Have just put a deposit down on an A3...

[DrNick]

Sadly not for me, but for my Dad - hope he likes it!

1.8t S-tronic Sport with lots of toys - touch sensitive nav (very clever - you just write the letters of the post code on the mmi pad and it navigates you there), Bang and Olufsen stereo, Xenons, leather etc.

Hope he likes it when he sees it!

Salesman must have thought it was his lucky day - dad negotiated a price over the phone yesterday, i walked in a 9am, quick drive, phone call to dad - "lovely, buy it" - deposit paid! I think I need some commission!

 

[inkey$]

Looks good DrNick. Like those wheels and that nav sounds very cool

Be interested to see more pics as potential future family wagon.

 

[Carol M]

Nice work for a Saturday morning Dr.

 

[DrNick]

Be interested to see more pics as potential future family wagon.

Certainly an impressive car - engine/gearbox combination is spot on. Smooth and beautifully responsive (and faster than my 4-pot!!), not a bad raspy engine note when you floor it but this one is easily drowned out by the phenomenal stereo.

Be very tempted myself, although not sure I can have the same car has my Dad lol

 

[jamiez]

Was the B&O kit an option?

 

[DrNick]

Was the B&O kit an option?

Of course - it's an Audi - their option lists are worse than BMWs!

 

[ronk]

Audi bolt their cars together very well and their service (up in Newcastle) is very good. When it comes to MOT time they offer a £40 mot with a free mot failure insurance policy if the car has been serviced with them - I reckon its about time BMW dealers woke up to this!

Ok so the mot is three years away but its a nice little thank you

 

[gannet]

looks tidy

loving those wheels

 

[Maniac]

That looks lovely. I'm not sure I could justify the money these cost though, I specced one up not long ago and I'd scraped £37K at one point. I'd just get a focus or something and bank the rest.

 

[Jembo]

The best is yet to come DrNick.

Come service time over the last 6 years, I've had all top spec A6 S Line twice, TT rag top, A4 Quattro, A4 Cab & A3 Cabs, though might be because I've run mine from new.

As they're all fully laden with gizmos, when you buy your next car is likely you'll put them on the options list - without even trying they succeeded in persuading me i needed adaptive Xenons & auto lights&wipers purely because of this subtle marketing ploy.

Other than Sopers who're miles away, I've not had anywhere near the AUDi experiences at a couple of local BMW dealerships for simple things.

 

[Mowflow]

Not seen those wheels before, they are very nice.

I test drove the same model only in 3 door back in November. I thought that overall the car was a vast improvement over the 8p A3 in terms of its road manners and handling after owning an a3 sportback 2.0tdi DSG s line. However, I thought the 1.8 engine and the stronic were a horrible mismatch. It never felt quick or lively and the box was hesitant in D which was the complete opposite to my experience with the DSG on the diesel.

The car did have a lot of positives though.

 

[DrNick]

It never felt quick or lively and the box was hesitant in D which was the complete opposite to my experience with the DSG on the diesel.

Having read about hesitancy with petrols and DSG (mainly in VW) I was trying to be particularly awkward for the auto-box in the way i approached and went onto roundabouts/traffic lights etc on the test drive and never once did I feel the box hesitate, and that was in D and not sport.

Maybe they have updated the software, either that or I am not such a good driver!

I agree that a diesels low down torque probably suits the auto better (I often drive a friends 3.0tdi A5 Auto) but Dad didnt want a diesel now he is retiring and the car wont get so much use.


Agree with all the comments about the wheels - they are rather smart!

 

[Mowflow]

I believe the box is different on the diesels due to the higher torque. By different I mean one is wet and the other dry. I can't remember which has what. I had been out of my DSG car for around 6 months when I tested the S-tronic but I had tested a 116i with the 8 speed sport auto just a few days before so perhaps that shaded my opinion as the engine and box in that are an outstanding match.