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Looking into changing my car in the next few months. Ive got an audi A2 at the moment which in this financial climate is great, cheep to run (60mpg) tax is £30 a year and everything works as it should. Its getting on a bit high on the mileage front and if i dont change now i think it'll start depreciating big time. My initial first choice is the civic, good mpg, reasonably cheap tax (£100 pa) and well kitted out. just heard some horror story's about the DMF needing replaced on most..Audi seems pretty bombproof but i could get an 06 plate civic for the same price as an 04 plate A3. Jetta and golf share the same engines but tax etc is a bit more expensive..
Just wondering if anyone has any of the cars listed who could give me a real world insight to any off them.. problems, running costs etc. 😕
Be interested in reading peoples views as im also looking for a diesel civic , but have heard similar stories etc 🙁 ....
yeh , i think if i was to go for the civic id have to put by a bit of money for a DMF just in case.. www.civinfo.com has got some good advice..
Have the A3 2.0TDI 170 with the DSG box.
Only downside is the wife has a habit of driving to her mates house instead of walking so the DPF needs blowing out other than that it's brilliant.
Tax is £165 - the 2.0 140 is similar, the 1.9 is cheaper again.
hows the mpg on the audi?
My Civic (07) needed a DMF and clutch replaced at 55k costing circa £700.
Returns about 50mpg on a 50 mile round trip to work of which about 80% of the time is motorway.
I now have a Mini Cooper S Clubman which returns about 44mpg over the same journey.
I have a 2006 Civic 2.2 ctdi Sport(71k miles)and Mrs fivespot has a 2005 A3 Tdi 1.9 (111k miles). I have only had the Civic about 9 mths, no faults or problems in that time, but the clutch has always been a bit juddery (suspect a DMF issue) but has never got any worse. £120 PA road tax not £100, economy has not been what I was hoping for, low 40's knocking about, 50 on motorway. Great on SMOOTH fast A roads, but crap over anything with a hint of roughness. On the plus side, the seats are very comfy and supportive. It doesn't pull from as low down as most diesels (around 2000 RPM for proper boost as opposed to about 1400/1500 for other diesels I have owned/driven) this has been improved no end by a black box from ebay, as well as more MPG. Big boot, partly because of no spare wheel, and partly down to clever rear seat pivot design when folding down. Not Audi build quality, but not bad either. My 1st Jap car in over 35 years of driving, mainly because my last car (2006 VW Passat) had more electrical problems than the previous 50 cars I have owned put together. If the ride and clutch were a bit more refined, then I would be very pleased with it.
Onto the A3. We have had this about 2 1/2 years at least, apart from normal servicing and tyres, it has needed nothing. In the last 3 moths it has had a random showing of a warning light on the dash, starting, performance and economy are unchanged. Although the mileage is 40k more than the Civic, it drives smoother and with a more solid feel, uses no oil or other fluids. It is a base model will few extras (no on board computer) but seems to go further on £20 worth of fuel than the Civic. I think a higher spec version with a bit more poke would be a lot more fun, but for what Mrs fivespot wants, its been perfect.
Mrs fivespots opinion is slightly different. She loves her A3 and thinks the Civic is a girly car (but what does she know)
As far as Golfs/Jettas of that year, I can't comment on the years you are looking at. BUT of the two VW's I have owned:-
2002 Golf 1.6 petrol...the dullest car we have ever owned ( and I have owned 2 Allegro's ) like driving a water bed with a whining gearbox (only 62k miles) and then the exhaust fell off. Got rid of that for 2002 Focus 1.6 petrol, WOW, great handling and better ride quality. Kept it nearly 3 years (a long time for us) only parts replaced appart from service items were front drop links (cheap easy home job)
2006 Passat 2.0 Tdi essate (about 110k mile) Tailgate kept opening itself, doors wouldn't open, used oil, multiple suspension knocks, the dash had more warning lights than I can remember.
Hope this helps a bit in your choice.
P.S. Try a Focus 1.6 TDCI, cheaper, low tax, great ride/handling
Thanks for taking the time to write that fivespot. yeh, its what i was suspecting. ive got an audi just now and i do love the build qaulity etc..i know some people think there boring but to be honest its reliability that im after. not that interested about performance as i pootle about doing 65-70 on m/ways.Ive seen an A3 i like with 1/2 leather, bose, etc but my main concern was economy and you say that you reckon your A3 comes out tops on this..might sway me more towards the A3..
My civic iCDTi needed a new clutch at 77k miles, replaced under warranty as the main clutch plate had warped: this is a known issue on them. IIRC If you leave the clutch slipping for long enough it can knacker the dual mass flywheel.
Aircon needed regassing and a new control solenoid just before christmas.
Apart from being rear-ended by an uninsured white van a few years back that's pretty much the only issues I have ever had with it, still does 54-55mpg (mix of motorways and A/B roads) and its done over 100k miles now.
The Audi A3 is possibly going to ride a bit more smoothly unless its on 18in alloys and might be a bit more fuel efficient if its got a 1.9 diesel engine but the Civic can swallow much more kit and is a bit quicker.
It also looks better too 🙂
My 2003 a3 tdi averages 42. It's the Quattro and I've got a heavy right foot so can get better. Great car though.
turbo1397....if its reliability your after, stay with the 1.9 engine. The 2.0 engine may be more refined and punchy, but it has issues. especially early models. Oil pump drives are weak, and can snap (f%8ked engine), injectors are known to fail £300-400 each 😯 . If, like me , you were lucky enough to get a VW recall, injectors replaced free 🙂
Good luck with whatever you buy 😉