to buy an A3 or S3?

based on my requirements would I be better off buying an A3 or S3?

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cat88

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Looking to upgrade the car at the end of the month and like both the A3 and the S3, what are the pro's and cons of each?
Would like something between 2006-2010 with reasonable mileage, probably do more town miles than motorway miles (4-5k per year) preferably 5 door with enough space for a few mountain bikes in the back.
With potential for a few mods like coilys / nice rims / stance
 
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:shrug: Ask your wallet... How many miles do you do a year? Lots of town driving with a S3 is not a good idea. I would say 5 Door Audi A3 2.0TDI quattro 170.
 
nooo 170 not a good idea for town driving. DPF clogging and all that.

S3 sportback with the rails, thule bars too, will suit you just fine.
 
If you do more town driving dont buy a diesel . DPF will give you headache and petrol is more expensive. Just stick to pertrols and you will be fine. 1.4T/1.8 a re good options/alternatives and easy to look after. I personally dont think buying a diesel to drive around town managing 30-35mpg is such good idea when me easly get 23-25 driving my S3. At the end of the day each to their own but I wouldnt think twice and just buy S3 instead.
 
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ok, 140 or Dpf delete, I'm sure he won't be driving in town all the time.
 
I dont usualy do many miles around 4000 per year, but I am going to be starting work as a PT next year that will involve me driving to clients houses so could go up
 
you would need to drive over 20k to make buying a diesel reasonable. Believe me used to own 170 and it was a good car, saved me 400 per year due to doing only 12k/y but gutless and boring to the point where I eventually got rid of it and bought brand new S3 ever since finally enjoy driving, having fun now and again and I love commuting to work every morning:]. Its like dating a top model that actually can talk too!
 
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I drive out to the country every weekend for mountain biking, places like cannock chase, kinver etc sometimes wales but mon-fri its usualy just around town.

ps - dont want a 1.4 as ive always seen them as a kinda poor mans audi, heavy car, small engine etc
 
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Let's throw another one in there.

Nissan Micra or Nissan GTR???? ;)
 
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RedDejavu said:
you would need to drive over 20k to make buying a diesel reasonable. Believe me used to own 170 and it was a good car, saved me 400 per year due to doing only 12k/y but gutless and boring to the point where I eventually got rid of it and bought brand new S3 ever since finally enjoy driving, having fun now and again and I love commuting to work every morning:]. Its like dating a top model that actually can talk too!
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Lol I love this figure, 20k... But that's such a conditional figure it's unreal. That's more than likely based on new price, and doesn't take into consideration how much the car is worth at the end of its lifetime. I think the actual non biased figure is around 11k.

Try a few, you might prefer how the diesel delivers the power.
 
Personally I enjoy driving diesel at the moment, but would love an S3 if it was practical. For me though, I prefer diesel for the road and a petrol turbo for the track!
 
My advice would be stick to a diesel. The S3 is a great car but with today's high running cost you will be selling it again within months. You will find market is limited for s3's when selling but very good for diesel A3s.
 
S3.
Just got out of a derv because my annual mileage halved from 20k to 10k. Diesel did nothingfor me tbh, very much a compromise ,one that I currently no longer need to make.
A large 6 cylinder derv is the only one I would maybe consider. Not available in the 8p of course.

A nice spec 20T might be worth thinking about. Or 5 door Goif gti.......
 
My missus has a 1.4 TFSI and they are a really good car. She does a 60 mile round trip in and out of Edinburgh Monday to Friday. Every weekend the tank is between 1/2 and 3/4 so is good on fuel especiallly when the majority is town driving. I use it every month now to do a 400 mile round trip up to Aviemore and it sits nicely at 70/75mph and comfy. I thought that as it was a 1.4 endless gear changes etc etc but exactly the opposite.
 
amr79 said:
My advice would be stick to a diesel. The S3 is a great car but with today's high running cost you will be selling it again within months. You will find market is limited for s3's when selling but very good for diesel A3s.
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Really? The S3 market at the moment is really strong and are good buy with the level of standard kit on them. For someone who only does 4k-6k miles a year then diesels don't pay.

Second hand values of the diesel models are good but there are just so many about that you can haggle the prices right down....
 
