Facelift Questions before ordering tomorrow

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davemk

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Right, I've been wanting to change my car for a while now, and the scrappage scheme makes it a good time to do so.

Currently, I'm leaning towards the A3 Black Edition 2.0TFSI in Daytona with manual box. I test-drove the s-tronic at the weekend and really liked it, but I can't justify spending very close to S3 money and not getting an S3.

Really struggling with the tech pack option. Just how good is it? What exactly does it give me in terms of everyday use (I know what is included, but how useful is it?). Audi Connect seems to free now anyway, and the screen is now the same (I think?).

Virtual cockpit: it looks great and a nice gadget but I can't help but feel the novelty will quickly wear off. Do you have it? Is it a novelty that wears off?

Seems like a lot of money and I'm struggling to justify it. It seems a popular option though.

Toying with forgetting the tech pack and possibly putting the money into an S3.

Thoughts and opinions appreciated.
 
To me, tech pack was worth it as it was a prerequisite for Virtual Cockpit. Which leads me to, no, the novelty hasn’t worn off in the last 12 months, quite the opposite, I’m now certain that my next car will need to have a digital instrument cluster. In the same way that I wouldn’t be without an climate control, an electronic handbrake or an automatic box, I don’t think I’d want to step back to analog dials.

I also specced up (and ordered) a 2.0TFSI quattro (I did choose S Tronic), and within a week I rang the dealer to change my order to S3 as the increase in kit and performance was easily worth the extra, it also made more sense from an insurance POV as the insurance was CHEAPER on the S3.
 
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Can't comment how good the tech pack is honestly, but I have it as I wanted the virtual cockpit and obviously they go hand in hand. I've had the car 6 months so far and haven't got bored of it in the slightest, not having it now would take some getting used to.

S-Tronic was also a must after having an R32 DSG for 9 years.
 
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Interesting that the S3 was cheaper to insure. Had just assumed it would be the reverse.

If the VC was available without the rest of the tech pack, I'd do it without hesitation. At £1400 though...

The s-tronic really did change my opinion. I was quite happy with a manual until I test drove one. I wasn't blown away by Mercedes' auto box so wasn't expecting much but the s-tronic is so good.
 
Tom.H said:
Can't comment how good the tech pack is honestly, but I have it as I wanted the virtual cockpit and obviously they go hand in hand. I've had the car 6 months so far and haven't got bored of it in the slightest, not having it now would take some getting used to.

S-Tronic was also a must after having an R32 DSG for 9 years.
Click to expand...

+1
VC is great and allows customisation so if you get bored, you can change it.
 
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I'm the opposite. Had VC in my TT for 18 months, and when I got my S3 I didn't even think of speccing it, definitely not at £1400 anyways! Plus the normal S3 gauges are sexy!
 
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paradigital said:
it also made more sense from an insurance POV as the insurance was CHEAPER on the S3.
Click to expand...

Did a comparison last night. The A3 was cheaper for me. How strange! Mind you, the S3 premiums have increased recently, according to posts on here.
 
I've had VC in my previous and current, would be one of my must haves going forward.

If you're not convinced by it it's probably not worth going over budget though.
 
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Went for the Black Edition in Daytona, with tech pack adv, sound and comfort pack, folding mirrors and 5yr extended warranty.

Time to play the waiting game...
 
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davemk said:
Went for the Black Edition in Daytona, with tech pack adv, sound and comfort pack, folding mirrors and 5yr extended warranty.

Time to play the waiting game...
Click to expand...

You don't need anything else on your spec mate, intelligent options
 
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Thanks. Would have loved the s-tronic but couldn't justify the extra money, in all honesty.
 
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S Tronic is way better than tech pack advanced!
 
I only picked the tech pack to get the VC, don't find the tech pack that good, I tend to use Android Auto now as it recognises my voice instantly whereas the MMI usually hasn't a clue.

Looking back it was a lot of money to pay for the VC and although I love it I think I wouldn't do it again unless it was offered as a separate option.
 
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mikemod said:
I only picked the tech pack to get the VC, don't find the tech pack that good, I tend to use Android Auto now as it recognises my voice instantly whereas the MMI usually hasn't a clue.

Looking back it was a lot of money to pay for the VC and although I love it I think I wouldn't do it again unless it was offered as a separate option.
Click to expand...
That’s how I see it, £1400 for VC. Not worth it IMO
 
The technology package including the virtual Cockpit is a bit of a a bargain....... Thinking back to when l got my current car the technology package with Audi connect was £1795 that's what Audi charged for it then, they only charged £995 when the face lift car was introduced
 
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mikemod said:
I only picked the tech pack to get the VC,
Click to expand...

