Q5 Owner, looking at new S3

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ChopperQ

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Hi everyone,

Currently drive a Q5 and the Mrs has a Volvo V40 which is a lease car from work which will be going back soon as she is on mat leave. Considering an S3 to replace the V40 and the Q5 will be the Mrs' daily drive with our son. Came from a dreamscience'd Focus ST prior to the Q5 and am missing the fun I used to have but don't like the new ST appearance / interior wise, now I've been in an Audi cabin for the last 4 years.

Thinking of a new S3 in Missano red with the following options.

Stronic
Extended mono.pur interior finish
Tech Pack High with connect
Comfort Pack + adaptive cruise
Folding and Heated Mirrors
Privacy Glass
Interior Light Pack
Non Smoking Package
Aluminium Roof Rails (Think it sets the look of the car nicely - wont ever have a roof box on the S3!)
Pan Roof (Any reports of rattles on the S3 etc?)
Audi Magnetic Ride (Seen the reports about lift off understeer - does this address this?)
B&O Sound system (Have this in the Q5 and its excellent)

Any thoughts on the spec - anything you would / wouldn't have if you ordered again?

Coventry Audi have offered an 11% discount - is this good or is there more to be had?

Also would like the virtual cockpit mooted to be coming soon to the S3 - does anyone have any ideas when the facelift version is ready to order?

Thanks all!
 
Last edited:
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ChopperQ said:
Hi everyone,

Currently drive a Q5 and the Mrs has a Volvo V40 which is a lease car from work which will be going back soon as she is on mat leave. Considering an S3 to replace the V40 and the Q5 will be the Mrs' daily drive with our son. Came from a dreamscience'd Focus ST prior to the Q5 and am missing the fun I used to have but don't like the new ST appearance / interior wise, now I've been in an Audi cabin for the last 4 years.

Thinking of a new S3 in missano red with the following options.

Stronic
Extended mono.pur interior finish
Tech Pack High with connect
Comfort Pack + adaptive cruise
Folding and Heated Mirrors
Privacy Glass
Aluminium Roof Rails (Think it sets the look of the car nicely - wont ever have a roof box on the S3!)
Pan Roof (Any reports of rattles on the S3 etc?)
Audi Magnetic Ride (Seen the reports about lift off understeer - does this address this?)
B&O Sound system (Have this in the Q5 and its excellent)

Any thoughts on the spec - anything you would / wouldn't have if you ordered again?

Coventry Audi have offered an 11% discount - is this good or is there more to be had?

Also would like the virtual cockpit mooted to be coming soon to the S3 - does anyone have any ideas when the facelift version is ready to order?

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Your spec looks pretty bang on to me, can't think of anything I'd add or remove :)

11% is on the upper limit doubt you'll get much better.

Virtual cockpit 'next year' is about all I could find ;)

Welcome and good luck.
 
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Wish I added the internal light pack. It looks epic in the loan RS3 I have.
 
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Missed that off the spec - have it on the Q5 and wouldn't be without it. I did have to change my bulbs to LED in the Q5 - is LED now standard?
 
ChopperQ said:
Missed that off the spec - have it on the Q5 and wouldn't be without it. I did have to change my bulbs to LED in the Q5 - is LED now standard?
Click to expand...
Internal standard bulbs are not LED. I'll be getting those changed once my car comes back;)
 
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SPEC looks pretty much bang on ......you will be extremely happy with all that on the beast!! Great colour choice too #TEAMMISANO

11% is really good ......I got 9.5% I think

Hatch or Sprtbk or Saloon?

Welcome to the wonderful world of S3 ownership :redrs4:
 
Would have liked the hatch but for the odd occasion the nipper goes in need the 4 doors, saloon is too big for the garage so sportback it is!
 
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ChopperQ said:
Would have liked the hatch but for the odd occasion the nipper goes in need the 4 doors, saloon is too big for the garage so sportback it is!
Click to expand...

I love the Sportback .....I couldn't justify it though as have no need for the extra doors. :iagree: with your roof rails ....I would have done the same ....they just work on the Sportback :s3addict:
 
Didn't know whether to go with the red calipers but they don't seem to look right on a red car, if I was going Sepang then I would have had them and dropped the rails...
 
audi upgrades
Need the rails, they look quality.
 
ChopperQ said:
Also would like the virtual cockpit mooted to be coming soon to the S3 - does anyone have any ideas when the facelift version is ready to order?

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Hi, I read a few weeks back that on the facelift it will be offered as an option...how much that option will cost though!!!
 
terminator x said:
What does that give you Jay? Might have it by accident on the incoming RS3 ;)

TX.
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All internal lights are white LED instead of the crappy yellowish bulbs. It also lights up the footwells / door handles.

If I still have it tonight, I'll try to get a picture.
 
I love my Super Sport seats and 19"s. Hold Assist is also useful, if thats not in one of the packs already.

Wouldn't order Convenience Key again..... more like Confusion Key, but then my daughter warned me to take it easy on too much tech :)

Facelift came up in another thread, something like BW14 onwards, so May/June deliveries.
 
Have seen some of the keyless thefts with the advance keys so purposely left it off. I don't have HA on the Q5 but the blank button annoys me so for £80 I may as well add it to the spec. Do you have a pic of your car with the 19's? I quite like the look of the standard wheels and if I get bored they can easily be swapped.
 
DSC00516 zps2a356bd3
 
ChopperQ said:
Do you have a pic of your car with the 19's? I quite like the look of the standard wheels and if I get bored they can easily be swapped.
Click to expand...

Who am I to ignore such a polite request.....

 
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Good looking car that, nicely detailed as well. Do the 19's firm up the ride any?
 
