Both nice cars but I still don't trust VAG's automated manual gearboxes DSG/S-Tronic, there's just too high a failure rate even among the later wet clutch types and the trade are rightly wary of them which means you'll suffer come trade in time. I'd go for a manual and rate both cars but the A6 will lose more value and be less saleable as there's weak demand for large manual exec saloons after 5yrs so my head would put me in the A3 or better yet the more powerful, better value Golf GTi again with a manual box and without that unnecessary fuel sapping 4wd system. If you must have one of these two then take out an extended Audi warranty and offload before it expires.

Thanks SLO. I prefer automatics - living in Bristol the stop start traffic (when I can face it) means an auto is an essential.

The Golf was on my list but I prefer the look of the A3 - it just feels a little more 'premium' than the Golf.

I've had a couple of DSG equiped cars (got a Tiguan on a 65 plate with the 2.0d 187PS engine) and both have been fine - but I will be shot of it before the warranty expires.

If I went for the A3 or A6 I would probably only keep for 2 years and then trade on for a newer car - thus avoiding being out of warranty.

"If I went for the A3 or A6 I would probably only keep for 2 years and then trade on for a newer car - thus avoiding being out of warranty." That being the case then you're free to buy the car you enjoy driving the most. They're very different beasts. One a firmer riding hot(ish) hatch and the other a high speed luxury express built for pounding motorways. Cost no object and stuck with the choice of these two I'd take the A3 but that's down do a slight preference for handling over ride on my part and the easier parking in the overly tight car parks we have in Britain. If I did a lot of distance driving that choice would reverse. Arrange a decent test drive in each then takes yer pick... I'd add a drive in a BM 5 series too for comparison. BM's auto boxes have a good reputation and I find the drive a little more involved than the big Audi. Your budget would afford you a very nice example. Auto Trader: www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20170422468...2

You rotter! I thought I'd narrowed it down and now you've gone and thrown another option in!

You make a lot of sense and I really appreciate your thoughts. I'm too drawn to the A3 but having had an XF in the past I also appreciate the 'luxury express' side of motoring too.

Here's another spanner in the works:

Mercedes C Class C200 petrol or C220 if you do go diesel.

Nice try but I have a B Class Merc at the moment (and had an SLK before that). I want a change of brand and to be honest I don't much like any of the current Merc line up - too blingy. The interiors are nice though.

You could 'split the difference' and go for an A4, or perhaps a Q2. It'll be worth checking the deals available on new Audis through the brokers: they hold their value well and sometimes you don't save very much by buying nearly-new.

A sound suggestion however the A4 (whilst being a great car) just reminds me too much of a repmobile.

I did price up a new A3 using Carwow, Carfile and Drive the Deal. It would cost me around £29k for the spec I'm after. A secondhand A3 to a similar spec (up to 1 year old and no more then 5k miles) is around £26k. If I extend that to 15k miles and just over a year old the price drops to about £23k.

So I can save about £3k to £5k by buying a year old car. Just about worth it I'd say.

I don't know if the time of year makes much of a difference? For example, if I waited until January to buy would a dealer be more willing to do a deal than now? I'm not in any rush to do a deal now.

The Q2 I don't like the look of.

Edited by csgmart on 16/08/2017 at 20:19

You could try something a little different and go for new Alfa Giulia. All models have the brilliant ZF gearbox used in the 3 series and hopefully won't reach Rep mobile status.

I did look at this - a very nice car but the spec I wanted made it over £30k - even using a broker. Maybe in a year or two when they come on the 2nd hand market.