ULEZ ... Need a new (used) car?

[Persian]

I’ve recently sold my 520D and now looking for a new (used) Audi…

At the moment, I’m driving my girlfriends 8P3 09 140 TDI (Stage 1) to work which does about 48-55mpg. I do 50 miles daily from London to Hertfordshire.

Now as I only do between 9k-10k miles a year, I’m thinking petrol for the next car, perhaps S3? Especially when considering the 2021 ULEZ law, meaning no diesel below 2016 in north circular. I know this is a couple of years away, but I can imagine diesel prices reducing as we get closer so whatever you save on fuel would be lost on resale value.

What are your general thoughts? Any recommendation would help, specially running costs, fuel etc…

 

[Daveyonthemove]

I can only speak for myself, but my S3 has a Bluefin stage 1 running approx 300bhp and it's not difficult to see 30-34mpg on a run.
I've done 10k in it since April when I bought it and average over that time is 30mpg, which isn't too bad.

 

[SootySport]

You need to check on the ULEZ website which cars will be exempt of the fine. Small Petrol and Hybrids are most likely to allowed free of fines. You’ll get an idea if you enter a reg number of cars that are likely to conform. Have a look on Autotrader for a car for sale that you may buy in the future and use it’s reg number on the ULEZ website to check.
You’ll have to scale back on your aspirations for owning performance cars soon or move out of London I’m afraid. If yer rich and and and can afford anything you’ll be ok. I would leave the decision a while yet, cars that conform now may not in the run up to 2021.
I’ve already checked my 3 cars, the Westfield and Peugeot 205gti won’t conform but the Audi 2.0 petrol will—————so far.

 

[ch1z64]

You need to check on the ULEZ website which cars will be exempt of the fine. Small Petrol and Hybrids are most likely to allowed free of fines. You’ll get an idea if you enter a reg number of cars that are likely to conform. Have a look on Autotrader for a car for sale that you may buy in the future and use it’s reg number on the ULEZ website to check.
You’ll have to scale back on your aspirations for owning performance cars soon or move out of London I’m afraid. If yer rich and and and can afford anything you’ll be ok. I would leave the decision a while yet, cars that conform now may not in the run up to 2021.
I’ve already checked my 3 cars, the Westfield and Peugeot 205gti won’t conform but the Audi 2.0 petrol will—————so far.

Excellent advice

 

[Persian]

You need to check on the ULEZ website which cars will be exempt of the fine. Small Petrol and Hybrids are most likely to allowed free of fines. You’ll get an idea if you enter a reg number of cars that are likely to conform. Have a look on Autotrader for a car for sale that you may buy in the future and use it’s reg number on the ULEZ website to check.
You’ll have to scale back on your aspirations for owning performance cars soon or move out of London I’m afraid. If yer rich and and and can afford anything you’ll be ok. I would leave the decision a while yet, cars that conform now may not in the run up to 2021.
I’ve already checked my 3 cars, the Westfield and Peugeot 205gti won’t conform but the Audi 2.0 petrol will—————so far.

Great advice, to be honest I've looked into this and as it seems any petrol above 2007 should conform. I've looked at A5 Quattro's and apparently the 2.0 tfsi's (225) do 40'ish mpg? not sure how believable/achievable this is in the real world.

It's just confusing as I'm not sure whether to opt for a 1.4/8 tfsi engine for economy and similar power/drive to a 2.0tdi or just get a S3 and pay a little more on fuel....

Cheers for the advise anyways.

 

[Persian]

I can only speak for myself, but my S3 has a Bluefin stage 1 running approx 300bhp and it's not difficult to see 30-34mpg on a run.
I've done 10k in it since April when I bought it and average over that time is 30mpg, which isn't too bad.

Just curious is yours DSG or manual?

 

[Daveyonthemove]

Just curious is yours DSG or manual?

Manual (if in doubt, check the boxes under my username).