Golf v A3 - 1.4 150?
Discussion
Might as well pop this question in here as I'm not getting much response on the Car Buying section...
Just wondering if there is a completing reason why I should buy a used [budget about 17/18k] petrol VW Golf 1.4 150bhp over an Audi A3 1.4 150bhp, or the other way round?
My wife is due a new [to her] car. We had a test drive of a year old Golf yesterday [with DSG] and really like it. At the top of my list is that her replacement car will have more usable performance than her current 2007 MINI Cooper, and this engine appears to have that - so no real need for a GTi, even though that's what I want her to get!
Due to reading a good few bad things about the reliability of DSG, and the costs involved when fixing them, I decided manual was the way to go but after driving the Golf with the auto I now think we should get one [as long as we can extend the warranty etc].
Other than the looks [both are fine]. What small things would push you towards one or the other.
We did look at the Leon too but Mrs BUG4LIFE isn't drawn to the looks as much and I felt the interior was a little step down.
Thanks in advance
Just wondering if there is a completing reason why I should buy a used [budget about 17/18k] petrol VW Golf 1.4 150bhp over an Audi A3 1.4 150bhp, or the other way round?
My wife is due a new [to her] car. We had a test drive of a year old Golf yesterday [with DSG] and really like it. At the top of my list is that her replacement car will have more usable performance than her current 2007 MINI Cooper, and this engine appears to have that - so no real need for a GTi, even though that's what I want her to get!
Due to reading a good few bad things about the reliability of DSG, and the costs involved when fixing them, I decided manual was the way to go but after driving the Golf with the auto I now think we should get one [as long as we can extend the warranty etc].
Other than the looks [both are fine]. What small things would push you towards one or the other.
We did look at the Leon too but Mrs BUG4LIFE isn't drawn to the looks as much and I felt the interior was a little step down.
Thanks in advance
It's a great little engine and really performs quite well for it's size, whilst offering diesel like economy without much effort.
I ran a Mk7 GTD for 18-months and appreciated the high level of standard equipment, so that would probably sway me more towards the Golf. The A3 costs about the same new but they aren't generously equipped, you need to option most things e.g cruise, auto lights/ wipers, nav, power fold mirrors. Also with DSG and Adaptive Cruise on the Golf it will practically drive itself on the motorway, which for me was a godsend as I was doing a long and tedious commute on the M25/ M4 at the time.
Shame you don't like the Leon as they are perhaps the sharpest looking on the outside and amazing value for money. Slightly let down by the plasticy interior though.
I ran a Mk7 GTD for 18-months and appreciated the high level of standard equipment, so that would probably sway me more towards the Golf. The A3 costs about the same new but they aren't generously equipped, you need to option most things e.g cruise, auto lights/ wipers, nav, power fold mirrors. Also with DSG and Adaptive Cruise on the Golf it will practically drive itself on the motorway, which for me was a godsend as I was doing a long and tedious commute on the M25/ M4 at the time.
Shame you don't like the Leon as they are perhaps the sharpest looking on the outside and amazing value for money. Slightly let down by the plasticy interior though.
My wife has been running a manual A3 1.4 tsi 150 Act for coming up three years. It's a lease and due to go back in a few weeks time.
We like the engine and general package so much so that were about to buy a 2 year old Leon Fr with the same engine. The Seat has lots more toys than the Audi had.
The Audi has by far the best interior, but for value for money the Seat has both the Audi and VW Golf licked.
We like the engine and general package so much so that were about to buy a 2 year old Leon Fr with the same engine. The Seat has lots more toys than the Audi had.
The Audi has by far the best interior, but for value for money the Seat has both the Audi and VW Golf licked.
I think it will come down to what age, miles and spec we can get for our money, if there's no stand out feature that separates the Golf and A3.
Test driving a DSG Golf GT and manual Leon FR [similar age] back to back did highlight how much more 'expensive' the Golf felt. It just came across as being more premium. Not sure if a DSG Leon would feel 'nicer' but I really didn't like the gear change and lightness of the clutch and accelerator pedal - being the FR spec I though it might feel more solid and weighty?! I do have big feet but I do like to know when I'm pressing on the pedals.
I need to try an manual A3 and/or Golf to see if the gear change etc is equally as yuck - or DSG it is!
Test driving a DSG Golf GT and manual Leon FR [similar age] back to back did highlight how much more 'expensive' the Golf felt. It just came across as being more premium. Not sure if a DSG Leon would feel 'nicer' but I really didn't like the gear change and lightness of the clutch and accelerator pedal - being the FR spec I though it might feel more solid and weighty?! I do have big feet but I do like to know when I'm pressing on the pedals.
