The search for Benji's new wheels
Discussion
I'm looking to replace my 09 Audi A3 1.8 TFSI in the next few months and have now started the search for which car to get.
The story so far; I over paid on the Audi from a dealer, I paid 6k for it 3.5k ago. Body work was immaculate and interior the best I had seen on any a3 I looked at. It also had a full service history from main dealers, promising. Sadly it had aftermarket replica ttrs style wheels and brand new budget rubber all round. Originally I liked the look but replica's bugged me and you couldn't get them balanced properly if you tried.
Luckily a local elderly Chap was selling a set of Audi 18s, my favourite ones, all with premium tyres, two of which did need replacing soon. He wanted 600, deal struck on 400, happy days. The replica's were sold to a polish bloke for 300 the same night (listed them too cheap, got loads of responses).
Anyway a few weeks later I f
ked up and hit a curb , ripping into the side wall of one of the tyres that needed replacing, so I bit the bullet, saved time and got 4 new Goodyear asymmetrical 3a, 86 quid a corner, and handling was transformed!
Next it was service time, a major service, that's 185 notes please, sadly the battery died on the morning of the service, so add 120 for a nice new Bosch battery.
Few weeks later I notice the car isn't going staying at temperature, the forum helped indicate it was a thermostat issue, I didn't listen originally, but it eventually went into garage, while attempting to replace stat they notice the water pump was leaking, car was in 80k and running original pump. Local specialist quoting 750 quid to install new revised pump. Luckily my garage only wanted 320 notes.
I then had a month or blissful motoring before the airbag warning light came on. Turned out it was the wiring in the driver's door, take the rubber thing off and u can see they are all splitting. Bad design. 120 quid later and the door loom was rewired by a vw electrical expert.
Now the only issue is a intermittent electrical fault causing the warning light to come on for the rear right reversing light been out. The electrical guy checked it, bulb is fine, cluster works, there's a fault on the wiring. He didn't even wanna attempt to fix it properly, sounded expensive. He's offered a solution, put a resister on that wire to tell the computer it works, then hook the right reversing light up to the left one to power it. Will probably get this done if the issue persists, fingers crossed it's been OK the past week.
Now my othrr worries with this money pit Audi... It's at the age where it needs a clutch and flywheel, that's 800 quid there. There is also a known issue with the timing chain tensioner failing, they have since upgraded this part 3 times! The engine can literally eat itself at any time if this goes. Fingers crossed it won't, but I don't fancy the preventative 850 quid to replace the chain and tensioner set up.
So in short the car has cost me a fk load of money and there's 1600 of potential bills in the next year or so. I'm fed up with it and want to cut my losses.
Car buying sites only offer around 4300 for my car. They won't take into consideration the fact it's got brand new tyres and has had work done to make it right. I might try approaching dealers directly, or selling it private. Private it's worth 5 to 5.5k.
That's the story of the Audi, next post will be about my options.
The story so far; I over paid on the Audi from a dealer, I paid 6k for it 3.5k ago. Body work was immaculate and interior the best I had seen on any a3 I looked at. It also had a full service history from main dealers, promising. Sadly it had aftermarket replica ttrs style wheels and brand new budget rubber all round. Originally I liked the look but replica's bugged me and you couldn't get them balanced properly if you tried.
Luckily a local elderly Chap was selling a set of Audi 18s, my favourite ones, all with premium tyres, two of which did need replacing soon. He wanted 600, deal struck on 400, happy days. The replica's were sold to a polish bloke for 300 the same night (listed them too cheap, got loads of responses).
Anyway a few weeks later I f
ked up and hit a curb , ripping into the side wall of one of the tyres that needed replacing, so I bit the bullet, saved time and got 4 new Goodyear asymmetrical 3a, 86 quid a corner, and handling was transformed!Next it was service time, a major service, that's 185 notes please, sadly the battery died on the morning of the service, so add 120 for a nice new Bosch battery.
Few weeks later I notice the car isn't going staying at temperature, the forum helped indicate it was a thermostat issue, I didn't listen originally, but it eventually went into garage, while attempting to replace stat they notice the water pump was leaking, car was in 80k and running original pump. Local specialist quoting 750 quid to install new revised pump. Luckily my garage only wanted 320 notes.
I then had a month or blissful motoring before the airbag warning light came on. Turned out it was the wiring in the driver's door, take the rubber thing off and u can see they are all splitting. Bad design. 120 quid later and the door loom was rewired by a vw electrical expert.
