Order now, or wait a while?

[Diamond White]

I need to order an S3 soon. But it is worth waiting until the 2015 updates are announced, in March or April.
I have no experience of Audi, so what do the more learned amongst you think will be updated, added, deleted etc.
Also, when do the price increases usually take place?

 

[cemerson]

TPMS will go in, that's almost certain. Not sure about anything else. That might be the only thing, might not.

Price increases last year were end of July IIRC.

 

[steeve]

I think you'd need one hell of a crystal ball for that.

As the car is a new model it might well be that there are no or few updates. But on the other hand it might be that as the car is new any unexpected niggles will get sorted......................

 

[Cumbrian_bob]

Too early to tell, some stuff should go from options to standard. But this doesnt mean it will be free.

Biggest thing for 2014 is the etron A3 and if this will impact the range although unlikely to make a bit of difference to the S3 as its at the other end of the engine range.

Wiat for 2015, the RS3 might be out. Of course different price, spec and speed ??

 

[h5djr]

I think you'd need one hell of a crystal ball for that.

As the car is a new model it might well be that there are no or few updates. But on the other hand it might be that as the car is new any unexpected niggles will get sorted......................

Things get changed all the time during production. Minor changes to the actual items used but these are not part of any model year change. The model year changes are normally changes to the spec of the car that the customer can order, but as you say, with the 8V still being quite new it is unlikely that there will be any major changes apart from TPMS being standard as it's required by law from November 2014.

 

[Daz Auto]

I am not due to change until the middle of next year, but I have been thinking about this.

It's difficult to know. Also difficult to time. Week 22 is early June? Allow roughly 3 months from order to delivery? Though that seems to depend a lot on engine and specification. For example, the car we ordered in mid December (allowing for Christmas) was only 2 months to build date.

So if I want a week 22 car next summer, I would place the order at the end of April that year. And make sure the dealer does not modify an existing order! Then delivery should be July. Providing you don't get a model that takes 5 months to get. Then it would be delivery in September. Just in time for the dark evenings and bad weather!

The other thing I have to consider is the approach of the facelift at the end of 2016? It might be worth me keeping my car another year and a bit. I'll certainly be watching carefully how they deal with the facelift on the A1 at the end of this year. Also, the facelift on the A3 may take some styling cues from the new A4 due at the end of this year.

It's all seems so far away for me, but it is fun to think about.

 

[Pulp84]

I planned to change my A1 for and S3 early next year but ordering Oct / Nov time this year. I had even done a spreadsheet working out my finance balance and expected trade in for my A1, how much I'd save for deposit etc.

But in the end I was coming on here every day and getting myself quite worked up about it (saddo). So few weeks ago I was sat at my desk at work and thought there was no harm in asking the question about sorting a deal now. So just drove down the dealer. Was quite surprised I could do a deal and hey presto the next day it was ordered. Just got to wait until May now.....

In respect of the yearly model changes - don't expect much so new after launch. I think the first major changes to the A1 spec came in 2013 MY (two years after launch). Major things that changed was seat stitching went white to silver, they deleted the roof aerial and I think the DIS went to colour. 2012 model year before (mine) the only things amended was some protection film around the boot opening stoppers and a steering wheel paddles became a no cost option. Nothing spectacular.

Guess the longer you leave it the closer you will get to a face lift which will probably be 2016 / 2017 (four years). Looks like from the A1 face lift pics that they are moving over to A3 style grill and DRLs. Think I read somewhere they are uniforming the DRL's across the range like BMW angel eyes.

 

[h5djr]

I planned to change my A1 for and S3 early next year but ordering Oct / Nov time this year. I had even done a spreadsheet working out my finance balance and expected trade in for my A1, how much I'd save for deposit etc.

But in the end I was coming on here every day and getting myself quite worked up about it (saddo). So few weeks ago I was sat at my desk at work and thought there was no harm in asking the question about sorting a deal now. So just drove down the dealer. Was quite surprised I could do a deal and hey presto the next day it was ordered. Just got to wait until May now.....

In respect of the yearly model changes - don't expect much so new after launch. I think the first major changes to the A1 spec came in 2013 MY (two years after launch). Major things that changed was seat stitching went white to silver, they deleted the roof aerial and I think the DIS went to colour. 2012 model year before (mine) the only things amended was some protection film around the boot opening stoppers and a steering wheel paddles became a no cost option. Nothing spectacular.

Guess the longer you leave it the closer you will get to a face lift which will probably be 2016 / 2017 (four years). Looks like from the A1 face lift pics that they are moving over to A3 style grill and DRLs. Think I read somewhere they are uniforming the DRL's across the range like BMW angel eyes.

