Car advice (Read 110174 times)

Johnny Brown · July 15, 2015, 09:50:27 am

Quote from: Jim on July 14, 2015, 10:48:46 am

Quote from: Johnny Brown on July 13, 2015, 06:50:15 pm
If you don't have a boat or plane to tow about this may not be relevant.
Think that probably voids the warranty

Note that they are using an Audi not a beemer though.

Quote from: Fiend on July 14, 2015, 01:24:48 pm

Okay so depending on various perspectives...

I should either get an Audi or not get an Audi.
Or either get a BMW or not get a BMW.
Or get a V50 or not get a V50.

I'm well happy with my Audi but I'm not sure they are great value compared to other brands.

Fiend · July 15, 2015, 10:29:22 am

Quote from: webbo on July 15, 2015, 08:15:42 am

I tend to just turn the music up if I hear a strange noise.

I do too, but then 90% of the time the music IS the strange noise and then I get really confused

Thanks for that info. I've had a LOT of work done on the V70 but it is a 1998 model and I've taken it from 75k to 225k and on some reasonable rough drives, I think a lot of the work is age and wear and tear.

webbo · July 15, 2015, 12:53:47 pm

I had a V70 2.4 petrol automatic that I had been given. Drove it up the 4 wheel drive track to Spyeland, it was showing 4 to 5 miles to the gallon.

Fiend · July 17, 2015, 09:01:20 pm

Test drove a V50 D5 today. Cabin very comfy and familiar, ergonomics okay and steering wheel controls great. Was surprised by the turbo lag - a distinct lag from standstill then a distinct kick a second later. Much smoother at higher speeds. Is that normal for TDIs? Cabin storage space was quite poor, another issue to consider...

Paul B · July 17, 2015, 09:22:11 pm

Depends. VAG cars are often like this IMO and BMW are not, feeling more like a naturally aspirated larger engine. If they have two turbos (one small and one larger) then they feel even more like a naturally aspirated motor.

tomtom · July 17, 2015, 10:38:44 pm

What tdi was it? D2, 3, 4 or 5?

Fiend · July 17, 2015, 10:52:54 pm

D5.... Paul has been helpful in explaining torque and turbos to me better. Gonna try for some more test drives this weekend.

tomtom · July 18, 2015, 12:06:32 am

Ok then :p I know when I'm not wanted...

Fiend · July 18, 2015, 09:49:01 am

LOL no your advice has been very helpful too, I just have Paul to harass on FB.

Fiend · July 19, 2015, 06:56:04 pm

BMW 120d - only the 163 bhp version so not quite as nippy as the 177 I'd ideally go for. Nice ride, a bit more power from standstill than the V50 so a bit smoother to start, but still a big turbo kick if pushed, needed a light foot around 10-15mph. Cabin fine, more ergonomic than V50, but felt a little bit small. Surprisingly smooth while pootling and quiet on mway (could only test to 65 tho). Radio sound seemed a bit weak.

Fiend · July 20, 2015, 04:42:04 pm

A3 - surprisingly smooth off the mark, better than 1-series and V50. Good drive overall. A bit noisier m-way than others, may well be the s-line lower/stiffer suspension. Good stereo and best cabin. Big issue is lack of cruise control?! Quite odd for a decent spec car. Need to see if one could be retro-fitted....

Jim · July 20, 2015, 09:05:00 pm

literally everything in german cars is to spec. ie you pay extra for everything. the original owner of the car was either too tight to pay for it or didn't really need it or like it. You can get it proper OEM retro fitted fairly easily, I think the going price these days is around £350 for it.
This is why you never see audi's with sunroofs as they used to be a £750 extra, probably a lot more than that these day

Fiend · July 20, 2015, 09:25:40 pm

Yeah just looked into it, seems like a fairly standard thing to retrofit.

I don't need a sunroof, ever. They make me feel agrophobic driving.

tomtom · July 20, 2015, 09:30:54 pm

Quote from: Jim on July 20, 2015, 09:05:00 pm

literally everything in german cars is to spec. ie you pay extra for everything. the original owner of the car was either too tight to pay for it or didn't really need it or like it. You can get it proper OEM retro fitted fairly easily, I think the going price these days is around £350 for it.
This is why you never see audi's with sunroofs as they used to be a £750 extra, probably a lot more than that these day

VW don't seem to play this game, but Audi are shockers for it. Its one good reason for me never buying a new car, the additional bits and bobs depreciate far more rapidly in value than the car itself (if that makes any sense) - anyway - for the A3 cruise, I understand you need to get a new LH stalk (where the controls are) and someone to tinker with the software to activate it (amusingly for some called VAG-com IIRC). Jims probably about right £300-350 for someone to do it properly, possibly a bit less if you get the right bit on ebay.

Though bear in mind its now about even-stevens between the wanker driver status of a 1 series and an A3

tomtom · July 20, 2015, 09:43:51 pm

I know which one you're going to go for...

Fiend · July 20, 2015, 09:51:31 pm

Nobend.

I'm working on the basis that Audi wanker value now definitively exceeds Beemer wanker value

http://hazzydayz.com/audi-a3-8p-cruise-control--2004---2013-1639-p.asp seems promising at £230ish.

General question, is it better to go for a slightly older car with lower mileage (e.g. 2006 @ 70k) or a slightly newer car with higher mileage (e.g. 2007 @ 90k)?

tomtom · July 20, 2015, 10:09:09 pm

Swings and roundabouts Fiendo.. If it's the higher mileage one make sure it's had a cam belt change.. Or at least ask.. I take it it's a 5 door sport back version... Tbh there are loads of A3's about - so maybe wait and look for one with? Maybe get a better age/milage one?

Johnny Brown · July 20, 2015, 10:15:16 pm

I had cruise retrofitted on my 07 A3 last year for <£300. You need to make sure you get a car with at least a multi-function steering wheel though, otherwise it's a bigger job.

I would go for the older car with less miles. Once over 120K the value plummets.

Not convinced about the general wanker value of A3s given they are now almost as common as golfs. You need to earn wanker points with the s-line and quattro badges. Always something of the hairdresser about the 1-series isn't there?

Fiend · July 20, 2015, 10:18:12 pm

The local A3 I am quite tempted by is S-Line. And bright red

(Neither of which I actually want)

tomtom · July 20, 2015, 10:27:52 pm

More of a hairdresser then :D or estate agent...

Fiend · July 20, 2015, 10:29:30 pm

I was thinking along the lines of "gigantic inflamed choad".

Johnny Brown · July 20, 2015, 10:32:20 pm

Quote

The local A3 I am quite tempted by is S-Line. And bright red

Link? Mine is snooker ball blue and has all the wanker badges.

tomtom · July 20, 2015, 10:37:33 pm

I suspect that's not the Audi paint code/name :D

Fiend · July 20, 2015, 10:45:09 pm

Subtle eh.

I'm liking the A3 enough but now I'm having an existential crisis that I should also look at the 140 bhp version (slow

) for more choice...

Johnny Brown · July 20, 2015, 11:09:05 pm

That looks like a decent deal to me, very similar to mine. A few nice extras in there like the boot liner and arm rest, and the all-important MF steering wheel. No harm in bright colours, most of them seem to be grey, it'll look great parked next to mine at Stanage. You won't regret the 170 bhp.