A4 3.0 TDI Quattro or Octavia 2.0 TDI VRS or ???
Discussion
Yes, another what car...
Posted a while ago asking a similar question, essentially a 4/5 door "practical" "family-friendly" diesel which handles well and is a bit of fun (based on my fastest/best car to date being a Mazda 6 2.0TDI 143bhp, doesn't need to be uber great). I've decided to include saloons now as realised those with rear folding seats can probably be counted practical if there's also a large enough boot. £15k max, prefer less than 50k miles, and 3 years.
Also, I don't want a RWD due to probably stupid reason that it sometimes snows and I'd prefer to still be able to go out on B roads in the countryside (so rules out BMW 330d)
So out of the cars mentioned previously:
Impreza D RC or D RX - Boot too small
Megane DCI 175 - not practical
Octavia VRS TDi CR - like
Fabia VRS - prefer larger Octavia
A3 quattro 170 (my idea - sort of lambasted as a fun car to drive)
And now, I've added the A4 3.0TDI into the mix. Obviously this is more expensive than the others, but with some waiting for the right car can probably get a 3/4 year old with 40-50k miles for about £15k.
Is it worth the extra money (or older age, higher mileage) over the Octavia? Is it actually any fun to drive, or am I just being pulled in by the impressive 0-60 time and the "gimmick" of quattro? Or will the extra power and quattro make for a better drive?
Am I being an idiot to dismiss the 330d, or would it be horrendous on snow/ice/muddy B roads?
Is there something else I've completely missed?
Answers on the back of a postcard or preferably, online.
Posted a while ago asking a similar question, essentially a 4/5 door "practical" "family-friendly" diesel which handles well and is a bit of fun (based on my fastest/best car to date being a Mazda 6 2.0TDI 143bhp, doesn't need to be uber great). I've decided to include saloons now as realised those with rear folding seats can probably be counted practical if there's also a large enough boot. £15k max, prefer less than 50k miles, and 3 years.
Also, I don't want a RWD due to probably stupid reason that it sometimes snows and I'd prefer to still be able to go out on B roads in the countryside (so rules out BMW 330d)
So out of the cars mentioned previously:
Impreza D RC or D RX - Boot too small
Megane DCI 175 - not practical
Octavia VRS TDi CR - like
Fabia VRS - prefer larger Octavia
A3 quattro 170 (my idea - sort of lambasted as a fun car to drive)
And now, I've added the A4 3.0TDI into the mix. Obviously this is more expensive than the others, but with some waiting for the right car can probably get a 3/4 year old with 40-50k miles for about £15k.
Is it worth the extra money (or older age, higher mileage) over the Octavia? Is it actually any fun to drive, or am I just being pulled in by the impressive 0-60 time and the "gimmick" of quattro? Or will the extra power and quattro make for a better drive?
Am I being an idiot to dismiss the 330d, or would it be horrendous on snow/ice/muddy B roads?
Is there something else I've completely missed?
Answers on the back of a postcard or preferably, online.
I've not looked at the A4 but the Octavia's boot is a giant cavern compared to the A3, and at 6'2" there's still room for an adult to sit behind my seat. If fuel economy's your thing i'm averaging 47 mpg commuting in my vrs and can easily get over 50 if I try, though I assume the A3 is simlar as it's the same engine.
300bhp/ton said:
0077 said:
Buy a 330d. Why put up with an understeery, dull drive of the A4 for 'a chance of snow for a few days in winter' Madness. Buy the BMW...Now!
According to their profile they are Reading, that's snow central during the dark winter months 
So I haven't ruled out the 330d, but it is probably one of the more un-practical of all the cars I listed, at this rate I'll be talked into a two seater...
But more seriously, the A4 is it all that bad? Are all A4s understeery dull drives, or will quattro make it more palatable? Remember I'm not coming at this having driven supercars all my life, so to list them:
KA (we all have to start somewhere)
Megane (forget the flavour)
Megane 1.9 Dci 130 (chipped to 150 or so they say)
Mazda 6 2.0 TDI 143
I'm assuming all the ones listed will handle better than the mazda 6 (although before buying I did read it had a good chasis being the same as the focus)?
hovishead said:
300bhp/ton said:
0077 said:
Buy a 330d. Why put up with an understeery, dull drive of the A4 for 'a chance of snow for a few days in winter' Madness. Buy the BMW...Now!
