I just swapped my 2010 1.4 TSi estate for a 2015 1.4 TSi estate, both elegance trim, heated seats, cold up here. I had the O2 for 3 years. 

 

I had no to low expectations. But OMG night and day. Cliche I know but it's from another planet. The O3 somehow managed to be sportier, more luxurious, more everything. The change from Swing to Bolero is a nice bonus, hill start was a nice surprise... But it's the steadier handling, nimbler acceleration and oh lord the reduced road noise! ...well I wasn't expecting.

 

I've also gone from Arctic green (with a factory flaw in the plate recess paint and plenty of auto wash scratches) to the mid blue (bubbles on the rims by the air valves but great paint)... And from black to onyx (?) inside - maybe the only niggles are the walnut and lack oF BT audio for my phone.

 

But I am so chuffed. Is it just me - the O3 seems soooo much better?

4 minutes ago, mcdeli said:

I just swapped my 2010 1.4 TSi estate for a 2015 1.4 TSi estate, both elegance trim, heated seats, cold up here. I had the O2 for 3 years. 

 

I had no to low expectations. But OMG night and day. Cliche I know but it's from another planet. The O3 somehow managed to be sportier, more luxurious, more everything. The change from Swing to Bolero is a nice bonus, hill start was a nice surprise... But it's the steadier handling, nimbler acceleration and oh lord the reduced road noise! ...well I wasn't expecting.

 

I've also gone from Arctic green (with a factory flaw in the plate recess paint and plenty of auto wash scratches) to the mid blue (bubbles on the rims by the air valves but great paint)... And from black to onyx (?) inside - maybe the only niggles are the walnut and lack oF BT audio for my phone.

 

But I am so chuffed. Is it just me - the O3 seems soooo much better?

 

Lack of Bluetooth audio?? You should definitely have that. If you have an Elegance, you’ll have the same MIB1 Amundsen unit I had on my L&K, and that had Bluetooth audio streaming. 

1 minute ago, GoneToBeemer said:

 

Lack of Bluetooth audio?? You should definitely have that. If you have an Elegance, you’ll have the same MIB1 Amundsen unit I had on my L&K, and that had Bluetooth audio streaming. 

AFAIK I have the Bolero (no nav - it's Finland, you can only get lost in Espoo and a map doesn't help). BT audio is there, but doesn't support my tax-dodger-Apple-phone-4 :( (other device manufacturers are available)

Just now, mcdeli said:

AFAIK I have the Bolero (no nav - it's Finland, you can only get lost in Espoo and a map doesn't help). BT audio is there, but doesn't support my tax-dodger-Apple-phone-4 :( (other device manufacturers are available)

 

Oh right, well maybe time to get a new phone to match your new car haha

1 minute ago, GoneToBeemer said:

 

Oh right, well maybe time to get a new phone to match your new car haha

 yeah, slippery slope!

Just now, mcdeli said:

 yeah, slippery slope!

 

“Man maths” can justify anything!

I swapped my late 2009 facelift MK2 VRS for a late 2013 MK3 VRS and the MK3 is definitely better overall. Not perfect; bonnet release and handbrake are on the incorrect side (lazy RHD) but generally happy all round.

1 minute ago, ahenners said:

I swapped my late 2009 facelift MK2 VRS for a late 2013 MK3 VRS and the MK3 is definitely better overall. Not perfect; bonnet release and handbrake are on the incorrect side (lazy RHD) but generally happy all round.

Almost the same for me.

 

2010 petrol vRS DSG estate swapped last May for 2014 petrol vRS DSG estate. 

 

The Mk2 was very well engineered & screwed together. The Mk3 does feel better in every respect (which you would expect when comparing a 2004 design to a 2013 design) but, as @ahenners says, there has been some cost-cutting. 

 

Nevertheless, LOVE my Mk3. Best car I’ve ever had. 

 

 

 

You are one of the exceptions in this forum saying the mk3 rides better,  and you are experiencing less noise.

Overall I'm going to agree with you, but I came from a 1.9D mk2 estate which really did not have 'sporting' associations so the 1.4tsi was always going to be  a lot better performance wise, and it is almost as economical.

