Audi a3 or VW Golf?

Mk 4 golf, Mk 1 (??!!) Audi.

Looking to get a new car before university, have narrowed it down to the above two (although any new options welcomed). Very similar cars, would be looking at the 1.4/1.6 Golf and 1.6 Audi. Advantage with the Audi being it's much easier to find a 3 door black one with alloys :redface:

Any opinions welcome.

Reply 1

dh00001

16

well the a3 uses a golf chasis :p:

would rather the a3 personally though
have you looked at the alfa romeo 147?

Reply 2

tomc87

1

How much do you want to spend? For me, Audi wins for style and it's a bit less common than the Golf. Both have good interiors though. Don't buy the 1.4 in the Golf if you're expecting any performance at all - I think the 1.6 should be adequate in both cars, but if you can afford insurance it may be worth looking at the 1.8 (Audi only) or the 110bhp TDI (both cars).
If you're going with the 1.6, i'd say Audi - mainly because most base A3s are higher spec than the equivalent engined Golfs. Go for 'Sport' or 'SE', i've only experienced an SE, but Sport are better tuned for cornering according to reviews.
I think all A3s were 3dr until 2000.
As for alternatives, you could look at the Seat Leon :smile:

Reply 3

davemarkey

2

Mk4 golf obviously.

The thing I don't like about a3's are that I don't see the point. You may aswell get a golf or an a4 if you really want an audi. The interior is much more modern in the mk4 golf and it looks a million times better externally that the a3.

Try to get a golf 1.6SE. It may not have alloys, but you can pick up a decent set for about £200-300.

GET THE GOLF! :biggrin:

Reply 4

AT82

I prefer the Audi. But for me both cars say I am a bit of a twit with too much money :biggrin:

. Give me an Alfa anyday.

Reply 5

Lady_Muck

OP

14

I don't like the alfa. Budget wouldn't be massive, it's me spending it now not parentals, about £4k TOPS but would rather have around 3k. Was looking at the clio, but want something bigger and sportier now.

Interior in the golf is perhaps nicer, A3 looks a little more dated. I just really want a 3 door black one (to be an ultimate cliche) but obviously finding this in a 1.6 golf is harder than in Audi land.

Would like a TDi, again, those in black, with alloys are like hens teeth. Then there's the insurance prob. I'm too fussy to be buying secondhand!

If I were to buy a golf minus alloys, how the hell do you get them put on and where do you get them from?!

Reply 6

JayEm

14

www.topgear.co.uk have quite a large selection or look on eBay. You can put them on yourself if you buy them with tyres or take them to your local tyre fitter.

Reply 7

tomc87

1

Lady_Muck

I don't like the alfa. Budget wouldn't be massive, it's me spending it now not parentals, about £4k TOPS but would rather have around 3k.

I think you'll struggle to get a TDI (other than maybe the 90bhp) in either of those cars for that amount of money... It depends how much you want a prestige brand, but you could consider high spec versions of mainstream cars...they'd be better value for money and you could spend the extra on insurance.

Reply 8

AesopRock

2

Lady_Muck

I don't like the alfa. Budget wouldn't be massive, it's me spending it now not parentals, about £4k TOPS but would rather have around 3k. Was looking at the clio, but want something bigger and sportier now.

You could definitely find an Alfa 147 in that price range. Check out autotrader for cars in your area.

btw, you do know that you're not allowed to take a car to Oxford Brookes right? Oxford is not a car friendly place.

Reply 9

Né Stig

15

Naturally, I've learnt a lot about the 147 since I'm getting one come confirmation of something you don't need to know about. The 2.0 Alfa 147 is quite nice still, I have to say. They are very quick as I had a play with one not long ago, but they get through extortionate amounts of fuel apparently. A neighbour of mine has recently bought a beatutiful colour-coded 1.6 147. So I promptly asked her how she's finding it, to which she said everything is wonderful apart from the fuel. Asking me why I asked, telling her I was getting the GTA option went down with hysterics. So the fuel consumption appears to be terrible on the 147 - but overall, the engines are sound.

From the Golf and A3 (last generation), I would have to say the Golf. Why? :
1) Price. A3 owners think they're Hampstead when in fact they're Kilburn.

And that's it. Otherwise the A3 offers better specification with the majority of their models offering SE (special equipment) specifications. The A3 also has a broader range of engines with many 1.6 versions with SE pack, many 1.8 with sport and SE included. The Golf MK IV does do a 1.8, but only in 1998. They come, they saw, they went. It should have remained actually as the 1.6 litre is just ridiculously slow and cumbersome. The 2.0 GTi is a joke on many levels, most notably insurance, whereas the 1.8litre entry version would have solved all aspects perfectly.

Also, the 1.6 litre Golf is available with alloys in it's abundance. My only advice is to get the VW with VW alloys attached, otherwise its been slaughtered. Too many Golf's are falling in the hands of pillocks who have no idea when to stop modifying.

Audi a3 or VW Golf?

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