Audi A3 or BMW 118

[Scoobs]

The choices are:

Audi A3 Sportsback 2.0TDI Sport

or

BMW 118D Sport

These are the only choices so don't go off on one with loads of other suggestions.

[Tom_the_great]

Audi all the way much more fun car !

Beemer. I refer you to Clarkson's comment on the people that used to put him off BMW's are now driving Audi's.

[Essex of Essex]

The A3, mines got 93,000 miles on it now still drives as well as the loan car I have today as mine is being serviced.

[fizzwheel]

Driven both. Was left feeling very underwhelmed by the BMW felt dull to drive and not a very nice place to sit. Audi was much more lively and IMHO a nicer place to sit in. which engine in the A3 140 or 170bhp ?

[Scoobs]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

which engine in the A3 140 or 170bhp ?

Only 140....saying that....I may have a look at the 170! Which one did you drive Fizz?

[G]

Originally Posted by Tom_the_great

Audi all the way much more fun car !

Are you kidding! have you actually driven either. The A3 is a horrible hateful thing, dull and incredibly boring. The 170 may have a bit of grunt but you will also be lucky to see much over 50mpg driving like a gran, it an old engine now.

The 1 series is an awsome handling little car, and proper wheel drive. Good economy and cheap tax too.

[Tom_the_great]

I have driven both but only short trips IMO the audi felt the more enjoyable ride.

cant comment on mpg or cheap tax as neither was my car or my worry.

Originally Posted by G

Are you kidding! have you actually driven either. The A3 is a horrible hateful thing, dull and incredibly boring. The 170 may have a bit of grunt but you will also be lucky to see much over 50mpg driving like a gran, it an old engine now.

The 1 series is an awsome handling little car, and proper wheel drive. Good economy and cheap tax too.

+1 I find the Audi's really dull inside, i almost bought the beemer, with leather pushed it over £20k though and i didnt wanna spend no more than £18k.
Beemers a bit car imo and thats coming from a long time VAG customer.

I had the A3 1.9 TDi for a year and I now have the 118D MSport. In no particular order...

I would take the BMW over the Audi IF space is not an issue for you.

The 1er drives superbly, very well balanced, very good quality interior, corners like a pro and is generally a better place to me imo. Fuel wise, its the best of both worlds. Discipline the right foot and you can get 55+mpg (driving like an old granny) but put your foot down to redline and it'll drink some, but the performace is worth it On a day to day I average 45ishmpg. Cruise on Mway about 90-99, do equal town/mway.

At 120p/l Its just under 60quid from dry to full tank, and I'll get 500 miles from it.

Rear Wheel drive is so much fun

The one downside is space. The 1er has none! If space is anywhere in your priority list, forget it.

Of course with the MSport you get stiffer suspension so that may bias my judgement on handling a bit, as I have no idea how the standard suspension feels.

My views on the interior of each may be kind of out, as I'm comparing the basic A3 to the flagship 1 series.

Dont go for the 116, its rubbishly underpowered, flipside if you can stretch to the 120, do it.

BMW Standard alloys are a PITA the clean properly.


HTH