What you DISLIKE about your Audi.

[h5djr]

Getting back to cars and standard equipment, even a Ford Focus Titanium 5-door 135PS TDI needs £3000 worth of extras to bring it up to sothing like the spec of the Golf and A3 in my previous post and that does not include Air-Con wihich doesn't seem to be available.

The basic price would be £18,550 + £3000 options = £21,550.

And the Focus has a retained value of 35% after 3 years where as the A3 has 51%. So although the Focus costs £3,140 less than the A3 it is worth £5,052 less after 3 years.

 

[sat1983]

Even more impressive is the 61% that the (god knows why with this engine) 1.9 TDI A3 cabriolet retains.

 

[bacardi]

Getting back to cars and standard equipment, even a Ford Focus Titanium 5-door 135PS TDI needs £3000 worth of extras to bring it up to sothing like the spec of the Golf and A3 in my previous post and that does not include Air-Con wihich doesn't seem to be available.

The basic price would be £18,550 + £3000 options = £21,550.

And the Focus has a retained value of 35% after 3 years where as the A3 has 51%. So although the Focus costs £3,140 less than the A3 it is worth £5,052 less after 3 years.

So the assumption is that an A3 is better than a Focus? That's an impressive achievement

 

[h5djr]

So the assumption is that an A3 is better than a Focus? That's an impressive achievement

Not really the point. A number of people are saying how expensive the A3 and that is has nothing like the standard equipment of other cheaper cars. This just shows that's not necessarily true. You still have to add quite a lot of options on a Focus to bring it up to the same spec. You may well be able to get more discount on a Focus but you would need to to make the figures balance out.

Even if the costs did work out around the same overall, the A3 is still a far better car overall. Perhaps some cars are better equipped but here I'm comparing similar 5-door hatchbacks as that's the type of car I want to own.

 

[Stuno1]

suprised to read build quality as a gripe! That is what audi are renowned for isnt it? You do get raped on the options with an audi and you do pay more for 'Audi' brand.

 

[phantom]

Dave you are in the minority when it comes to defending the lack of Std/basic equipment in a 27k car.

Even my 2004 Renualt Cliosport 15k brand new had Xenons , cruise , Auto lights , Auto wipers , stereo control stalk.

Granted it was made out of paper , but thats why it was 15k not 27k+

p

 

[ADEY]

Rattling Glovebox
Spacesaver instead of spare alloy
A3 - a Golf in a posh frock? Having come from a MK5 GTI - i dont think so!!

 

[PaulAr]

So the assumption is that an A3 is better than a Focus? That's an impressive achievement

It is, the FOCUS is already a very good car.

 

[sat1983]

The focus is a good car. But utter ***** at the same time. It genuinely is the most souless car I have ever seen.
It's truely an A-B car, very competent too which is why millions are on the road. But boy, what a boring motor...

 

[newbiecrg]

I don't like the design glitch of the armrest, the emotionless drive, the leather quality on the bucket seats could be better.

Concerning Xenons they should be standard on the top range models. And I quite LIKE have the option not to have auto lights/wipers as I hate them!!

Sat Nav should be better and cheaper... the one on offer is not value for money at all...

Pedro

 

[jamiekip]

And I quite LIKE have the option not to have auto lights/wipers as I hate them!!

Couldn't agree more!

 

[phantom]

Concerning Xenons they should be standard on the top range models. And I quite LIKE have the option not to have auto lights/wipers as I hate them!!
Pedro

Eh.....just turn them off mate if you don't want them to come on/work!

p

 

[newbiecrg]

Well fair... but if my car can be slighlty cheaper by not having the auto wipers/lights I am pleased...

Some options are there to give you just that.... the option! Like different trim levels...

Pedro

 

[phantom]

Well fair... but if my car can be slighlty cheaper by not having the auto wipers/lights I am pleased...

Some options are there to give you just that.... the option! Like different trim levels...

Pedro

You or somebody must have speced the Autolight/wipers at some point though as there not Std equipment are they?

p

 

[bamurphy]

The servicing costs

The fact that my A3 isnt an S3

Very minor, when washing my car water collecting in the petrol cap! And when filling up the plug part having to rest on the paint work, my mums P reg Micra has a holder!!

