Considering an S3. Is this a good deal?

James.B8

James.B8

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Hi all,

Been weighing up my options this week for a new (to me) car as I've recently got a new job so want to treat myself. Plus I'm sick of driving manual and I'm craving an auto.

Test drove a Mercedes CLA45 AMG this morning which was lovely and sounded great.
Then this afternoon I went to Audi to compare against the s3. S3 is the way to go I think as it's much much cheaper.

I'll post the figures below just wondering if you guys think this is a good deal:

  • Colour: Estoril Blue, crystal effect
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Mileage: 27,018 miles
  • Bodystyle: Hatchback miles
  • Transmission: Automatic
Listed for £26,059. I'd put down a £7000 deposit with monthly payments of £307 over 48 months with final payment of £10283.

I could put down a bigger deposit but the guy didn't recommend that.

I was also considering being sensible and buy a brand new Q3 black edition Quattro s-tronic but the s3 is calling my name.

Cheers.
 
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If it is Estoril blue, was this one of the early PFL S3's, so price to me seems very dear.

My A3 brand new was £35K, with £3K down, and payments are £340 a month for 48 months.

Q3 is due a new shape soonish though, so hear come all the special editions...
 
TDI-line said:
If it is Estoril blue, was this one of the early PFL S3's, so price to me seems very dear.

My A3 brand new was £35K, with £3K down, and payments are £340 a month for 48 months.

Q3 is due a new shape soonish though, so hear come all the special editions...
Click to expand...
It was registered March 2014 I believe. What price do you think that it should be?

Yeah the one I was looking at was one that I'd never seen before. Looked like a black edition plus with camouflage green paint. Almost grey in colour.
 
James.B8 said:
It was registered March 2014 I believe. What price do you think that it should be?

Yeah the one I was looking at was one that I'd never seen before. Looked like a black edition plus with camouflage green paint. Almost grey in colour.
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TBH mate with the money your looking at spending you would be better off buying brand new.
 
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What kind of garbage interest rate are they putting on this? With a 7k deposit and that price tag 300 a month seems high... You can get much better deals brand new with lower interest rates and deposit contributions.
 
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You could get a brand new S3 for those monthlies with that deposit and duration.
 
I'd look at brand new PCP deals if I were you, you wouldn't be a million miles off monthly payments wise and could get away with a lower deposit. Also consider leasing perhaps, stable vehicle contracts have some tempting S3 and s5 deals.
 
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I've been looking at S3's on 15 plates and there have been around £25k and £26k with 22k miles on the clock. So if the one you looked at is a 14 plate then £26k is high.


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Hmm looks like I've got some thinking to do then :grimacing:

I'll have to talk to him about new car prices then.
 
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TYb said:
I'd look at brand new PCP deals if I were you, you wouldn't be a million miles off monthly payments wise and could get away with a lower deposit. Also consider leasing perhaps, stable vehicle contracts have some tempting S3 and s5 deals.
Click to expand...
I have seen stable leasing before but hadn't really looked much into it. Cousins just got a brand new S5 so I'll see what deal he got.
 
The finance interest rates on used cars versus new cars makes it sometimes worth while going for a new one instead.


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way318 said:
The finance interest rates on used cars versus new cars makes it sometimes worth while going for a new one instead.


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Click to expand...
Yeah that seems to be the general opinion on here so far.
Bit scary though as I've never bought a new car.
 
James.B8 said:
Yeah that seems to be the general opinion on here so far.
Bit scary though as I've never bought a new car.
Click to expand...
Me neither mate and sworn to never do so in recent years with depreciation cost etc. But high APR on used cars make it (more affordable) to buy new.....
It was a no brainer for me to buy new as i was in the same position a month back..
 
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The price I got the other day for a £25k S3 with £7k deposit was £283 for 36 months, the interest rate was 8.5% I think, most new cars are around 5%.


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way318 said:
The price I got the other day for a £25k S3 with £7k deposit was £283 for 36 months, the interest rate was 8.5% I think, most new cars are around 5%.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
To be fair that doesn't sound too bad. Better than what I've been shown.
 
