Audi A3 purchase

Yorky1

Hi all, I'm considering purchasing a used A3 Sportback 1.6TDI and have a few queries:

1) Can the OEM roof rails that some Sportbacks have be retrofitted?

2) I need robust roof bars that can be easily affixed / removed to carry a ladder, with a gap between the bars / car roof allowing easy access for wrapping a strap around. Is there a particular type to look for?

3) Where can the OEM rubber mat set (front, rear and boot) be purchased from at the best value?

4) Does this model have a full-size spare wheel? If not can it be purchased as a kit?

5) Is a detachable hidden towbar available?

Thanks in advance

DUTR

Yorky1 wrote: »

Hi all, I'm considering purchasing a used A3 Sportback 1.6TDI and have a few queries:

1) Can the OEM roof rails that some Sportbacks have be retrofitted?


2) I need robust roof bars that can be easily affixed / removed to carry a ladder, with a gap between the bars / car roof allowing easy access for wrapping a strap around. Is there a particular type to look for?

2) Where can the OEM rubber mat set (front, rear and boot) be purchased from at the best value?

3) Does this model have a full-size spare wheel? If not can it be purchased as a kit?

4) Is a detachable hidden towbar available?

Thanks in advance

1) Anything can be done at a price.
2) Rubber mats are rubber mats, if you want OEM then really it has to be Audi dealership unless you get them previously owned.
3) Depends if the original purchaser from the factory spec'd one, but yes a full size spare would be possible, however note, you may also need to purchase coverings in the luggage area to accomodate.
4) Yes they are available but they are not cheap £500 + usually.

topdaddy_2

You have two point 2's. A ladder is quite easy to secure by its nature although there are specific mounting brackets depending on what you wanna spend. And cheapest mats? Buy non oem.

londonTiger

you can criss cross ratcheting straps with the ladder placed on the roof rack and it should work fine. Bit if this is going to be a long term thing then you'll probably need to install brackets that clamp the ladder onto the roof bars.

dont forget, max weight limit is 70kg on roof rack and the weights add up very easily.

Most of the questions youve posted can be googled so I'm not going to go into that. Having googled images of a3 sportback roof rack you'll find that the bars are quite close together (typical hatchback roof bar distance apart). This may not be suitable for long ladders as they will wobble quite a bit when driving at speed. But might just work for folding roofs.

If you want to use longer ladders, you need a proper estate that have built in roof bars that travel from front to back on either side of the car. Then you can fit roof bars wider apart which will be a much steadier base for longer ladders.

Yorky1

londonTiger wrote: »

Most of the questions youve posted can be googled so I'm not going to go into that.

That could be said about most if not all questions posed on this forum. Experience and knowledge is being sought

harveybobbles

The rails on the Sportbacks never look useful. Always seems far too close to the roof to put anything on.

Yorky1

Thanks for the replies.

I'm finding it difficult to find many A3's with roof rails - has anyone used roof bars which wrap around the door frame and do they take long to fit/remove? I'm concerned the door seals would be compromised in time - has anyone had this problem?

Also, the 1.9 diesel engine was discontinued in 2009 so it's either the 1.6 or 2.0. Which would be best?

Thanks again.

tykesi

Best for what?

We're not psychic, an idea of your annual mileage and type of driving might help us help you.

LandyAndy

Yorky1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I'm finding it difficult to find many A3's with roof rails - has anyone used roof bars which wrap around the door frame and do they take long to fit/remove? I'm concerned the door seals would be compromised in time - has anyone had this problem?

Also, the 1.9 diesel engine was discontinued in 2009 so it's either the 1.6 or 2.0. Which would be best?

Thanks again.

I had Thule ones for my Mk4 Golf (still do if anyone wants them ).


They were easy to put on and remove. I only used them a couple of times but they didn't mark the paintwork or damage the seals.

wba31

LandyAndy wrote: »

I had Thule ones for my Mk4 Golf (still do if anyone wants them ).

Stick them on Gumtree, i saved a fortune buying some Thule roofbars for my civic last week off there...