In the market for an A3... Need some advice.

[Turn8]

I'm looking to purchase a 2.0T A3 with DSG.

Is there any real advantage buying a new A3 with regards to engine or options?

If I buy used, are there better years than others? Any reliability concerns or problems?

Thanks,

Mike

[ceese]

If you are looking for DSG don't rule out a 3.2. Poorer gass mileage but they also tend to have fewer mechanical problems, have a little more power stock, you can super charge them and sound better with aftermarket exhaust. I'm also of the opinion that larger block engines last longer than smaller block ones and generally have fewer problems overall.

As far as buying new vs. used. You are going to get a lot of opinions and none of them necessarily wrong. I bought my car with 9k miles on the clock and saved over $20k off the sticker. Plus buying it as a certified preowned from an Audi dealer I got a 3 year 90k mile bumper to bumper warranty. In addition, I've found I get the exact same service from Audi if I'd purchased it new.

If you know cars and assess thier needs you can save money buying used from classifieds. If you don't know cars that well or if you just want the security of having a warranty and you want to save a few bucks over new I'd buy CPO (certified pre-owned). My last two cars have been CPO and I've been just as happy with them as if I'd bought new. The only time I'd consider new now over CPO is if I can't get or find what I want and need to custom order it.

As far as years go the 2.0 guys can tell you exactly what engine you want. Up until somewhere in mid 2008 the 2.0s had cam follower issues that were resolved with an engine redesign. I believe the 2009 onward facelifts all have the newer engine so if you are buying a 2.0t the newer engine is the one you want.

With regards to options they are all pretty much the same although the body changed slightly from 08 (pre-facelift) to 09 (facelift). I personally am not a fan of the facelift cars but many people like them better.

[tp.]

Yes buy 2009+ ONLY.

less problem for you in future.

[TBomb]

I'm looking to purchase a 2.0T A3 with DSG.

Is there any real advantage buying a new A3 with regards to engine or options?

If I buy used, are there better years than others? Any reliability concerns or problems?

Thanks,

Mike

The biggest advantage to buying new is that you can get it spec'ed exactly like you want it. If you want the Titanium Sport package (I would get it, just for the interior trim and seats), it is few and far between on the used market. Same goes for open sky/non open sky.

[Turn8]

Ceece,

If I found the 'right' car, I would not rule out a 3.2 since I owned an '08 R32 and had a very good experience with it.
At least, right now, I'm looking for something different, like the 2.0T. The last turbo car I owned was a 2002 VW GTI 337.

Tp,

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.
Did the earlier A3's have the infamous DSG, fuel injector, coils, or fuel pump issues?

TBomb,

You bring up a good point. Most of the A3's I've looked at so far have more equipment on them than I want.
Do you, or anybody know if Audi dealers negotiate on new car pricing?

Thanks,

Mike

[sleepy3]

I will never buy a new car depreciation is just too high soon as you get off that lot. I wish 2.0T with Quattro and 6MT was offered though. Dsg just seems like too much maintenance on an already high maintenance car.

[Turn8]

I will never buy a new car depreciation is just too high soon as you get off that lot. I wish 2.0T with Quattro and 6MT was offered though. Dsg just seems like too much maintenance on an already high maintenance car.

I am considering buying used for that very reason...

I agree with you regarding the DSG and its maintenance costs but, it is the best thing between a true manual and an automatic. And, at this time, I only plan on having one vehicle, I think it is the better choice.

Mike

[ceese]

When I bought my 3.2 the top of the mod list was a manual transmission swap. A month after driving with the DSG I loved it.

[everso]

When I bought my 3.2 the top of the mod list was a manual transmission swap. A month after driving with the DSG I loved it.

i bought my DSG with a fair bit of skepticism due to quattro A3s not arriving with manual transmissions----however I kept my TT which had a manual so i wasn't so scared of my manhood disappearing.

fast forward 9 months of driving a car with DSG and i couldn't be happier.....there is no manhood loss in driving a double clutch gearbox; in fact personally I think manuals should be reserved for older cars, and dual clutch gearboxes preferred for 'new' cars. It is simply wicked in every application.

those people who think DSGs are just regular 'automatics' are so wrong and show negligence of what is the finest transmission on the market right now IMO offered from all different marques (Audi, VW, Porsche, Ferrari, GT-R, etc...)

[Turn8]

I purchased an A3 last night.

It is a Black/Black '09 with the Premium, Titanium, and S-line packages. It was certified and had 30K miles. Nice car! I'll post some pics when I get the opportunity.

