Buyer's remorse beginning in...

[kalniel]

Horay! Kalniel will finally shut up about what car he should get next, I hear you say.

Went in to shop with firm idea of exact spec I wanted.. came out having ordered something not quite the same. They get to shift a car in stock and register another car while everyone who knows better is waiting for the new plates. Oh well, got more of a discount + better part exchange for doing it

So, arriving soon will be an A3 Sportback S-line 1.4 tfsi (cylinder on demand). The beautiful Daytona Grey will be offset by 18" wheels on gangly SE spec suspension, and I didn't get the sound system upgrade I wanted Flat bottomed steering wheel is stupid too

[TeePee]

I'm sure the fuel economy is fantastic...

[herulach]

Horay! Kalniel will finally shut up about what car he should get next, I hear you say.

Went in to shop with firm idea of exact spec I wanted.. came out having ordered something not quite the same. They get to shift a car in stock and register another car while everyone who knows better is waiting for the new plates. Oh well, got more of a discount + better part exchange for doing it

So, arriving soon will be an A3 Sportback S-line 1.4 tfsi (cylinder on demand). The beautiful Daytona Grey will be offset by 18" wheels on gangly SE spec suspension, and I didn't get the sound system upgrade I wanted Flat bottomed steering wheel is stupid too

Nice car, presumably a cancelled special order if its on SE suspension? TBH you'll probably be glad of it, my Leon FR was very bangy, admittedly it was the 2l 150 so didn't have the independent rear, but a 184 I drove (which is the same as the audi) was pretty damn harsh as well.

I was surprised by the 1.4 TSI I had out as a courtesy vehicle (I owned the leon for 11 months, and it was in the garage for 4 of them) I expected it to be pretty meh, but its actually quite nice.

Whats wrong with flat bottomed wheels?

[peterb]

Didn't the Austin Allegro have a flat bottomed steering wheel?

[kalniel]

Nice car, presumably a cancelled special order if its on SE suspension?

Yep. Was looking to get SE suspension anyway (though with sport trim). Dealer thought I was a bit odd though.

TBH you'll probably be glad of it, my Leon FR was very bangy, admittedly it was the 2l 150 so didn't have the independent rear, but a 184 I drove (which is the same as the audi) was pretty damn harsh as well.

I was surprised by the 1.4 TSI I had out as a courtesy vehicle (I owned the leon for 11 months, and it was in the garage for 4 of them) I expected it to be pretty meh, but its actually quite nice.

I was impressed by a test in a Leon FR with the same engine. I know it's not going to be quite as good up the hills, and certainly a good 10mpg behind in real world driving, but I do have quite a lot of flat roads around here so it'll be in 2-cylinder mode quite a lot. Plus I save 75kg weight, no adblue, no DPF problems and it's a bit easier on the DMF/clutch.

But again, dealer thought I was odd for not getting the 2.0tdi.

Whats wrong with flat bottomed wheels?

You can't shuffle! They're fine for very quick racks where you don't need to but I prefer to keep both hands in contact with the wheel as much as possible when turning. Granted, probably even less important in modern cars with electric/light steering.

I'm sure the fuel economy is fantastic...

Hush, we're not all in the US Real world I'm hoping for as much as 45mp(UK)g, though will be happy with 40+ which would match my first ever car (golf gti mk2), and be a bit behind the 55mpg I currently get as a yr round avg.

[Butcher]

Yep. Was looking to get SE suspension anyway (though with sport trim). Dealer thought I was a bit odd though.

Really? SE suspension seems a popular option from what I've seen on the forums.

I was impressed by a test in a Leon FR with the same engine. I know it's not going to be quite as good up the hills, and certainly a good 10mpg behind in real world driving, but I do have quite a lot of flat roads around here so it'll be in 2-cylinder mode quite a lot. Plus I save 75kg weight, no adblue, no DPF problems and it's a bit easier on the DMF/clutch.

Doubt you'll notice it on the hills (just drop it down a gear), it's still a fairly powerful engine. You'll also be less stung if the government decides to screw over diesels (as it's looking they might). And petrol is cheaper.

You can't shuffle! They're fine for very quick racks where you don't need to but I prefer to keep both hands in contact with the wheel as much as possible when turning. Granted, probably even less important in modern cars with electric/light steering.

Mine is flat bottomed and I don't really have a problem, the steering rack is pretty quick (though I'm not sure how much difference the progressive steering makes there).

Hush, we're not all in the US Real world I'm hoping for as much as 45mp(UK)g, though will be happy with 40+ which would match my first ever car (golf gti mk2), and be a bit behind the 55mpg I currently get as a yr round avg.

45 mpg seems a realistic sort of number for that engine, depends how heavy your foot is though.

[Jay]

I have an A4 sline, the Ride is WAY too hard.

[Butcher]

The new A3 seems to ride better than some of the older cars (definitely better than the old A3), quite hard to compare across different models though.
I'd have SE or sport suspension with that engine though.

Also interesting comparison: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/costs/car...718803,718618/

The 1.4 COD is cheaper to run (largely due to reduced depreciation), since you got a better discount that seems even more applicable.

