[RockIt]

After the recent attempts to steal my TTS I have reluctantly decided that for peace of mind it has to go. It's a fantastic car and I've only had it 8 months, but it's evidently too much of a target around here. I'm likely to lose money on the sale, so budget is pretty tight.

I still want to have a decent motor and have certain criteria:

Must be a 'quality' marque
Must be nearly new, within budget of up to 28k, but would prefer up to 25k
Must be reasonably rapid.
Must look good, (subjective obviously), but not as 'obvious' as the TTS.
Must be a coupe or 3 door and have a decent boot/hatch.

I think I've narrowed possible replacements down to 3 cars, one BMW and 2 Audis and am interested to know if anyone has any experience of owning/test driving them that they can share?

Audi A5 2.0TFSI (211) petrol, (preferably Quattro S line)

Audi A3 2.0TFSI - seen some nice Black Editions for sale

BMW 135i. Not sure about this, having owned an E92, I may find it smaller but similar?

Obviously I will be test driving these, but I'm interested to hear people's thoughts/experience and other suggestions. Not really interested in a Golf, as they've never really appealed, even though they are good cars. I don't want another 3 series at the moment, unless it's an M3 and that's out of the equation... and nothing French.

Cheers

Gav

[Express]

dont let some crooks scare you. get a lawn chair, a 6 pack of bud, and a 12 ga.

[prt71]

I don't see any of them as being significantly less desirable to the TT

[davyk31]

Build a garage or a hungry Rotweiler siting in your garden may be a better option.

[dxb335d]

135i will be better than the A3, the A5 may be nice but a little slow.

[mowflow]

I've driven both the A5 and the A3. Liked them both but if you've got the money then the A5 interior is light years ahead of the A3. You could however easily afford an S3 in that price range.

Not sure about the 135 as never driven one. We did have a 1 series hatch and the boot in that wasn't very big so I'd imagine the coupe will have even less room. I know you need space for your keyboards so make sure you check it.

The only thing I would say about all of them is that they are all about to be the old shape. Not sure when revised A5 is out, A3 is supposed to be due for release next year and the 1 coupe will be replaced soonish as well. Not sure if that bothers you or not as I dare say you know this fact.

Shame that you are getting rid of the TTS but I understand your thinking. Every time you parked in town etc you would always be wondering if it would be there when you got back.

[RockIt]

Originally Posted by prt71

I don't see any of them as being significantly less desirable to the TT

Less desirable than the S and RS models. According to the police these are often a target. 135i would be debadged.

Originally Posted by davyk31

Build a garage or a hungry Rotweiler siting in your garden may be a better option.

Got a garage mate. Didn't stop them having a go. All they try and do is get the keys for that. It's more about how I feel about the car now really.

[zltm089]

I would say a 135i would give you similar (ish) performance to the tts...

[JLR1969]

Dont make any rash decisions, de-badging a car will not put a car thief off, they know more about cars than we do.

[zltm089]

Good advice from John!

[dxb335d]

135i is quicker than TTS Kev.

[CHG]

This really pisses me off!

I'm sure you work hard for your cars like all of us, and the TTS is probably your pride and joy! Yet these B******s think it's fine to try and steal it several times, and put you in the position you can't keep it!

I'd spent a couple of grand putting security in rather than changing the car! Something sophisticated to tempt the bastards.... they'll give up eventually!

Really feel for you mate!

EDIT: Sorry realise I haven't helped with the discussion! /Rant

[gangzoom]

I'm pretty sure £25K will get you into 1-2 year old one. 320bhp, LSD as standard, as reliable as you can get, in the states the brand is up there with BMW, and I've yet to actually see one on the road, so I doubt any one would want to nab it..

[fastloop]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

I'm pretty sure £25K will get you into 1-2 year old one. 320bhp, LSD as standard, as reliable as you can get, in the states the brand is up there with BMW, and I've yet to actually see one on the road, so I doubt any one would want to nab it..