 

[h5djr]

The servicing costs

The fact that my A3 isnt an S3

Very minor, when washing my car water collecting in the petrol cap! And when filling up the plug part having to rest on the paint work, my mums P reg Micra has a holder!!

The A3 filler caps has two slots in in to hang it on the filler flap. Look in your Owner's Manual under filling the tank!

 

[sleep envy]

I hated the way I always had to wear a coat, in winter.
My commute is only 3.5 miles, and the temp gauge would barely move, even though that drive could take 20 minutes+
Which meant the heater barely worked.
That used to drive me nuts.

pretty typical of any diesel engined car - being a more efficient combustion it generates less heat therefore takes longer to get up to temp

my gripes - no oil temp or level gauge, soft paint, poor variable wiper facility (Porsche had a better design over 15 years ago), space saver instead of full size alloy

 

[h5djr]

Dave you are in the minority when it comes to defending the lack of Std/basic equipment in a 27k car.

Maybe but I'm glad that Audi and I agree. I would hate to be forced to have some options that I did not like.

 

[sleep envy]

The servicing costs

The fact that my A3 isnt an S3

Very minor, when washing my car water collecting in the petrol cap! And when filling up the plug part having to rest on the paint work, my mums P reg Micra has a holder!!

have you had some big bills?

IME £240 for 17ks hard motoring has been a very refreshing change

ps - the petrol cap does sit on the flap after a bit of mental agility and 14 twists of the rubber fly lead

 

[phantom]

Maybe but I'm glad that Audi and I agree. I would hate to be forced to have some options that I did not like.

I don't know what spec you have Dave , but i would love to have auto lights/wipers , and cruise controle for free even if i never used them.

I had cruise on the Cliosport that i never used once , but i could have if i chose to.

p

 

[bacardi]

Dave you are in the minority when it comes to defending the lack of Std/basic equipment in a 27k car.

Even my 2004 Renualt Cliosport 15k brand new had Xenons , cruise , Auto lights , Auto wipers , stereo control stalk.

Granted it was made out of paper , but thats why it was 15k not 27k+

p

Couldnt agree more

People are genuinely shocked when they realise how much my A3 cost, expecially considering its the entry level Audi

And its a fact, Audi are tight on std kit, not sure how anyone can say anything otherwise

 

[turbosline]

i dont like: the battle between armrest and handbrake,water coming inside from open windows,uncomfortable seating position,steering wheel gives you no information about the road(very soft feeling),very soft accelerator pedal,abscense of cupholder

 

[newbiecrg]

I don't know what spec you have Dave , but i would love to have auto lights/wipers , and cruise controle for free even if i never used them.

I had cruise on the Cliosport that i never used once , but i could have if i chose to.

p

thing is Phantom... it would never be free you would pay for something you dont want.. (in my case anyway)

It would be appear to be free but it would be included in the price...

Pedro

 

[phantom]

Agree with that , but the Std spec for a mid/ low high end car is poor!

p

 

[newbiecrg]

I agree with you as well... our Audi is far from value for money... but we knew that... We could have bought a Citroen or a Renault fully loaded for almost half price... why didn't we?

Pedro

 

[sat1983]

You could get a near new C6 for the price of a poverty spec A4.
What would you rather have?

 

[L60N]

You could get a near new C6 for the price of a poverty spec A4.
What would you rather have?

Id love to see the free options list for both though!! Just out of pure interest. But yeah, i know which one i'd choose, having had a citroen in the past, and at the tender age of 18 i made an oath, never to have another. EVER!!!

 

[PaulAr]

I dont like my S3s thirst for V-Power

 

[newbiecrg]

Bottom line is we are complaining about poor value for money and we bought the car!!!!

No one made us spend the money... we wanted the car we bought it... We can only complain about ourselves...

We might say it is expensive but then... like I said there are plenty cheaper and more value options... find the answer to this one inside yourselves!

