A3 For My First Car?

AudiNutta

AudiNutta

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Hi Guys & Girls,

I am nearly 16. Therefore I will be starting off on a moped. However if I want to have a car when I am 17, I am going to start looking into putting some money away now, so I can afford to maintain and run whichever car I choose. I have been Audi mad for the last 5-6 years, an Audi is my dream car. Therefore I was looking into what would be within my price range to buy as a first car! I understand that the only 1.4 engine in the A3 is in the most recent models. So I would be looking at a bog standard A3 1.6. I am posting on here mainly to ask the professionals on what sort of running costs I would be looking at. I can get one insured from £1000 - £1500 comprehensive which is a good deal, considering I cant insure a 1.4 Focus for less than £2000.

What sort of price range would I be looking at for a decent A3? I see they sell for £500+ on eBay but around £1000 for a decent one! I wouldn't mind working on one.. once I have the money I could look into buying one and spend some time tidying it up, getting it ready to go on the road. So basically I am just hoping for some advice from people on here as to wether this is a realistic goal for me to try and get to for my first car?

Any input you could give will be much appreciated!

Cheers guys,

Matt :kissmyrings:
 
I was exactly the same at your age. I wanted an A3 as soon as I started thinking about driving, in practise I just took the first car i came across at a good deal (peugeot 306), a year later I bought an A3. I'm now pretty glad I did this, as A3's came down in price considerably, and I ended up with a much tidier TDI than the 1.6's I'd been looking at a few years before.

I also learned how to maintain cars, crash them and send them off on the back of a low loader a year later. Pretty glad I didn't do any of this with my A3.

So, either, spend your money on the best you can afford, suck up the insurance price and be careful with it. Or just deal with a **** car until the right one comes along....
 
Thanks for your advice George! I have spent the last few weeks looking round seeing what cheap motors are available. Even looking at some of the Y reg 1.2 Corsa's the cheapest I could get insured in one of those was £1800, Which is pathetic.

I dont personally think looking after the car would be a problem for me. I value everything I have hugely.. I love my cars. I am not one of these people that would have a car and stick a 3" exhaust on it and go faster stripes to look cool in front of my mates. So really it is more of the problem of having to insure the car and keep it taxed and on the road. Have you had any experience with an A3 like what I would be looking at, as far as fuel economy would go?
 
audi upgrades
Just wondering.. Is there a huge difference between the A3 1.6 & the A3 1.6 Sport? I can't see many visual differences.. there seems to be loads of these up for sale, not sure what difference the insurance would be however.
 
Sport you get nicer things, like climate control, leather/alcantara seats etc. but if i remember rightly, makes your insurance more yet... Try and look for SE spec. Also, I found typically you can expect to pay around £100 more for every year newer the car is when you are young!!
 
Yes that works out about right! I just priced insurance for a 1.6 & 1.6 Sport & 1.6 SE!

Each model in that order was going up in price by £150. Some of these insurance prices are s**t. I just priced a 1.4 306 and the cheapest insurance was £3000!!!!!!!!!!!! That is daylight robbery. I suppose we only have some of the youngsters in their 'supped up' saxo's to thank.

At the moment my best option looks to be for me to buy a decent A3 just to tinker about with till I am able to go drive.

I also looked into the prices to pass your test. They reckon that on average these days you can expect to pay from £1000 - £1350 to pass your test. :crying:
 
I had a moped two years and started off my car life with a nissan Almera which my auntie gave me
I subsequently have had more money saved so 3 months ago I bought my a3 8p 1.6 great car
I'm 19 now plan on keeping til I'm about 23
 
What you find is the cheap (first cars) have higher insurance as the person may be more likely to crash as their new but if you get a vag car they seem to be viewed better and insurance is cheaper my a3 is 2008 and the ins was £1400 but my step bro who is 18 is insured on a 1.2 punto 2002 for £2000 it's mad
 
our youngest member surely!

i admire you young sir. i was the same as you, obsessed with cars at a young age, always watching Ur Quattro videos thinking one day i could be like Walter Rohrl.

my advise is to take things one step at a time. As you know passing your test isnt cheap, so concentrate on that first, save all you can, get practise with dad. Once you've passed, and you'l probably be skint at this point, get a cheap first car, i had a 1.2 mk2 clio, which i actually loved, i had 3 of them. All the time i was driving around in my cheap run around, saving money and getting experience and NCB, i dreamed of owning something quick and fun, and became fixated on the audi S3, then, i bought one, mission accomplished.

just be patient, sensible and realistic, its not easy waiting but it will soon pay off if you work hard enough for the things you want.
 
Burkin said:
What you find is the cheap (first cars) have higher insurance as the person may be more likely to crash as their new but if you get a vag car they seem to be viewed better and insurance is cheaper my a3 is 2008 and the ins was £1400 but my step bro who is 18 is insured on a 1.2 punto 2002 for £2000 it's mad
Click to expand...

