Looking to chop in the civic asap as baby is due in 10 days and put the car seat in for first time today and can see it being a bit of a nightmare getting in and out of the back all the time (3 door). My wife has this desire to own another Audi as really likes the looks of them. I am quite partial to them also and once I get over the rep mobile status, is a pretty nice looking car. We had one before and I always liked how it drove, until the diesel lump let go.

Anyway, the 1.4 TFSI seems a pretty decent little unit and I can get a 2009 car with sub-spaceship mileage for around the same value of the civic (ish).

Question is, is the little 1.4 going to lug around an A3? I am used to the civic (1.4) and it struggles around with it's 110 bhp, but the TFSI claims 125 BHP with no doubt more torque on tap from the turbo.

Anyone got one? how is the engine to live with, what life expectancy would you anticipate from it in something like the A3? I don't need / want it to feel fast as will be mainly a run around. I would also expect it to manage 40+mpg, am I dreaming?

Any view much appreciated.

 

Please feel free to ignore my (biased) views, but is there really nothing else that the two of you fancy as a shared drive? I just cannot imagine a car I'd rather own less. It would be one thing if it was just a dull car, but they aren't even particularly reliable!

 

40mpg from a petrol sounds optimistic. The A3 is decent family transport but i'd get the diesel if i were you. Ignoring that they are solid if somewhat inert, the interiors are usually nice. We got a Golf GTD for this purpose and bar the very small boot its ideal. With a carrycot and chassis its full.

Keep in mind a new baby needs a carrycot, chassis and its baby seat, thats a lot of space already. We have the Golf and a 3 series coupe, both are short on storage ime.

but after 5 months the carrycot gets binned anyway and pushchair is smaller

 

Tango, therein lies my problem. What else is there. I like the l like the look, prefer it to the golf and cant think of an alternative. Don't want a big car as no need for it and my wife doesn't want the hassle of a big car when parking etc. I can't think of anything I'd rather have?!?

Not interested in speed really, just a nice smooth drive around town. We have something a little livelier for high days and holidays..

1 series is too small in back, golf is much the same but prefer the a3, what else is there in hatch with 5 doors in the premium (ish) market?

 

I had the same criteria. nina wouldn't drive anything bigger. mate had a qashcai (sp?). he liked that.

 

you got an M3 didn't you Nottm? I just wanted something frugal for the daily run. Not a fan of the Qashqai really to be honest. You'd think finding a 'premium' hatch for the daily run would be simple enough.

Back to the engine itself, anyone have any experience? We did chat about it last night and as do little miles would probably go for the 2.0TFSI. I don't want another diesel as got burnt with the last one and the rattle just annoys me. I would rather pay a few hundred quid a year more and have a petrol engine under the bonnet. That and the fact, the petrol cars are a little cheaper and diesel prices are going up faster than petrol!

 

Phil,

You had one of those junk vages before & got bitterly disappointed by its unreliability!

I mean, it's better than a Reno, but it's got essentially all the same unreliable bits as a vag diseasel, except it's got a supercharger to go wrong too.

Maybe a bus pass & a dominatrix?

I mean, it's not as if the ergonomics or ride are much cop.

Shirley you could get a Mazda 3 or something for about £3.50 because they lack the "status" of the Orgy.

 

BMW M6?

 

I had (and moaned about) the 140ps TDI unit as became apparent it was a crock, but I did little research when we bought it as thought being a VAG it would be good (wrongly). I like the car, that is the problem. I've really gone off Jap stuff (other than the S) as it just feels poorly made and cheap inside and the german stuff seems better in this department. As I am not using for speed or thrills, it's purpose is to be a nice, comfortable and safe place to be for me and my new family. Friends had a Mazda 3 and it was ok, but just ok, felt pretty cheap inside.

It's a shame merc dont make anything like a hatch. I like the C30, but that is 3 door only. I just want a decent hatch with 5 doors and enough room for the fam.

 

IIRC the 1.4TFSi engine is the VAG turboed and supercharged engine?
I have a friend with it in a Polo GTi (140 BHP) it's a nippy little bugger, does ~50 mpg even with a heavy right foot but does like a tipple of oil.
You might prefer to look at the Polo GTi instead of the A3