Thinking of buying a new car and down sizing from an A3 sportback. Any owners of A1's out there prepared to share their thoughts about what they are like day in day out.
I don't really need an A3 sized car, but it is what I am used to, and means I can put a bike in the back, normally without taking both wheels off, or at least road and hardtail bikes.
One word - fugly
Probably the worst looking Audi ever
My step sister and my Aunty both have them. I think they're a good looking car, they both like theirs, and the short spin I've had in one, it seemed quite nice.
Skoda Fabia, VW Polo, Seat Ibiza
Skoda Fabia, VW Polo, Seat Ibiza
the A1 feels completely different to the above examples, there are components shared for sure but if you didnt already know that you would never guess by driving them
I made some comments about the A1 here.
There is a pretty big difference in rear space and practicality between the A1 and A3, particularly given that you will also lose the back doors of your Sportback. However, if you use the space (for people or stuff) infrequently then the A1 is practical enough. We did use ours on occasion 4-up and the boot was big enough for a weekly food shop for 4 of us. There was no problem getting a couple of bikes in the back with the seats down, albeit with some wheel removal.
If you like the image/interior/experience of Audi ownership but fancy something smaller then it's a pretty good solution. If you have other priorities then (as others have pointed out) VAG will sell you a related car from a different brand to meet your needs...
There's a 5-door (sorry, Sportback...) A1 coming out later this year which is only very slight larger externally.
Thanks.
I have taken a look at the Polo, as I like its looks, but it is not available with a 1.4TFSI engine other the than the GTI and although the headline prices look good, when you get to a SEL model, there is only about £500 difference between a Polo 1.2TFSI SEL and an A1 1.4TFSI sport. No brainer on that count.
Fabia looks crap IMO and I am looking for a feeling of quality which is just not there. Like the look of the Seat Ibiza, but a bit tacky inside. I have also taken a look at the new Yaris (not driven one yet), but a reasonable feel inside.
I got some financing figures from Toyata and Audi yesterday, looking at a 2 year leasing deal. Toyota at 0% and and Audi at 7-8% or thereabouts. Over two years they cost the same (a £12.5k Toyota versus a £17.5k Audi) what you gain in paying no interest you lose in depreciation. OK insurance would be different, but not a deal breaker.
Waiting to see the Sportback, which looks a little bit better balanced to me than the 3 door. Lack of rear leg room is not an issue, ease of getting bikes in and out may be a bigger concern.
Any snags or known problems. My A3 has been faultless in over 5 years from new.
We only had our A1 for a relatively short period of time due to the quirks of my other half's company car scheme. In that time we had no particular problems with it, whereas we've had several A3's with silly issues from new (loose windscreen wipers, sticking electric window mechanisms, faulty fuel filler releases).
Probably the only thing to be mindful of compared to when you bought your A3 is the number of more complex technologies that are now being incorporated to optimise performance, serivce intervals and emissions. I'm sure they're engineered for a reasonable life, but I can imagine maintenance costs going up disproportionately beyond some age/mileage sweet-spot.
My girlfriends friend has one, I had a lift in it and thought it was really well made. She has had no issues with it despite seeming to chuck it into every corner and not giving it much TLC. It did seem a nice stable car.
There seem to be a few Cheshire brats in them, I think the Mini is no longer the 'IT' car.
Uglist Audi ever? Have you forgotten the A2?
I like the A2! What about the Q7? Not only the ugliest Audi ever,one of the ugliest cars,period.
Quite like the A1,my mate has one,boot seemed small...and the battery lives there...a spare wheel would have been better use of the space.
The interior is typical Audi,very nice indeed. If you can afford it,buy it.
I got some financing figures from Toyata and Audi yesterday, looking at a 2 year leasing deal. Toyota at 0% and and Audi at 7-8% or thereabouts. Over two years they cost the same (a £12.5k Toyota versus a £17.5k Audi) what you gain in paying no interest you lose in depreciation.
Numbers don't add up, no way would the Audi be as cheap - for starters you are spending £5k more, never mind the interest. And never, ever believe a Dealer on values - unless they are prepared to guarantee them.
Edit - and £17.5k for a poxy little car, are you mad?
I had a couple as hire cars (they're the cheapest thing Sixt do in Sweden) and they were fine. LHD ones had an odd offset to the pedals but haven't driven a RHD one. Interior is quite nice but disappointingly superficial in places - knobs that look like knurled alu but are just silver-painted plastic - the "feeling" of quality is just that, although I tend to think the same of most of Audi's output these days. The back is very tight for adults too. Boot is small, but it's a small car. I think for bikes it would be a seats-folded, both-wheels-off job.
Expensive but as you say, they're doing pretty cheap leases on them. I don't do finance/leases so bought a Fabia vRS, but then I probably have different priorities to those of someone actually considering an A1.
I think Audi A1 owners are ugly.
As an A2 owner I am delighted with the A1. Its the first time a new car has been released that has given me no motivation at all to "upgrade" from my older model.
New A2 out next year though...
I like the A2! What about the Q7? Not only the ugliest Audi ever,one of the ugliest cars,period.
The 5dr A1 is just about to be released ,think there was a review in this weeks Autoexpress.
It may be worth holding back as its supposed to have more rear seat space.
Having owned a A2 previously I don't get the ugly comments especially when BMW making cars like the X1 and Mini Co-untryman.
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