Audi A3 (1996 - 2003) 1.8 T Sport 5d (2000/W) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
I wanted a car which would still look fresh when other cars of the same age looked tired... hopefully a bit like me!
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
They like it, are always surprised when I say how old it is and the number of miles its done as it still looks clean and relatively new.
Would you buy this car again and why?
Yes. Despite the problems I've had, they emerged during 5 years of ownership. I still enjoy driving it and am happy that it still looks and feels the same as the day I bought it
What are you likely to buy next?
Don't like the shape of the new generation 3 or 5 door Audi A3s, and having driven one did not see any improvement over my current car
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchise
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£12,400
When did you buy the car?
March 2003
Did you get a good deal and why?
Deal was competitive £600 below Parker's guide recommended Franchise price... but there were some problems I should have spotted earlier.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
What was the dealer like?
Fine while taking my money. Less so when it turned out the car had been cosmetically accident damaged and badly repaired - used courtesy car for a month while we argued about it. Eventually sorted with them doing repairs and giving me a CD multichanger
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Smooth, Quiet, Powerful, Solid Gear Box, Good steering (don't agree with the 'wooden' feeling so often used to describe the steering of this car and I've driven some very sporty machinery in the past). A little bit soft in the corners despite the sports suspension but I got the car to blast past cars on A road straights at low(ish) revs, not to get nose bleeds while going round corners.
What's it like to park?
Have to remove rear head rests to see. Nurfed the rear bumper 3 times in last 8 years.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Water bottle sensor twice as a result of hard frost both times (triggers Coolant alarm). Driver Information System Screen crystals all stopped working - new computer = £600. Failed to start resulting in RAC call out - traced to coroded starter motor electrical wire. CD Player - won't go back a track. Alarm - intermitant fault, triggers when car starts for 5 seconds then fine. Loud thumping suspension over speed bumps and pot holes despite soft set up.
What's most practical about your car?
5 doors means my passengers don't have to crawl into the back... makes it seem a bit more civilised for a 'prestige' brand
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
Personalised plate totally disguises that the car is 8 years old. Paintwork still fresh. Car still quiet.