Now the only issue is a intermittent electrical fault causing the warning light to come on for the rear right reversing light been out. The electrical guy checked it, bulb is fine, cluster works, there's a fault on the wiring. He didn't even wanna attempt to fix it properly, sounded expensive. He's offered a solution, put a resister on that wire to tell the computer it works, then hook the right reversing light up to the left one to power it. Will probably get this done if the issue persists, fingers crossed it's been OK the past week.
Now my othrr worries with this money pit Audi... It's at the age where it needs a clutch and flywheel, that's 800 quid there. There is also a known issue with the timing chain tensioner failing, they have since upgraded this part 3 times! The engine can literally eat itself at any time if this goes. Fingers crossed it won't, but I don't fancy the preventative 850 quid to replace the chain and tensioner set up.
So in short the car has cost me a f
k load of money and there's 1600 of potential bills in the next year or so. I'm fed up with it and want to cut my losses. Car buying sites only offer around 4300 for my car. They won't take into consideration the fact it's got brand new tyres and has had work done to make it right. I might try approaching dealers directly, or selling it private. Private it's worth 5 to 5.5k.
That's the story of the Audi, next post will be about my options.
Edited by benjijames28 on Sunday 18th December 07:08
I've become obsessed with cars in the past 4 months, defo a car guy now. I feel like I know a lot more about cars and realistic running costs etc...
I need a car that's relatively quick 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds. It needs enough room for 2 kids, a baby, and the girlfriend. Kids are 8, 5, baby is 3 days old.
Not sure i want to go too much bigger than the a3 unless it has parking sensors and good visibility.
Realistic economy is important too. I've been getting 30mpg tank to tank,and it's been killing my wallet. I do short journeys but mileage is under 10k a year. I would be happy to take a diesel on a bit of a run every few weeks if that would keep things runnijg smoothly. It will give me an excuse to get them all out of house visiting places.
I would also like a car with some luxuries. So bonus points for things like leather, heated seats, heated screen, Bluetooth, cruise control.
I will consider an older motor, but mileage wants to e under 80k where possible. I would also prefer hatchback or estate over saloon but would consider saloons.
Automatic or manual is fine, but I would like an automatic that is known as reliable, can't be doing with a massive gearbox repair bill.
Girlfriend likes big pick ups and BMW x5, but possible maintenance costs and parking in tight car parks concern me. Still open to suggestions.
Budget is around 10k, but the car needs to last a good 5 years with minimum effort.
I need a car that's relatively quick 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds. It needs enough room for 2 kids, a baby, and the girlfriend. Kids are 8, 5, baby is 3 days old.
Not sure i want to go too much bigger than the a3 unless it has parking sensors and good visibility.
Realistic economy is important too. I've been getting 30mpg tank to tank,and it's been killing my wallet. I do short journeys but mileage is under 10k a year. I would be happy to take a diesel on a bit of a run every few weeks if that would keep things runnijg smoothly. It will give me an excuse to get them all out of house visiting places.
I would also like a car with some luxuries. So bonus points for things like leather, heated seats, heated screen, Bluetooth, cruise control.
I will consider an older motor, but mileage wants to e under 80k where possible. I would also prefer hatchback or estate over saloon but would consider saloons.
Automatic or manual is fine, but I would like an automatic that is known as reliable, can't be doing with a massive gearbox repair bill.
Girlfriend likes big pick ups and BMW x5, but possible maintenance costs and parking in tight car parks concern me. Still open to suggestions.
Budget is around 10k, but the car needs to last a good 5 years with minimum effort.
Edited by benjijames28 on Sunday 18th December 07:21
Edited by benjijames28 on Sunday 18th December 07:37
i would keep the car you are in it now, get at least another 6 months as a you have paid for it, at lot of your costs are normal costs for a 7 year old car.
join an audi forum as see if ant solutions you can do instead od shelling out. i have fixed airbag faults etc myself. get yourself vagcom as well.
if you want a cheap car but a lower cost brand like skoda and less tech.
join an audi forum as see if ant solutions you can do instead od shelling out. i have fixed airbag faults etc myself. get yourself vagcom as well.
if you want a cheap car but a lower cost brand like skoda and less tech.
Alfa Romeo Guiletta
Had a quick look at one of these today, I saw it on a dealers forecourt driving past so took chance to have a look.
It was white, 62 plate with 42000 miles on it, 1.4 170bhp petrol.
Exterior condition was nice, I love the styling, such beautiful cars, don't think a white one is for me.
Interior had brilliant full rare leather seats, but the plastics felt cheap and showed signs of wear, the plastic on steering wheel was even cracked.
Build quality overall didn't have a patch on the Audi, your rear external door handles feel super flimsy, wouldn't want to be opening the back doors on a cold morning. The interior didn't have as much space as the Audi and felt cheaper, the boot seemed smaller too.
