What is the Audi A1 for?

[Zak33]

Any one got one? Care to share why you got one?

I follow them daily, and I can't see why they exist. What are they for? Why buy that and not a similar model with a different badge? What makes people buy/lease it?

I know EXACTLY why Audi make it.... cos people DO buy it.

But I'm interested to know what makes people want one?

[Ttaskmaster]

Because it's a Suzuki Swift, but with an Audi badge instead of a shameful girly-town-car image...?
Because it has a cool pop-up screen thing?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Someone who wants to keep up with the Joneses but hasn't got the dosh??

[peterb]

Someone who wants something perceived as a bit more upmarket than a VW golf?

[DanceswithUnix]

Because some people want a small car, but don't want a feature list aimed at learner drivers getting their first car which let's face it is where small cars are generally aimed.

I wouldn't buy one, but I can see the point.

[Biscuit]

As far as I can tell they exist for no other reason than they also exist as Skoda (fabia), Seat (Ibiza), and of course VW (Polo). Change the trim a bit, change the badge, charge a few K more...

I wouldnt mind the limited edition quattro version, but I dont even know if it made it to the UK.

[spacein_vader]

For the same reason the 1 Series and A Class exist: They wanted a new Audi/BMW/Mercedes, but they couldn't afford a real one.

[Hoonigan]

I wouldnt mind the limited edition quattro version, but I dont even know if it made it to the UK.

I wouldn't want to own one, but I bet they'd be damn fun to drive! 4WD just shouldn't be possible in such a tiny little vehicle.
However, if VW made a Polo R with a similar AWD system to the Golf R, I'd be all over that. I love the styling of the Polo GTI.

[Jowsey]

Because some people want a small car, but don't want a feature list aimed at leaner drivers getting their first car which let's face it is where small cars are generally aimed.

I wouldn't buy one, but I can see the point.

Pretty much this.

Small does not have to mean cheap. Small can be well made and with nice materials and with options that cheap cars don't need.

[Zak33]

Pretty much this.

Small does not have to mean cheap. Small can be well made and with nice materials and with options that cheap cars don't need.

is the interior substantially different to it's sister cars then?

[Butcher]

For the same reason the 1 Series and A Class exist: They wanted a new Audi/BMW/Mercedes, but they couldn't afford a real one.

They both compete directly with the A3 (and Golf) though, the A1 is smaller than anything BMW or Mercedes offer.

is the interior substantially different to it's sister cars then?

I imagine it's somewhat nicer than a Polo or Ibiza, yes. I've not driven either of the latter two to compare though.

[Spud1]

Any one got one? Care to share why you got one?

I follow them daily, and I can't see why they exist. What are they for? Why buy that and not a similar model with a different badge? What makes people buy/lease it?

I know EXACTLY why Audi make it.... cos people DO buy it.

But I'm interested to know what makes people want one?

I had one for a couple of years. Why? It was cheaper to buy on a PCP than the Polo that I actually wanted.

Simply put the residuals on the A1 were very strong, but the Polo simply wasn't...so on a PCP with a £500 deposit, I was paying £196 a month for the A1, but an equivalent polo would have cost me £250 a month (this is in 2013-14, prices and deals have changed now). Same story for the Fabia which was my alternative.

It may be a different story now but that was why I plumped for one It was a great car - had the 1.4 TFSI - comfortable, easy to drive, plenty of gadgets and again..comfortable. I also like small cars (Currently driving an M240i).

edit: The same is true of many of the "premium" brands too when it comes to PCP/Finance The discounts you can obtain on some of their models are huge, and the residuals tend to be much better than VW/Skoda etc. My current car had over 20% discount applied to it, a low APR and a great GFV making it over £100 cheaper per month than than all the non premium equivalents like the Seat Leon Cupra or Golf R (which are both slower).

List prices and "cash" prices are one thing, but when finance is involved car prices become very strange and make some very expensive cars cheaper than their "sensible" equivalents As long as you know how to negotiate of course..

[Zak33]

/\ Spud's reply makes utter sense.

Audi residuals and good pcp deals make it sensible.

And in many cases it's the same, where an exec car is chepaer short term than a lower spec car.

[kalniel]

I was about to give same reply as spud. I don't have one, but I nearly did.

At the time, I was comparing an A1 with a mini, polo, ibiza and fiesta. In terms of total cost of ownership the fiesta was the most expensive and had the worst interior/tech, but was best to drive. The Ibiza was cheapest but rode badly and had bad interior. The polo had an OK interior, but was a bit bland, ditto to drive, however at the time the engine I wanted (afore mentioned 1.4 tfsi) was only available in GT models which both cost more than the A1 (with the options I wanted) and had sports suspension, which I was trying to avoid at all costs. The mini had a funky interior, but was too cramped, and the 5-door looked really ugly.

So I was set on the A1 - drive was a bit more sparkly than the Polo, ride was better than the Mini and Ibiza, interior and tech was on par or best of the lot, and total cost of ownership for my spec and uses was best of the lot. And the dealer was within walking distance.

Then I bought an A3 instead.

I wouldnt mind the limited edition quattro version, but I dont even know if it made it to the UK.

I've seen one, so I think so unless it was a good copy. But the S1 quattro is no slouch either. I mulled over that for more than a few minutes.

[Ttaskmaster]

So.... it's for city-resident girls who don't earn much, then?

[kalniel]

So.... it's for city-resident girls who don't earn much, then?

City or rural village I'd say. While they're also fine on the motorway, the small size definitely comes into it's own on narrow country lanes. I don't think gender comes into it. Certainly a much better choice than an SUV/crossover for most.