I need to try an manual A3 and/or Golf to see if the gear change etc is equally as yuck - or DSG it is!
You'll find plenty of posts/comments by me on the Golf, I've had my company DSG 150 one for 3 years/61k miles.
For a daily driver it's fantastic, plenty fast enough, and I'm getting 48mpg measured (sadly!) on a spreadsheet. Engines loosen up nicely after a few miles and as long as you drive according to the engine to maximise economy (if that's your thing) I think they give diesel like figures, but are very refined & quiet.
As Va1O says with adaptive cruise and DSG they're relaxing on long journeys. ACC isn't perfect but I've covered well in excess of 30k miles without my feet on the peddles.
Good level of kit as the engines only available on the GT model, least was when I got it.
Highly recommended in my opinion, and yes I would spend my own money on one.
For a daily driver it's fantastic, plenty fast enough, and I'm getting 48mpg measured (sadly!) on a spreadsheet. Engines loosen up nicely after a few miles and as long as you drive according to the engine to maximise economy (if that's your thing) I think they give diesel like figures, but are very refined & quiet.
As Va1O says with adaptive cruise and DSG they're relaxing on long journeys. ACC isn't perfect but I've covered well in excess of 30k miles without my feet on the peddles.
Good level of kit as the engines only available on the GT model, least was when I got it.
Highly recommended in my opinion, and yes I would spend my own money on one.
I bought a new A3 1.4 140 in early 2014 - this is the same cylinder on demand engine as the 150 just in a lower state of tune. If you're buying used don't discount this one because I don't think there's a noticeable performance difference. I can confirm the 140 is a 140mph car, according to sat nav.
We seriously considered the Golf with the same engine but it only available in GT trim which was very close in price to the A3 which made it hard to choose between the two. Ultimately we went for the A3 because it had a better selection of the options we wanted, had a swivel wheel rather than a touch screen (I hate touch screens in cars) and the screen in the A3 can be retracted. The residuals in the A3 seemed to be better as well.
The ride in the Golf was slightly softer and road noise was louder but these were minor differences.
Unless you buy a quattro or etron A3 then the boot is exactly the same size on the Golf and A3 ie. 380 litres. They both have a boot floor that can be lowered which makes it a lot smaller (but easier to load stuff) if you don't know about that.
I haven't had one problem in 30,000 miles but for piece of mind I paid £400 a year to extend the warranty because there seems a lot of tech to go wrong eg. the 2 cylinder mode and DSG box. Unlike earlier VAG 1.4s it hardly drinks any oil - maybe 1 litre per 10,000 miles.
We seriously considered the Golf with the same engine but it only available in GT trim which was very close in price to the A3 which made it hard to choose between the two. Ultimately we went for the A3 because it had a better selection of the options we wanted, had a swivel wheel rather than a touch screen (I hate touch screens in cars) and the screen in the A3 can be retracted. The residuals in the A3 seemed to be better as well.
The ride in the Golf was slightly softer and road noise was louder but these were minor differences.
Unless you buy a quattro or etron A3 then the boot is exactly the same size on the Golf and A3 ie. 380 litres. They both have a boot floor that can be lowered which makes it a lot smaller (but easier to load stuff) if you don't know about that.
I haven't had one problem in 30,000 miles but for piece of mind I paid £400 a year to extend the warranty because there seems a lot of tech to go wrong eg. the 2 cylinder mode and DSG box. Unlike earlier VAG 1.4s it hardly drinks any oil - maybe 1 litre per 10,000 miles.
Edited by LeoSayer on Tuesday 24th October 21:29
That was going to be my next thread. If we bought a DSG (Audi or VW) I think I'd want to extend the used car warranty beyond the 1 year it would come with (though I do need to look into how extensive that warranty is) but can you extend it, be it at the time of purchase or later done the line?
Think I might do a separate thread about this or try to get some answers from the VW/Audi website, before chatting with the sales guys again.
Just need to sort a test drive of a manual A3 and/or Golf to see if the gear change and weight of the pedals are an improvement on the Leon.
Think I might do a separate thread about this or try to get some answers from the VW/Audi website, before chatting with the sales guys again.
Just need to sort a test drive of a manual A3 and/or Golf to see if the gear change and weight of the pedals are an improvement on the Leon.
So, had a drive of a 150bhp manual A3 yesterday. Very nice. Interior is great [it was in S-line spec]. Manual definitely felt better than the Leon but not perfect - the wife likes it though, and as it'll be her car, that's all that counts!
I think we'd choose an auto should one come up but as it seems most used Golf GT's and A3's are manual, we'd be happy with that.
I think we'd choose an auto should one come up but as it seems most used Golf GT's and A3's are manual, we'd be happy with that.
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