The A4 cab is, indeed a fine looking car, but nothing beats the looks of the original Audi Cabriolet based on the antiquated 80 model. It looked absolutely sublime, even now I always stop and admire one should I happen to see one driving past.
My parents neighbours "drive"
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PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Up until a couple of months ago, mate of mine had a Metallic green one with the olive green hood, it was 10yr old and still looked the nuts. Was like a skip inside though, never saw a hoover in the 3yrs he had it.
Scruffy git.
My parents have a driveway too... and some nice weather.
Getting the car out is an awful lot easier that that french place too.
Getting the car out is an awful lot easier that that french place too.
That's my brother's car. He had a 156 before it and it had a few problems, but a far as I know he's not had any problems with the Spyder.
The problem with those drivers' surveys is that people that don't have an issue with their cars are not going to take the time to fill in the thing. You'd only really be inclined to fill one in if you have something to get off your chest which is why some of the luxury models fare so poorly.
I also believe that the reason the Skodas and the like do well in those surveys is that their owners take the time to fill them in so they can show how good their cars are despite their image.
The problem with those drivers' surveys is that people that don't have an issue with their cars are not going to take the time to fill in the thing. You'd only really be inclined to fill one in if you have something to get off your chest which is why some of the luxury models fare so poorly.
I also believe that the reason the Skodas and the like do well in those surveys is that their owners take the time to fill them in so they can show how good their cars are despite their image.
Do you know what Marc I believe you're EXACTLY right. I'd never thought of it that way. I really ****** like alfas and I may be tempted to get one very soon. Love the spyder but I do need 4 seats! Actually I take it back, there seems to be one convertible that can pull it off, the spyder!! Looks so damn agressive, love it!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, the Alfas are quite nice. I think the interior styling and build quality has finally caught up with the exterior design. I'd probably have the GT before the Brera though. I'm not really sure about the back end.
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Agree, you have to ask yourself, what motivates people to enter these polls.
Example:
You spend 10K a car, it has a few niggles, and your attitude is "Ho Hum, nothings perfect etc...."
But you never feel suffciently moved enough to make your views heard.
You spend 40K on a car, it has a few niggles and you attitude is " WTF! its a 40 grand car! this shouldnt happen! etc..."
You will be pretty p!ssed and will make your views known for sure.
In this type of scenario, neither car would be any better or worse than the other but one gets a black mark, where the other remains anonymous.
Im sure there is a lot of this.
Cheers
Paul
The same can be said for the aftersales\service surveys.
If I spend 40 odd grand on a car I expect to be treated well by the dealership. The service levels down here are pretty **** poor, which is why I always go to Belfast for my servicing and repairs. Nice shiny showroom and waiting area, free tea and coffee with buns\biscuits, friendly staff who always seem to know your name and address you as "Mr", etc. That level of service is par for the course with most of the "luxury" dealerships in Belfast, so I wouldn't fill in a survey to compliment it. If you get treated badly you will complain though.
However, if you've just brought a micra or corsa in for a service and the dealership lays on tea and biscuits or offers to drop you into town and collect you afterwards you're going to be pretty impressed and will fill in the survey to praise them. If you don't get a cup of tea and are pointed to the nearest bus stop you'll think that is standard procedure so won't complain.
If I spend 40 odd grand on a car I expect to be treated well by the dealership. The service levels down here are pretty **** poor, which is why I always go to Belfast for my servicing and repairs. Nice shiny showroom and waiting area, free tea and coffee with buns\biscuits, friendly staff who always seem to know your name and address you as "Mr", etc. That level of service is par for the course with most of the "luxury" dealerships in Belfast, so I wouldn't fill in a survey to compliment it. If you get treated badly you will complain though.
However, if you've just brought a micra or corsa in for a service and the dealership lays on tea and biscuits or offers to drop you into town and collect you afterwards you're going to be pretty impressed and will fill in the survey to praise them. If you don't get a cup of tea and are pointed to the nearest bus stop you'll think that is standard procedure so won't complain.
sorry but I totally disagree
In my experience, I've been shafted by Audi, the other marques I have owned havent shafted me
feck all to do with my expectations
I expect all cars to be reliable, regardless of price
In my experience, I've been shafted by Audi, the other marques I have owned havent shafted me
feck all to do with my expectations
I expect all cars to be reliable, regardless of price
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why should customer service be any different based on the value of the product?
surely servicing and meeting the client's needs is the same for any transaction?
I think you've missed the point I was making, although I do understand what you are saying.
I'm talking about what motivates people to fill these satisfaction surveys in, and my opinion on why certain cars perform well, while others do not.
There is no reason why an Octavia would do better than a Passat or an A4 since they are all pretty much the same car.
I'm talking about what motivates people to fill these satisfaction surveys in, and my opinion on why certain cars perform well, while others do not.
