BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d

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Sun 13 Oct 2013 18:38
BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d - dodo

Time to start think about a new car for the beginning of next year. Looking to downsize to a smaller car that actually fits in a parking space (try parking a Mondeo size vehicle in Tesco). I have narrowed the choice down to a BMW 120d VW Golf VII 2.0Tdi or an Audi A3 2.0 Tdi.

Have had a run yesterday in a 12od and really liked it. Has anyone here run one of the new shape ones for a fair length of time? I will do around 70,000 miles in three years and need a reliable vehicle. Thanks

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Sun 13 Oct 2013 20:00
BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d - Avant

Tha A3 and Golf with the same engine are going to be pretty similar. Unusually the price gap between the two isn't as great as before, so the A3 - which should hold its value better - could be the better bargain of these two.

You'll either prefer a BMW to a VW/Audi or you won't. BMWs suit those who like to stretch themselves and their cars, whereas VAG cars suit a more relaxed approach. A test drive is the only answer to this subjective question.

The 120d engine is an older design than the new 150 bhp VAG motor, and may be a bit less refined.

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Sun 13 Oct 2013 20:15
BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d - dodo

Thanks Avant. Will see if I can blag an A3 for a weekend as there is a dealer much nearer to me.

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Sun 13 Oct 2013 20:24
BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d - daveyK_UK

Are the golf and A3 essentially the same car?

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Sun 13 Oct 2013 20:28
BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d - Avant

"Are the Golf and A3 essentially the same car?"

I'd say similar. Both use the VAG platform called MQB, which stands for a very long single word in German, and the same engines and transmissions. But engineers may have set up the steering and handling slightly differently.

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Sun 13 Oct 2013 20:18
BMW 120d VW Golf 2.0 Tdi Audi a3? - New car choices? BMW 120d - Grease_monkey

The BMW also uses a N47 engine which has problems with the timing chain! This was suppose to be fixed from sometime in 2011 but it's still causing concern in new facelift 1 series

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