to buy an A3 or S3?
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H88
Registered User
I have 2.0 tdi and it is boring car I have to say (in my opinion) 
) Get a petrol 1.8T or 2.0T. I would love to have an S3 but think about long term run and service/repair cost, it will be higher than A3. At the end of the day it depends on your taste,if you've got the cash then get an S3 as you dont do that much of mileage anyway )
) Get a petrol 1.8T or 2.0T. I would love to have an S3 but think about long term run and service/repair cost, it will be higher than A3. At the end of the day it depends on your taste,if you've got the cash then get an S3 as you dont do that much of mileage anyway )Its actually the same price for me to insure a 2 litre A3 S line as it is to insure an S3 based on the quotes im getting on comparison sites.
Ive had my licence 7 years with 0 points and 5 yrs no claims (only reason its not 7 is I didnt have a car for a few years at uni and my no claims expired) Im female and a sensible driver, I do track days in super cars when I want to drive like a nutter
Ive had my licence 7 years with 0 points and 5 yrs no claims (only reason its not 7 is I didnt have a car for a few years at uni and my no claims expired) Im female and a sensible driver, I do track days in super cars when I want to drive like a nutter
audicruiser
Audi Heaven
I do a lot of miles mate, petrol is out of the question for me anyway. Would never pay what mate? A TDI will also be cheaper whether you do 2k a year or 20k. OP without sounding too personal, what are your priorities right now? Yeah It might be nice to drive around in a S3 but is worth the negative impact it may have on your long-term financial goals? Thatâs for you to decide, unless ofcourse the uni landed you a seriously high paid job.
Track days in super cars, sounds fun, where abouts?
Yeah diesel will be cheaper for 2k a year, of course mate, wikkid mpg innit! Until the turbo dies, or the DMF goes or your injectors croak. Then that £100 a year you save on fuel will feel totally worth it.
The TDI is a boring engine in an already pretty unexciting car. It is a financial compromise. It is not the second coming.
The TDI is a boring engine in an already pretty unexciting car. It is a financial compromise. It is not the second coming.
Lol oh yeah, so I'm guessing the S3 is faultless then...how about money saved from insurance, tax, maintenance and initial purchase cost.
Ginger Prince
Registered User
The S3 will beat you in every sense re money but thats not why we bought them!
You only live once, buy one & enjoy it, if you're on your **** after a while then sell it, at least you'll have had the experience
You only live once, buy one & enjoy it, if you're on your **** after a while then sell it, at least you'll have had the experience
Er my priorities are complete my personal trainer course that Im doing and get a job in that area.
Im doing a supercar day next month at prestwold hall, Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari 355 & Lamborghini Gallardo. I also have friends that have decent cars and do track days at the bring your own track days.
Artimus
Shortback
well why didn't you say so earlier ...that makes all the difference! The world's your oyster & I now recommend an R8. Forecourt attendants will be falling over themselves to give you discounts when you fill up. lol
well why didn't you say so earlier ...that makes all the difference! The world's your oyster & I now recommend an R8. Forecourt attendants will be falling over themselves to give you discounts when you fill up. lol
If I could afford one I would, one of my mates dad has one and its great.
Would cost me 2 grand a year to insure a 2008 model
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Artimus
Shortback
you mean you actually considered it?
Environmental concern is BS ..it's all bluff & bluster IHMO.PRIUS!!! That's your choice girl,be ECO friendly
hybrid isn't that eco friendly...this one isPRIUS!!! That's your choice girl,be ECO friendly
i'll say, go for the S3 you'll love it!!
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lol
audicruiser
Audi Heaven
Cheaper via MPG but what people forget is diesel models are normally more expensive to buy in the first place so you need to do the mileage to recoup the cost. It's personal choice I guess.
Its been debated to death though!
thebluefox
Registered User
Ignore people telling you to get a TDi. IMO, you're in the same boat as me in that you don't do crazy miles a year, so having a fun car isn't going to cost a fortune. If you can afford it, afford the insurance and afford a hundred quid or so fuel a month, go for it.
The way I see it is I work damn hard for my money, and decisions shouldn't just be led by what the cheapest thing is to do. I can afford an S3 and still be able to comfortably put some money by for a house, so why shouldn't I buy one? Owning a car is a privilege and it should be enjoyed!
Ignore everyone telling you what to do, even me, and just go with what youâ want.
