Audi A3 as first car... how much should I be paying?

[TDIQ]

Hi, I'm going to do my driving practical test and hopefully pass within the next month or two. I was looking at getting an Astra MK4 but have instead decided to get a slightly older A3 for similar money.

I can only really get a 1.6 as the insurance is really heavy on a 1.8 as a new 18 year old driver. I've seen an A3 SE locally that's already got some nice alloys on it an is a 2001, Y reg. The alloys mean I won't have to spend another £500 soon after I get it as quite a lot of the A3s I've seen have the bog standard wheels. It's decent looking car that's in a nice blue. It's done 110,000 miles and is up for £3000. Parkers says a private A3 2001 is about £2250 I think, so is this well over the odds? It doesn't mention FSH, but for this price it ought to I guess.

Anything I ought to really look out for when looking at an A3? Should the cambelt be done at a specific interval? Will the engine be able to cope with many more miles if it's already done 110k already?

Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks
Aaron

 

[mac1403]

Cambelt should have already been done and should be stamped in the service book. There is not really a lot which goes wrong with them, but get a qualified mechanic to look over whatever car you get first. As long as its been looked after the engine would have plenty of life left in it.

 

[TDIQ]

Thanks for the advice, is £3000 a little over the odds for a 2001 A3, even if it had FSH etc?

Thanks

 

[HP]

A3 also my first car. i paid £2600 for my 2000 X Reg 1.6 Sport. 3000 doesnt sound that bad, just look for FSH. what alloys does it have?

 

[TDIQ]

I'm not able to tell which alloys it's got, perhaps someone can identify them and tell me if they're worth anything or are just some cheapy ones.

Thanks again,
Aaron

 

[TDIQ]

Just found out it has no service history but does have a spare key. What would I be expecting to pay based on this? I was thinking along the lines of £2000 to £2300 so I can get it serviced and get the cambelt done as there won't be any proof of it being done.

Any thoughts? Is it worth avoiding like the plague due to no service history?

Thanks

 

[emery1990]

if its got a spare get it..

no i would avoid it , specially if hes asking 3k for it, you can get one with fsh for less that 3k anyway.

there could be loads wrong though, wheels could be weared down to the limit, loads of things, best thing to do is get an aa or rac man to check it, if its ok, offer him 2k.

and 110k is not alot of miles for an a3.

 

[voorhees]

they are TT QS alloys also have a look here http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=72505

 

[TDIQ]

if its got a spare get it..

Spare what? Key, wheel or alloy?

they are TT QS alloys also have a look here http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=72505

I noticed that, and it's definitely something I'll be checking against the HPI.

Are the TT QS alloys worth anything if they aren't curbed?

 

[voorhees]

any alloys which are kerbed are still worth something but you can take the price of a refurb off them

 

[HP]

keep looking for one with FSH mate. you'll know when you've found the right car, everything will feel right. anything could have happened to this car with no history.

 

[TDIQ]

keep looking for one with FSH mate. you'll know when you've found the right car, everything will feel right. anything could have happened to this car with no history.

It's what I'm weighing up. If I could get it for 2k though then it could sway me. Is FSH really the be all and end all? This car is within a few miles so I think I'll give it a view anyway, and try to get it right down in price. It's probably the nicest A3 I've seen for sale in my price bracket within 50 odd miles on Autotrader. The alloys already on it are a plus as I'd be looking to drop another £500 or £700 including tyres on them too.

Could someone tell me if this is the post-facelift 8L A3? What difference is there between this and the pre-facelift one?

Thanks

 

[voorhees]

two piece headlights would be pre facelift iirc

 

[emery1990]

i was only joking about the spare key part mate..

you do want fsh, it woudnt btoher me if it missed one but had been serviced before it was sold to me.

personally i wouldnt bother, started looking 2 months before i found my car, which was only 2 miiles away, or get something cheap and crappy, and wait the year for no claims and driving experience.

you would looking at about the £1500 to £2000 to insure your 1.6, thats how much it costs me on my 306 ..now though i pay £1880 for the 1.8tqs.

for a refurb on your alloys your looking at around £200 if there bad.

 

[TDIQ]

I've got a couple of £1500 quotes which I'm willing to pay as it's only £200 less for an Astra 1.6 SXI. I don't really want to spend half as much on some 1.2 banger Corsa or Saxo and wait a year as I'd rather spend what I need to in the first place. I don't really want a little boy racers car like a Corsa, it's taken me a while to save up so I definitely want the A3.

I've been pointed to another A3 about 40 miles away with FSH in Silver to £2000 so I might have a look at that.

Thanks All

 

[HP]

im insured on my 1.6 first year of driving for £1300, with my parents on there as 'named drivers'. check elephant.co.uk

 

[TDIQ]

im insured on my 1.6 first year of driving for £1300, with my parents on there as 'named drivers'. check elephant.co.uk

FC or TPFT? If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

 

[emery1990]

yer true mate.. i coudnlt be bothered to wait a year for an s3 to. been saving for agges and that.

yer have a look around and just go and veiw them and see what the dealers like etc. some chinese fella tried selling a 1.8tqs for £1500 more than the one i got!

 

[HP]

Aar0n i'm 20. didnt get my licence till late last year. Insured fully comp.

 

[emery1990]

oh yer, put tghem as named not main driver..you wants ya no claims at the end of year. saying that my mates paying £1100 fc on my old 1.6 at some irish company..ill see if i can find em for ya.


http://www.quinn-direct.com/

i didnt belive him at first..but i filled it for him again, and he was right it was just over 1k when i was paying 1900 for churchill. if not..try bell and admiral.