Same here, expensive toy but I have not regretted it but if i were looking at specifying it in preference to an auto box I dont think I would select it, but as I am a a manual boy was not a dilemma I had to face

deanshaw24 said:
That’s how I see it, £1400 for VC. Not worth it IMO
Click to expand...

Expensive option but it will become the next Sat Nav/GPS and a must have and will help selling on
 
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Can we please stop with the "£1400 for VC" nonsense?!

That price gets you the Tech Pack too so, in addition to the VC, you're getting upgraded navigation, full Audi Connect services and the phone box.

Whether that's worth £1400 is a subjective decision we each have to make but it's not £1400 just for the VC.
 
Vertigo1 said:
Can we please stop with the "£1400 for VC" nonsense?!

That price gets you the Tech Pack too so, in addition to the VC, you're getting upgraded navigation, full Audi Connect services and the phone box.

Whether that's worth £1400 is a subjective decision we each have to make but it's not £1400 just for the VC.
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I don’t think the sat nav is any different is it? Apart from Touch pad. Audi Connect you can get for free and I don’t know anyone that uses the phone box.
 
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deanshaw24 said:
I don’t think the sat nav is any different is it? Apart from Touch pad. Audi Connect you can get for free and I don’t know anyone that uses the phone box.
Click to expand...

I'd use the phone box if I had wireless charging! Next phone will have.
 
Tom.H said:
I'd use the phone box if I had wireless charging! Next phone will have.
Click to expand...
You can get wireless charging cases, I have one for my iPhone, works really well.

I tend to use car play for the Spotify function then phone box if playing music via Bluetooth if needs a charge.
 
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deanshaw24 said:
I don’t think the sat nav is any different is it? Apart from Touch pad. Audi Connect you can get for free and I don’t know anyone that uses the phone box.
Click to expand...

This.

On the pre-FL I wouldnt consider one without the Tech Pack as the upgraded MMI screen is great. But the new FL has the same screen with/without the tech pack, so essentially it is '£1400 for just VC'....
 
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TYb said:
You can get wireless charging cases, I have one for my iPhone, works really well.

I tend to use car play for the Spotify function then phone box if playing music via Bluetooth if needs a charge.
Click to expand...
Yeah it’s a good gimic but if that option was separate how much would you be prepared to pay for it? Not over £100
 
deanshaw24 said:
I don’t think the sat nav is any different is it? Apart from Touch pad. Audi Connect you can get for free and I don’t know anyone that uses the phone box.
Click to expand...

DrEskimo said:
This.

On the pre-FL I wouldnt consider one without the Tech Pack as the upgraded MMI screen is great. But the new FL has the same screen with/without the tech pack, so essentially it is '£1400 for just VC'....
Click to expand...

So you're both just going to ignore the facts and keep quoting misinformation are you?

In addition to the touch-pad, the 3D mapping is enhanced, you get free map updates, jukebox for uploading music and a DVD drive instead of CD (which also does 5.1 surround in conjunction with B&O). You get Audi Connect for three years instead of a three month trial (no it's not free) and the phone box for wireless charging.

Whether these features are of any use to you personally is utterly irrelevant - they're features which you get for your £1400 above and beyond the virtual cockpit. If you're just going to keep trotting out the same "£1400 for VC" rubbish and ignore then facts then I give up :rolleyes:
 
audi upgrades
Oooh... didn't realise I'd opened such a can of worms! :D
 
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Vertigo1 said:
So you're both just going to ignore the facts and keep quoting misinformation are you?

In addition to the touch-pad, the 3D mapping is enhanced, you get free map updates, jukebox for uploading music and a DVD drive instead of CD (which also does 5.1 surround in conjunction with B&O). You get Audi Connect for three years instead of a three month trial (no it's not free) and the phone box for wireless charging.

Whether these features are of any use to you personally is utterly irrelevant - they're features which you get for your £1400 above and beyond the virtual cockpit. If you're just going to keep trotting out the same "£1400 for VC" rubbish and ignore then facts then I give up :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

For Pete's sake...

No one is denying there is more to the tech pack than just VC...

The consensus is just that are not worth even mentioning and hardly go anywhere towards justifying having a £1400 price tag on it.

And AFAIK no one has been charged to extend the initial 3month Audi connect subscription beyond the 3month free trial....
 
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Talk about an over reaction.
 
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DrEskimo said:
For Pete's sake...

No one is denying there is more to the tech pack than just VC...

The consensus is just that are not worth even mentioning and hardly go anywhere towards justifying having a £1400 price tag on it.

And AFAIK no one has been charged to extend the initial 3month Audi connect subscription beyond the 3month free trial....
Click to expand...
I’ve just had my connect extended an extra year for free on the mrs q2. I agree. IMO the extra features of the tech pack are negligible.
 
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