[wasabi]

The new A3 seems to ride better than some of the older cars (definitely better than the old A3),

OLD A3? My 1997 A3 1.8 Turbo Golf, NOT a VW Golf Mk4 GTI rebadge, honest guv? Comfortable as a comfortable thing, and gets high wife/passenger approval factor. Mind you I walk to work and do long trips by motorbike, so half a tank a month means I'm not your typical modern UK car buyer.

The 1.4 TFSI seems to get 'pick of the bunch' reviews to be fair. Uncle is in sales/finance at a big Audi dealership so must give one a shot on a day off, although he knows if he gets me on the forecourt I'm sold on something silly.... Nearest modern equivalent of an S3 is.....?


Lots of short trips - the 1.4 petrol makes sense. Long trips the diesel makes more sense I suppose, although lots of hills favours diesel (or big petrol) just for the torque.

[kalniel]

Really? SE suspension seems a popular option from what I've seen on the forums.

Might be a local thing - too many ex-londoners wanting lower looking cars or something but yeah - they said they never sell anything softer than sport.

You'll also be less stung if the government decides to screw over diesels (as it's looking they might). And petrol is cheaper.

I was certainly thinking about the former, though I think it's probably going to happen on a more local level rather than anything bigger as I expect the EU (and it's manufacturer support) would complain if we suddenly started encouraging korean and american petrol cars over german diesel

Mine is flat bottomed and I don't really have a problem, the steering rack is pretty quick (though I'm not sure how much difference the progressive steering makes there).

A fair bit. I have the equivalent on my old A3 and it does make the car feel more nimble as you can flick through direction changes without moving your hands. I'm sure I'll get used to the normal system though.

45 mpg seems a realistic sort of number for that engine, depends how heavy your foot is though.

That's the other reason to go for this engine - at low revs it's quite like the diesel, at higher though...

[kalniel]

The new A3 seems to ride better than some of the older cars (definitely better than the old A3), quite hard to compare across different models though.

OLD A3? My 1997 A3 1.8 Turbo Golf, NOT a VW Golf Mk4 GTI rebadge, honest guv? Comfortable as a comfortable thing, and gets high wife/passenger approval factor.

The old old A3 was a barge/soft golf rebadge, as above The old (8P) A3 (my current) was comfy in SE spec, but pretty hard in anything else. The new (8V) is a bit more goldilocks - the sport spec is much more comfy than the 8P's, and the SE spec supposedly handles much better than the 8Ps.

The 1.4 TFSI seems to get 'pick of the bunch' reviews to be fair. Uncle is in sales/finance at a big Audi dealership so must give one a shot on a day off, although he knows if he gets me on the forecourt I'm sold on something silly.... Nearest modern equivalent of an S3 is.....?

A modern S3

Or RS3 which looks amazing.

Or S1, which looks like a hoot to drive if you don't need the space.

Lots of short trips - the 1.4 petrol makes sense. Long trips the diesel makes more sense I suppose, although lots of hills favours diesel (or big petrol) just for the torque.

That's what the turbo is for. This engine has the same torque as the good old 1.9TDI PD unit

[mycarsavw]

Fantastic choice. I'm currently torn between a Leon SC FR and a Golf GT, both with the 1.4 TSI (no F in the lowly marque engines) ACT engine.

I'd followed your posts on the other place and was hoping you'd get the Golf so I could quiz you ad infinitum.

Oh well

[kalniel]

Sorry (not really )

Golf GT looks a good call - I avoided almost entirely because of the adaptive cruise control, which doesn't work for my kind of commute. Also they cost more than the A3 for the options I wanted. But it's a very smart looking car and they have apparently sorted out the suspension noises issue.

[mycarsavw]

Out of interest, what options did you...erm...opt for in the end?

[herulach]

Fantastic choice. I'm currently torn between a Leon SC FR and a Golf GT, both with the 1.4 TSI (no F in the lowly marque engines) ACT engine.

I'd followed your posts on the other place and was hoping you'd get the Golf so I could quiz you ad infinitum.

Oh well

Like Kalneil, I didn't even look at the golf as the adaptive cruise can't be switched off (or at least no one in the dealer knew how, I imagine it could be done on VAGCOM). Its annoying as anything, you also get a lot more for your money with the Seat. The LED lights in particular not only look great but perform very very well.

[kalniel]

Out of interest, what options did you...erm...opt for in the end?

Well more the person who ordered the original factory build, but it was close enough to what I wanted

I was going to get Monsoon Grey Sport on SE suspension, 1.4 CoD, Comfort pack (cruise, rear parking sensors, auto wipers + headlights), Xenon light pack (Xenon Plus, adaptive, LED interior lighting), Audi Sound and extended warranty.

I got Daytona grey S-line on SE suspension, 1.4 CoD, Comfort pack, Parking system plus (ie adds front sensors), Foldeable heated wing mirrors and extended warranty (and a smattering of dealer gubbins like body care, mats, extra AMI cable).

So I miss out on the improved sound system, headlights that swivel (standard S line are fixed Xenon Plus) and LED interior lighting (which means it's really quite dim now - the S-line has black headlining as well which doesn't help things). Only thing I'm mildly annoyed about is the lack of better sound. It's OK, but I was looking forward to enjoying my music some more Trading that for all the other stuff that S-line brings, plus better price, plus much sooner availability, won it for me.