DM

Hi all,

Audi newbie here!

I'm about to buy a 1998 Audi A3 1.6 Sport ith 99k miles on it for about
£5000. I'd like some advice on things I should look for before I buy it and
anything that could go wrong?
It seems good value - it has full Audi history and all the extras (climate,
computer, remote locking, etc).

What are the running costs like?

It seems a high mileage but all of them around this age seem at least 100k+
should I be concerned about this?

Thanks All!

Dan.

Haydn Vernals

Dan

As you might have seen from an earlier thread, my 90k A3 1.6 Sport has
just suffered a catostrophic gearbox failure and will cost me near on
£1650 (including clutch) to put right. My dealer in Sheffield was so
suprised he spent almost an hour begging Audi for a contribution, even
though the car is 4yrs old. He didnt actually get it, but some how
shows his faith in the car and the suprise at the dealer at the
failure.

Oh gawd don't buy you hear ???

Well, I'm driving around in a hired Toyota Avensis and can't wait to
have my trusty A3 back, the drive especially with the sports
suspension is great, it's powerful enough for UK roads in 99% of mad
overtaking moments ! LOL and the quality of finish in the A3 is still
better than the state of the art 2003 model Toyota. Thats pretty good
considering my "series 1" A3 originally appeared in 1996.

My verdict ? I'm having to pa out nearly £2k this weekend, but it's
worth it, no other hot (warm) hatch can come close for me on looks,
style, finish and wow factor.

Buy with a service history, check the mileage is motorway miles and
get the seller to drive the car first, if he drives it like a nutter
then avoid, if he drives it fast, likes to rev the engine, but not
strangle it, then the engine will be a gem....

Running costs as you can see could be high, but insurance, regular
services and routine parts are pretty much on a par with the mass
market. Faults on mine ? Erm... Gearbox... Erm.... Erm.... oh
headlight... erm.... Hmmm.... stonechips ;¬) Get my drift ?

Best wishes

Haydn

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 18:21:01 -0000, "DM" <dann_xtc@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>Audi newbie here!
>
>I'm about to buy a 1998 Audi A3 1.6 Sport ith 99k miles on it for about
>£5000. I'd like some advice on things I should look for before I buy it and
>anything that could go wrong?
>It seems good value - it has full Audi history and all the extras (climate,
>computer, remote locking, etc).
>
>What are the running costs like?
>
>It seems a high mileage but all of them around this age seem at least 100k+
>should I be concerned about this?
>
>Thanks All!
>
>Dan.
>

Akiralx

"DM" <dann_xtc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fc67754@news.greennet.net...
> Hi all,
>
> Audi newbie here!
>
> I'm about to buy a 1998 Audi A3 1.6 Sport ith 99k miles on it for about
> £5000. I'd like some advice on things I should look for before I buy it
and
> anything that could go wrong?
> It seems good value - it has full Audi history and all the extras
(climate,
> computer, remote locking, etc).
>
> What are the running costs like?
>
> It seems a high mileage but all of them around this age seem at least
100k+
> should I be concerned about this?
>
> Thanks All!
>
> Dan.

I have an identical spec A3 from 2000, which cost £12K from a dealer last
December with 37K on it. Sounds like a reasonable price to me: I saw
similar high mileage A3s and they were about £7K - is it warrantied from a
dealer? If so you get 12 months breakdown cover as well.

There is a hidden boombox in the left hand boot side compartment if you add
any new ICE equipment (I left it out of the circuit when I put in a
CD/MiniDisc player).

I have found the build quality superb, pretty economical as well. This car
has no obvious things that could go wrong: the climate control is good,
check the tool kit inside the spare wheel is complete. Mine didn't have a
first aid kit in the glove box but I think it should have had. Variable
servicing, the car tells you when it needs taking in: as I say, I got mine
Dec 2002, may not need servicing until May 2004.

I would recommend the car, it has a beautiful quiet engine, excellent
handling and gearbox (despite the post above, which I was sorry to read -
touch wood!)

Cheers

Alex

Pedro Raposo

hi,


my second A3 1.6, with 90k km, make 350-+70 km per each 25,8lt fuel, for a
moderate/mix drive (for more race driving or with A/C its another history).
Aside a window lifter and a door lock and a paint very soft it's a good
option, maybe a little bit lack a "horses"......

my first one as a "problem" (big one) in the engine after a looooong history
with the seller and importer....bla bla I decide to sell them and by another
equal.


Pedro

Akiralx

"DM" <dann_xtc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fc67754@news.greennet.net...
> Hi all,
>
> Audi newbie here!
>
> I'm about to buy a 1998 Audi A3 1.6 Sport ith 99k miles on it for about
> £5000. I'd like some advice on things I should look for before I buy it
and
> anything that could go wrong?
> It seems good value - it has full Audi history and all the extras
(climate,
> computer, remote locking, etc).
>
> What are the running costs like?
>
> It seems a high mileage but all of them around this age seem at least
100k+
> should I be concerned about this?

Also see: http://tinyurl.com/wwks