 

[S3 HODGE]

I was with Quinn on my A3 which i had at 17 as a first car i think it cost £1350 with my dad as a named driver....
Have a look around, If you can travel then its worth traveling 4 hours to buy a car that your going to be driving for a year....Cheak the windows work properly and that there no rust on the roof rails or tailgate trim.
A HPI cheak could be the best £5 spent

 

[Pooch121]

Hey Hey Boyo

Bought a 1.6 SE 6 weeks ago mate..

First of all, wise choice for a 1st motor, like ur style, u sound like the type that if ur gona do something, u do it propper, and trust u wont be dissapointed by ur purchase, the build quality is superb..

I got mine for 3150 bux...2001, 68k, FSH, Audi Syphony, Alacantra suede, climate control, RS4 18's, the kiddy wanted 3650!! which was a wee bit steep, he claimed he got the cambelt done but had lost the receipt, i didnt accept this for one second...front left alloy was a wee bit scuffed and a blim burn on the drivers seat,

i offered 3000 as i couldnt take his word for the cambelt change and the fact i would need to recondition a couple of alloys...he looked shocked and offended by the offer, lol, and after negotiaing for 10 mins we agreed on 3150...

chuffed with the overal deal, after getting her home stuck her on the drive and gave her a lick of polish, found a tiny crack in the rear bumper and it also didnt have a spare wheel...so advice wise, when purchasing take ur time, go top to bottom, check all electrics and like a couple have already said, get a mechanic in....the more you find, the more you can bring up when negotiating price, i should have got this for 3000 and prob woulda stood more of a chance if i jus looked harder..

its all very well buying a nasty banger, you dont have to respect it, but ur making a bigger commitment, its an investment, if ur patient and dont get mislead by glamour (alloys etc) ul find the right one, i was looking for three weeks b4 i found one that met the criteria...

neway dude best of luck and look forward to seeing what ya purchase.

Pooch

 

[TDIQ]

Had a look today and it's got climate control, all the original stuff. The only issues are the curbed alloys and one side of the roof has small rust bubbles in it along the roof rails which I read is a common problem with the A3s.

The cambelt possibly hasnt been done which I've factored into the price. The seller has agreed to take £2400 down from £3000. The car is HPI clear and has only had some advisories on the MOTs for some brake discs.

Is this a decent buy for £2400 bearing in mind I'll have to get the cambelt done. It's a 1.6 sport and is generally in great condition.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[bigstring]

A3 1.6 SE 110,000 no service history 2001..... £3000 wow, what a steal......

Where do you live buddy? I went down to Brighton to have a look at one that was pants, and live in deep dark wiltshire... then down to bodmin, loads of driving till I found one that I liked...... £2500 2001 full service history 1.8t black, new rubber, new disks and pads, and got half a tank of fuel chucked in...... keep looking!!

 

[TDIQ]

I went and looked and it seemed great. The last thing I checked was the oil and noticed the water in there. The headgasket was gone completely. I've now seen another 1.6 sport, 84k, some service history, up for £1800. I think this could be alright on the price. But does this not seem quite low for a 1998(S) Sport?

 

[Pooch121]

send us the link mate...for 84k that seems quite cheap though??

 

[emery1990]

seeems quite low,, but may just want a quick sale, i had a book which told you what all cars where worth, from different sellers, garage, private etc. forgot what its called though, should sell it in whsmith.

like ive said, get a qualified mechanic to look around it, if its all good then youve got yourself a rather cheap a3. i paid 1600 for a 98 306 !

 

[TDIQ]

Comes with some service history, and has had the cambelt done apparently (not sure if proof is available).

Any clue as to what alloys these are?

 

[voorhees]

RS6 replicas Aaron

 

[A3Tom]

Comes with some service history, and has had the cambelt done apparently (not sure if proof is available).

Any clue as to what alloys these are?

Thats very green.... I like it

 

[Ash B]

Like the colour Aaron! That the one you looking on getting? As already said RS6 Reps. They do like nice on the 8L! I got a soft spot for 8L S3 with those alloys.
Just get RAC or AA or some one to check it over! Dont rush with the hunt. I started looking for my first A3 in May 08 but never picked mine up from the dealer till July 08. I looked at loads of cars, private and trade, prices going from £7,000-£11,000. My car i have now was the first A3 i test drove. Is that Green A3 the one for £1,800?

Ashley

 

[TDIQ]

Yeah the green one in those photos is up for £1800. Someone is viewing it before me so if they take it it's probably good, and if they don't there's probably something wrong with. I'm taking my friend who's a competent mechanic with me, but hopefully tomorrow I'll come back with it.

The only other issue is that there's been 6 owners since it's been registered in 1998. The last owner has had it over 2 to 3 years though.

Was this candy green colour offered when new or is it a custom respray? I haven't seen any other A3s about with this colour or Autotrader or anywhere.

Thanks

 

[voorhees]

a few green cars on here so no custom job

 

[Ash B]

Yeah the green one in those photos is up for £1800. Someone is viewing it before me so if they take it it's probably good, and if they don't there's probably something wrong with. I'm taking my friend who's a competent mechanic with me, but hopefully tomorrow I'll come back with it.

The only other issue is that there's been 6 owners since it's been registered in 1998. The last owner has had it over 2 to 3 years though.

Was this candy green colour offered when new or is it a custom respray? I haven't seen any other A3s about with this colour or Autotrader or anywhere.

Thanks

There another A3 Java Green think its called its not a custom job just rare. Well at least some one can check it over for you tomorrow! The price dont seem bad at all! Dont worry about the owners if the car been looked after it be fine. Would be good if you could hook it up to vagcom bring up any faults.