Driving positive felt ok, but there's no where to rest your left foot when not on clutch, and the dash board is badly designed, I can imagine it been hard to read your current speed at a glance, something important to me when there's cameras everywhere.
Didn't get chance to test drive, but I will keep this on model on my list as possible option due to the fact they are so affordable and look so sexy from the outside.
Had a quick look at one of these today, I saw it on a dealers forecourt driving past so took chance to have a look.
It was white, 62 plate with 42000 miles on it, 1.4 170bhp petrol.
Exterior condition was nice, I love the styling, such beautiful cars, don't think a white one is for me.
Interior had brilliant full rare leather seats, but the plastics felt cheap and showed signs of wear, the plastic on steering wheel was even cracked.
Build quality overall didn't have a patch on the Audi, your rear external door handles feel super flimsy, wouldn't want to be opening the back doors on a cold morning. The interior didn't have as much space as the Audi and felt cheaper, the boot seemed smaller too.
Driving positive felt ok, but there's no where to rest your left foot when not on clutch, and the dash board is badly designed, I can imagine it been hard to read your current speed at a glance, something important to me when there's cameras everywhere.
Didn't get chance to test drive, but I will keep this on model on my list as possible option due to the fact they are so affordable and look so sexy from the outside.
The Spruce goose said:
i would keep the car you are in it now, get at least another 6 months as a you have paid for it, at lot of your costs are normal costs for a 7 year old car.
join an audi forum as see if ant solutions you can do instead od shelling out. i have fixed airbag faults etc myself. get yourself vagcom as well.
if you want a cheap car but a lower cost brand like skoda and less tech.
I'm in no immediate rush to get rid of the Audi, I do agree the money I've spent is for normal things on a car of its age. It's the big future costs which worry me. join an audi forum as see if ant solutions you can do instead od shelling out. i have fixed airbag faults etc myself. get yourself vagcom as well.
if you want a cheap car but a lower cost brand like skoda and less tech.
My search for a new motor may be a long one, because my next purchase I'm sticking with for a while. Determined to get it right.
PositronicRay said:
And then your "new" car will need money spending on it too.
Yeah that could well be the case. Depends what I buy. If I went for say a 12 or 13 plate 1.8 petrol civic with under 20k on clock then it should not need any more than routine maintenance for a good few years.I suppose the depreciation has already happened on the Audi, yes it will keep dropping but should not be drastic.
Either way I will continue my search for a new motor and keep updating this thread to keep track of my thoughts.
The Audi is running well now, only thing I can say is if say the flywheel went and I spent 800 on it... I would be inclined to keep it for a few years to get my money worth from it. Might even have some fun with it if that happened, maybe get a remap, take it to 220bhp.
Sigh.
Your woes with the Audi seem very minor (for Audi). If you want cheap motoring I'd avoid German stuff, and get a Phase 3 Laguna, or an old style Avensis or something. Have a look through ebay ads, and see what has done 200k +
If you want refined high quality interiors, go and get something German, and be prepared to continue to spend on maintenance.
For short trips, avoid diesel, as has been indicated.
Your woes with the Audi seem very minor (for Audi). If you want cheap motoring I'd avoid German stuff, and get a Phase 3 Laguna, or an old style Avensis or something. Have a look through ebay ads, and see what has done 200k +
If you want refined high quality interiors, go and get something German, and be prepared to continue to spend on maintenance.
For short trips, avoid diesel, as has been indicated.
bearman68 said:
Sigh.
Your woes with the Audi seem very minor (for Audi). If you want cheap motoring I'd avoid German stuff, and get a Phase 3 Laguna, or an old style Avensis or something. Have a look through ebay ads, and see what has done 200k +
If you want refined high quality interiors, go and get something German, and be prepared to continue to spend on maintenance.
For short trips, avoid diesel, as has been indicated.
My annoyance with the Audi is not the costs if maintenance, I maintained my ford fiesta to a high degree too. My issue is the bad luck and timing. I was just hoping it would be reliable and not need much spending on it for a while ( giving me chance to pay off what I owe on the car).Your woes with the Audi seem very minor (for Audi). If you want cheap motoring I'd avoid German stuff, and get a Phase 3 Laguna, or an old style Avensis or something. Have a look through ebay ads, and see what has done 200k +
If you want refined high quality interiors, go and get something German, and be prepared to continue to spend on maintenance.
For short trips, avoid diesel, as has been indicated.
It was mainly bad luck. The water pump and thermostat hit me hard. The Audi drives really well.
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