IS IT BRAND NEW

J

Jscribe

Registered User
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
36
Reaction score
10
Points
8
Location
NULL
Hello everyone,

A bit of a dilemma here. How can you tell if your car is brand new - factory fitted according to your specs and not some Audi already manufactured but then re-configured or whatever to meet your specs???
The reason i ask is cos, i made my order first week of January, and then i call in yesterday to find out if we have a build date as yet and i'm told, the vehicle should be in the country for delivery sometime next month. Sounds quite suspect.

Then again is the Gap Insurance, Smart guard thingy and Cosmetic warranty worth all that moneyyyy??

Thanks for your kind replies :)
 
What happens is the following:

1) a car gets ordered (either by a customer or by a dealer)
2) it is placed in the queue and sits there awaiting its turn to be built
3) up until a certain point in time, the queued car can be reconfigured
4) it is planned into production and can no longer be reconfigured
5) it is physically built
6) it is delivered to the one who ordered it

When you as a customer now go to a dealer and order a new car, it either a) is placed at the end of the queue or b) a car the dealer has ordered for himself and already sat in the queue is reconfigured. In either case, the car you get is built according to your speccs. The only difference is that in the latter case you save time because the car sat in the queue before you actually ordered it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anarch, Jscribe and PilotAudi
Jscribe said:
Hello everyone,

A bit of a dilemma here. How can you tell if your car is brand new - factory fitted according to your specs and not some Audi already manufactured but then re-configured or whatever to meet your specs???
The reason i ask is cos, i made my order first week of January, and then i call in yesterday to find out if we have a build date as yet and i'm told, the vehicle should be in the country for delivery sometime next month. Sounds quite suspect.

Then again is the Gap Insurance, Smart guard thingy and Cosmetic warranty worth all that moneyyyy??

Thanks for your kind replies :)
Click to expand...

I think your will find that it's cheaper and easier for the factory to build a new car than to modify an existing one. The factory is not set up to do that. Whatever Audi do, it's still new when it leaves the production line. Each car is produced to order. They do not have lots of A3s sitting around waiting to be changed to suit a particular customer. That is not how the factory works.

I ordered my new 8V on 10 March and Audi UK gave me an unconfirmed build week yesterday as week 12 - week beginning 17 March.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jscribe
h5djr said:
I think your will find that it's cheaper and easier for the factory to build a new car than to modify an existing one. The factory is not set up to do that. Whatever Audi do, it's still new when it leaves the production line. Each car is produced to order. They do not have lots of A3s sitting around waiting to be changed to suit a particular customer. That is not how the factory works.

I ordered my new 8V on 10 March and Audi UK gave me an unconfirmed build week yesterday as week 12 - week beginning 17 March.
Click to expand...

You ordered your car in the future? Nice :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobbieWebs and Anarch
h5djr said:
I ordered my new 8V on 10 March and Audi UK gave me an unconfirmed build week yesterday as week 12 - week beginning 17 March.
Click to expand...

Corr only a week! Must be trying to keep you sweet ;-)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scott
Thanks so much for the kind replies guy. Makes much sense now :)

By the way, i figured out the GAP insurance thing from previous posts. I'll try shoppng elsewhere as Audi offered me a GAP of 599. Ridiculously expensive
 
The factory have a long standing schedule for build, they don't add cars as the orders come in, they choose the mix early, when you order your car one of the slots already scheduled that matches most or all of your spec is allocated. As different spec cars take longer to build the line loading is of great importance as is the lead times on the parts needed to build it. Audi will not sit with huge stocks of parts, most of the build uses items which are scheduled just in time and delivered direct to line either from their own production centres (which may be in house) or from suppliers. That's why a change to a spec may bring your car forward or push it backwards. It is vital that the line speed is maintained. So without knowing the Audi A3 production schedule and allocations its difficult to second guess delivery times. That's why the dealers have to wait to find out when the next available slot for that spec of vehicle is. On a regular basis the production management will meet and try to ensure the forecast build schedule is as close to what is selling as is possible. But usually there is a longish lead time to make significant changes. They build to schedule and not to order.
 
steeve said:
The factory have a long standing schedule for build, they don't add cars as the orders come in, they choose the mix early, when you order your car one of the slots already scheduled that matches most or all of your spec is allocated. As different spec cars take longer to build the line loading is of great importance as is the lead times on the parts needed to build it. Audi will not sit with huge stocks of parts, most of the build uses items which are scheduled just in time and delivered direct to line either from their own production centres (which may be in house) or from suppliers. That's why a change to a spec may bring your car forward or push it backwards. It is vital that the line speed is maintained. So without knowing the Audi A3 production schedule and allocations its difficult to second guess delivery times. That's why the dealers have to wait to find out when the next available slot for that spec of vehicle is. On a regular basis the production management will meet and try to ensure the forecast build schedule is as close to what is selling as is possible. But usually there is a longish lead time to make significant changes. They build to schedule and not to order.
Click to expand...

I was trying to make the point that Audi do not have a stock of cars sitting at the plant in Ingolstadt waiting for someone to place order. As far as the customer is concerned the cars is not scheduled to be built until an order is placed. Then as you say the factory slots it in to it's production schedule. This is one of the reasons Audi UK have to estimate how many cars of which type they will order in any given model year. I assume all other markets have to do the same.

Also the factory do not produce in batches. Every A3 on the line at any one time can be a different model, for a different country, with a different engine and gearbox as well as different colour and trim level and different options.
 
