Bought The Thing

"notsomethingstructural" (notsomethingstructural)
09/22/2020 at 21:24 • Filed to: None

I test drove 10 different cars and sat in the drivers seat of 4 others. 13 of these 14 were different makes and models. My first and second favorites by a pretty considerable margin were the only repeats - A3 2.0T quattros.

Good car. Nice car

Put this guy up on a lift for a PPI at a pretty reputable Audi dealer in the area. They said mechanically / underbody it was well inside the top 25% of 5-year old A3’s they look at. The CARFAX listed an accident but they said either it wasn’t repaired because it was so minor, or it was done at an extremely capable Audi dealership. In their words, if a repair was even done, they couldn’t see it .

So, there you have it. This will be my first German car. While doing the PPI I asked them to price out their recommended service for it. They suggested the 35,000 mile major (this has 43,000) because the DCT should really have documented fluid changes. Out the door price $1700.

My first German car indeed

DISCUSSION (26)

UserNotFound > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 21:33

Nifty

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 21:37

These things have always tempted me as a DD. I know FWD based and all but it’s the same platform as a GTI which is a total hoot to drive. Plus they look awesome - reminds me of the B5 A4 that was popular when I was a kid. And silver is the right color. Keep us posted on how it goes!

notsomethingstructural > UserNotFound
09/22/2020 at 21:40

I’m a sucker for the MMI which is definitely very nifty

Textured Soy Protein > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 21:41

ONE OF US ONE OF US

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/uhhh-wtf-are-we-all-doing-buying-cars-during-covid-1845134647

notsomethingstructural > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
09/22/2020 at 21:48

So I didn’t drive a GTI but I drove the 1.6 TFSI or whatever, and like a lot of moderately powered lightweight FWD cars (especially with DSG’s geared so ludicrously short in 1-3 these days) it struggled to put power down in first unless you were pointing it perfectly straight. The Audi did not have this issue . Honestly FWD is fine for 95% of the time I’ll drive it, but the other 5% it’s a huge plus that it has the ability to put it through the rubber to the road.

notsomethingstructural > Textured Soy Protein
09/22/2020 at 21:48

Technically this was post-covid for me, as “during covid” I didn’t yet have this job

Textured Soy Protein > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 21:56

Uh, it’s not post covid for anyone...

I suppose if you’re not in the US of A then maybe other places have more normal less pandemic-y existences, but you said Carfax which I’m fairly certain is murrican.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 22:19

Congrats!

jminer > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 22:40

Congrats!

My first german has been dead reliable, hope it’s the same for you.

Spasoje > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 22:51

Congrats and welcome to the German car fold! You’ll enjoy it here

Snuze: Needs another Swede > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 22:52

Very cool! Congratulations!

VaporishPuma > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 23:20

A fine looking car indeed. Welcome to German car ownership. Keep up on maintenance and you will be very pleased!

What year is that A3?

CompactLuxuryFan > notsomethingstructural
09/22/2020 at 23:30

Nice! 2.0T quattro is definitely the way to go with these I think. They seem to have come in to fill the “perfect daily driver bargain” spot recently occupied by the B7 A4 that the B8 never depreciated enough to get down to. I had one as a loaner once when my A4 was in for service. I liked it a whole lot but the MSRP on the window sticker was well into the 40s. Now they’re screaming deals.

notsomethingstructural > Textured Soy Protein
09/23/2020 at 07:44

I meant it more like stages in my life. Plus I’m in NYC and bought the car in CT. Trust me, compared to April-July, this is post-covid

notsomethingstructural > VaporishPuma
09/23/2020 at 07:46

2016, which is just about the sweet spot aside from being 2 weeks out of warranty. 2017 would have been better since it had car play, but it was a significant price jump from 16 to 17. A 16 with Nav was a smarter buy for me.

notsomethingstructural > jminer
09/23/2020 at 07:48

I’m on the fence about whether to drop like another $2k on a Fidelity warranty for the next 18-24 months (due to estimated mileage). That’s one of the only decisions left for me. They used to underwrite the Audi one so it’s supposed to be very good.

notsomethingstructural > Spasoje
09/23/2020 at 07:48

Thanks!

notsomethingstructural > Snuze: Needs another Swede
09/23/2020 at 07:48

Pick it up Monday, can’t wait

notsomethingstructural > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/23/2020 at 07:48

Thanks!

notsomethingstructural > CompactLuxuryFan
09/23/2020 at 07:53

Yeah, I’m a little nervous about the depreciation on it, but it seems like some of the older Audi’s hold their value pretty well. With Audi it seems like the first owner eats the depreciation curve, with Benz it seems like the second. With BMW it seems like both. I’m sure you’ll all hear how it goes.

jminer > notsomethingstructural
09/23/2020 at 10:25

Mine was a TDI Sportwgen with a CPO but nothing has broken in over a year and a half. Done nothing but oil and filter changes.

notsomethingstructural > jminer
09/23/2020 at 10:39

Supposedly the TDI’s are pretty bulletproof, but I would have only been able to buy a 2015 with high-def Nav to make my must-have checklist and there weren’t many around me. Plus I’d have to factor in at least a grand to tune it to get it closer to what I was looking for on performance. At that point I might have been better off with a Mazda 3 which sure seems to have licensed the Audi MMI anyways.

jminer > notsomethingstructural
09/23/2020 at 10:55

I very much like the simple head unit in my TDI. Nav is actively avoided by me.

The 14 TDI drives like a nice 15 year old car with no driving or safety tech other than a backup camera and I love it.

notsomethingstructural > jminer
09/23/2020 at 11:02

Yeah, I hear you. I’ve always had super analog cars. But I’m more or less a traveling salesman now, I need something that’s a bit more set-it-and-forget-it with Bluetooth. I can’t overlook the practicality or letting the car do the heavy lifting instead of shouting into speakerphone while I switch back and forth between that and google maps. I’m going hoarse, and with gas and maintenance on an RX8 also broke.

jminer > notsomethingstructural
09/23/2020 at 11:17

I do absolutely love bluetooth, and this has that. I’ve had it in my car for 12 years though so I forget about that.

I don’t really take calls while driving, but use it for music and google maps directions.

Nav is definitely nice sometimes. It is definitely an upgrade over a window mount on a phone. My experience with a Sync gen1 Ford has very much tainted me on having that much tech on a dash though.

notsomethingstructural > jminer
09/23/2020 at 12:00

oh wow mister fancy “i like analog cars but only if they have bluetooth”, mister “oh yeah ive had bluetooth since before it was invented” im sorry my 2005 and older shitboxes wouldnt meet your high standards sir