Hi all,

I am changing jobs at the end of the week which no longer requires me to commute to work which means I really no longer require a diesel. Add this to the fact that I aloing with my fiancee are saving hard for a house means I may be looking at selling my vRS and getting and older car (although not that old) to have fun in at the weekend.

Now my dad has had 3 A3's in the past and they were all excellent cars (bar the TDI's gearbox issues) and I really like the look of the old A3 in a 3dr. Engine wise I would be looking at the 1.8T on roughly a 'v' 99 plate. I assume this is the 150bhp model and not the newer 163bhp model?! This would be in the sport trim as I have seen a few local to me for just under

The only Leon Cupra I'd buy would be the facelift models on the 53 plate and upwards. If you can't stretch, then get the Audi...

The only Leon Cupra I'd buy would be the facelift models on the 53 plate and upwards. If you can't stretch, then get the Audi...

Any reason for this?! I don't want to spend over

A3 is also pre-facelift so has the 2-piece lights which look quite dated and on a 99 will be non-vvt and K03 not k03s.

Prehaps consider something newer but less powerful?

I don't rate the A3 and remember the 'Sport' is basically the base model.

The Leon's a lovely car - don't just believe one insurance company - shop around and I guarantee you'll get a good quote from somewhere

After having driven an A3 Sport, I'd get the Leon. I've never driven the Leon

Chris

A3 is also pre-facelift so has the 2-piece lights which look quite dated and on a 99 will be non-vvt and K03 not k03s.

Prehaps consider something newer but less powerful?

I prefer the pre facelift model in terms of looks. (my dad had both and the facelift cars lights were naff compared to the pre facelift car)

I will also have a look at the non turbo 1.8's I think. (I want something that is roughly as quick as my fabia).

As for insurance it would be and extra

Easy.

Octavia Elegance (FWD or 4x4 available) - 51 plate or newer. 150bhp standard, easy remap to 210 bhp for less than £500

Even with VRS suspension, VRS exhaust, DV and a remap declared, mine is still cheaper for me to insure than an Octavia VRS would be.

Mine has done 105k and been more or less faultless (coil packs and a couple of hoses replaced at 90k ish)

Easy.

Octavia Elegance (FWD or 4x4 available) - 51 plate or newer. 150bhp standard, easy remap to 210 bhp for less than

If an Octavia really is too big though how about a Golf V6 4 Motion?

I would go for the Leon, particulalry if you are looking for an older one. My mum has had a Y reg cupra from new and its been absolutely faultless. One thing to bear in mind is that the early ones were not built in Spain but in Belgium - and the Belgian ones seemed to have far fewer build quaility issues.

If an Octavia really is too big though how about a Golf V6 4 Motion?

Insurance is the issue on the V6. (and I can't find one in my price range). - although the V5 is tasty.

The octy suggestion is a good one although it will hang over the drive by about half a foot. (and I won't be modifying it at all)

I think I will still look though.

Cheers guys.

I had a Leon Cupra a few years back, and would highly recommend one.

Don't worry about getting a non bodykitted one - they fetch much more sensible money and look great with a set of 17 inch alloys added.

The dashboard and seats are the same as in the A3 but are trimmed in a slightly different grade of material to be polite. They go very well as standard and have huge tuning potential for when you get bored!

The A3 looks nice agreed, but the spec on many of them is poor for what you pay for them and the 150 will be noticably slower than your Fabia in most normal road driving conditions.

I also owned a mk4 Golf GTI a couple of years ago, much nicer than either the Audi or Leon inside IMO but the rubbery coating on a lot of the interior fittings is prone to peeling and looking terrbile if not very carefully looked after. The suspension control is also very poor for a performance car. How about a Golf or Bora V5? Also a Leon 110 TDI is very good, near Cupra spec and responds very well to an inexpensive remap, plus 40mpg minimum!

Dont get a n/a 1.8 A3 whatever you do, god awful engine.

Dont get a n/a 1.8 A3 whatever you do, god awful engine.

I agree, that is a terrible engine, very heavy on the juice too.

My vote goes for something with a V5 engine for that cash. How about a Toledo?

*Throws big spanner into the works*

MK4 Astra SRi. 2.2

MK4 Astra SXi 1.8

Arguably better looking than the Octavia and the dealers are not as bad as some would let you think. I had one and it was faultless and really rather well put together - much more fun to drive round a winding B road than an Octavia too.