeing the A3 I wasn't considering another car!
I am unsure, but think maybe going and seeing/testing the A3 and going from there is the best bet?
I wouldn't spend any more than I have to on a 16 year old Golf estate SDi with 165k miles if it's ok at the moment.
It's worth next to nothing so just keep it going with minimal cost and save up until it's next MOT and see what happens then.
Being the SDi 8 miles journeys will be no problem so no reason to get a petrol for that.
If you just want a new car then £3k will get you something better value than a 13 year old Audi with 130k miles.
Civic with nearly half the miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102129...
Auris, newer and under 80k miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101127...
Focus Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101047...
It's worth next to nothing so just keep it going with minimal cost and save up until it's next MOT and see what happens then.
Being the SDi 8 miles journeys will be no problem so no reason to get a petrol for that.
If you just want a new car then £3k will get you something better value than a 13 year old Audi with 130k miles.
Civic with nearly half the miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102129...
Auris, newer and under 80k miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101127...
Focus Titanium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101047...
Thanks, GreatGranny!
Yes, I think sensibility will prevail and I will just keep the Golf for the time being. It is MOT'd to October so plenty of time to be looking/saving, and we'll see if it gets through the next MOT ok before I make any decisions!
Thanks everyone for the help/advice!
Yes, I think sensibility will prevail and I will just keep the Golf for the time being. It is MOT'd to October so plenty of time to be looking/saving, and we'll see if it gets through the next MOT ok before I make any decisions!
Thanks everyone for the help/advice!
Further to the above I would add that, assuming it's a 2.0T A3, it should feel mind-blowingly quick compared to the Golf's non turbo 1.9 SDI diesel... at least to start with.
Depending on your driving, it would be less economical though - I could get over 40mpg hypermiling but sub 30mpg is more representative overall.
Depending on your driving, it would be less economical though - I could get over 40mpg hypermiling but sub 30mpg is more representative overall.
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