Djs3saloon said:
Me neither mate and sworn to never do so in recent years with depreciation cost etc. But high APR on used cars make it (more affordable) to buy new.....
It was a no brainer for me to buy new as i was in the same position a month back..
Click to expand...
Hope you don't mind me asking and don't feel like you have to answer...but what were your monthly payments and deposit?
 
I was in pretty much the position as you back in January. I ended up with a fully loaded car with 9k miles on the clock for around 25K so i think those prices you mention are in the right ball park but it's worth hanging on for one with a decent spec imo.

I did look at new cars and almost pulled the trigger but just couldn't stomach the total price I would end up paying if i chose to keep it.
Interest rates on used PCP deals are expensive so I ended up buying used and sorting my own finance (personal loan).
 
Mrs Wogan's Lemon Drizzle said:
I was in pretty much the position as you back in January. I ended up with a fully loaded car with 9k miles on the clock for around 25K so i think those prices you mention are in the right ball park but it's worth hanging on for one with a decent spec imo.

I did look at new cars and almost pulled the trigger but just couldn't stomach the total price I would end up paying if i chose to keep it.
Interest rates on used PCP deals are expensive so I ended up buying used and sorting my own finance (personal loan).
Click to expand...
That looks like a better deal than what I've been offered then.

Yeah that's my thinking on buying new.

Hmm I had considered that previously. Maybe I'll do some research into that
 
Look brand new, thats seems high for a car that is now out of warranty! Is it a 3 door hatch or 5 door sportback?

As an idea what you can get them for NEW, 3 door hatch with s-tronic and metallic paint:

3dr
 
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There's a current initiative by some dealers for doing 5.9% APR on ex demo cars.

Might of seen my other thread, but I was offered £380 over 36months (5k miles) with £1000 down on a FL S3 Sportback with metallic paint and a couple of extras (sensors and privacy glass). It's sold now, but will be looking at other dealers for similar deal, or as others have said, going new with around 15% discount on the hatch, or 13% on Sportback.
 
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DrEskimo said:
There's a current initiative by some dealers for doing 5.9% APR on ex demo cars.

Might of seen my other thread, but I was offered £380 over 36months (5k miles) with £1000 down on a FL S3 Sportback with metallic paint and a couple of extras (sensors and privacy glass). It's sold now, but will be looking at other dealers for similar deal, or as others have said, going new with around 15% discount on the hatch, or 13% on Sportback.
Click to expand...
My mileage would be considerably higher. Around 15-20k miles annually. I'll keep an eye out for that deal though.
 
Try Carwow, Audi deals have an attached finance calculator so you can see the details after putting in your deposit amount.
 
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I bought a new s3 5 door, metallic paint, virtual cockpit, b&o and hold assist. 5k deposit and its £349 a month over 42 months. I was happy with the deal but I know it could be beaten easily. My deal is based on 5k a year but this only applies if you hand the car back at the end of the term. Most people won't do this and will just trade it in. Your car is then worth what it's worth and you just settle what's owing.

The deal you've been offered isn't that good from first looks. The final payment on my car at 3 1/2 years old is £19k so at best they probably paid between £20-21k so making a fair bit of profit there I'd say. :)
 
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James.B8 said:
My mileage would be considerably higher. Around 15-20k miles annually. I'll keep an eye out for that deal though.
Click to expand...

Ah fair enough. You can just put down 5k on the finance deal, but obviously the GFV will be higher than the value of the car at the end of the agreement. You will pay for it some way...!

Were you the chap after a petrol in another thread? My S5 very likely will be traded in soon if you were interested?
 
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Sticker price seems way too high for a 14 plate S3. I paid something similar to that on a 65 plate panther black with 10k miles.

If you're going to consider this S3 make sure you get a very generous discount otherwise the stealers will be rinsing you clean.
 
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DrEskimo said:
Ah fair enough. You can just put down 5k on the finance deal, but obviously the GFV will be higher than the value of the car at the end of the agreement. You will pay for it some way...!

Were you the chap after a petrol in another thread? My S5 very likely will be traded in soon if you were interested?
Click to expand...
Yeah so many different options it can all get a bit confusing with the mileages and stuff.

