Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts?

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 02:42
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - asdf asdf

So I'm in the market for a car, looking for something fun to drive/own, but not too expensive. Wouldn't be putting too many miles on it, say 5k a year.

Was thinking this 2.0 TFSI S line Sportback looked not too bad. Any thoughts on owning one of these that's getting on for 100k miles?

I don't mind throwing a bit of cash at it for usual high milage stuff. More worried about how the engine, 4WD and major mechanical bits hold up over time.

Also open to hearing other somewhat dubious ideas!

Edited by asdf asdf on 13/06/2020 at 02:45

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 05:47
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - S40 Man

£5700 sounds like a lot for a 12 year old car?

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 06:37
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - madf

Ad does not mention service history so I assume there is none and it's a dog thrashed to death and in need of £1000s spent on it.

Edit

MOT history suggest a lack of maintenance.

Edited by madf on 13/06/2020 at 06:40

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 08:23
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - badbusdriver

First thing i'd like to point out is that 90k miles is not a lot for a 12 year old car, that is only 7.5k per year!. Also, while £5700 might be a lot for some 12 year old cars, i don't think it is a lot for a 200bhp 4wd hot hatch.

Were this car a manual, and had a full service history, i'd be OK with it assuming a thorough inspection did not reveal any worries. But the fact that it is the S-Tronic dual clutch automated manual?, no thanks!. Also, if, as madf says, MOT history suggests a lack of maintenence, that can't be a good thing on a car like this.

Depending on what your budget is, and assuming you can find one, how about a Mazda 3 MPS?. This has 256bhp, a manual gearbox, and examples start from about £6k. The 6 MPS is a little bigger, a little older and a bit cheaper (they start under £5k), but has the same running gear.

Or, using the same engine as the Audi, the Seat Leon TSI FR, Skoda Octavia VRS.

Vauxhall Astra VXR?. Or, if you really fancy taking a punt on a high miler, i did find a 111k 2016 Astra 1.6 turbo (200bhp) Elite for £6.5k,

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20200608990...1

Also, £6k is enough to get into a highish mileage Fiesta ST (1.6 turbo, 180bhp). Which surely would be hard to ignore unless it is too small?

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 08:48
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - FiestaOwner
MOT history suggest a lack of maintenance.

Don't agree with you here. The MOT history looks quite good. There is no mention of any:suspension, play in bushes, steering, bearing, CV joint/ gaitor, exhaust or corrosion issues.

The MOT history is filled up tith the usual dross of advisories (which testers love to use) including:

Engine and covers fitted (well I'm glad the engine was fitted)

Nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit 3.5mm (It's 1.9mm above the legal limit, why is it an advisory?)

Brake discs worn, but not excessively (If the wear isn't excessive, why mention it)

I would only consider this car, if you know of a good specialist, to do the maintenance on it, and who would look over the car before you bought it. This is an old complex car, with a good chance of hitting you with very expensive repair bills.

I can however, see the attraction of this car.

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 10:27
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - Avant

Whatever you buy, go for one with a full service history. If that can't be proved, walk away.

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 10:42
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - daveyjp

Completely agree.

Full means invoices showing all the work which is required has been done, in particular expensive scheduled work on expensive items such as cambelt and tensioners, 4wd system, any DSG gearbox maintenance.

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Sat 13 Jun 2020 22:29
Audi A3 Sportback - Buying a high miler A3 quattro - thoughts? - SLO76
I wouldn’t touch it. Leave the performance metal until you can afford a good low mileage car with history. Most of them have been hammered senseless and probably mapped for extra power which puts a great deal of excess stress on already aged and worn components.
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