Burkin said:
I had a moped two years and started off my car life with a nissan Almera which my auntie gave me
I subsequently have had more money saved so 3 months ago I bought my a3 8p 1.6 great car
I'm 19 now plan on keeping til I'm about 23
Click to expand...

That is what I have found.. the cheaper the cars I look at on eBay the higher insurance quotes get! Like you said I suppose people get the idea that it doesn't have much value therefore they are less likely to take care of their car. Thanks for your help really appreciate it :thumbsup:
 
quattrojames said:
Did you join the forum when you were 10??
Click to expand...

Yes I did. This was a little while after my father got his first Audi. I loved coming on here if only just to see what people were doing with their cars. This is by far one of the best forums I have been a part of.
 
audi upgrades
superkarl said:
our youngest member surely!

i admire you young sir. i was the same as you, obsessed with cars at a young age, always watching Ur Quattro videos thinking one day i could be like Walter Rohrl.

my advise is to take things one step at a time. As you know passing your test isnt cheap, so concentrate on that first, save all you can, get practise with dad. Once you've passed, and you'l probably be skint at this point, get a cheap first car, i had a 1.2 mk2 clio, which i actually loved, i had 3 of them. All the time i was driving around in my cheap run around, saving money and getting experience and NCB, i dreamed of owning something quick and fun, and became fixated on the audi S3, then, i bought one, mission accomplished.

just be patient, sensible and realistic, its not easy waiting but it will soon pay off if you work hard enough for the things you want.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much. Like what has been mentioned in a previous post.. it seems to be the cheaper the cars get the higher the insurance is. The cheapest insurance I found for a 1.4 306 was £3000! When I can get insurance on a 1.6 Audi for £1049. That is based on me not having any previous experience.

I try to get in as much practice as I can now. We have a decent sized driveway so I find excuses to drive the cars around from time to time ;) My friend has a jeep on his farm.. which is good fun to learn :yes:

I spoke to my father a little more about this last night. He agreed if I was able to buy an A3 cheap it could be worth us just putting it on the driveway and tinkering about with it. Which is exactly what we done with my moped.

Just have to persuade my mum and dad to allow me to have one. As my fathers last Audi was an A6 Avant 2.5TDi on a 98. And due to it having the V6 every problem that he had seemed to need him to take the front end off. I believe the front end had been off 4 times within 18 months. And he just kept throwing money at it and the car just wasn't improving. So that put him off Audis :crying: So the whole family is now a part of the Volvo community. As much as I don't approve.
 
S3 LOVER said:
Hi Guys & Girls,

So I would be looking at a bog standard A3 1.6. I am posting on here mainly to ask the professionals on what sort of running costs I would be looking at. I can get one insured from £1000 - £1500 comprehensive which is a good deal, considering I cant insure a 1.4 Focus for less than £2000.
Click to expand...


That sounds like a great quote, I've been looking at insurance for my son who will be 17 soon and haven't got anywhere near that price. Which company is coming back with quotes like that? :icon_thumright:
 
If you search on go compare the company always seems to have the cheapest prices.

The company is Collingwood Learner Driver Insurance.

I am aware that there are scams that take place within insurance however if they are on go compare I am fairly confident that they are legit. Also the reviews for the company are excellent.

Here is a link to their website:

CollingwoodLearners

Look at the 5 star reviews.

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/car-insurance/collingwood-insurance/reviews/120/

Good luck finding the insurance, I hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Oh ******.. Just read into the company. The cover that they were offering was learner cover for up to 24 weeks. Cheapest annual insurance is £8000!!!!!! Citroen Saxo 1.0 here I come.. :lmfao::crying:
 
Can anybody suggest any more cheap cars to insure? A 1.0 Saxo for £300 costs £5500 to insure! Taking the p***
 
My old mk4 Golf TDI 90 was cheap as chips to insure, over ride the fuel thing with that "evry mod" and it went like a rocket.
 
a golf SDI? :p haha
what companies are you using? have you tried going to direct insurers and young driver specialists?
I was getting prices like that when i first started looking but managed to snap up a 1,400 deal using the telephone!
 
I'd try bell for young no experience drivers, they sorted me right out with insurance on my a3 when I was 19 and it was 2111 quid for the year and I live in the ghetto lol

I did have two years no claims but it was on a 1.8t and like I said I live in the ghetto.
 
Yep :( I am just using Go Compare. I don't really have time to phone loads of companies. As I am pricing many cars.. I hope on buying a car to tinker about with for a year or so until I can drive. But I don't wanna buy a car and then find out I can't insure it.
 
Take a look at the cars I have entered quotes for.. LOOK AT THE PRICES :crying: :undwech:

ScreenShot2012-08-20at180401.png
 
S3 LOVER said:
Yep :( I am just using Go Compare. I don't really have time to phone loads of companies. As I am pricing many cars.. I hope on buying a car to tinker about with for a year or so until I can drive. But I don't wanna buy a car and then find out I can't insure it.
Click to expand...

