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Car Advice - Audi A3

The_Hurricane
The_Hurricane Posts: 773 Forumite
in Motoring
Hi All,

Following some advice on here yesterday I've spotted an Audi A3 2.0 TDI 5DR DSG - 2005 that I quite like. It comes with 1 year's MOT and I'm going to get my mechanic to give it a proper check before purchase.

The dealer wants £3600, what are people's views on this car? I need something reliable, that looks decent, is fuel efficient and can pull a trailer - does it tick all boxes? I've done some research thus far online and the reviews seem positive.

Thanks
«1

Comments

  • Herzlos
    Herzlos Posts: 15,210 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 2 July 2013 at 3:12PM
    How big's the trailer?

    Edit: Doesn't matter, the manual one at least can tow 700/1700kg so I imagine the DSG is around the same and should be capable enough unless you're moving plant.
  • The_Hurricane
    The_Hurricane Posts: 773 Forumite
    Herzlos wrote: »
    How big's the trailer?

    It's six by four foot, really just used to transport lawnmowers and to bring general rubbish to the skip.
  • Herzlos
    Herzlos Posts: 15,210 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It should cope with that fine :)
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just ensure you have £2k in an account for a potential DSG repair.

    Efficiency is subjective but my A3 DSG of a similar age did about 40mpg.
  • anotherbaldrick
    anotherbaldrick Posts: 2,335 Forumite
    Suggest you get your mechanic to check the service record and ensure the DSG box has had the correct oil changes. The earlier boxes had wet clutches and needed a change every 40 K.
    You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I’ll tickle your catastrophe (Henry IV part 2)
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    anotherbaldrick wrote: »
    Suggest you get your mechanic to check the service record and ensure the DSG box has had the correct oil changes. The earlier boxes had wet clutches and needed a change every 40 K.

    Check cambelt change intervals too.
  • harveybobbles
    harveybobbles Posts: 8,973 Forumite
    DSG = dreadful, silly gearbox.
  • Ultrasonic
    Ultrasonic Posts: 4,235 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Do you really want an automatic? You didn't mention that on your other thread. Also, is an automatic the best idea for towing? I'd have thought you might want the greater flexibility of a manual gearbox.

    Edit: if it matters to you, the fuel economy of automatics is pretty much always worse that the equivalent manual cars.
  • Ultrasonic
    Ultrasonic Posts: 4,235 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    One other thought. If you buy a car without a tow bar, are you also factoring in the cost of paying to have one added?
  • The_Hurricane
    The_Hurricane Posts: 773 Forumite
    Two points I should add is that the car sourced for me is a manual complete with a towbar.
This discussion has been closed.
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