What to do?

[scurbo]

Hi

I have just sold my car and fancy an A3, i have upto £2500 to spend preferably a 1.6 or 1.8 sport . The only problem i have are the storys about expensive servicing/repairs such as weak gearboxes. At the price i am look at most have covered over 100,000 miles, should i worried.

 

[ROLTYA3TURBO]

hello mate, you shouldn't be worried at all, to be honest your not gonna have an issues with the engine or gearbox provided it's been looked after, there built like a german tank!Just make sure the cambelt and water pump have been changed at the correct times,cos i know a lot of cars i was looking at around the 100k mark didn't have there cambelt or water pump changed but not to much of any issue as you can get it done by an audi speacialist or a garage you trust for much cheaper than audi would charge you!
i have a '98 a3 1.8t covered 95k when i bought it it had full service history,air con,bose system,leather,parking sensors,full audi history and i paid 2700 for it and it's mint and i have no issues or running problems, it's a solid car!You just have to keep looking and be patient to find the right one,have a look at a few before you commit,it took me 3 months and a load of canvassing before buying the car i have now, but it was well worth the wait.
plus if you look at cars around the 2500-3000 mark you can always get them down on there price if you have cash in your back pocket :icon_thumright:
i've had my car for little over 5 months now and haven't had any issues at all just pure motoring heaven and some modding.
Go for it mate!!

 

[voorhees]

servicing is no more expensive than any other cars as long as you don't go to the Dealers,as for parts go to GSF.
'weak gearboxes' thats simply not true.

 

[A3Monster]

Yeah, go for it mate. I'm not sure where you heard that about the gear boxes - on the contrary, the clutch and gear boxes are stronger than most makes. My A3 1.8T Sport has done over 100,000 miles, but has been serviced regularly and drives better all the new company cars I've had. It is smooth and powerful and purs like a pussy cat. You wouldn't believe it had done over 100,000 - they are well built.

To service they are no more expensive than any other car, the guys are right, you will pay more if you go to an Audi dealer so try to avoid them unless necessary. In fact, I serviced mine once at an Audi dealer and I wasn't very happy with them at all so didn't do it again. Audi technicians don't know much more than any good mechanic - I'm sure of this.

Any good private garage you Trust will service & repair them, they are not any more difficult to work on generally than other cars. My local garage have done the usual run of the mill wear and tear things and they did the cam belt for me and they can diagnose the few problems I've had. The parts are not really any more expensive than for any other cars despite what you may have heard - unless you go to an Audi dealer who charge about double for parts in my experience.

Go for it!

 

[scurbo]

Been to look at a couple today, one had mayo on the underside of the oil filler cap and the second had poor paint work, I will have to just keep looking.

 

[voorhees]

mayo could mean short journeys not necessarily HG gone

 

[IIIadidasboy]

If it were me, I'd try to stretch to a 1.8T.

As said, these cars are pretty solid - happy hunting!!

 

[bigstring]

Buddy if you have those pennies, then go for the 1.8T, I picked up a 2001 1.8t last sunday for the tidy sum of £2550, fill service history, all new rubber, pads and disks........ might need to travel to find a nice one but it will be well worth it...

 

[scurbo]

Speed is not the main priority anymore, just sold a clio 182, i am after something with quality, style and reliability, plus cheaper insurance.