Based on what you have said, I think you should get an A3 Petrol. Compared to an S3, it will be much cheaper to buy and cheaper to run giving you more money for your mods. If you were doing more long journeys and a lot of motorway miles then consider diesel but for short journeys (less than 20 mins) and town driving i'd say stick to petrol.

I on the other hand do over 20k miles per year, a lot of short, hilly, town journeys but drive an S3 :)
 
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Make a POLL mate.

that'll set the petrol/diesel votes up nicely.
 
Ive found a 1.8 TFSI S line, 2009 reg, 3 door with 21k on the clock for 13.5k
Is that good?
 
Wait until after Paris motorshow, then order S3 8V!

I priced up a 1.8T S-Line new style A3 on the configurator last night (to same spec as my S3). It was £31,500 :wtf: Id say the new S3 will be starting at about £35k based on that optimistic pricing.
 
cat88 said:
Ive found a 1.8 TFSI S line, 2009 reg, 3 door with 21k on the clock for 13.5k
Is that good?
Click to expand...

It doesn't sound like a very good deal. Low miles, and it'll be a facelifted 8P3, but that's into high-mile S3 money.
 
TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI
Buy a TDI, SAVE the rest for your future mortgage. Do you plan to rent forever, madness. I've read a few threads now about people selling there S3 because of house searching.
 
First post on here for me and voted S3.
Just ordered a S3 ibis white black edition so well looking forward to picking this up, Im sure this will be a big step up from the 170 TDI!!!.
I only do about 5000 miles a year so not to fussed about fuel costs, just looking for some serious fun behind the wheel.
Previously had an A3 1.8 sport and an A3 2.0 TDI 170
 
Snipe said:
TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI
Buy a TDI, SAVE the rest for your future mortgage. Do you plan to rent forever, madness. I've read a few threads now about people selling there S3 because of house searching.
Click to expand...

Who said I was paying rent lol I only finished uni last year and moved back home :)
 
I was in the same boat a month ago n I chose an Audi s3 over an a3 n I sure do not regret it :)
 
cat88 said:
Who said I was paying rent lol I only finished uni last year and moved back home :)
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Lol kk fair play, but I'm guessing you're in debt after uni surely? or rich parents? Eitherway, perfect time to fill up the piggy bank. Leave the S3, plenty of time for that, "in my opinion"
 
Snipe said:
Lol kk fair play, but I'm guessing you're in debt after uni surely? or rich parents? Eitherway, perfect time to fill up the piggy bank. Leave the S3, plenty of time for that, "in my opinion"
Click to expand...

No rich parents, student debt is automaticly taken from my wages at source anyway so no need to save up for it.
Have slaved my *** off this year, havn't had a day off for the past 15 weeks and have saved about 13k, to pay for a holiday and a new car (audi) so wont be replacing the audi anytime soon once Ive got it
 
cat88 said:
No rich parents, student debt is automaticly taken from my wages at source anyway so no need to save up for it.
Have slaved my *** off this year, havn't had a day off for the past 15 weeks and have saved about 13k, to pay for a holiday and a new car (audi) so wont be replacing the audi anytime soon once Ive got it
Click to expand...

If I were you at your age and with your budget Id be looking for a car like mine which you can get well within your budget or a 07-08 S3. You only live once and sounds like you've worked hard for the cash....
 
Snipe said:
TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI,TDI
Buy a TDI, SAVE the rest for your future mortgage. Do you plan to rent forever, madness. I've read a few threads now about people selling there S3 because of house searching.
Click to expand...

They may of sold them to fund a deposit but they've still had one!

Out of interest how many miles a year do you do?
 
audi upgrades
I have had 2.0 tdi 140 s line, 2.0 TFSI S line, S3 and now 2.0 tdi 170 s line in That order, if your only doing round town driving and not bothered about fuel costs then 100% s3 you won't regret it, I only had mine 6 months and was gutted to sell it but was an easy sale with guy from work no messing and wanted all my money back for house deposit. Now have 170 as it was very cheap and missed the 8p. S3 with a remap is an awesome car. Get on bought, I wanna buy another but need to put money into brick lol
 
I'd have thought the insurance on an S3 would be restrictive? Also an S3 in young hands can lose you your license quicker than you can say "Sorry Officer", as the fun factor can sometimes override common sense.

In your place, I'd choose the A3 ...but not a Derv unless you intend to cover 20,000 miles or more - which you've already said you won't.

mtc. :)
 
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