Mk 1 Audi A3

[AreseV6]

The other half is adamant she wants one i have absolutely no experience or knowledge about them any good buyers guides or experience from memebers here she is wanting the diesel which i understand there is only one engine the 1.9 TDi , any help greatly appreciated .

[aka_kerrly]

put this way a Skoda Octavia and Seat leon do exactly the same job and offer more space and general better equipmemt.

A A3 is like a Golf mk4, pretty small boot for the size of car, pretty poor rear leg room but they do look really nice in 3dr and with the Audi you get some much better colours and interior choices - dark mettalics and leather are pick of the bunch. Silvers are far too common and have no presence whatsoever in my eyes.

TDI unit is available in 90, 100, 110 or 130hp format so make sure you know what you are buying and dont pay premium for lower model. 130s can also come in Quattro to and 6 speed box.


dave

[Muzzer]

I had a Mk1 A3

Great car. It is essentially a Mk4 Golf underneath but I found the build quality sooo much better.

It remains the best built 2nd hand car I've had and the only thing that made me get rid of it was a botched bodywork repair by my st insurance company's st bodyshop.

I had a 1.8 petrol but the diesels, if anything are better.

IINM, they did a 150 diesel too in the later models as seen in the MK4 Golf?

[AreseV6]

Oh we have had the talk about octavia / leon / golf similarities shes not having it she wants the a3 (read blonde dizzzy and knows nothing about cars) , any major mechanical gremlins to look for she is looking to spend £2500 tops so 100 - 150 thou mileage range

[nowheyman]

AreseV6 said:

Oh we have had the talk about octavia / leon / golf similarities shes not having it she wants the a3 (read blonde dizzzy and knows nothing about cars) , any major mechanical gremlins to look for she is looking to spend £2500 tops so 100 - 150 thou mileage range

If your looking at a car between 100-150k miles, the cambelt will have been done once or twice. Make sure that the waterpump and tensioner have been done at the same time. All Audi dealers should do this but some other garages may not. Water pumps themselves are known for shredding their impeller in the engine around 50-80k.
Each job involves exactly the same work and you'll be looking at 5 hours labour at Audi or an absolute bd of a job on your hands. The engines are mounted transversely in the A3 (unlike A4) so however you do the work, access is st.
I have done 30k in mine (70,000-100,000, 1997 1.8T) in the last 18 months. Other than wear and tear, consumables etc, there have been no other expenses/problems.
Good luck