Yeah that's me. Would absolutely love your S5 but I have a feeling the fuel consumption would be crazy for the miles I'll be doing.

What do you average mpg wise?
 
LJC105 said:
Sticker price seems way too high for a 14 plate S3. I paid something similar to that on a 65 plate panther black with 10k miles.

If you're going to consider this S3 make sure you get a very generous discount otherwise the stealers will be rinsing you clean.
Click to expand...
To be honest I wouldn't have a clue if it wasn't for this forum. Glad I asked the question now
 
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Also noted you're doing a lot of miles. I do London > Manchester and back about every week and I can get 37mpg. The cars mpg is incredible for the performance figures :D
 
audi upgrades
LJC105 said:
Also noted you're doing a lot of miles. I do London > Manchester and back about every week and I can get 37mpg. The cars mpg is incredible for the performance figures :D
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Yeah will be doing 11k a year with work alone. That is really good to be fair. Better than I'd of thought. Thought it would be high twenties low 30s.
 
James.B8 said:
Yeah so many different options it can all get a bit confusing with the mileages and stuff.

Yeah that's me. Would absolutely love your S5 but I have a feeling the fuel consumption would be crazy for the miles I'll be doing.

What do you average mpg wise?
Click to expand...

Mine measured tank to tank was consistently 22MPG, but these were short town journeys and country roads with a mix of 30, 40, 50 & 60.

I think with any S Audi, mileage should never be considered..!
 
DrEskimo said:
Mine measured tank to tank was consistently 22MPG, but these were short town journeys and country roads with a mix of 30, 40, 50 & 60.

I think with any S Audi, mileage should never be considered..!
Click to expand...
My mileage would mostly be motorways so would probably be higher than that. I had considered an s4 as well.

That's true but with the S3 it's not so bad as it's only a 2.0 4 cylinder.

When you come to changing cars let me know and I may be interested as I won't be buying a car for another month or so. :)
 
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Just been on Carwow and got instant discount making it £34,359, so with a £7k deposit it was £302 for 36 months on PCP.

Interest rate is 4.9%, but sure you could get more of a discount if you spoke to the dealer.
 
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way318 said:
Just been on Carwow and got instant discount making it £34,359, so with a £7k deposit it was £302 for 36 months on PCP.

Interest rate is 4.9%, but sure you could get more of a discount if you spoke to the dealer.
Click to expand...
Sounds good. Was that a high spec or basic?
 
Mine was £37,215 after discount, I put in £5k which was from my previous car and I'm at £419 over 48 months so there's definitely better deals to be had with brand new unless you're really wanting a car that's a high spec but without the high price tag.

This was my first brand new car, always said I wouldn't do it because of depreciation but here I am with a brand new S3 and I'm not regretting it so far.
 
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@james.BB don't buy the second hand S3

in comparison for my on order car

PCP for an S3 saloon, Floret Silver, tech pack advanced, folding mirrors, rear parking sensors based on 12,00 miles over 4 years is £310/month with a £7000 deposit and final patment of around £15000
 
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Tom.H said:
Mine was £37,215 after discount, I put in £5k which was from my previous car and I'm at £419 over 48 months so there's definitely better deals to be had with brand new unless you're really wanting a car that's a high spec but without the high price tag.

This was my first brand new car, always said I wouldn't do it because of depreciation but here I am with a brand new S3 and I'm not regretting it so far.
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Sounds good. Thank you for that.

I know it's brand new to you now but do you plan on keeping the car for the full term?
 
Daveotto said:
@james.BB don't buy the second hand S3

in comparison for my on order car

PCP for an S3 saloon, Floret Silver, tech pack advanced, folding mirrors, rear parking sensors based on 12,00 miles over 4 years is £310/month with a £7000 deposit and final patment of around £15000
Click to expand...
Wow that does sound good in comparison haha. Cheers for that. Definitely going to have to look into that with deals like this. Will you keep the car for 4 years?
 
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James.B8 said:
Wow that does sound good in comparison haha. Cheers for that. Definitely going to have to look into that with deals like this. Will you keep the car for 4 years?
Click to expand...

I might actually keep this one for 4 years, but then again my recent car buying experiences probably means it might be closer to 2 years :)
 
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