Audi A3 Saloon

IT had to happen. I'd left our Audi ~ A3 Saloon in a multi-storey car park for a few hours, only to  return to find a broken headlight, courtesy of a hit-and•run vandal who didn't leave their details.

But that was just the start of the trauma: rums out that a replacement LED light unit costs a wallet-shrinking £1,173, plus fitting which seems crazy when you consider LED l ights are a £795 upgrade  when you order ours line car in the first place.

To add insult to injury, our four-door had to spend three weeks at Audi HQ waiting for the replacement pan! Fortunately, Audi had another A3 Saloon it was happy for us to use during our car's enforced absence.

While it was an S line model like ours, it featured a 2.0-litre TOI diesel under the bonnet, so I felt a little comparison test against our 1.4 TFS! petrol car wouldn't go amiss.

The first thing to strike you is how smooth the TFS! engine is. The diesel isn't exactly gruff,  but there's a familiar rattle during a cold start and under hard acceleration, while the S tronic gearbox seems less at home joined to the TOI, with a hesitancy to its shifts.

The lack of available revs in the TD! compared to the TFS! also means there's less fun to be had skipping through the gears manually. But the TD! did reinforce my concerns about the TFSI's fuel economy. Despite its cylinder deactivation technology, I've struggled to climb above 35mpg in general driving.

By comparison, in identical conditions, the TD! easily achieved 10mpg more, while 5ompg is possible with care. That makes the diesel cheaper, right? Not necessarily, according to my sums.

Over 50,000 miles, TD! owners would spend £1, 923 less on fuel, which would compensate for the TD I's £1,450 price pemium. Diesel owners will pay £30 a year in road tax £10 more than petrol drivers based  on current rates.

While that's not going to break the bank, it's a different story for company car drivers. T he 1.4 TFS! attracts a 14 per cent Benefit in Kind charge, but the diesel is pushed to 19 percent. That means lower-rate taxpayers choosing the petrol option will shell out £319 a year less, while those in the higher band will pay £639 less. Over three years, petrol buyers could save  up to £1,917-Irrespective of each version's talents, it seems the TD! is the better choice for the private buyer, and the petrol is cheaper for company drivers. Me? ill stick  with the excellent and refined TFS!, and suffer the fuel bills.

Running costs
34.5mpg (on test)
£65 fill-up

C02/tax
109g/km
£20 or 14%

Practicality
Boot (seat s up/ down}
425/BBO Litres

PETROL VS DIESEL
Our TFSI makes more financial sense for company drivers. while TOI is the
better choice for private owners .

NEW LED LIGHTS
After car park accident, our A3 spent three weeks waiting for
LED light to be repaired. New part cost eye-watering £1,173 .

INTERIOR

All switchgear works precisely. but 5 tronic  box is better match for our petrol car than diesel.

Essentials

Audi A31.4 TFSI CoD S  Line  150PS S  tronic

On fleet since:  May 2014
Price new:  £26, 455
Engine:  1.4-litre 4cyl, 148bhp
C02/tax:  109g/km/ £20
Options:  LED headlights (£795), interior lighting (£170), technology package (£1,795), electric front seats (£550), heated front  seats (£260), Advanced key (£425), electric, folding and heated mirrors (£150), electric  lumbar support (£195), Comfort pack (£605), Bang  &  Olufsen stereo (£750)
Insurance*:  Group: 21 Quote: £329
Mileage/mpg:  2,593/34.5mpg .