Time to reach out for insiration and insight as we are looking to change our much loved 2012 CFGB 4x4 for a 2019 car hopefully as an upgrade. The only thing I can well do without is a pan roof but only due to the potential for water ingress, so advice from this Mk 3 forum would be appreciated.

I have my eye on a diesel L&K 4x4 wagon with a decent spec inc heated/cooled seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, surround camera, virtual dash, Canton sound, Apple car play, electric tailgate, blind spot assist, side assist etc etc.

I would prefer another diesel but do like the idea of the powerful TSi, especially after Rick from RE performance did some tweeks on the green one, but I'm too old to play like that these days and the mpg looks to be a shocker in comparison however.

All maintenance is done by myself, mine has been fairly trouble free and is way better than my previous 2005 petrol A6 Allroad 2.7 Bi Turbo which was a proper money pit in comparison, but fun to drive.

One car caught my eye today online, but not sure on the colour, mind you the car I have now was bought for all the goodies it had fitted and certainly not the colour! I can live with it as I dont see it from the inside.

DSG is on the radar for the first time too, my works VW Transporter has a DSG box, touch wood, seems to be reliable so far, but at only 40,000 miles and a two years old, not much to go on re lonevity.

Thoughts and horror stories alike most welcome from you real world owners to illustrate what I am getting into. The Biturbo Passat was considered and dismissed fairly quickly due to lack of toys in comparison to the Superb and how much of a swine it is to work on should the low pressure hair dryer fail......

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by 3T51704x4
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Depending how leggy the 3T is why not just keep it. The MK2 was well made and handles big miles well.

I have a MK2 170 TDI and a MK3 TSI 280 and they are completely different.

You don’t get the torque of the diesel low down in the TSI. After driving diesels for 27 years ish they were very torquey compared to a similar powered petrol car, which felt like you needed to rev a lot more to get peak power, then felt like a boy racer.

The 12 plate has about 85,000 or so, not much leg for the age.

Back story:

I just retrofitted MIB2 High , large screen and camera, heated and electric front seats along with hill hold assist in the wifes A3 8V and, as you know, the 3T doesnt have the car play or the goodies of the later car; mind you, it does have electric heated and ventilated seats.... You are probably right though, no AdBlue or low pressure EGR to deal with like the 187 EA288. But I can't take it (12 plate) into even outer London without getting clobbered by the ULEZ tax. Incidentally make sure when paying that tax, you confirm it is the official government site you are logged into. I went on to pay in a hurry and didn't notice, I paid £2 more for the tax and it turns out it was a scam so I had to pay a £90 fine too for non payment as they didnt forward the payment to the TFL site. Won't make that mistake again.

How reliable has the TSi been for you?

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by 3T51704x4
Typo