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 yesterday at 16:431 day by 3T51704x4
Typo

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 9 hours ago9 hr by 3T51704x4
Typo

7 hours ago, 3T51704x4 said:

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?

The 3T is a keeper at that low mileage. You could quite easily add car play I’m sure. The occasional ULEZ charge hopefully won’t break the bank. The TSI I purchased about six months ago. Hardly done many miles, too early to say it’s a 23 plate at just under 50k. And had an approved warranty for 2 years.

I must admit I do like the radar cruise control. It’s a bit scary at times changes speed for no reason and slams on the brakes. The fact I can drive no feet per se, is really nice on the motorway.

Need to watch out for the EGR on the diesel 3T without the emissions fix mine went about 85k and took the turbo with it. Expensive bill even at an independent.

Yes, I like that in the van too. I think the MK3 looks better too, but very few 4x4 3.5's about with all the goodies at a price I'm willing to pay. Looking around 19 0r 21 plate.

Like the later matrix lights, but the shutter Xenon look interesting.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by 3T51704x4

Go and test drive a few also. The 220bhp maybe the one in L&K spec. The 280 models are hard to come by, plus fuel economy hurts. However on long runs because the price difference in petrol and diesel it’s actually remarkably close cost wise pence per mile in comparison. Thankfully I have both a mk2 diesel and Mk3.5 petrol

I think the punch of the diesel would be too much to miss. so will prob go for the higher output diesel........ Hmmm but the 280 sounds like fun too.....

33 minutes ago, 3T51704x4 said:

I think the punch of the diesel would be too much to miss. so will prob go for the higher output diesel........ Hmmm but the 280 sounds like fun too.....

Go and try a 280 too, it does not punch like a diesel. It’s a different animal.