Looking at A3s

[Chappy]

Hey peeps,

Been a while since I was last on here. I had an A3 S-Line Black Ed.
Times have moved on since then, downsized to a cheaper car for money saving for a house etc so at the minute I've got a Seat Leon Cupra and I'm looking to go back to Audi, mainly for the quality and something cheaper on the wallet. £60 a week in fuel, £235 tax a year etc.

I've been looking a 2006 A3 2.0TDI Sport, although it does have S-Line badges with the spoiler and wheels so probably is an S-Line?
It's done 62k miles which is average for it's age but it's a DSG, I know the 140bhp 2.0TDI in the Leon with DSG, the mecatronic units can go faulty, is this common with the A3s?
I really don't know what to do, my Leon is probably worth more then this A3 so I'd expect money back, but it would be the oldest car I've owned since my first ever car.

Does anyone have good reasons to persuade me to seriously think about this? It looks really smart, it's 2006 so has the full size grill, half leather etc and I really do like it, just something holding me back but not sure what!

Cheers,
Dan.

 

[Chappy]

Well, this is a first. When I first joined here it didn't take long for people to reply! Where have all the usuals gone?!

 

[h5djr]

Have at look at the DSG:What does everyone think thread. There you will find a lot of opinions in favour of the DSG and members who have cars with quite high mileages who have had no problems with their DSG. As one of the later posts says, it will cost well over £1000 to replace a manual clutch and flyweel and this will probably be needed long before you will to spend anything ona DSG.

Personally I'm on my third 2.0 TDI with a DSG and have been very happy with each one and would now never want to drive a car without one.

 

[Chappy]

Thanks Dave.
I've had the 7 speed DSG in the form of the dry clutch one in the new 1.4TSI IBiza Cupra, and really loved it apart from clunking etc.
I think it's just the mileage putting me off, with it being 2006 aswell it should of had the cam belt done?

 

[audicruiser]

Cam belt would be due this year, so if it's not done it due one... What year is your Cupra?

 

[Chappy]

The Cupra was 2010 mate, don't have it anymore, just too many problems with it

 

[nally]

i am selling my a3 2006 2.0tdi sport with sline bumper conversion 3dr 46k. 2008 sport wheels on it

 

[rOb_A]

chappy, whats your budget??

 

[Chappy]

The one I'm looking at is s-line spec with 62k for £8800 in black, my cupra should be worth around that trade in value with no finance owing.

 

[Chappy]

Well I've had the weekend to mull it over and I've decided I'm gonna go for the A3

Like I said, 2.0TDI S-Line, DSG, Black with all the usual standard spec. It's covered 62k miles so upon test driving I'll make sure all is well. I will also make sure to check the cylinder head number

Already been planning bits for it! MY09 rear lights, newer S-Line front and rear bumpers, black optics grill, may go S3 front bumper and grill, not sure If anyone has any bits they're trying to get rid of let me know!
Also, after reading Sarah's A3, she had to cut away the crash bar to install the S3 bumper, the car I'm looking at already has the single grill, will I have to do this?

Getting a bit excited now

 

[N8]

As long as its had DSG service history and you like the car/spec - go for it Chap

 

[Chappy]

What type of DSG service history does it need N8? How often does the oil have to be changed in the gearbox?
Please, call me Dan

 

[N8]

Every 40k Danielson

 

[Chappy]

Thanks N8
Is the cambelt 5 years on these?

 

[N8]

Usually 5 years/60k on most cars I think

 

[Chappy]

Thanks It was 4 years on my current Cupra that's all I shall check to see whether it been done

 

[N8]

Its 5 years/60k

 

[Chappy]

Found a 2.0tdi s-line facelift for £4k more with 40k miles on a 58 plate, what would you do? They're getting back to me on a quote for finance and price for my car.