There is no reason why an Octavia would do better than a Passat or an A4 since they are all pretty much the same car.
I had an 156... can only say... get an Alfa you will love it...even little niggles become part of it...
I like Alfas a lot!! I guess most people that own an Alfa become fans... the brand might not be on par with Germans but has that spice that makes us car fans!!
I only wish the revived more their cuore sportivo, their sport models...
Pedro
I like Alfas a lot!! I guess most people that own an Alfa become fans... the brand might not be on par with Germans but has that spice that makes us car fans!!
I only wish the revived more their cuore sportivo, their sport models...
Pedro
This is my old one that I sold last year, I loved that car it had a 2.6 V6, underpowerd by todays standard but sounded nice I always thought.
PNH80
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Just picking up on the comments about expected customer service based on the value/price of the product....
It's the norm, no matter what the product is, to expect a better more personalised service the more you pay. If anything i'd say that's quite fair.
If you went to Netto for your 3p tin of beans you'd be a brain dead to expect the same level of service as if you went to Harrods food hall. Naive to say the least.
When you go and buy a used Fiesta from your local ford dealership, it's not a premium product, you're not paying premium prices and therefore shouldn't expect a bespoke, red carpet service. On the other hand if i was spending £150K of my hard earned money on a Lamborghini those f**kers better bend over backwards and go to the ends of the earth to make sure i leave that showroom feeling special and valued.
Maybe thats just me and my old fashioned values but i think you're entitled to the service you pay for. Don't get me wrong you should always expect a good, personalised service from any car dealer but within reason....
It's the norm, no matter what the product is, to expect a better more personalised service the more you pay. If anything i'd say that's quite fair.
If you went to Netto for your 3p tin of beans you'd be a brain dead to expect the same level of service as if you went to Harrods food hall. Naive to say the least.
When you go and buy a used Fiesta from your local ford dealership, it's not a premium product, you're not paying premium prices and therefore shouldn't expect a bespoke, red carpet service. On the other hand if i was spending £150K of my hard earned money on a Lamborghini those f**kers better bend over backwards and go to the ends of the earth to make sure i leave that showroom feeling special and valued.
Maybe thats just me and my old fashioned values but i think you're entitled to the service you pay for. Don't get me wrong you should always expect a good, personalised service from any car dealer but within reason....
PNH80
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£34200
No...Seriously? Really? Why?!! My god how does it feel to lose £10K in the blink of an eye?!
I'm intrigued and confused why out of all the cars available for that price you went for an A3 cab?!.... The list of new or nearly new cars you could have had....Audi A5, BMW M sport coupe, A4 cab, 3.0 Z4, S3...The list goes on....
But hey, as they say.... You pay your money, you take your choice!
WOW!!
For an A3????????????????????? That is quite a price!!
PNH80
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Yes but if he lives in England i'm gobsmacked. A lot of people would kill to have £34K to spend on a car.
Mine when spec'd new was £27K and i think THAT'S expensive for any A3. I think the S3 is very expensive when you start ticking options... So to spend £34K on an A3 cab is mindblowing to me considering it's not quattro either.
Mine when spec'd new was £27K and i think THAT'S expensive for any A3. I think the S3 is very expensive when you start ticking options... So to spend £34K on an A3 cab is mindblowing to me considering it's not quattro either.
Agreed. If I was spending A3Cab money over here - about 56k euros for the basic 1.8T model - I'd be looking at an A5 with the S-Line pack and some other bits. 1.8TFSI in the A5 starts at about 49k, so probably in or around 60k for the model I'd want. This is probably what I'll go for when I do change because the all new A3 will be about 18 months away when I do and I don't want to be stuck with an old model for a year and a half or two years.
My current A3 has about 15 grands worth of extras (including both S-Line packs), and I would consider it expensive also. I think once you start checking every box on the options list you need to look at the next model up which will probably have a lot of them as standard - i.e. buy an A4Cab instead of an A3Cab.
If I was spending A3Cab money on another convertible I'd probably look at the Alfa Spyder which starts at 52k.
My current A3 has about 15 grands worth of extras (including both S-Line packs), and I would consider it expensive also. I think once you start checking every box on the options list you need to look at the next model up which will probably have a lot of them as standard - i.e. buy an A4Cab instead of an A3Cab.
If I was spending A3Cab money on another convertible I'd probably look at the Alfa Spyder which starts at 52k.
60K auro;s for the A5 I guess is similar to what we pay here though isn;t it? 3.0Tdi, sport with a few options? I know when I spec'd one up it was coming in at £37K.
J.
J.
My S3 was cheaper than the A3Cab... but then they used cheap metal instead of premium fabric.... ahah
Pedro
Pedro
Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but have you seen the new Prodrive Brera S?
Wow...
http://www.breras.co.uk/
In my experience, the reliability thing is fishwife ********.
I could put you in touch with the owner of my '00 Alfa 156, who has owned it since '02.
