1.6 TDI 116 SE Technik 3dr

My best car ever

I always wanted an Audi, but could never seem to get one at the right money, when I spotted this particular car in Ibis White, 3½ years old with only 24K miles on the clock. I immediately fell in love, and drove the car for 2½ trouble free years.
As well as the standard kit, it had the Bang Olufsen sound system and heated seats, and I just loved driving it. I averaged around 56 mpg, and on one occasion drove a 96 mile journey, averaging 70.2 mpg!
It stuck well to the road, cornered well, and was very comfortable. I drove Volkswagen for years beforehand, and found the trim very well finished using premium materials, even compared to the VW.
Whilst I loved the car, it had some drawbacks. I always loved a 3 door car, and when I bought it I thought I wouldn't need the back seat much, but the pet dog wouldn't stay in the boot, so the back seat became his domain, and getting into the back to restrain the dog, when you are 6 feet tall is a bit difficult. I found I had to squeeze in, and reverse out. Getting onto and sitting in the back seat wasn't an option, unless, you are less than 12 stone / 76 kg and under 5'6".
The boot was big enough to fit all the week's groceries in, but the boot was full to the brim at that.
The biggest drawback for me personally, was when I developed a mobility issue as I turned 50, and I found it increasingly hard to get into, and particularly out of the car. It was quite low to the ground, and I found I was falling into the seat, and struggling to climb out again. Genuinely, this was the only reason for changing so soon; if I had been fit and well, I reckon I would have driven it a year or two longer.
Unfortunately, being a 2017 model, the road tax changed each year; quite a jump from free road tax for the earlier model. Insurance ways, my premium hovered around £250 - £270 per year. As far as servicing and labour costs, the car got what it needed. When I bought the car, it still had the original tyres, which were beginning to degrade a bit, so I replaced the four 205/55R16 for around £300. I replaced the water pump and timing belt at 5 years, and whilst it didn't have the mileage, the timing belt was starting to show its age. That set me back around £475. It was serviced twice whilst I owned it, costing somewhere around £150 each. I also got the aircon regassed at 6 years. All told I spent about £1200 over the 2½ years of ownership, which I don't think was too bad at all.
There were a few niggling issues that I never seemed to be able to resolve, one being a vibration noise behind the steering wheel, inside the dashboard. I got used to it, but the wife never could. Another thing I noticed just prior to selling, was that the hill assist / auto handbrake seemed to allow the car to run back ever so slightly when starting on an incline. It wasn't there until about 3 months before selling, and perhaps it just needed the brakes adjusted a bit.
Overall, it was probably the best car I ever owned. Some previous cars, such as my Golf and Jetta came close, but this did have that edge of refinement about it.

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