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If it's sport back is get the reversible boot mat, but just to warn you, I'm the only person I know who likes it.

LED headlights are my favourite option, they look the nuts but are clearly a luxury. You have lots of luxuries already. Personally I'd bin the mono.pur and the Interior Light Pack. I bought the latter and while they look great when you pick the car up, long term they add very little to the car. I'd also ditch the mag ride and possibly the pan roof. Again, I ordered the latter and am not convinced. It's just a sun roof, it looks big from the outside, but inside it's regulation size. Mine is partial to a rattle every now and a gain too.
 
Not sure about ditching the magnetic ride in view of the criticism of the standard handling - are you running standard suspension? Any problems etc?
 
ChopperQ said:
Good looking car that, nicely detailed as well. Do the 19's firm up the ride any?
Click to expand...

Firmer yes, as going from a 40 to 35 profile tyre.... well rubber is more comfy than alloy :)

Mag Ride in Comfort counters any body roll and makes it as comfy as possible, so while being very fussy about ride quality, I'm happy enough.

Also, I demo'ed the same setup, with no option to try 18"s, so knew exactly what I was getting in to.
 
NickyF said:
If it's sport back is get the reversible boot mat, but just to warn you, I'm the only person I know who likes it.

LED headlights are my favourite option, they look the nuts but are clearly a luxury. You have lots of luxuries already. Personally I'd bin the mono.pur and the Interior Light Pack. I bought the latter and while they look great when you pick the car up, long term they add very little to the car. I'd also ditch the mag ride and possibly the pan roof. Again, I ordered the latter and am not convinced. It's just a sun roof, it looks big from the outside, but inside it's regulation size. Mine is partial to a rattle every now and a gain too.
Click to expand...

You had me, right up until then. Come on, you don't really have an S3 do ya :sign omg:
 
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On no account should you ditch mag ride and definitely not for LED lights!! God help us .......... ;)
 
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Didn't mean to spark an argument fellas.

Theory with the magnetic ride is that I'd rather have the best handling as standard without the hassle of changing springs and coilovers and declaring them to insurance and / or audi using them as a reason to wriggle out of a warranty claim...
 
No arguing here chopper ... just some Friday afternoon banter :footy:
 
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Everybody's points are just opinion's at the end of the day ........and my opinion is:

LED lights = Great for others to see. .....but don't add much to your experience. Xenons are fab as they are!

MAG RIDE = Wish I had spec'd this to be honest as the ride with the standard suspension can be a bit "Rough" at times. I went out in a fellow ASN's saloon which had MAG RIDE and was amazed by the difference. So much smoother for the long journeys where comfort is key ....but then you adjust to "Fun mode" when needed :whistle2:
 
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I was offered 10.9% discount by Coventry Audi but 13.3% with drive the deal so give them a go also
 
I think the standard suspension is fine, with the exception of the pogo stick routine with fast cornering. I doubt mag ride will do anything for this. I genuinely like the LED lights and they would be first on my list (along with my beloved boot mat). Nothing to do with the way they perform, it's purely the way they look. They look great and really set the front of the car off, I'm embarrassed for myself for being so vain but there you go. You also get auto wipers and lights with them, and I like both of those features. I didn't bother with the comfort pack as a result.

Let's be honest mono.pur and ILP are pointless cobblers. I thought I loved the ILP when I first got the car, but seriously, it is a waste of money. I think that if the pre-discount price of an S3 gets close (or beyond) £40k then you're wasting your money. That's a 33% increase on base and you'll see almost none of it back when you sell the car. I really like the car, but I think I'd like it 98% as much (approx :) ) with no options (except the boot mat...obviously).
 
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To keep it simple and good value , my simple rule.
Whatever discount I can get I spend on options so the price of my car is list....
 
No one's suggested High Beam Assist. Cheap and really great option - IMO
 
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Thanks for all the varied replies. Generally run cars long term so want to make it a nice place to be and enjoyable to drive so not really fussed about resale. Really want the virtual cockpit after reading about it, hope we can hold onto the Mrs' car until orders start being taken for the facelift!
 
ChopperQ said:
Really want the virtual cockpit after reading about it, hope we can hold onto the Mrs' car until orders start being taken for the facelift!
Click to expand...

Looks like a £450 option on A4, which isn't too bad! HUD may also be available, with this technology update, but @ £900 :sadlike:
 
Was looking on the new Q7 configarator, certainly seems a reasonable price for the tech.
 
Couple of comments - everyone forgot the electric lumber support, it is cheap and makes the seat significantly more comfortable. I also have the Pan roof, I like it but it did rattle. To fix it the dealer had to remove it entirely and refit it and there is still a faint rattle. Also the fabric sunshade recently broke so it will have to go back for another fix. Notwithstanding the (minor) problems I would still spec it. As I recall if you have the Pan roof you have to spec the interior light pack.
 
Number one on the list is obviously Mono Pur, the joy of that alone will make up for any other options you leave out. Sometimes I don't even drive the car, just sit in it and soak up the luxury while laughing inside at the fools that didn't spec it. Oh, the joy.
It doesn't matter that it's not real leather, should have been included as standard or that it's grossly overpriced...

Joking aside, spec it, it's a nice finishing touch to a top class cabin and I'd definitely add it again.
 
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Think I'm closing on ticking every box now!
 
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Daveotto said:
I can vouch for interior light pack!!!

lf your missing some fun,i would really expect you to have a test drive of a S3 on over night test/weekend drive....if you want back the thrill from modded Focus,nice interior's dont go hand in hand with a Audi handling.
Mag ride wont solve it either
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