Shed is a grizzled previous dude who’s noticed a large number of issues in existence, a few of them no longer very delightful, however even at his time of existence he nonetheless will get stunned once in a while. As an example, he has not too long ago witnessed a shocking method to the longstanding riddle as to why all his razors have been going upfront blunt. It became out Mrs Shed have been the use of them to shave her hamster, a revelation that concurrently defined the similarly long-running Thriller of the Ceaselessly Bunged-Up Rest room Sink Plughole and the Curse of the Indignant Hamster.   

Skilled surprises are much less not unusual for Shed at the present time, however he did get a large one when he selected this week’s sub-£2k tempter. Taking a look again in the course of the different scraps of paper and cardboard that represent his data he came upon that no longer best is that this gen-two 8P Audi A3 2.0 T the primary efficiency A3 to function right here, it’s the primary A3 Shed ever, complete prevent. 

How can that be? Neatly, as everyone knows, ‘complete prevent’ is usually a glumly suitable word when discussing TFSI-engined VW merchandise. The proposition of a easy and torquey 2.0 turbo petrol motor chucked right into a small automobile just like the A3 sounded nice, and so did the truth when the freshly-minted press automobiles have been examined by way of a most often enraptured specialist press. The unnaturally aspirated model of the EA113 2.0 litre FSI 4 was once the primary manufacturing direct-injection petrol engine to be turbocharged. This added 49hp and 59lb feet to the immediately FSI’s output, giving 200hp from 5,100 to six,000rpm and, extra tellingly, 207lb feet between 1,800 and 5,000rpm.

The A3 2.0 T first of all got here in two flavours, entrance pressure with the DSG twin-clutch trans or, as right here, quattro Haldex all-wheel pressure with a six-speed handbook. Its 0-62mph time of 6.8sec put it just a 2nd or so in the back of the rambunctious S3. Even though the cylinder head was once left because it was once, the turbo pistons have been clearly new and the ground finish was once reassuringly bolstered to deal with the additional thrunge. All gave the impression set honest for good fortune. 

Unfortunately it didn’t take lengthy for destructive experiences to start out coming in from a vociferous staff of TFSI homeowners who have been questioning why their turbos have been dropping spice up, why their cam fans have been dressed in out, why their cam chains and tensioners didn’t appear to remaining very lengthy and why they have been having to position actually gallons of oil into the engine. All that plus the standard direct-injection woes of carbon buildup at the consumption valves. All of it offers you an perception into why 2.0 Ts like this brilliant pink 95,000-miler entire with unconcerning MOT certificates and value-enhancing reg plate can now be had for the not going sounding sum of £1,995.

Shed can’t be stricken to enter the reasons of that grief. He does say then again that no longer each and every TFSI proprietor had all, or certainly any, of those issues. Those that did made slightly a din about it, slightly sufficient, however a snappy skim in the course of the discussion board in this identically-engined or even smarter-looking A4 Avant that Shed dug up remaining September would possibly provide you with some reason for positivism. At its middle the EA113 was once a robust and dependable motor, arguably extra so than the succeeding EA888. Sufficient homeowners did have sufficient problems with it again within the day to create a foul odor across the TFSI however the ones which can be nonetheless fizzing round at the street in 2024 will undoubtedly be immune or fettled by way of now.

That can assist you make the gamble in this one, learn the MOT historical past which means {that a} wholesome wedge has been spent on it over the past couple of years and 5,000 miles. It has had some relatively demanding problems in that point – oil leak, engine misfire/knock, corroded suspension, blowing exhaust, and a couple of extra – and if you happen to move deeper into the historical past it sort of feels to were run at the affordable, with almost about each and every consumable you’ll be able to bring to mind no longer being refreshed till absolutely the remaining minute. 

At the plus facet it’s nonetheless appearing underneath 100k miles, a bunch that tests out at the MOT tickets, and the one advisory on remaining June’s MOT was once a worn brake disc. It’s S line spec, so it’s well provided with tools like heated seats and mirrors, rain and parking sensors, courtesy lighting fixtures and suchlike. At the problem probably the most decrease cabin plastics would possibly come as a surprise to any individual anticipating best Audi high quality, and electrical window regulators are famed for conking out. 

Shed thinks that the suspension in this overdue ’05 automotive would possibly have benefitted from the slight softening Audi introduced in on 8P A3s following proceedings concerning the trip high quality on early automobiles. Some say you’ll be able to stay the carbon factor at bay by way of getting the engine as much as running temp briefly and retaining quick trips to a minimal. If Mrs Shed is within the automotive Shed loves to stay all trips to a minimal, quick or lengthy. He spends much more time in automobiles with the postmistress however there’s a large disconnect there between miles lined and hours on board.