Audi A3

Go for the one with the red S (sports) badging, all the rest are the motoring equivalent of a Linn Classik.

One problem with the one with the "S" badging (the S3) is that it isn't so easy to get and there is zero room for negotiation in the price.
A friend of mine has just ordered one and has been given a provisional delivery date in November.
Cracking motor though. I'd also consider the Honda Type R. Cast iron reliabilty and performance too.
Regards,
Steve O.

VW Golf and even Skoda Octavia is 90 percent the same car, for less money. Your wife can get a powerful engine AND lot's of buttons on the dash to play with. A win/win situation.

JohanR

Seeing as people are not staying on the Audi topic, see if you can try out an Alfa Romeo for the weekend. According to Alfa's UK website a 147 5-door costs £15,450 on the road. I assume that's a basic price.

A mate of mine has got the new shape A3 with the 170bhp 2.0ltr TDI diesel. It was an ex-demonstrator, with lots of toys. OK, he paid over your budget, but the main point is that it goes really nicely. I drove it back-to-back with another (old shape) A3s with the 3.2ltr engine in it. It really didn't feel that much quicker, & the 2.0ltr diesel just suited the car better, I think. He easily gets 45mpg, & drives pretty swiftly. OK, its quite a lot of money for a medium sized hatchback, but as an all round car, it ticks a lot of boxes. There is a 140bhp version, which may well be easier to find for your budget, but is still pretty nifty. He uses the Audi garage near Cambridge, & their customer service is top notch.
Matt.

quote:

Originally posted by JohanR:
VW Golf and even Skoda Octavia is 90 percent the same car, for less money. Your wife can get a powerful engine AND lot's of buttons on the dash to play with. A win/win situation.

JohanR

Sorry Johan but not with a Skoda badge on it IME - owned one once, never again - yuk. Mrs R's VW was dreary too: just not reliable - and the VW garages were even worse than the Skoda ones. I'd also add Fiat to my list of manufacturers whose cars I've owned and was not impressed with.

On a positive note though - Audi A3 is much better put together and finished with style. Mrs R had an A3 1.9 TDI Sport and it was a very nice car - very reliable and great service. However, Honda Civic is a great car IMO, if you want an alternative to A3.

quote:

Audi A3 is much better put together and finished with style.

And don't you pay for it. Actual figures from the trade put the reliability in the reverse order Skoda-VW-SEAT-Audi.

Excellent car, but don't go for the S-Line suspension - harder ride.

The 2.0 litre 170PS TD married to the DSG gearbox is outstanding. The 2.0 TFSI is also good.

Suggest you go for a (recent) second hand - more bangs for your buck....

Well Howard, I'm speaking from a sample size of 1 which is not statistically significant

However, if I have a car and it lets me or Mrs R down and I don't get good service from the garage then it goes on my never again list. The Audi never let us down so it goes on my wouldn't mind another one list. It is very unscientific I know.

Cars that Mrs R and I have had and were very reliable are BMW, Jaguar, Honda, Saab, Subaru and Toyota. I'd happily recommend those makes to anybody - but it is only based on personal experience: I don't know if they score well in independent trade tests.

ATB Rotf (a happy Honda driver - nice British car )

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
Seeing as people are not staying on the Audi topic, see if you can try out an Alfa Romeo for the weekend. According to Alfa's UK website a 147 5-door costs £15,450 on the road. I assume that's a basic price.

No one ever buys a new Alfa with their own money, the depreciation is just too heartbreaking. Ditto for Citroens, only in that case it's not so much heartbreaking as stupid.

quote:

No one ever buys a new Alfa with their own money, the depreciation is just too heartbreaking. Ditto for Citroens, only in that case it's not so much heartbreaking as stupid.

Oh wise sage.

Without company money I wonder how many of these cars would chosen? Just what would people choose given free choice?