Mike

[TBomb]

I purchased an A3 last night.

It is a Black/Black '09 with the Premium, Titanium, and S-line packages. It was certified and had 30K miles. Nice car! I'll post some pics when I get the opportunity.

Mike

Awesome! Congrats on the purchase, sounds like you did really well...that's pretty much the perfect car, only thing better would be if it came with Quattro

[davis_449]

I purchased an A3 last night.

It is a Black/Black '09 with the Premium, Titanium, and S-line packages. It was certified and had 30K miles. Nice car! I'll post some pics when I get the opportunity.

Mike

Is it a 2.0T or 3.2? Either way, congrats on the purchase. It's a very nice car.

[wishntoboutside]

Congrads on the new ride. Now don't let all of thaw peeps be a bad influence on you to mod the he'll out of it-).

[ceese]

Congrats! and welcome to the forum. Looking forward to your pics.

[Turn8]

Awesome! Congrats on the purchase, sounds like you did really well...that's pretty much the perfect car, only thing better would be if it came with Quattro

Thanks, yah it doesn't have quattro but, it should be fun anyway.

Mike

[Turn8]

Is it a 2.0T or 3.2? Either way, congrats on the purchase. It's a very nice car.

It's the 2.0T.

The 3.2 would have been nice though. I do miss the sound of my R32.

Mike

[Turn8]

Congrads on the new ride. Now don't let all of thaw peeps be a bad influence on you to mod the he'll out of it-).

Thanks.

I've been poisoned by the modding bug for years now. I'll definitely be adding some mods... and I'll be seeking some advice regarding which companies to go with...

I'll want to add both an ECU and DSG tune. Some semi-hidden gauges. Since it's DSG, some S2T Performance paddle shifters and either some lowering springs or a coilover setup.
To start...

But first, I must sell my other car...

Mike

[Turn8]

Congrats! and welcome to the forum. Looking forward to your pics.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to taking them...

Mike

[yohoitztho]

dont know where you're located, but i know a friend looking to sell her bone stock 2.0T 2009 FWD A3 DSG for 20k - she only has i believe 35k miles on it

[tp.]

noods?

[Turn8]

Here are some pics of the new (or, new to me) A3;

[DeanneWhitely]

less problem for you in future.
[img]http://www.**********/7.jpg[/img]

[ceese]

Here are some pics of the new (or, new to me) A3;

very purty

[tp.]

awww what no HIDs

[Rob Cote]

Was gonna post don't do it, these cars suck. Was too late. Sorry for your loss.

[Turn8]

^^^^
Don't scare me!

awww what no HIDs

HID's would have been a nice addition, however, you don't have much of a choice when buying used...

Overall though, I have mixed feelings about HID. I really like the additional performance of the HID's but, I hate spending the extra money to replace the expensive bulbs when they burn-out.

Mike

[tp.]

^^^^
Don't scare me!



HID's would have been a nice addition, however, you don't have much of a choice when buying used...

Overall though, I have mixed feelings about HID. I really like the additional performance of the HID's but, I hate spending the extra money to replace the expensive bulbs when they burn-out.

Mike

i replace my bulbs only cost $100 use it for 5 years thats $20 a year.

[Fellow Gaucho]

Looks so clean! Nice pick I still like those Ti wheels even though they are a few years old.

You can always change the headlights (and tail lights) out later. Or not! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

[TBomb]

Looks so clean! Nice pick I still like those Ti wheels even though they are a few years old.

You can always change the headlights (and tail lights) out later. Or not! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

Yep, I would surf eBay.de and find a deal on some nice euro bi-xenons and switch them out. The euro facelift tail lights are a must if you ask me

[sleepy3]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...from-BKS/page9

start the modding!

[Turn8]

^^^^
The Euro-HID headlamps and tailamps look awesome!
I'm going to have to sell my other car....fast!

i replace my bulbs only cost $100 use it for 5 years thats $20 a year.

That's not bad. The HID bulbs for my old Cadillac and Lexus were something like $400 a bulb.
Crazy...

Mike

[RedLineRob]

get a quattro!

[TBomb]

^^^^
The Euro-HID headlamps and tailamps look awesome!
I'm going to have to sell my other car....fast!



That's not bad. The HID bulbs for my old Cadillac and Lexus were something like $400 a bulb.
Crazy...

Mike

Yeah, the ballasts can be expensive, but the lamps themselves are only like $100 and they last a pretty long time.

[tp.]

get a quattro!

he already bought the car lol lol