Acceptable Mileage on Used Audi A3

[MotorGirl]

Hi chaps

Wondered if you could give me some advice about what's an acceptable mileage when buying a used Audi A3?

I'm open to both petrol and diesel - and around the 2018 mark.

Thinking higher mileage is probably better on a diesel car? 🤔

Thanks in advance 

[cliffcoggin]

That's like asking how long is a piece of string. As long as it has a full service history, the features you want, and is affordable, then take your pick. Naturally you will only get what you pay for, so the higher mileage cars will generally be cheaper, however a carefully driven and well maintained 100000 mile car will be better than a 50000 mile car that has been thrashed by a boy racer. That's why condition and service history are so important. If you are not mechanically minded, take somebody with you who is when you look at possible purchases.

Let me add two things to the above. [1] Don't be sucked into any dealer supplied extended warranty. They are all worthless. [2] Bear in mind the big changes to car tax that are coming in April.

[MotorGirl]

Hmmm - what's the car tax change? 😱

[Steve Q]

Think the car tax changed only affect new cars I understand. But happily proven wrong. 

As Cliff has said service history is key. Proof of cambelt and water pump changes should be seen on cars of that age plus proof of gearbox oil changes etc. 

Dpf and egr can fail on diesels and are £1k plus bills. 

The amount of mileage and type of mileage will determine whether petrol or diesel is better for you. 

[cliffcoggin]

22 minutes ago, Steve Q said:

Think the car tax changed only affect new cars I understand. But happily proven wrong. 

Indeed it is only new cars. My apologies.

[MotorGirl]

1 hour ago, Steve Q said:

Think the car tax changed only affect new cars I understand. But happily proven wrong. 

As Cliff has said service history is key. Proof of cambelt and water pump changes should be seen on cars of that age plus proof of gearbox oil changes etc. 

Dpf and egr can fail on diesels and are £1k plus bills. 

The amount of mileage and type of mileage will determine whether petrol or diesel is better for you. 

Thank you - to be honest I don't do a lot of mileage as a rule.  It's just that a lot of the Petrol mileage is quite high for my £12k budget - also looking at the Q2.  But your advice re: cambelt, water pump etc is really helpful 😊. Thanks!

[Steve Q]

3 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Indeed it is only new cars. My apologies.

To be fair, there's been a lot of confusion around it. 

[Steve Q]

2 hours ago, MotorGirl said:

Thank you - to be honest I don't do a lot of mileage as a rule.  It's just that a lot of the Petrol mileage is quite high for my £12k budget - also looking at the Q2.  But your advice re: cambelt, water pump etc is really helpful 😊. Thanks!

You're welcome. How many miles? And is it town or motorway miles etc. 

[MotorGirl]

34 minutes ago, Steve Q said:

You're welcome. How many miles? And is it town or motorway miles etc. 

Town generally - and weekends. I work from home so really don't use it that much - probs about 7000 per year

[spartacus 68]

Add my tuppence worth in.

If diesel and this has been mentioned, then water-pump, cambelt should have been done. Generally speaking, apply 5 years or 60k miles on 4-cylinder engines. Most engines are interference and if it snaps, then it's expensive to repair. This could be a potential deal-breaker if you find the right car. Audi might even quote a recommended mileage level in the future, but by that point the car is out of warranty. VAG are constantly revising their belt intervals - so best to enquire.

Quick scan on Audi Approved Used website, shows just 1 vehicle and it's a less than desirable saloon 1.6TDi in black at £10,700 with 84k miles. The 1.6TDi is a bit agricultural and old technology now. Approved Audi does have some benefits and you have peace of mind during the warranty period, which is usually 1 year, but sometimes if buying with their finance they'll make it 2 years and add in free servicing. In addition you can extend warranty buy buying an additional year. If you can increase your budget just marginally then £13k gets you a 1.5 TFSi Sportback in white on an 18 plate with 41k miles and finished in white. The 1.5TSi engine was introduced in 2016 and I think the belt is replaced on mileage of 180k miles or 15 years. Also no pulleys to line up the crank, so it's a sophisticated dealer-only tool the main dealer will use wired to a laptop.

