Looking for a bit of advise please!

[groggy]

Hi all
Audi a3 owner here but bear with me!
I bought an a3 2L tdi sline sportback black edition 2 yeas ago and absolutely love it but my circumstances have changed now and i need a bigger boot. Mainly for the dog but also for long trips with 2 kids in the back and a load of bags down south to the inlaws about 9 or 10 times a year.
I really like the x5 but iys possibly a bit big so maybe an x3 would do?
My main concern is replacing an a3 on an 11 plate for a more expensive and older x5 or x3 which seem to be the cars in my price range (around 11-12k).
I could possibly go down the touareg road but i dont like them as much.
Any thoughts on this by anyone?
All answers greatly appreciated on this dilema!

[jaynana]

Hello from another Audi driver

[groggy]

Is the fuel issue big?
I do about 10 miles a day to work and back but travel a lot with the kids for football and rugby and also the 300 mile trips to the inlaws.
Would x3 be better fuel economy?
And do you think the 2 or 3 year age difference should be a factor?

[grumpywurzel]

Depends on the age of the X5 and the engine but I get roughly 35-38mpg @ 70mph give or take. You have to remember these things weigh over 2000kg empty

[jaynana]

my E53 3.0d used to do 30-34mpg on motorways and 19-20mpg on extreme city running/school runs

i thought that was bad, until i got the audi 3.0 TFSI Quattro, which does 29mpg on motorways and 14-15mpg on those school runs  :'(

[CondorX5]

My E70 (40d ) never gets more than 29-30mpg

[groggy]

Ok thanks everyone for the info.
Any thoughts on trading newer for old?

[Pinewood]

I have a 3.0d X3 and get a combined figure of 36mpg. That includes driving (standing still) in Central London. When i take the family (+ kitchen) up to the inlaws which is 100 miles away, the mpg increases to 38mpg at 80mph average.
It's the same size as the original X5 and I absolutely love it. The wife and teenage kids think it's the best vehicle we have ever owned

[groggy]

Thanks pinewood....i didnt realise the x3 was as big as old x5

[themoog]

My V8 E 53 is getting more economical the more miles I do.. It used to do 22mpg on the computer on a run at 60mph from Cambridge to Coventry when I started the run in January. Now its doing 26mpg. Odd.
Round town its shocking though. Although not as bad as my old Cayenne- 14mpg no matter where I went..

[groggy]

I presume he newer the model the better mpg?

[RickUK]

Its interesting that some folks are getting mid to high 30s mpg on a long journey,on friday i am taking my X5 3.0d for a weeks vacation down devon so it will be its 1st really long run,although i rarely go over 70mph will be interesting too see what i can get on the journey overall.

Must admit i am really enjoying my X5,if you take it easy with the right foot it can cruise along at 70 with ease and that is probably its most economical speed as well,but what has really suprised me on  few occasions is that when i have needed to overtake quickly the X5 rear end sits down and it just takes off like a rocket,acceleration is amazing for a diesel but it does blow the old cobwebs out and keep the engine clean.

[graemeX5]

Hi if you are looking at the economy then the smaller an lighter the car is the better, so have you considered the X3 but in 2.0d form

I am not sure but Jagr or Hrizon as they have X3's , there is the 2.0d is a four which would be better on economy than the bigger 2.5 or 3.0 six cylinders but either way it depends what priority or compromise you want. On longer journey ther would be little to choose.

There are probs with the X3 which are susceptible to probs with the diffs if the wheels and tyres front to rear  circumferences don't match so four matching tyres and same size wheels help. They also have probs with the Maf's. However a good one is nice and a well spec'd one is even better.

If you have a look for posts by Jagr or Horizon you will be able to see the wheel / tyre and diff issue/ concern and also what they have done and good both cars look.

I guess the other advantage of an X3 over the X5 would be its size so easier to park in car parks on on drives. The reason for mentioning this when I bought my X5 E70 I ended up having  to move the gates forward on my drive to fit the newer E70 X5 as it was not only longer but also wider than the previous older X5 E53, and it can be more difficult getting a decent space. 

Again with the X5 they have there pluses and problems depending on whichever model. The E53 3.0d is good but earlier 5 speed gearboxes can fail the later 6speed seem to be better, also manifold can crack and on all the air suspension can cause probs, they also can go through batteries as there is a lot of electrics, and pandora mic roof can fail and are costly to put right. But on the up side theare a nice 4x4 to drive and are finished well and the economy on the 3.9d is surprisingly good.

There is a good buyers guide on the E53 X5 and also on the later E70 X5. I think there is a similar tips of the X3 and definitely worth reading as they can help you decide which one and what spec you are after.

Good luck with the hunt for a car and if you see one you can always put up a link up and members can have a look and let you know what they spot from photos which can help you check the car further.

Hope that helps
Graeme

would probably be similar in economy

[jaynana]

[quote="RickUK"]
Its interesting that some folks are getting mid to high 30s mpg on a long journey,on friday i am taking my X5 3.0d for a weeks vacation down devon so it will be its 1st really long run,although i rarely go over 70mph will be interesting too see what i can get on the journey overall.

[/quote]

I think Uve stated the reason for the interesting mpg differences as well [emoji848][emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[groggy]

[quote="graemeX5"]
Hi if you are looking at the economy then the smaller an lighter the car is the better, so have you considered the X3 but in 2.0d form

I am not sure but Jagr or Hrizon as they have X3's , there is the 2.0d is a four which would be better on economy than the bigger 2.5 or 3.0 six cylinders but either way it depends what priority or compromise you want. On longer journey ther would be little to choose.

There are probs with the X3 which are susceptible to probs with the diffs if the wheels and tyres front to rear  circumferences don't match so four matching tyres and same size wheels help. They also have probs with the Maf's. However a good one is nice and a well spec'd one is even better.

If you have a look for posts by Jagr or Horizon you will be able to see the wheel / tyre and diff issue/ concern and also what they have done and good both cars look.

I guess the other advantage of an X3 over the X5 would be its size so easier to park in car parks on on drives. The reason for mentioning this when I bought my X5 E70 I ended up having  to move the gates forward on my drive to fit the newer E70 X5 as it was not only longer but also wider than the previous older X5 E53, and it can be more difficult getting a decent space. 

Again with the X5 they have there pluses and problems depending on whichever model. The E53 3.0d is good but earlier 5 speed gearboxes can fail the later 6speed seem to be better, also manifold can crack and on all the air suspension can cause probs, they also can go through batteries as there is a lot of electrics, and pandora mic roof can fail and are costly to put right. But on the up side theare a nice 4x4 to drive and are finished well and the economy on the 3.9d is surprisingly good.

There is a good buyers guide on the E53 X5 and also on the later E70 X5. I think there is a similar tips of the X3 and definitely worth reading as they can help you decide which one and what spec you are after.

Good luck with the hunt for a car and if you see one you can always put up a link up and members can have a look and let you know what they spot from photos which can help you check the car further.

Hope that helps
Graeme

would probably be similar in economy
[/quote]
Hi graeme...thank for the advice...it always makes me worry though when people write about faults like that
Im defo open to getting an x3 but ive not seen one yet ( ive not looked much to be fair) with a retractable parcel shelf which is what i need forthe dog