The independent rear suspension on my mk2 was definitely better although I think the six year old shocks on it were starting to wear so the transfer to a brand new mk3 with torsion bar rear suspension was not so different in an as-new comparison. The mk2 was much better on unsurfaced roads.

For me the mk3 is quieter but that may have something to do with the tyres fitted. Anecdotally both the mk2 and mk3 noise levels are very sensitive to the brand/model tyre fitted.

I  find the lighter weight mk3 is less stable in cross-winds but far more nimble than its heavier predecessor. 

The mk2 was best long-distance touring vehicle I've ever owned though, but I do love driving the 1.4tsi mk3, even if it does not have an irs.

 

 

Edited 15 January, 20188 yr by Gerrycan

21 hours ago, Gerrycan said:

You are one of the exceptions in this forum saying the mk3 rides better,  and you are experiencing less noise.

Overall I'm going to agree with you, but I came from a 1.9D mk2 estate which really did not have 'sporting' associations so the 1.4tsi was always going to be  a lot better performance wise, and it is almost as economical.

The independent rear suspension on my mk2 was definitely better although I think the six year old shocks on it were starting to wear so the transfer to a brand new mk3 with torsion bar rear suspension was not so different in an as-new comparison. The mk2 was much better on unsurfaced roads.

For me the mk3 is quieter but that may have something to do with the tyres fitted. Anecdotally both the mk2 and mk3 noise levels are very sensitive to the brand/model tyre fitted.

I  find the lighter weight mk3 is less stable in cross-winds but far more nimble than its heavier predecessor. 

The mk2 was best long-distance touring vehicle I've ever owned though, but I do love driving the 1.4tsi mk3, even if it does not have an irs.

 

 

I've been trying to read up about the 2-3 cabin noise. I think my experience is a bit skewed -  just before I traded it in the O2 had to have a front bearing replaced, and something in the rear suspension. Both cars also in winters with studs at this time. The O2's winters were worn. All this could explain it.

 

Just realised I forgot one thing in the trade in - my chamois leather in the little driver's box!

 

Cross winds - good point - I'll watch for that. I had a half-glass-fibre Beetle (more than) a few years ago so I remember the feeling of changing lanes involuntarily when passing a lorry!

1 hour ago, mcdeli said:

Cross winds - good point - I'll watch for that. I had a half-glass-fibre Beetle (more than) a few years ago so I remember the feeling of changing lanes involuntarily when passing a lorry!

The mk3 is not THAT bad lol, It was just my mk2 was so stable (I'm sure that great lump of diesel iron under the bonnet contributed to that) so the comparison was only really noticeable when I made the transition and I don't really notice it now after driving the mk3 for over 3 years.

 

On 1/14/2018 at 22:28, ahenners said:

I swapped my late 2009 facelift MK2 VRS for a late 2013 MK3 VRS and the MK3 is definitely better overall. Not perfect; bonnet release and handbrake are on the incorrect side (lazy RHD) but generally happy all round.

 

That release is a right PITA for me, garage the car every night, reversed in so my passenger door is adjacent to my storage racks, so I can't pop the bonnet before setting off to check fluids etc - I have to take the car out of the garage to do it - that is 'Simply Stupid' 

 

I do very much miss my right-hand foot rest for when using cruise on the Motorway.

 

Apart from that the O3 is such an improvement over my O2 FL vRS, although I would have prefered a bit more trim to break up the look of the dash - the glove box door for example looks too plain (in my eyes).

I still have a Mk2 and a Mk3.

 

My experience may be a little screwed as the Mk2 is a basic SE complete with plastic steering wheel and 15" Wheels. The Mk3 is an Elegance and specced with loads of options, so the Mk3 is a nicer place to sit even before you have moved.

The Mk3 is a more refined drive and quieter. I find the ride better on the Mk3 except for over ridges and potholes when you feel the torsion beam setup but it's hardly poor and still better than some irs setups I've experienced.

 

Lee

11 hours ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

I do very much miss my right-hand foot rest for when using cruise on the Motorway.

 

Much agreement with this, might seem like a trivial thing but footrest is much more comfortable and places right foot in best possible position for quick transition back to accelerator should need arise. Deletion can't even have been a cost saving as footrest only required a slightly differently shaped piece of trim - no additional parts.

 

Should say my comments are based on experience of manual versions of O2 and O3.