Here's how I approach buying cars if it's any help. Model, colour, specification, mileage, budget and of course history.

Specification is important. As if it doesn't have it, then it's expensive to retro-fit. So if LED headlights are non negotiable over standard halogen, or heated seats, or an auto-box, or reversing camera, then add into your search. Poverty-spec cars will lose their appeal quite quickly.

Mileage wise I'd be looking at around 50k miles, given we had lock-down during covid. Good luck with your search.

Watch third-party warranties from independent dealers. They are so heavily loaded toward the dealer, such as service car every 6 months or 6,000 miles, and difficult to claim against.

[Steve Q]

2 hours ago, MotorGirl said:

Town generally - and weekends. I work from home so really don't use it that much - probs about 7000 per year

Definitely go for petrol in my opinion. 

[Sid2020]

Cars registered either side of  April 2017 can have quite big differences in tax so worth checking 

[MotorGirl]

1 hour ago, spartacus 68 said:

Add my tuppence worth in.

If diesel and this has been mentioned, then water-pump, cambelt should have been done. Generally speaking, apply 5 years or 60k miles on 4-cylinder engines. Most engines are interference and if it snaps, then it's expensive to repair. This could be a potential deal-breaker if you find the right car. Audi might even quote a recommended mileage level in the future, but by that point the car is out of warranty. VAG are constantly revising their belt intervals - so best to enquire.

Quick scan on Audi Approved Used website, shows just 1 vehicle and it's a less than desirable saloon 1.6TDi in black at £10,700 with 84k miles. The 1.6TDi is a bit agricultural and old technology now. Approved Audi does have some benefits and you have peace of mind during the warranty period, which is usually 1 year, but sometimes if buying with their finance they'll make it 2 years and add in free servicing. In addition you can extend warranty buy buying an additional year. If you can increase your budget just marginally then £13k gets you a 1.5 TFSi Sportback in white on an 18 plate with 41k miles and finished in white. The 1.5TSi engine was introduced in 2016 and I think the belt is replaced on mileage of 180k miles or 15 years. Also no pulleys to line up the crank, so it's a sophisticated dealer-only tool the main dealer will use wired to a laptop.

Here's how I approach buying cars if it's any help. Model, colour, specification, mileage, budget and of course history.

Specification is important. As if it doesn't have it, then it's expensive to retro-fit. So if LED headlights are non negotiable over standard halogen, or heated seats, or an auto-box, or reversing camera, then add into your search. Poverty-spec cars will lose their appeal quite quickly.

Mileage wise I'd be looking at around 50k miles, given we had lock-down during covid. Good luck with your search.

Watch third-party warranties from independent dealers. They are so heavily loaded toward the dealer, such as service car every 6 months or 6,000 miles, and difficult to claim against.

Thanks so much - this is really helpful 🙏

[MotorGirl]

Are 2016 models to be avoided? 🤔

[Sid2020]

2016 A3’s are good solid cars 

Edited 17 hours ago by Sid2020

[Steve Q]

11 hours ago, MotorGirl said:

Are 2016 models to be avoided? 🤔

What's the source? 

Have you looked at buyers guides on YouTube? Worth a watch if not. 

[MotorGirl]

35 minutes ago, Steve Q said:

What's the source? 

Have you looked at buyers guides on YouTube? Worth a watch if not. 

That was *really* helpful! Thanks!

[Steve Q]

34 minutes ago, MotorGirl said:

That was *really* helpful! Thanks!

You're welcome 🙂

[MotorGirl]

Any thoughts on the 1 litre? 😬

[cliffcoggin]

17 hours ago, Sid2020 said:

2016 A3’s are good solid cars 

So was my 2007 A3 diesel 2 litre, though rather long in the tooth now.