S3 Manual v Auto on Configurator

PaulAr

PaulAr

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Speccing an Ibis Black Ed SB online and have a couple of Qs regarding the configurator:

- If you tick the `Automatic`option does that mean the full beans S Tronic, with paddles etc?
- Cant see that there is a price difference between Manual and Auto? is this right?

Specced, comfort pack, high beam assist, interior light pack, phone prep low.
Buckets are another £60 pcm in PCP so may not bother.

Just need to organise a test drive in a DSG/STronic and see what the fuss is about and whether its for me.

Thanks

Paul

PS - The configurator is Shoite! not at all user friendly.
 
DSG should be about £2k more than manual from memory.

Get lumbar, I forgot on the new car and I'm gutted as seats give in the lower back.

If you get front parking sensors you get display on RNSE, with just rear you get beeps!
 
Yep, auto should be s-tronic/DSG with paddles.

I wasn't totally won over on my DSG test drive, but after a couple of weeks of ownership and learning how to drive it in a way that gets the best out of the box I couldn't imagine driving without it.
 
warren_S3 said:
DSG should be about £2k more than manual from memory.

Get lumbar, I forgot on the new car and I'm gutted as seats give in the lower back.

If you get front parking sensors you get display on RNSE, with just rear you get beeps!
Click to expand...

2K ! Wow. That could be a deal breaker.

Does anyone else think the configurator is a clear as mud and slow to use?

Anyhow, seems I need to visit the dealer and walk through the must have options and understand what manual v DSG does to a PCP deal. TBH its starting to look less and less atrractive as the dealers ramp up the monthly payments as you add even the `must have` options in.
At this rate its looking at around 14-15K to `rent` this car for 2 Years which I reckon is no where near what you would lose in depreciation if you bought it. Unless of course the car is worth more than the GFV of 19K and you could recoup the differencv between current market and GFV. Mmmmmmm.....

Any one hazard a guess on the value of a 2 year old Black Ed SB with a few nice extras (no buckets)?

cheers
Paul
 
I don't know but I love my DSG... It's great!!
 
Dsg really grows on you, people say it takes away something from the driving experience but once you live with it you realise that it is the best of both worlds, stress free in traffic but instantly in the right gear when you floor it!!

Chris
 
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that highbeam assist looks like a total gimmick! i mean do you really need to have it automatically putting the highbeam on and off for you? I agree with warren... the lumbar is a must!
 
jb0o said:
Paul, you're more then welcome to have a blast in my car if you fancy checking out the DSG box? Just give me a shout mate.
Click to expand...

Cheers fella, if the dealer has nothing avaliable I will give you a shout.

Paul
 
The PCP deals on new S3's are really good at the moment - certainly for 3-4 year terms. I put down a deposit of £5.5k on a 9-month old S3 last year and got monthly repayments that are only about £30 per month lower than what you can now quite easily get on a new car with a £2k deposit! Even back in 2011, it seems that the market for new and slightly used S3s was much less competitive. :(

As everyone here says, the S-Tronic will impress you most once you've had the chance to drive it over a few weeks. I found it pleasant enough on a test drive, but the real benefits are mastered over time and I would never go back to manual for another S3. You have to remember that it's really a sequential manual with an automatic function, rather than an auto 'box of old. Then there are the benefits of not having a clutch etc (remap).

I imagine that a good proportion of the S-Tronic's c.£1,400 cost will be recouped come re-sale time.
 
Mate of mine has just got a 20TFSI BE 3 dr with DSG so going to try that out this week.

PCPs for a new S3 BE SB with DSG, comfort pack, BT and a few other bits and pieces, with 10-12K Max annual mileage are around £450-£500pcm, with 19K GFV.

Its more than I thought however assuming decent residuals at around 22K there should be 3K equity sitting in the car at the end of the 24 Month term and a deposit for the next car.

Seems plenty of love for the DSG, appears a lot more people are converted and won over by it than not.

Cheers
Paul
 
You're not wrong Paul. Everyone I've spoke to about the DSG system hasn't said a bad word about it. So much so that most people even say they'd never go back to a manual...

I'm loving the DSG but I'm not sure if I can say I'd never go back to a manual.. maybe when I start to experiment more in 'S' it may change my mind ;)
 
I was dragged kicking and screaming from my manual VXR - never envisaged myself driving an automatic - but due to injury I was left with no option other than to go for a sporty auto and I have to say Paul, even if I could drive a manual car again I wouldn't dream of turning my back on the DSG now! It really is the best of both worlds. :wub: xx
 
DSG is great Paul, a tad slow to respond in west end / central London traffic. Putting DSG into sport mode helps but still not as responsive as a manual. That said I have no regrets over DSG and love it. When you drive your mates , try to imagine yourself in traffic trying to lane changing quickly. Don't let that discourage you but something to consider otherwise it's a fantastic bit of kit.

Out of curiosity, does the configurator say it's a 6 or 7 speed s tronic?
 
Interestingly Clarksons struggled with DSG in the Lambo in Rome on Top Gear last week saying it didn't allow him to go for gaps as it was laggy. Others say they can't get out into traffic due to lag. How do you DSG folk drive round this issue? When I drove it on uninterrupted roads the other week it felt vastly improved from the version I drove in an Ibiza Cupra in 2010, but I didn't have to drive in town traffic.
 
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