Routine maintenance only, no problems at all.
PNH80
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My only argument against the A4 cab is that it's a bit dull. Just not a drivers car at all in my opinion, more of a cruiser. So in that respect i can partly see the attraction to an A3 cab with a good engine. Probably good fun with the roof down (providing no one see's you!)
I can say the same!! Mine was a '98 156 model... until i sold it with 120000 miles... normal maintenance never had a problem whatsoever!! Actually with all those miles car chassis was still true, tire wear even on both sides, great. Ok interior quality not to german spec but a good car overall. I would buy Alfa again.
Pedro
It's ****** lovely. Damn it really is! Do the Breras hold their value reasonably well?
Told you!!!.... it is premium fabric on the convertible top... hence price!! Sheet metal on mine will do! ahahah
Pedro
Well you look at the basic price of an A3 Cabrio 2.0 TDI S-line, £26120, stick in a DSG box, Sat nav+, Exnon Adaptive lights, Bose, phone prep & metalic paint,thats an extra £4770 before you start adding all the bits that you have become used to on other cars, heated seats, acoustic parking, the list goes on, it soon adds up. Besides my other car two cars that I have just sold to pay for the new one, A3 2.0 TDI SE with DSG box & a Mazda MX5 Mk3 Auto were small compact cars & that is why having had the the A3 Cabrio on loan from my local Audi dealer for a day I must admit I fell in love with it. besides having reached the grand old age of 66 with old worn out joints I had found it very hard to get in & out of a car which was very low hence the sale of my MX5 that I loved. Would have opted for a TT but had the same problem getting in & out & along with the fact that I would not now consider any car other than a soft top the A3 cabrio suited me just fine. Intended remap as soon as it arrives
Made mistake on the price it was £33200
Made mistake on the price it was £33200
When you see the list of stuff you've added, it just reinforces how meagre Audi's standard spec is.
I mean, you're paying £26k, for god's sake!
Some of those things you've added should be standard, and probably would be/are on competitors' motors.
I mean, you're paying £26k, for god's sake!
Some of those things you've added should be standard, and probably would be/are on competitors' motors.
But you pay your monies you get what you want... what we think does not matter!! Enjoy your motor mate!!
Pedro
Pedro
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I have to agree despite my usual opinionated moanings....
If the car is exactly what you want then good luck with it. Doesn't matter if it's an A3 or an Aston.
Bespoke products cost a lot more in any industry so i guess when you're specifying a car from the ground up you expect to pay a price which reflects that.
Bowfer i understand what you're saying about Audi charging extra for things which competitors include as standard and sometimes there's no excuse. I've said on here before that i've been seriously ****** off when a mate has bought a Golf or a Seat Leon and had some nice kit thrown in which mine didn't have as standard. Electric folding mirrors and parking sensors for example. These aren't luxurious extras, these are basic everyday useable things which make the car less hassle....Not to mention the same switches, wiring etc as a Seat. It's inexcusable.
Same applies to bluetooth (as i've posted in another thread today)... I believe it's changed now but last year you could not have bluetooth without paying £385 for the GSM phone prep! Again, bluetooth is another feature fitted by all other manufacturers as standard.
Don't get me wrong, i wouldn't swap my A3 for any other hatchback. I love it but come on...Audi need a bit of a wake-up on some fronts.
I wouldn't mind if every component was Audi specific but they're fitting the same components as standard on Seats and Skodas.....And i'm paying a premium to not have them?! Not impressed!
Paul.
Base model Audi's are so poorly specced it's unbelievable. Who in their right mind will pay £15,000 for a new 1.6 A3? Inside there are no real creature comforts at all and the whole car looks impoverished.
The thing that really winds me up about Audi, is how they insist on using reflector headlights instead of the projectors which they did on the old A3, A4 and A6. I understand this is probably because they want people to spec xenons from the factory, but it looks so cheap. In all their new press releases they wax lyrical about their fancy LED's and Xenon+ and all the cars have the DRL's and people think they come as standard. What a shock they'll be in for when they see the front of their car!
The thing that really winds me up about Audi, is how they insist on using reflector headlights instead of the projectors which they did on the old A3, A4 and A6. I understand this is probably because they want people to spec xenons from the factory, but it looks so cheap. In all their new press releases they wax lyrical about their fancy LED's and Xenon+ and all the cars have the DRL's and people think they come as standard. What a shock they'll be in for when they see the front of their car!
It's not really much different in BMW land. There used to be a time when even a radio was an optional extra on BMWs. However I do agree that many items should be standard.
People will buy a base model to get the badge. Again it's the same with other premium marques.
BTW, a 1.6 A3 will have the same spec as any other A3 in the same trim level. Engine size has nothing to do with it.
I think the comment was regarding who would pay £15K for a base audi with next to no creature comforts.
J.
J.