 

[nally]

sounds nice if you can aford it go that sounds like a bargin

 

[Chappy]

Yeah, just working out my finances.
They said to me, 'we wouldn't normally buy these types of cars (my Cupra) but we'd like to have a look at yours and get a valuation'.
But I'd like a rough value for mine before I trek 2 and half hours up to see it. It's not an Audi dealer, funnily enough it's Seat and Skoda so that's why it's so cheap, unless it's a dog. May go on Friday

 

[nally]

get an rac on it or make sure he has 7 day monkey back. if its a main dealer ?. it can still be a dog my dads mate went to get a two year old l200 mitsi. fom a main deler ( nissan ) got an rac check on it ( think it was bowt £120 pound ) turns out the car was in a bad smash and fixed ( never reported so no catc) and the main dealer got duped.

just be carefull i am waching auto trader laike a hawk for my new one, look like i will need sell mine now. putting up arround 8.4 looking to get just over 8.

 

[Chappy]

Well I'd like to get £9k for my Cupra, 2007 with 43k miles, mint condition no kerbing on the wheels and a few toys, bluetooth etc.
Depending what they offer I may put mine up for private sale but need a car for work etc so would be easier to trade! See what happens when I call them in the morning!

 

[N8]

Good luck with it all, hopefully you'll be a "Happy Chappy"

 

[Chappy]

Haha N8, you kill me

Will let you all know in due course, I'll probably throw caution to the wind with finances and get the facelift, do miss my white one

So what's the first mods you guys would do? Already has black optics needs darker wheels though!

 

[N8]

Whats the spec of the car, and what do you want to achieve?

 

[Chappy]

Just basic s-line spec although I think it has heated leather too.
Different wheels, probably BBS cks, rns-e, lowered, remap, cruise control, upgrade the ICE etc, and just a few bits and bobs

 

[N8]

Lowered on springs or coils?

 

[Chappy]

Probably springs at first, a few mates have coils and the ride is solid! That's another reason for getting rid of my current Cupra, it's back breaking
How much roughly are springs? Are they easier to fit then the Leon? Where you have to take wiper arms, scuttle tray off etc?

 

[N8]

What coilovers have they got, and in what cars?

 

[Chappy]

N8 I think they were Weitec on my mates Ibiza Cupra, solid!

Going over to look at the car Friday, they simply won't give me a quote over the phone as I've been to my local Seat garage and they'll offer £9200 which ain't half bad! So if all goes well, it'll be the facelift I go for Looking forward to getting back in a car with the 4 rings

 

[N8]

Are they adjustable dampening, Audi's are built more solid/heavier then the Seats, all these things make a difference, if you get adjustable dampening you can set the rebound as hard or soft as you like

 

[Chappy]

Say Hello to a new A3 owner

Went to see the facelift model today, 2 hours later I got to the garage, and they guy who I booked the appointment with wasn't in today? :S I'm glad he wasn't, gent named John was a top bloke, couldn't be more helpful!
So the deal is done, costing me an extra £82 a month, still in warranty, full leather heated seats and S-Line pack. Needs a few mods doing like bluetooth, RNS etc and wheels need to be darker, but other then that, I love it! Needs a remap though

 

[nally]

cheaky question but how much ?

 

[Chappy]

Nally, it was up for £13,450. Got them down to £13,250

 

[nally]

your coming with me to get mine
pleased for you ( and a little bit green )
thats a bargin - may put moving out off a bit longer and get a face lift.

 

[Chappy]

I'd recommend it mate, I was looking at pre-facelift and for the extra cash the facelift was the better choice in my eyes

The key was, it's a Seat dealership, I had a car they wanted and they were selling a car they didn't want, easy peasy

 

[rOb_A]

car looks great, how many miles? for the price

 

[nally]

I'd recommend it mate, I was looking at pre-facelift and for the extra cash the facelift was the better choice in my eyes

The key was, it's a Seat dealership, I had a car they wanted and they were selling a car they didn't want, easy peasy

comon seriously when in the history of the world has that ever happened ? ( part from now ) i dont think they knew what they had
thats a cracking price for what you have. glad to got a good deal. can you retro fit drl?

 

[Chappy]

They genuinely seemed they didn't want it as they we're taking orders for the Skoda Yeti (Skoda and Seat garage) atleast 5 times a week from old couples. Theres a 6-7 month waiting list on them! But yeah, cracking deal mileage is 45k so above average.

 

[nally]

jelious.