I don't complain how expensive the S3 is or if it is good value or not... I wanted a car with the spec and image and purpose of the S3 and could only find the Audi S3 to suit my bill...

Expensive or not, value for money or not... I bought it! So no point slagging the manufacturer... He could even charge more if there was people willing to pay. It is like in business price sometimes or most times is not the major factor that makes a product sell...

Pedro

 

[sleep envy]

Expensive or not, value for money or not... I bought it! So no point slagging the manufacturer... He could even charge more if there was people willing to pay. It is like in business price sometimes or most times is not the major factor that makes a product sell...

bang on the money

 

[MJZ 6370]

For anyone complaining about build quality of their A3 then take the occasional drive in any other car to put your view into context. I take an occasional run in my wife's Golf 1.6 and I appreciate my own A3 much more in terms of the build and the options I have chosen.

 

[newbiecrg]

Build quality on my S3 is as expected for the segment where the A3 belongs... I test drove a Merc CLS and it was miles away (for the better) but that is in a different segment.
No matter price paid... segment is everything...

Pedro

 

[PNH80]

Just a point, i think it's a little naive to be saying "for the price of a badly spec'd A3 i could have had a fully loaded...."
Yes and rather than buying your suit from Saville Row you could go to Burtons and get 5 suits for that price and a pair of shoes to go with each. You know what i mean....

Speaking of Citroen, what the hell is the thinking behind the new advertising campaign?? Saying it's French but as good as a German car. Good advert for French cars eh.

 

[phantom]

First things last fellas , were posting in a thread about things we dislike about the A3!

In my case it's a S3 and one of the things i dislike is the lack of basic Std kit for a 27K car.

I'm not having a moan , i love my car thats why i bought it!

p

 

[bacardi]

For anyone complaining about build quality of their A3 then take the occasional drive in any other car to put your view into context. I take an occasional run in my wife's Golf 1.6 and I appreciate my own A3 much more in terms of the build and the options I have chosen.

Oh ***

I often drive other cars

none of them have been as shoddily built as my A3

 

[bacardi]

thing is Phantom... it would never be free you would pay for something you dont want.. (in my case anyway)

It would be appear to be free but it would be included in the price...

Pedro

So, judging by this thought process you would like to pay for each individual part of the car, to ensure that you don't pay for something you don't use?

 

[Matt]

If that's what you think of the A3 why didn't you buy a Focus or a Golf or similar instead. The A3 must have had something to make you choose it.

Dont get me wrong it wasn't enough to put me off buying it! I knew what I was getting myself into before I parted with my money. Still perfectly happy with the car - just think the spec is a bit stingy for the amount of money being spent.

 

[TFSI]

Oh ***

I often drive other cars

none of them have been as shoddily built as my A3

Well ****** sell it and buy sommat else

 

[newbiecrg]

So, judging by this thought process you would like to pay for each individual part of the car, to ensure that you don't pay for something you don't use?

Yes... not going to the extreme of each nut and bolt but equipment wise I would like to spec everything!

I just give you an example... I got heated seats as standard and I wish I could specc them out (with price adjustment off course) I don't use it or need it and it wasn't free as some of you try to say... I am sure Audi included them on the price I paid, even as standard!

So there are no freebies in here at all... I even think electric windows should be optional... But I am the kind of person that likes to spec everything.

Off course trim levels exists to make production lines more efficient or to simplify choice for some people.

In the end... my point is... don't think equipment is thrown in for free if standard... it is just a means of them selling it without you having the option of not having to pay for it.

They could make the S3 fully specced with buckets, sat nav and sell it for £33k-£34k... no options available!!!! Many of you would still buy it... some of you no liking the buckets, others no wanting the sat nav... and still you would pay for them... Not being fussy but I think it is a valid point for some items of optional equipment... in my case the auto lights, the cruise and others...

Pedro

 

[rich1068]

For anyone complaining about build quality of their A3 then take the occasional drive in any other car to put your view into context.

I do. In fact I bought one. It doesn't rattle and also comes with all the toys and more that I had to pay for or add on to my A3.