Well i saved 2,000 using 2 hours of my time. 1,000 a hour isn't a bad wage tbh :)
 
Yes when you put it that way I suppose that is not a bad rate :thumbsup: I will leave the heavy searching down to my father.. I will just approve of the cars :p
 
coatesy said:
I'd try bell for young no experience drivers, they sorted me right out with insurance on my a3 when I was 19 and it was 2111 quid for the year and I live in the ghetto lol

I did have two years no claims but it was on a 1.8t and like I said I live in the ghetto.
Click to expand...

That is a good price. Especially for the 1.8. You got lucky there mate! I am going to ring round a few companies direct and see what sort of prices I get back over the phone :)
 
Put your excess up! My first car was 1000 to insure at 19 yrs old, my excess was about 900, not great, but all round cheaper to insure and in the event of a crash
 
Good idea :) But even if I had a £200 car if I had a bump I would be unable to pay the £900! Insurance is really a pain in the a**
 
This is par for the course at the moment!!!!!! Try changing from Mr to Miss and now look at the prices........ a transgender opp is your only option :scared2:
 
since reading this thread i went on a mission to get insurance quote on crazy cars, i got £2000 for an rs4 bi turbo type, but the best one i can get insured on an rs3 for 1900..... i pay 1500 now for my a3 with all mods declared .... hmm i think its time to save

so from my research you should get an rs3 ....
 
WilkoS3 said:
This is par for the course at the moment!!!!!! Try changing from Mr to Miss and now look at the prices........ a transgender opp is your only option :scared2:
Click to expand...

Lmfao! That is an option I would prefer to avoid mate ;)
 
coatesy said:
since reading this thread i went on a mission to get insurance quote on crazy cars, i got £2000 for an rs4 bi turbo type, but the best one i can get insured on an rs3 for 1900..... i pay 1500 now for my a3 with all mods declared .... hmm i think its time to save

so from my research you should get an rs3 ....
Click to expand...

I am all up for getting an RS3 ;) Fancy lending me the money to buy one? :p
 
George The Diesel Head said:
Also, look at fully comp rather than 3rd party, it's actually usually cheaper.
Click to expand...

Is it? If I had an old s****r like what I quoted above.. if i did have an accident I probably wouldn't claim as the excess is £400-£500 by having third party on a 1.6 A3 I saved £3000.
 
Can't fault your desire for something nice as a first car and an A3 is pretty cool. To be brutal though the 1.6 engine is a bit of a dog and not great on fuel. I would honestly postpone the dreams of an A3 for a year and look at something else for the first 12 months. Avoid cars that are typically driven by young inexperienced drivers, Corsa, Saxo, Fiesta etc and look for something uncool. Get that 1st years NCB under your belt and then go A3 shopping where you may be able to look at the 1.8 (non turbo) which is just a better all round motor.

£1049 for a first time driver is not just exceptional it's unbelievable and I would be querying it like mad. You are insuring this as your car aren't you and not getting mum or dad to insure it for you and then adding you as a named driver?

My brothers first car was a 1.2 Nova and that stung him £1400 TPFT, he's now 29. My first car was an Escort 1.6 Ghia and that cost me £900 to insure TPFT and I'm now 36
 
Oranoco said:
Can't fault your desire for something nice as a first car and an A3 is pretty cool. To be brutal though the 1.6 engine is a bit of a dog and not great on fuel. I would honestly postpone the dreams of an A3 for a year and look at something else for the first 12 months. Avoid cars that are typically driven by young inexperienced drivers, Corsa, Saxo, Fiesta etc and look for something uncool. Get that 1st years NCB under your belt and then go A3 shopping where you may be able to look at the 1.8 (non turbo) which is just a better all round motor.

£1049 for a first time driver is not just exceptional it's unbelievable and I would be querying it like mad. You are insuring this as your car aren't you and not getting mum or dad to insure it for you and then adding you as a named driver?

My brothers first car was a 1.2 Nova and that stung him £1400 TPFT, he's now 29. My first car was an Escort 1.6 Ghia and that cost me £900 to insure TPFT and I'm now 36
Click to expand...

The £1049 insurance for the A3 turns out to just be learner insurance for a maximum of 24 weeks. Actual annual insurance comes to £8500 :( Plans are to look at another car. I don't care if I end up getting people laughing at me in it. At the end of the day a car is a car.. and if it means I am one step closer to getting an Audi I'm all for it. I am just trying to find out what cars are the cheapest to insure. So far I haven't had much luck.
 
jojo said:
My first car below cost me £500 TPFT, after 1yrs NCB, it was £500 FC.

07418D6A-EFC2-49BF-B6E0-33A31B173DCE-35500-0000116983AEC608.jpg


It's a 1.3C btw.
Click to expand...

That is a nice car. The only car I haven't tried to insure yet is an old Golf. That is what I am going to get a quote for now :) Something tells me that car today would be £3000 to insure mate.
 
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