Hired one from Hertz last time I was in the US and wasn't particulary impressed. Yeah, it's reasonably quick and has a LSD, but interior looked cheap and felt very plasticy. It handled okay, but compared to my 335, I wouldn't give it a 2nd look.

[RockIt]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

135i will be better than the A3, the A5 may be nice but a little slow.

A5 is a nice motor and I would say only slow relative to other quick cars! It still motors and it can be remapped

Originally Posted by JLR1969

Dont make any rash decisions, de-badging a car will not put a car thief off, they know more about cars than we do.

True. Just throwing ideas around at the moment.

Originally Posted by CHG

This really pisses me off!

I'm sure you work hard for your cars like all of us, and the TTS is probably your pride and joy! Yet these B******s think it's fine to try and steal it several times, and put you in the position you can't keep it!

I'd spent a couple of grand putting security in rather than changing the car! Something sophisticated to tempt the bastards.... they'll give up eventually!

Really feel for you mate!

EDIT: Sorry realise I haven't helped with the discussion! /Rant

Yeh, but rant appreciated! We have spent quite a bit upgrading security already and more to come, but still thinking of a slightly less obvious car

[mjh93sa]

Originally Posted by mowflow

Not sure about the 135 as never driven one. We did have a 1 series hatch and the boot in that wasn't very big so I'd imagine the coupe will have even less room. I know you need space for your keyboards so make sure you check it.

The only thing I would say about all of them is that they are all about to be the old shape. Not sure when revised A5 is out, A3 is supposed to be due for release next year and the 1 coupe will be replaced soonish as well. Not sure if that bothers you or not as I dare say you know this fact.

The boot of the coupe is quite a bit larger than the hatch (have both in the family). it won't be as big as the E92 though, so worth a measure before committing.

The only E92 that I have driven was not exactly standard Against the E91 that I had before it feels noticeably lighter and more nimble. Obviously it's decently rapid as well. Depending on the mileage you are likely to do remember that you are looking at 28mpg and a 50 litre tank, so not too much more than 300 miles per tank.

As said above, it is due for replacement, probably stopping the current model sometime in the middle of next year.

Facelift (headlights and taillights) was March 2010, which I think is about when they switched from the N54 to the N55 and replaced the auto box with a DCT box.

Debadged most people over look it, until it leaves them in it's wake.

A great little fun car to drive. A diff wouldn't go amiss at times, but other than that difficult to fault for what it is.

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by RockIt

Audi A3 2.0TFSI - seen some nice Black Editions for sale

I had a 2.0TFSI Quattro S-Line for three years and the thing just left me cold. Even though by now they must be seriously dated, at the time it ticked all the usual Audi boxes - nice design, quality plastics blah blah blah but it was as dull as ditch water once you got to know it, very crashy compromised Audi ride and not screwed together as well as it should have been. Without sounding too arsey it just lacked 'soul'. I replaced it with a Saab 9-3 which in some respects bordered on dreadful but at least I didn't have a feeling of disappointment every time I drove it.

HTH

:edit:

If you like the engine get an Octavia RS. Superb motor And no one will nick it.

[Real Thing]

Can't help you with any of your choice but wondered if you had considered the Scirocco R great fun & probably as quick as the TTS

[RockIt]

The Roc R was my first thought, but rare as rocking horse droppings where we are, so worried it might attract the same attention.

[Snooky]

Gav

We have an A4 with the 211bhp 2.0TFSI engine - ours is the S Line quattro version and we LOVE it. Had it about 21 months now and it hasn't missed a beat. It is plenty quick enough in my opinion and the AWD helps put that power down very well. The interior of the A5 is pretty much the same as the A4 so it is a lovely place to sit.

Definitely my pick of the options presented.

Best of luck with finding the right one for you.

Cheers

[RockIt]

Thanks mate. Going to try and get a drive in an A5 this weekend, but finding the right one for a drive is proving to be a challenge.

[kaishang]

A5 looks like a really nice car.

Nicer than a BMW 3xx coupe.