I think the matching Pashley bicyles will be perfect to take you and Mrs Doc to the Masonic Ladies Night, and the baskets will carry all your robes. Don't forget the cape now, just in case of rain.

We've had a new Alfa, something you only do once in a lifetime I think. I would drive this new car sometimes, so a Skoda badge is out. I'm not that self-confident. Mrs Rdoc has no pride (obviously) so doesn't mind what badge her car has, but she is a good driver (best time of the day at a recent Brands track day).

All the engines you suggest are the more powerful ones, and obviously I'd have an S3, but is this just willy-waving or are the 1.6s and 1.8s really underpowered?

Have an old style S3 at present and can highly recommend them. They do have a few faults and mine has been picked up by the dealer before, but the service is excellent if you are in the first 3 years. The Audi technician that turns up on your doorstep is fabulous.

Looked at the new S3, fast car, well built and all the toys. But a bit small for me me now, so next one'll maybe be a S4 or RS6.

Roy.

quote:

Originally posted by Rasher:
I think the matching Pashley bicyles will be perfect to take you and Mrs Doc to the Masonic Ladies Night, and the baskets will carry all your robes. Don't forget the cape now, just in case of rain.

LOL. I'm ashamed to say that in the 70's in the flush of new love we had matching bicycles made. Thankfully, they got stolen.

Damn, the Audi brochure has arrived and now I need one of these R8

They had it on Fifth Gear on Monday night. Tiff couldn't stop gushing about it !

Even though I'm an ardent Alfa Romeo fan, I must say I would happily own an Audi RS4 (although I would audition it first...)

I wouldn't mind a drive in the real Audi R8...

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:


All the engines you suggest are the more powerful ones, and obviously I'd have an S3, but is this just willy-waving or are the 1.6s and 1.8s really underpowered?

I had a 1.6 A3 as a loan car when my TT was in for service. It was lacking a bit of oomph to be honest. I would recommend the 2.0Tdi 140 BHP as the minimum - I have that engine in my Touran and it is a very good power unit; superb mid-range acceleration, a top speed of 125mph and 46 mpg even with quite sporty driving style.

I'm considering swapping the TT for an A3 later this year.

Thanks Jo, helpful. Going for a test drive Saturday, but from past experience it can be difficult to tell in the time given, especially with Mr Smarmy Sales nattering all the time.

Take some black tape for the stealer's mouth whilst you are out. Try to get out on some country roads where you can give it a bit of boot and throw it into a few corners. The steering and braking are superb on the A3.

Hope you get a chance for a good test to help inform your decision.

PS there is an A3 forum on Tyresmoke which might be worth scanning through:

http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/postlist.php/Cat/0/Board/a3

and on this thread a list of reviews:

http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/.../an/0/page/1#1143271

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especially with Mr Smarmy Sales nattering all the time.

They are the smarmiest along with Mercedes. We deal with quite a few AUDI branches at work. A couple of salesmen,sorry executives even told me that AUDIs did not share the platforms (chassis) with other VAG cars,talk about up their own arses. That aside I like the cars, except the TT wrong size for me.

Howard

There was mention of the Honda Civic Type-R earlier. I've driven one for the last 3 years. I find it a great drive, great reliability and it goes round corners!! For the price it's an absolute driver's car bargain.

It is a bit noisy at speed on a motorway, but turn the stereo up and the problem goes away

Interesting. Mrs Rdoc has begun leafing through the mags and has decided her three testers will be; a Golf GTI, a Honda Civic R, and the fastest A3 she can afford.

quote:

There was mention of the Honda Civic Type-R earlier. I've driven one for the last 3 years. I find it a great drive, great reliability and it goes round corners!! For the price it's an absolute driver's car bargain.

It is a bit noisy at speed on a motorway, but turn the stereo up and the problem goes away

I've had one to. Great fun. I cured the noise problem by winding down the side window, and then, after a while, winding it up again. After that it felt very silent.

JohanR