Looking at getting an A3, Advice please?

[sartios]

Hello all

Looking at getting an A3 1.8 Turbo, just looking for a bit of advice, I understand that I need to check if cam belt has been done, water pump etc, my budget is about 2k, will this get me a decent one and preferably one that I won't have to spend loads on maintenance, I've seen a couple:

Audi : AUDI A3 1.8TURBO QUATTRO SPORT(180BHP) 5DR

needs ball joint and slight blow in exhaust other than that runs fine he reckons.

1999 AUDI A3 1.8T SPORT GREEN | eBay
2000 AUDI A3 1.8T SPORT BLUE*5 DOOR HATCHBACK*V.G.C,EXCELLENT DRIVE*07709 573451 | eBay
thanks for any help and advice.

Regards

 

[patTTpoa]

Slowcoach has a nice one for sale, check it out

Pat

 

[sartios]

Thanks, yeah I saw that one, bit too far away though for me looks nice though.

 

[patTTpoa]

No, nothing is to far away!
Jump on a train

Pat

 

[sartios]

Yeah I've tried ringing him but no answer, does looks nice though, suppose could get train, just been on national rail will take 4 hours!

Nice spec on that one as well, what they like a car in general? are the engines reliable? I heard they are quite dull cars, got to be quite nippy though? never owned a turbo before, or an Audi.

 

[ayfreetee]

Best advice I can give is buy mine, its on the classifieds

 

[patTTpoa]

He'll be at work, give him a text & he'll get back to you.

As for his A3 its far from dull mate! lol

He's done a fair bit to it & looked after it well, you shouldn't have to do anything to it.

Keep trying him mate

Pat

 

[sartios]

Nice mate, He's just texted me said at work till 11pm, I said ring me when he's finished.

ayfreetee, my budget is 2k or just under mate, you got any pics?

send to sartios@ymail.com

Thank you.

 

[patTTpoa]

Best advice I can give is buy mine, its on the classifieds

Where's the pic's? Also not much info

Nice mate, He's just texted me said at work till 11pm, I said ring me when he's finished.

Splendid!! He'll sort you out, its a well looked after A3 dude.

Pat

 

[sartios]

Thanks

I'm posting over at other forums and they reckon 2k on a A3 is asking for trouble, I'll be spending loads maintaining it etc, and it'll break etc, I think they are just patronising me, not sure...

 

[patTTpoa]

Sorry, £2000 on a audi A3 is asking for trouble?
I don't understand that one?!?

Dude If I didn't buy my Golf (older with the same engine etc ) a week before he put this up for sale I would have had it!!

At the end of the day its you money altho you did ask for advice...

Pat

 

[sartios]

Yeah that's what I thought! hmm my instincts tell me to go with it, but at the same time I don't want to be spending loads when it's breaks lol

 

[patTTpoa]

You'll be alrite, have a chat with him ask him the in & outs etc. he's spent alot of money on it!
Everything that it's needed he's done!

Anyway its a nice one

Pat

 

[sartios]

Just spoke to him, I'm convinced going to go down ASAP!

 

[patTTpoa]

Just spoke to him, I'm convinced going to go down ASAP!

Nice one!!

Pat

 

[Routledge]

Saw that earlier - Looks like a great example, well looked after.

 

[slowcoach3]

:thumbsup:

 

[Jay A3]

IMO the A3 is a very good car... If u have never owned a turbo before you will notice the difference. If its not nippy enough there's always ways to make it quicker good luck with purchase

 

[patTTpoa]

IMO the A3 is a very good car... If u have never owned a turbo before you will notice the difference. If its not nippy enough there's always ways to make it quicker good luck with purchase

Plus slowcoach's A3 has had most of the work already done so just needs a stage 2 remap.

God I wish I saw his car earlier!

Pat

 

[macpdm]

I think you are making the right decision with slowcoaches car its a good honest motor and well known on the forum. As to the comment about spending 2k on an A3 is asking for trouble in my opinion an Audi is built far better than most other marques but you can buy trouble in pretty much any model. The only thing I would say is that if you were unfortunate enough to buy a bad one it would be better if it wasnt a quattro.

 

[sartios]

Had a read few of slowcoach's earlier posts and this one 4 weeks ago states he needs a new clutch:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-forum-8l-chassis/136921-my-car-cursed-please-help.html

dual mass for the a3 is about £600, I'm starting to think this might not be worth it to be honest, among numerous other problems he has posted about on the forum.

 

[patTTpoa]

It was his starter motor that was a problem.

Look I don't know the bloke just like you,
ever car has its problems (I should know!!) but I've also read his posts etc & every problem that he's had with that car he's fixed.

I know the garage that he takes it to in Exeter (Volkscraft) & every Tom, **** & Harry takes there VAG motors to him coz he knows his stuff!!

Look at the end of the day dude it's up to you, but put it like this buy this one knowing that's it's had k's spent on it or buy some thing else off eBay for the same money that you don't really know anything about.........

I know which one I'd go for

Pat

 

[sartios]

Yeah I understand that, but in that last post here states "still needing a new clutch and rear bushes " that was 4 weeks ago, and a clutch isn't cheap for an a3

 

[patTTpoa]

Ask him about it, that's the best way.

I'm sure it's been sorted.

Pat

 

[macpdm]

Ask him about it, that's the best way.

I'm sure it's been sorted.

Pat

Wise words.

 

[Jay A3]

Yeah I understand that, but in that last post here states "still needing a new clutch and rear bushes " that was 4 weeks ago, and a clutch isn't cheap for an a3

I agree with the others, just send him a pm to enquiry. I'm sure he won't hold u to buying it. I got a new clutch fitted few months back, got the parts from Audi for £300 including new flywheel. Only one clutch change ever done, not bad for a 13yr old car with 115k miles on it.. What I'm trying to say is the car could be really well maintained so all u need to worry about is changing the clutch.

 

[slowcoach3]

On the phone and can't type so keep this short. You'd have to be a rather stupid jackass to sell a crocked car on ASN, forum suicide. Clutch is fine, g60/vr6 was an upgrade for stage 2, bushes are as good as they are on any 11 yr old car, i.e, ok without being new.... Like most on here my car gets more maintenance and money than the missus... I'd be keeping it but just bought an s3 which i'm gonna be needing advice on shortly....

 

[Jay A3]

On the phone and can't type so keep this short. You'd have to be a rather stupid jackass to sell a crocked car on ASN, forum suicide. Clutch is fine, g60/vr6 was an upgrade for stage 2, bushes are as good as they are on any 11 yr old car, i.e, ok without being new.... Like most on here my car gets more maintenance and money than the missus... I'd be keeping it but just bought an s3 which i'm gonna be needing advice on shortly....

And there is your answer sartios! I can't see why u shouldn't buy the a3 now. Good luck with sale slowcoach!

 

[macpdm]

On the phone and can't type so keep this short. You'd have to be a rather stupid jackass to sell a crocked car on ASN, forum suicide. Clutch is fine, g60/vr6 was an upgrade for stage 2, bushes are as good as they are on any 11 yr old car, i.e, ok without being new.... Like most on here my car gets more maintenance and money than the missus... I'd be keeping it but just bought an s3 which i'm gonna be needing advice on shortly....

Well said buddy and like you say forum suicide, somebody get this bought.