Free Upgrade from SE to Sport Models

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A3dreamer

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Hello All,

New member here... my current company car (07 VW Polo 1.6 Sport) needs to be changed in Aug 2011. I really want an Audi A3 3 door which I beleive I would need to order in March 2011 if I were to take delivery in August 2011 (ridiculous lead times on A3's!?!?!).

I would be looking at a Sport model, whereby Audi are currently offering a free upgrade over the SE price. Up until the October 2010 brochure release, Audi were offering this free upgrade on certain engines including the 1.4TSI engine. However, now it is only available on the 1.8TFSI, 2.0TSFI, and 2.0TDI, all of which my budget wouldn't stretch to.

Could anyone tell me why Audi stopped offering the upgrade on the 1.4TSI engine, and whether there are any plans to re-introduce it after the 31st March 2011 when the current offer is due to expire?

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks!
 
You're probably better off posing that question to a dealer. They might give you the offer, and the worst they can say is no.

I'd probably want to order sooner than March for an August delivery tbh, and are you aware it's likely a new A3 will be released in 2012? If that doesn't matter then wait for it to be released and pick up one of the older ones from the factory. You should save quite a bit.

Alternatively try 2nd hand? There are a lot of nearly new A3s kicking about!

Best of luck,

S.
 
I think you are wise looking for a Sport model, if nothing else the Sports seats are so much better.

You said it is a Company Car. Is this a Lease and what scheme do you have. The key to most lease deals is the Residual Value and often a better spec car can work out cheaper.

Re the 'new A3' . Based on recent discussions Audi only anticipate Launch models to be filtering through for March 2012 and if the launch is similar to other Audi models the one you want won't be out for a while. Also Lease costs are likely to be higher as discounts will be hard to come by whereas Lease companies are typically achieving 9-10% on current 8P.

If your organisation offers a Company Car opt out that might also be worth considering and do your sums carefully. Lease cost +Tax versus purchase/private lease/loan and of course projected Residual value and maintainence.

I would expect to see a few Audi offers in early 2011 to entice buyers but don't know what as yet.

Good luck!
 
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Se and Sports were always the same price, things must have changed!
 
Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated.

The Company I work for don't acquire the vehicles through a Lease company (for some strange reason!!), they buy them direct from our local dealer (on finance) where they get a standard discount (possibly 10%). However we (the employee's) don't get the benefit of the discount so our budget is only based on the total ROTR price!!

Thanks for the advice on the lead times, in that case I will order in Feb 2011. I'll pop into the dealer today and see if they might have info on the complimentary sport upgrade. I did wonder as PilotAudi suggests that Audi may well offer further offers or increase specification levels in 1st or 2nd quarter 2011 and therefore perhaps I should wait and see... but I can't live with the Polo for any longer than I have to!!!
 
The Sport model seats are definitely nicer but the ride is definitely also much more firm (or is that just in my quattro?). When I bought mine in Sept 08 the SE and Sport had very different prices.
 
Quattro makes the ride firmer but the Sport ride is not as hard as the s-line models...

Surely Audi offering Sport for SE money means the offers are already there so not worth waiting... Plus the lead time problems are more Black Edition models. We ordered a standard S-Line 170 TDi sportback with DSG and other options in Feb this year and it was on the drive in April and that was factory built...

Speak to your local dealers and do speak to more than one as bigger dealers have more build slots than smaller ones...
 
audicruiser said:
Quattro makes the ride firmer but the Sport ride is not as hard as the s-line models... Depends on what wheels you have suspension is identical

Surely Audi offering Sport for SE money means the offers are already there so not worth waiting...Audi are desperate to show sales growth in early 2011 hence the deals, some models not selling that well so there will inevitably be other deals to be had, some not widely publicised!!

We ordered a standard S-Line 170 TDi sportback with DSG and other options in Feb this year and it was on the drive in April and that was factory built... That was in February 2010!!! Things changed significantly post summer.

Speak to your local dealers and do speak to more than one as bigger dealers have more build slots than smaller ones... Always worth shopping around but all dealers pre-order stock and can swap with other dealers.
Click to expand...

Some thoughts in Green above:tapedshut:
 
Suspension is the same on the front, but not at the back...

What changed post summer?? Plenty of non black editions coming on transporters at my dealer within the normal time frames...

There are always deals to be had when buying cars. Audi normally does upgrade options on certain models...

Most dealers only like to swap between fractures within a group. This is also the reason they have more build slots due to having in some cases numouros Audi dealers in one group.
 
Not sure you are right about the suspension Scott.. I will check. My understanding is that Sport =S Line suspension on A3 and A5.

There has been an issue with BE delays caused by a wheel crisis, having announced new MY 2011 wheels to replace the RS4 style 18in there were supply probs. BUT there is a general shortage with A3 8P.. Demand has been exceeding supply for the last 8 months hence limited discounts for some.

In the past I have ordered cars from London, home counties and SW dealers.. Audi dealers have a superb system that shows, build slots reserved with spec and week build date and built cars on their way that can be diverted and cars at dealers that can be swapped... the biggest distance I've experienced was an 8P 2.0TFSi which came from Aberdeen to Somerset!!

Dealers will always prefer to deal within 'Group' but can (and do) do deals all over the country.
 
The brochure in your link states the S-Line has 10mm lower suspension. The rear set up is different on Quattro models due to the drive shafts.

Agree on the inter group dealer dealings. Audi and VW both advertise the fact they will deal between any of their dealers but it's not something they like doing due to the financing involved.

It is easier however to "trade" a build slot of a spec of car than an actually built car already at a dealers.
 
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audi upgrades
I agree with you Scott that Quattro has a different rear suspension set up. Unless I missed it I thought we were talking about the non Q models where I am pretty sure the F&R is the same.. just checked an old brochure which seems to suggest 'S LIne' has lowered 'Sport' suspension.. I think the latest models may possibly be different then! I am aware that on the A5 there is an option for even lower SLine suspension whereas standard SLine definately has 'Sport' if that makes sense!!
 
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