According to their profile they are Reading, that's snow central during the dark winter months So I haven't ruled out the 330d, but it is probably one of the more un-practical of all the cars I listed, at this rate I'll be talked into a two seater...
But more seriously, the A4 is it all that bad? Are all A4s understeery dull drives, or will quattro make it more palatable? Remember I'm not coming at this having driven supercars all my life, so to list them:
KA (we all have to start somewhere)
Megane (forget the flavour)
Megane 1.9 Dci 130 (chipped to 150 or so they say)
Mazda 6 2.0 TDI 143
I'm assuming all the ones listed will handle better than the mazda 6 (although before buying I did read it had a good chasis being the same as the focus)?
I think the point i'm trying to make is that a 3-Series and an A4 are similar - in price, size, engine options, trim levels, build quality, reliabilty (argubly) and even performance and economy - except one is fun and enjoyable to drive and the other isn't.... so why choose it!
hovishead said:
Yeah yeah yeah, fair enough, but being the idiot I am I've realised I listed the 330d when of course it doesn't have folding rear seats. Which of course I'll be mocked for wanting because I probably only fold the seats a few times a year and could just hire a van those days.
So I haven't ruled out the 330d, but it is probably one of the more un-practical of all the cars I listed, at this rate I'll be talked into a two seater...
But more seriously, the A4 is it all that bad? Are all A4s understeery dull drives, or will quattro make it more palatable? Remember I'm not coming at this having driven supercars all my life, so to list them:
KA (we all have to start somewhere)
Megane (forget the flavour)
Megane 1.9 Dci 130 (chipped to 150 or so they say)
Mazda 6 2.0 TDI 143
I'm assuming all the ones listed will handle better than the mazda 6 (although before buying I did read it had a good chasis being the same as the focus)?
Folding seats are an option on the saloon, standard on the Touring and (I think) standard on the Coupe.So I haven't ruled out the 330d, but it is probably one of the more un-practical of all the cars I listed, at this rate I'll be talked into a two seater...
But more seriously, the A4 is it all that bad? Are all A4s understeery dull drives, or will quattro make it more palatable? Remember I'm not coming at this having driven supercars all my life, so to list them:
KA (we all have to start somewhere)
Megane (forget the flavour)
Megane 1.9 Dci 130 (chipped to 150 or so they say)
Mazda 6 2.0 TDI 143
I'm assuming all the ones listed will handle better than the mazda 6 (although before buying I did read it had a good chasis being the same as the focus)?
I compared a 3.0TDI (late B7) with a 330d and the 330d just annihilated the Audi - much better performance, mpg, boot space, lower emissions, etc. The latest 3.0TDI might be a lot better (no idea) but Audi need to up their game HUGELY on the chassis front and their cars are almost all b4stard boring to drive.
Fortunately just as I was about the take the plunge on a 330d, a 335d came up with just the right spec and price.
0077 said:
Buy a 330d. Why put up with an understeery, dull drive of the A4 for 'a chance of snow for a few days in winter' Madness. Buy the BMW...Now!
My Beemer was outstanding in the snow. It was winter tyres, not heavy 4wd systems, that makes the difference.But going back to your question. The answer is Octavia. Much cooler, and more fun.
You may get an A6 3.0tdi at similar age and mileage to the A4. The A6 has a huge boot, folding rear seats etc
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3394680.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3394680.htm
Edited by blueg33 on Thursday 5th January 21:27
If you live down south, the snow last for 2-3 days max and when it does snow no one can go anywhere anyways.
I have a 330d and test drove most of the cars your looking at and out of all of them the 330d was way ahead. I too was worried about the winter months but with winter wheels you'll be sorted.
It averages about 38mpg, and for a diesel puts a smile on my face when you put your foot down that keeps going and going.
Audi - lack the extras
Skoda - was second on my list, great car but the BMW felt better to sit in.
Fab VRS - great little car but too small and relatively basic inside.
I have a 330d and test drove most of the cars your looking at and out of all of them the 330d was way ahead. I too was worried about the winter months but with winter wheels you'll be sorted.
It averages about 38mpg, and for a diesel puts a smile on my face when you put your foot down that keeps going and going.
Audi - lack the extras
Skoda - was second on my list, great car but the BMW felt better to sit in.
Fab VRS - great little car but too small and relatively basic inside.
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