Choice New GTi or A3 2.0T Sportback

[targarama]

Spotted a nice A3 Sportback at Fontain's this morning while collecting the TT. Has heated seats (pre-requisite for er'indoors). So we're test drving there tomorrow and need to decide:

- 5 door Golf GIT. Buy new for 22k with the bits she wants, or up to 1 year old if we're lucky (Tornado Red only colour she wants) for 19-20k.
- A3 2.0T Quattro Sportback Sline - leather, heated seats, 8,800 miles, nice blue colour. Exactly a year old on an 05 plate. £19995

A3 ever so slightly less economical, but cheaper insurance. Less headroom in rear
Golf GIT - for this money no leather, but more spacious than the Audi.
Or keep the TT for another 6 months...

Anyone own this model A3?

[G Man]

targarama said:

Spotted a nice A3 Sportback at Fontain's this morning while collecting the TT. Has heated seats (pre-requisite for er'indoors). So we're test drving there tomorrow and need to decide:

- 5 door Golf GIT. Buy new for 22k with the bits she wants, or up to 1 year old if we're lucky (Tornado Red only colour she wants) for 19-20k.
- A3 2.0T Quattro Sportback Sline - leather, heated seats, 8,800 miles, nice blue colour. Exactly a year old on an 05 plate. £19995

A3 ever so slightly less economical, but cheaper insurance. Less headroom in rear
Golf GIT - for this money no leather, but more spacious than the Audi.
Or keep the TT for another 6 months...

Anyone own this model A3?

You can get a new A3 2.0 T Sportback S Line for £20,250 from drivethedeal.com so that 2nd hand looks a tad expensive

[targarama]

Girlfriend won't go through anyone like that though. However illogical it may seem, we're not going there. Plus, is the S-line with Quattro, leather, heated seats, armrest and some other bits that cheap?

[dxg]

Scroll down a bit and go have a read of the five "sibling rivalry" articles on this link: www.autoblog.com/category/garage/

Offers a further point of view.

[jatinder]

Maybe go for the golf, the values a couple of years later might be higher than the audi due to demand?

[G Man]

targarama said:

Girlfriend won't go through anyone like that though. However illogical it may seem, we're not going there. Plus, is the S-line with Quattro, leather, heated seats, armrest and some other bits that cheap?

Listen let me explain .. I have bought 5 cars through drivethedeal ...
You select the car you want .. pay a deposit by credit card so you have comsumer protection from the CC company .. normally about a grand ...

Then the VW/Audi dealer contacts you directly you then interact with the UK dealer and you save thousands ....
If you don't want to do this ... print the spec you want and the drive the deal price and tell the dealer match it ..

You will be surprised

£21.8K for your spec ... that car is still expensive

Edited by G Man on Friday 4th August 19:54

[targarama]

Thanks G-Man I'll certainly attempt to get this method of purchase agreed (its her money, her car, her choice in the end).

[G Man]

Just an FYI from the audi.co.uk special offers section
The Audi A3 2.0T FSI S line Special Edition,
from just £21,795 RRP - while stocks last

Standard features

* 200PS turbo-charged engine
* S line exterior styling
* Full-leather front Sports seats
* 18" 5-arm alloy wheels

PS I bet that price can be beaten still

[targarama]

Its a Sportback and a Quattro so that will add a bit, but I agree that its not that much more.

[targarama]

Well we just justed a new GIT:

5 door
Tornado Red
Interlagos cloth
Winter pack (heated seats/washers)
Xenon lights
CD changer in headunit

All the other sundries are std on the the Golf unless you want Satnav or leather.

Anyone want to buy a TT? (actually we might have sold it already - fingers crossed). (will p/ex it if not sold by delivery time).

T/.

[RacingTeatray]

That's as well then, since a friend of mine rang at lunchtime today to say he'd just bought that very same blue 2.0T quattro Sportback from Fontain!

He seems pretty chuffed with it.

[targarama]

RacingTeatray said:

That's as well then, since a friend of mine rang at lunchtime today to say he'd just bought that very same blue 2.0T quattro Sportback from Fontain!

He seems pretty chuffed with it.

Small world innit! Yes, the salesman said your mate was up to try a silver A3 Sportback (more basic spec I think), then this one. We were secretly hoping he'd not be able to afford it

Tell him to keep an eye on the drivers seat leather - even at 8,800 miles IMO there was some wear on it - try to get it replaced under Audi warranty if it degrades soon.

I think the GTI is a better choice for us - I can sit in the rear with legroom and lots of headroom (6ft 5). I'd never manage that in the A3 Sportback. So with the GTI in the family it means I don't need a 4 door car

[RacingTeatray]

Cheers for the tip - will take a look myself. Happen to be staying with him on Friday when he is going to collect it and so will check it out.

Yep he's a sensible sort and was considering a 2.0TDi that was well within his budget but then saw the 2.0TQ and forgot all about being sensible and the TDi.

[bennno]

next door have just got a new Leon FR and I would say its a more attractive car than the ageing, expensive A3 or the fairly bland Golf IMHO

bennno

[RacingTeatray]

I went in a new Leon in Barcelona and I have to say that in the metal, painted black, it was, almost, something of a looker. Possibly because black masks that simply awful drooping swage line.

But the interior was a bit cruddy compared with the Golf and especially the A3. Mind you I don't like the interior in the new Golf either - ugly dashboard.