I'm the same. I having been playing with figures and spreadsheest for some time trying to work out the best deal using PCP or possibly using cash. A copy of the Audi PCP calculator on my own PC would be useful but not possible so I've taken a couple of dealer quotes and 'reverse engineered' them to come up with my own calculator. At least it gives me a approximate figure.

 

[Pulp84]

I'm the same. I having been playing with figures and spreadsheest for some time trying to work out the best deal using PCP or possibly using cash. A copy of the Audi PCP calculator on my own PC would be useful but not possible so I've taken a couple of dealer quotes and 'reverse engineered' them to come up with my own calculator. At least it gives me a approximate figure.

Yes it is quite easy to reverse engineer. I did the same and worked out from finance quotes and from info posted on here. Think I worked out that the GFMV is always around 50% to 60%.

You made any decisions yet Dave regarding an 8V?

 

[Daz Auto]

I'm just going to keep saving and waiting (and researching and thinking).

Guess the longer you leave it the closer you will get to a face lift which will probably be 2016 / 2017 (four years). Looks like from the A1 face lift pics that they are moving over to A3 style grill and DRLs.

I know it's Audi... and things are not likely to change much... but the new A4 is supposed to have a "radical new look". I just wonder will this be the style for all new Audi's? It can be difficult to tell the difference between some current models and even some old models e.g. new A3 and old A3.

 

[h5djr]

Yes it is quite easy to reverse engineer. I did the same and worked out from finance quotes and from info posted on here. Think I worked out that the GFMV is always around 50% to 60%.

You made any decisions yet Dave regarding an 8V?

I think it will be a 2.0TDI-184 Sport s-tronic quattro Sportback but not sure yet what colour or when I will order as I do still like my current 170. All of my previous A3s have been Silver which I still like on the 8V but I may decide to have a change. It will certainly not be Black or White but Misano Red is a possibility especially at I can only have a black interior.

Silver with aluminium roof rails looks good on this video of the A3 - Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI S-line MY 2013 - Presentation - YouTube

 

[h5djr]

I'm just going to keep saving and waiting (and researching and thinking).

The research and looking in to this forum is all part of the enjoyment (as well as the driving)

 

[Pulp84]

I think it will be a 2.0TDI-184 Sport s-tronic quattro Sportback but not sure yet what colour or when I will order as I do still like my current 170. All of my previous A3s have been Silver which I still like on the 8V but I may decide to have a change. It will certainly not be Black or White but Misano Red is a possibility especially at I can only have a black interior.

Silver with aluminium roof rails looks good on this video of the A3 - Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI S-line MY 2013 - Presentation - YouTube

I don't think I have ever been so impressed with a car (apart from the S3) after a test drive than the TDI 184 Quattro SB. I've said it before but I think its one of the best all round cars on the market. Quick, good economy, safety of Quattro and so quiet!

I was always silver but moved over to Amalfi as the Mrs prefers white but always think you can't go wrong with silver. Especially with the chrome bits around the windows on A3. Misano is a very nice colour also.

 

[lozzermo]

I wonder if they will make Magnetic Ride standard? They've done this for the Saloon?

I bought a 2008 A4 S-Line and the next model year Audi added the LED Rear lights and standard so they do tweak the specs. The 2011 S4 I bought was had cruise control and bluetooth as standard over the 2010 MY.

I suppose there will always be updates to keep the car fresh or even add options as standard to compete with other manufacturers. That said, Audi will always increase the prices annually and the risk is you pay more for 'nothing'

The 8v is too new for any major changes, but judging by the tech planned for the TT (TFT instruments and aircon controls in the vents) the mid life facelift could be interesting.

 

[Stephen C]

If I wanted Daytona Grey, is there a chance that I won't get it if I ask the dealer to wait for the 2015 model? I heard Daytona is being phased out.

 

[cemerson]

I don't know if I want to try a 184, it might have made me wish I had waited until it was available before I ordered!

 

[Daveotto]

I'm just going to keep saving and waiting (and researching and thinking).



I know it's Audi... and things are not likely to change much... but the new A4 is supposed to have a "radical new look". I just wonder will this be the style for all new Audi's? It can be difficult to tell the difference between some current models and even some old models e.g. new A3 and old A3.

I would expect that the new A4 will look very much like the current A3 and A6 which at some angles are virtually indistinguishable from each other. It is Audi's policy to develop models which morph into each other to promote a common brand image rather than make radical changes between models at the cost of brand identity.