The way I see it is I work damn hard for my money, and decisions shouldn't just be led by what the cheapest thing is to do. I can afford an S3 and still be able to comfortably put some money by for a house, so why shouldn't I buy one? Owning a car is a privilege and it should be enjoyed!
Ignore everyone telling you what to do, even me, and just go with what youâ want.
OP - were you asking only about a petrol A3 vs an S3? If so it's entirely about if you can afford it. I can't see any reason other than it being too much to insure, or you can't afford the maintenance, to not get an S3. A3 petrol vs TDi however, I guess miles is the main factor. If you do low miles, get an S3 or 3.2 A3, if you do lots of miles then a diesel will make more sense economically (but that's not an argument that holds a lot of water when even considering an S3 - it's about the car, not the mileage.
Like thebluefox, I bought my S3 and was easily able to save for a flat deposit too. Now I'm moving up to an RS4 for the same reason - I want one and can afford to buy/run it. I do 4-5k miles a year so petrol isn't really an issue (and I use V-Power anyway). I work hard(ish) for my money, and love my Audis so that's where my money goes.
Bottom line - S3 if you can afford it, 2.0T if you can't (or 3.2 Sportback with DSG?). And i know you're after other people's advice, but it's your car so buy what you want.
Like thebluefox, I bought my S3 and was easily able to save for a flat deposit too. Now I'm moving up to an RS4 for the same reason - I want one and can afford to buy/run it. I do 4-5k miles a year so petrol isn't really an issue (and I use V-Power anyway). I work hard(ish) for my money, and love my Audis so that's where my money goes.
Bottom line - S3 if you can afford it, 2.0T if you can't (or 3.2 Sportback with DSG?). And i know you're after other people's advice, but it's your car so buy what you want.
Just to clarify I wasn't telling her to get TDI, just expressing my opinion on the subject matter, which in the end I got completely wrong because I didn't know it was petrol vs petrol, I now pick the S3. Ignore everyone lol? Then why bother posting? I wish I had joined this forum before buying my car, I would have definitely added a few things to my want list.
thebluefox
Registered User
Lol. When I said ignore us all, I meant because we can only give our opinion on what we perceive her position to be. End of the day its up to the person buying it.
I was trying to say, while we can all give our opinions, to not worry about what other people think and just go with her gut and get the car she wants and can afford.
I was trying to say, while we can all give our opinions, to not worry about what other people think and just go with her gut and get the car she wants and can afford.
so today I went and got an A3 sportback 1.4 tfsi 5 door 2009 model in sphere blue with grey leather interior
with plenty of £s left for mods
I shall make a new thread with the plans I have for it to get some more specific advice but thanks for all your help
with plenty of £s left for mods
I shall make a new thread with the plans I have for it to get some more specific advice but thanks for all your help
AndyParker
Registered User
Congrats on the new purchase! Hope you enjoy it. You could always spend those saved £'s on twin charging it 
Congrats on the new purchase! Hope you enjoy it. You could always spend those saved £'s on twin charging it
wouldnt have a clue how but ive heard they do twin charging on the new A1 1.4 tfsi that gets 182 bhp which sounds pretty sexy
AndyParker
Registered User
Guessing that's along the same lines as the Polo GTi then which is twin charged. Look forward to th pics and the modding plans
Ok nice :icon_thumright:, can't wait for the :sign_pics:, so what made you go for the 1.4t then? I have driven the 1.4t as courtesy car and I have to say it lacks torque, the low down push you get from the 2.0 TDI is amazing. Even more so with an S3.
Not been able to find any S3's in my budget tbh, cheapest decent one ive seen is 15.5k
Not had much luck with finding s lines either, viewed a few but they were tatty, main thing i liked about them was the leather interior which ive got with this car so rather spend the extra cash on other mods
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S-Line's seem to be everywhere, so I'm surprised you struggled, where I'll concede honest S3's are harder to find once you drop to about £12k. Did you research the prices before you set off looking?
Just seems such an extreme change of mind esp. considering the low mileage you do the S3 wouldn't have had to do big mileage and would have cut a lot of modding off you're list!
Just seems such an extreme change of mind esp. considering the low mileage you do the S3 wouldn't have had to do big mileage and would have cut a lot of modding off you're list!
A quick look on auto trader shows within 20 miles of my location there are a grand total of 5 petrol s lines up for sale,only one of those is a 5 door and it is an 09 plate with 73k miles on the clock :\
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