In my opinion the cosmetic shine is not worth getting. The dealer knows that as well so would happily give it away for free, as long as you get one of the other 2. I've opted for the Smart guard cover for scratches (after huge discount) but haven't used it, so not sure how useful it is. gap insurance is a completely different thing - which you've read already on the other thread.
 
Suppose you might have got very lucky and ordered something the dealer just happened to be getting for their own stock so you saved time, has happened to somebody I know who was after a black s-line 8P with comfort pack only no other options, just so happened there was one on route to the dealership so it became his en route, only on that occasion they messed up and didn't realise the car also had Xenons which he ended up with for free due to the mistake :p less than 2 month lead on that IIRC, doesn't happen much but if it's something more aligned to general stock at a dealer I can see how it can.

If it's delivery miles only and has your name on the logbook and states new at first registration no former keepers then it's new?
 
I wouldn't worry if it's brand new or not, as no doubt it will be, my main concern is has all the options you ticked has been installed or not.

The visual ones like sun-roof or privacy glass is easy to pick if it's there or not, but what about the Audi Magnetic Ride, if that isn't installed, how would you know?

And don't say they don't make mistakes, as I've read from a VW forum where someone ticked Driver assistance package, the one that adds the front camera, after taking delivery and a driving home, then he noticed it wasn't installed.

Another case was on an Audi S3, he ordered with sun-roof, but dealer entered into the system wrong, and they forgot to tick sun-roof, by the time it was noticed, it was too late in the build process to get in rectified.

So that would be more concerning for me then worrying if the car was brand new!
 
How do you know what suspension is installed on the car?? Is there a way of telling on any of the car or log book?
 
sticker in he boot gives the spec of the car...google the spec you have and it will tell all
 
RVP20 said:
How do you know what suspension is installed on the car?? Is there a way of telling on any of the car or log book?
Click to expand...

What suspension have you ordered. Let me know and I should be able to give you the code to look for. The 3 digit codes that give a lot of the options are also on the label in the front of the Service Book that comes with the car. These are the basic codes:

2UA = Deselection of sports suspension
2UC = Sports suspension
2UG = S-Line suspension

It is also a good idea to add the basic spec of your car as part of your signature on ASN. Then, if you have any queries, we can see what model and spec we need to look up in the software we have available.
 
audi upgrades
veeeight said:
Is there a service booklet included in the pack these days?

In the UK Audi have gone Digital Servicing, so unlikely to have the service book I would have thought.


Digital service schedule < Owners area < Audi
Click to expand...

Good question. I don't have my new 8V yet so I don't know what is provided but the website you quote does say...

You will receive a printout of the entire service record to keep in the wallet at the back of your service book. This will replace the previously completed pages.

Perhaps someone with a new 8V could let us know if they received a Service Book in the wallet.
 
It is digital yes, but there is still a service book. I guess they use both at once.
 
cemerson said:
It is digital yes, but there is still a service book. I guess they use both at once.
Click to expand...

A good idea because the Service Book gives details of the services as well as when they are due as well as the rubber stamps to say that they have been done. Perhaps it just means no more rubber stamps :)
 
RVP20 said:
Where is it in the boot? Can't find it?
Click to expand...
It's normally under the floor covering. Perhaps Audi have stopped putting the sticker in the boot.

Have you tried looking in Service Book.
 
h5djr said:
It's normally under the floor covering. Perhaps Audi have stopped putting the sticker in the boot.

Have you tried looking in Service Book.
Click to expand...

Yep just checked the service book and I can't find any codes which arched the ones posted regarding suspension?
 
RVP20 said:
Yep just checked the service book and I can't find any codes which arched the ones posted regarding suspension?
Click to expand...

Are their any 3 digits codes in the Service Book on the same sticker as the VIN number. It's quite possible that Audi don't print all the codes on the sticker. There just would not be room. I've just got a Car Data printout which has come from the main Audi website which listed 178 codes for my existing 8P Sportback.
 
h5djr said:
Are their any 3 digits codes in the Service Book on the same sticker as the VIN number. It's quite possible that Audi don't print all the codes on the sticker. There just would not be room. I've just got a Car Data printout which has come from the main Audi website which listed 178 codes for my existing 8P Sportback.
Click to expand...

Ah right I see lol. Well maybe I will never know other than by eye
 
I did not say the company build in batches.
What happens is very accurate and detail line loading. As you must be aware some highly specified cars will take longer to build, basic models take a little less. They will load the line to even the build out not build in batches.
So I would suggest that an S3 SB takes more time than a basic three door, to build either in batches would not allow the most efficient production, so there will always be a mix. Just depends on where there is a 'waiting for allocation slot' with a car of similar spec to the order to the factory.
 
It took some finding!

In the SB without the storage pack - you have to undo the LH boot hatch, then crane your neck in to peer through the hatch upwards to see it !
 
veeeight said:
It took some finding!

In the SB without the storage pack - you have to undo the LH boot hatch, then crane your neck in to peer through the hatch upwards to see it !
Click to expand...

I think I'll just get a factory 'Car data' print-out through the same website I get my ETKA updates once I've got the new VIN number. The one for my existing 8P Sportback lists a total of 178 codes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Daveotto
Speaker upgrade on new A3 sportback - is it worth it?
Replies
27
Views
19K
selar
selar
Fraysa
New rear view mirror - is it auto dimming?
Replies
2
Views
2K
mikemod
mikemod
S
What is it?
Replies
9
Views
944
Madmo
Madmo
M
Built-in sat nav - Is it worth it ?
Replies
75
Views
62K
Andy1608
Andy1608
illingworth22
New MMI App..... well it is for the iPhone
Replies
1
Views
1K
marshalld
marshalld
Top
Back