A3 value for money???

Author
Discussion

marka239

Original Poster:

22 posts

148 months

Saturday 17th March 2012
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A3 1.9 diesel SE at 5,200.
05 plate..70,000 miles. good nick on a viewing today.

good price?...anything to look out for?

thanks for your help

mark

martin mrt

3,777 posts

202 months

Saturday 17th March 2012
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Not particularly, you could have a nicer golf gt TDi mk5 for the same money or less

okie592

2,711 posts

168 months

Saturday 17th March 2012
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not really espeicaily if its a crap spec lacking vital options that make a a3 a better car than a golf, xenons leather and sat nav at least

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 17th March 2012
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Sounds OK to me. 2005 Sat Nav would be a liability ( 75 TomTom far better ). SE spec is pretty good & not too many pointless gadgets to break..

tercelgold

969 posts

158 months

Saturday 17th March 2012
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[Alt-0163] 4,990

fangio

988 posts

235 months

Sunday 18th March 2012
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Pretty bullet-proof and a nice place to be.smile

Fox-

13,244 posts

247 months

Sunday 18th March 2012
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Ancient engine which should have died with the Mk4 Golf and didn't. You'd be better off with a 2.0 TDI Golf.

GoodDoc

559 posts

177 months

Sunday 18th March 2012
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Fox- said:
Ancient engine which should have died with the Mk4 Golf and didn't. You'd be better off with a 2.0 TDI Golf.
Ancient engine is one way to describe it. Another way to describe it would be an extremely reliable engine that has had all the issues ironed out. It survived for several more years because it was so good. If you want power go for 2.0TDI, if you want economy and reliability go for the 1.9TDI.

Just check which version of the 1.9 it has. Over its lifespan the 1.9TDI was available in several different versions ranging from 75BHP up to 160BHP, but in an A3 of this age it's more likely to be between 110BHP and 130BHP. At this age it should be a PD engine without a DPF, but double check.

And for the record, I drive a 56 plate Octavia with the 2.0TDI. I thought I needed the extra power but given my actual use of the car I should have bought the cheaper 1.9TDI.

va1o

16,032 posts

208 months

Sunday 18th March 2012
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Fox- said:
Ancient engine which should have died with the Mk4 Golf and didn't. You'd be better off with a 2.0 TDI Golf.
Not really, the 1.9 TDI may be old but its economical and reliable. A3 is a nicer place to be than a Golf and there's really very little between then price wise these days both new and used.

Having said that, they don't represent particularly great value for money against some rivals.